HOW TO HELP UKRAINIAN DEFENDERS?
The Ukrainian Volunteer Service talked to an expert from the Riy Charitable Foundation and prepared a guide for volunteers on how to help defenders safely, set priorities, and verify requests.
EXPERT:
DIANA ILNYTSKA
Head of the Riy Charitable Foundation
HOW CAN WE HELP? WHAT ARE THE MOST URGENT NEEDS?
Volunteer support for the army can generally be divided into different types:
· Support that saves defenders’ lives
Today, the most urgent life-saving equipment includes drones, evacuation vehicles, pickup trucks, medical kits, medical stretchers, tourniquets, personal camouflage equipment, anti-thermal imaging equipment, electronic warfare devices, etc.
· Support that strategically contributes to troop safety
Logistics
Needs: trucks, carriages, tow trucks, fuel tankers, cranes, and other special equipment. Repair of equipment is also needed.
Connectivity and backup power supply
Needs: repeaters, antennas, generators, etc.
Support that helps to restore defenders’ strength
Needs: mobile bath and laundry systems, sleeping systems, psychological support, etc.
Support that is made at home or in volunteer centers
Needs: camouflage nets, dry energy-dense food, etc.
! Rememeber that soldiers’ path starts at the training center. Training centers play an essential role in preparing every soldier, and the better the training, the more lives are saved.
HOW TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS?
To set priorities, answer these questions:
· Will it save a life?
· Will it help to accomplish a mission?
· Is it available in the Armed Forces?
Pay attention to how easily the military can fulfill the request. For example, repairing a car is less popular than buying a drone, and it may be more difficult for the unit to handle, so your support and engagement here may be crucial.
Make sure to check the quality of the aid before buying it, or find experts to do so.
If you arrange assistance without a request from the military, find at least three different units or contact specialized funds that will give you feedback to ensure that your type of support is a priority.
IDENTIFY YOUR NICHE
Rule #1:
Assess your knowledge and experience. Look for your niche of help based on that. Are you a journalism student? Foundations and volunteer initiatives may need you to help them write press releases and spread the word. Perhaps you are a driver, mechanic, or construction worker? The military needs your help, too.
Rule #2:
Choose a niche in which you will provide support. Is it fundraising for drones, first aid kits, or logistics for a battalion?
Questions to help you find your niche:
Seek advice from professionals in your volunteering field.
Volunteering is about working systematically and regularly. If something does not work out the first time, do not stop doing it. Instead, take a break and think about how to improve your processes. If you are weaving camouflage nets, consult with experienced volunteers on what materials and techniques to use.
10 TIPS TO HELP THE MILITARY IN A SAFE WAY
We must remember that the enemy is clever. They accurately collect and analyze data to use it against us. Every mistake we make as volunteers threatens the lives and safety of the military.
· You should not simultaneously mention the legal name (for example, A1010) and the physical name of a brigade (Battalion X or Brigade Y) in your materials.
It is prohibited to publish photos with unmasked locations of the military. Volunteers are responsible for blurring the background in photos and videos. For example, if there is a specific building with graffiti or an architectural site visible in the background, people in the region might surely recognize the location, even if it is not familiar to you.
· You should not disclose the names and surnames, as well as personal information, of the military without their permission. Photos of the military should be blurred upon request from them.
· Any material you publish should not provide any information about the amount of equipment, battalion location or types of weapons.
· Information about the battalion's numerical and combat strength should not be disclosed. A bad example: “The battalion is poor, they have 500 soldiers without boots.” Also, do not disclose their needs: “Battalion X needs 200 bulletproof vests.”
· Do not publish the license plates of military vehicles.
· You should not name the troops’ work areas with the names of specific companies. Write only about the work of the entire brigade in the area.
· If you are at a military facility or at locations where the military is deployed, you should turn off your phone’s geolocation. It is not enough to turn on the Airplane mode; you need to disable the apps’ full access to geolocation in your smartphone’s security settings.
· You should not publish information about the aid delivered and the unit on the same day while you are at the military’s location. Put off posting for 2–3 days.
· You should not go live at the military’s work locations.
According to the order of the Commander-in-Chief No. 73 from 03.03.2022, it is not allowed to spread information about the order of engaging forces and means for carrying out combat (special) missions.
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE MILITARY?
It is important to remember that both defenders and volunteers are working for the victory. Communication should be ethical and respectful on both sides.
· We recommend communicating only in secure messengers such as WhatsApp or Signal. Make sure you agree on how often and on which platform you will keep in touch.
· Discuss all arrangements for the transfer of aid, reporting, and deadlines with the military in advance.
· Take a course on communication with the military in the project called “How are you, comrade?” This will help you maintain contact without asking inappropriate questions.
HOW TO IDENTIFY REAL SOLDIERS FROM SCAMMERS?
When you meet someone, you have the right to ask for specific details to identify an individual or a military unit.
What kind of information can you request?
· An official request from the unit and an act of accepting the aid, which is put on the balance sheet of the military unit.
The commander of the unit has to sign the document and put a stamp with the emblem.
· A photo of the military ID card, which must indicate the unit to which the defender belongs.
You can request this information if you are providing support to an individual, not to a unit. In this case, we ask the military to sign the act of receiving the assistance personally so that it is documented for our reporting purposes.
Important note: You must inform the military why you need this information and that it will not be shared with third parties.
THE SIMPLEST ACTIONS TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY
· Every morning, every evening, or when planning a vacation or holiday, remember that the war continues. This will help you plan your expenses without making unnecessary purchases. Every donation you make is fuel for victory. Helping the army means respecting the defenders and working with them.
· Look for help for the military in everything around you. If you see linden trees in bloom in June, pick the flowers and dry tea for the military. If you have plenty of vegetables in the summer season, make dry soups.
· It is a good idea to attend training on communication with defenders and their families. When they return from the military, it is not they who have to adapt to a new civilian life, but the society that has to learn, change, and create comfortable conditions for veterans.