March 2025 Update - UAO Doubles Down (100% donation matching) & Interview with Chilean Combat Volunteer
Dear Supporters of Ukraine,
Ukraine’s situation remains precarious, wedged between peculiar American interests and lingering European discordance. American special envoy Steve Witkoff sided with Putin in a most recent interview, and while the messages from the White House seem to have made Europe realize it's now up to them, Kaja Kallas’ €40 billion EU support package was still objected to by several EU member states. Further talks with American representatives will take place in Saudi Arabia, while Russia continues pursuing its maximalist goals. Various European countries continue debating possible peace-keeping missions in Ukraine, while Putin makes clear night after night that he is not interest in peace altogether.
Donate here: https://donorbox.org/doubledown
Ukraine’s Kursk incursion is meanwhile set to come to an end, with the main stronghold of Sudzha recently reclaimed by the Russian forces, helped by additional North Korean aid. UAO supported Ukrainian units that fought in Kursk right from the start of the incursion, and our delivery team on the ground learned just how hard the battles were. The situation in the East has somewhat stabilised, seeing fewer and slower Russian assaults, and Ukraine’s new Ground Forces commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi, is said to deliver improved defensive results. Our March 2025 newsletter brings you:
- Our latest “UAO Doubles Down” fundraiser with 100% donation matching
- An exclusive interview with Chilean combat volunteer “Cuervoso”
- A delivery report from our ground team
Your UAO volunteer team
UAO doubles down - 100% matching of your donations
Thanks to the incredible generosity of a European supporter, UAO will double your donations up to a total of $250,000 in March and April, at a time where developments on the ground and in the realm of politics could reach a pivotal juncture. A donation of $100 will thus become $200 (!), and we aim to raise no less than $500,000 in total, making this UAO fundraiser the largest ever.
This fundraiser will allow us to purchase an exceptional amount of much needed equipment such as drones, jammers or night-vision, which shall go to many different units engaged in the most risky operations along the frontline. One of them is the Artan Special Unit of the GUR - motto “We know. We find. We destroy” - which endorses this fundraiser, and will provide 20 signed flags. UAO delivered drone jammers to Artan only a few months ago, and now we intend to provide more. Please follow the link below to learn more about the current fundraiser and the various giveaways for your generous donations.
Donate here: https://donorbox.org/doubledown
SBU intelligence special units will receive essential equipment from this fundraiser
Exclusive interview - Chilean combat volunteer “Cuervoso”
He heard about the Russian atrocities committed in Ukraine. He turned down a promising career as a lieutenant in the Chilean army. He traveled 14,000 kilometers around the world to join the fight. He was wounded in combat, but doubled down, and resumed the fight. Meet the Chilean combat volunteer who goes by the call-sign “Cuervoso” (you can follow him on Instagram here). A year ago, in March 2024, he reached out to UAO while assigned as a commander in the 130th Battalion of the 241st Territorial Defence Brigade to receive critical equipment for his unit. Unfortunately, shortly after the unit submitted a request for support to UAO, he sent us the photo below - he was wounded and his unit was withdrawn from the front, so we agreed to reach out when his unit is deployed again.
Cuervoso was wounded by a mortar, suffering injuries to his left arm
As always, we kept our promise, and delivered several critical items of equipment his unit desired: Thermal vision devices, drones, a powerstation, and a laptop. Mischa, who stood in as commander while Cuervoso recovered, received our delivery.
Our delivery to Cuervoso’s unit
Now Cuervoso rejoined the battle. Please read his unique story right here:
UAO: What made you come from Chile to Ukraine? Did you have military experience before?
Cuervoso: Many things. A mix of humanitarian, ideological, and personal reasons. I love history, and I have known about Ukrainian history since I was 12 years old; about the struggle to survive as a nation, about the forced russification since the times of the Russian Empire. Because of that, I ended up making online friends here many years ago. That connection and admiration for Ukrainian culture, together with the horrible things that Ruzzians have been doing, ended up convincing me of leaving my life behind and coming here to help.
I have previous military experience. I was a senior lieutenant. I declined my commission to come to Ukraine.
UAO: When you contacted UAO the first time to request aid, you were a commander of an international unit within the 130 separate battalion of the Territorial Defence Brigade. How did you end up in the Territorial Defence, and not in the International Legion?
Cuervoso: When I first arrived, I was going to one of the Legions, but some friends I had in Ukraine invited me to go to the Territorial Defence. I didn't know a lot about what it was during that time, I just wanted to help and they told me my knowledge would be useful.
UAO: Shortly after you contacted us, you were wounded by a mortar. How was the time of your recovery? Did you receive the necessary help?
Cuervoso: My recovery was an interesting physical and psychological challenge.
In the beginning, they were not sure I would even move my fingers again. Then, I ended up going to Germany for surgery in the elbow (so I could move it again). There was a lot of pain, frustration, and moments of uncertainty about my future.
But I took it step by step (feeling my fingers again, moving my fingers again, moving my elbow a little for the first time, etc), trying to always be positive even when it was quite difficult. After four surgeries in Ukraine and Germany, and rehabilitation, I realised I would be able to serve again.
"Artem", an Ukrainian friend in the unit, was also super nice to me, and his phone calls with his weird sense of humour would always make me laugh. It helped me not to feel so alone. Also, Ukrainian and German volunteers helped me with the expenses.
UAO: Without telling too much: What is your task now? Did you return to the Territorial Defence after you were wounded?
Cuervoso: I continue trying to help. I didn't return to the 130th Territorial Defense Battalion - even when the guys are doing a solid job over there, and they have all my respect.
I went to a unit more related to my previous military experience in my home country, and now I serve as a Team Leader there.
UAO: Much equipment such as drones, jammers, generators, or power stations are provided by volunteer organizations like UAO. In your opinion, what are the most critical items right now for people to donate?
Cuervoso: I think it depends on the nature of the tasks of each unit. For a drone team, it would be drones or electronics, as it is to be expected; for a special forces team, the list would be different depending on the mission, from dual tube night vision, thermal optics, to equipment to operate in the sea.
However, jammers are necessary everywhere, in every type of unit, and are critical to keep our people alive when used correctly.
UAO: Can you speak Ukrainian after almost three years of war?
Cuervoso: I have taken Ukrainian classes for one and half years. I think my Ukrainian is not super decent, but people say that my pronunciation is perfect, which is a little misleading because it makes them start to talk to me quite fast. Also, when people speak Surzhyk [a simplified blend of Ukrainian and Russian], I understand nothing, I curl up into the fetal position and start crying.
UAO: Do you plan to remain in Ukraine after the war is eventually over?
Cuervoso: I would love to, after all the blood I have shed in this soil, I consider Ukraine my home.
But it will depend. I don't know what will happen to me in the future, and I don't have citizenship or permanent residency, so I think it would be impossible.
Considering that, well, maybe I will stay working in another country and come to Ukraine from time to time. That is, in case I survive.
Many UAO deliveries in March - thanks to your support
Thanks to your support, we were able to keep the flow of critical equipment to Ukraine constantly high in March. Among other items, we made deliveries to the 30th Brigade, 38th Marine Brigade, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 93rd Brigade, National Guard, Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, and SBU (Intelligence) units - to name just a few of many.
We particularly focus on drones, thermal and night vision devices, and drone-jammers. That said, since February, we also began to supply pick-up trucks, essential for frontline logistics and other tasks (more about that in our next newsletter). Below are some photos from various deliveries made by UAO’s ground team Yuri, Rima, Sytske and Torhalla, and volunteers we are friends with.
Donate here: https://donorbox.org/doubledown
Thank you for standing strong with Ukraine. Together we will win this war!
Sincerely, the UAO volunteer team.
Heroyam Slava!