Recently, one of forPEACE’s on-the-ground partners, Sashko Sydorenko, shared a quick thank you post on his social media, which is filled with hundreds of similar messages of gratitude to us, other organizations, and various Ukrainians that comprise Sashko’s large community.
This particular post was thanking our donors for an EcoFlow RIVER Pro Solar Generator. It is designed for tough conditions and can produce 1.5kWh of electricity daily. It is being used now by frontline troops to charge their group and personal electronics and communications equipment.
Sashko (left) and a Ukrainian defender thank forPEACE for the “much needed” charging station.
Sashko with the defenders receiving the EcoFlow battery.
But it is to Sashko that we are grateful, and it is him we would like to thank. With forPEACE, Sashko has delivered 3 Ecoflow charging stations to defenders in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk; delivered a newly purchased vehicle to the frontline; and retrieved, repaired, and returned a damaged vehicle to a combat unit.
On his own Sashko has done much more, he is an example of a regular civilian who has volunteered to ensure defenders have everything they need, whether it’s food, hygiene products, clothing, vehicles, or tactical gear.
Sashko is so important to frontline success, so trusted by those in charge of supplying the front, that simply being associated with him is its own form of status. forPEACE has been able to reach areas and people that we never would have otherwise without Sashko.
Sashko giving an interview at his car repair shop
Recently, we were visiting Sashko and talking about his volunteer work on the front. Sashko frequently retrieves damaged military vehicles from the battlefield and repairs them out of a private mechanic shop.
Sashko and Britta visiting an aid distribution center in Kyiv
This is dangerous work. He is often out in the open for long periods of time, especially if he has to tow the damaged vehicle or load it onto his trailer.
While he was relaying one particular story, Britta asked him if he needed armor. Sashko thought we were asking if he had anybody else requesting armor from him and said he didn’t have any requests at the moment. “No,” Britta said, “for you personally.”
We were able to give Sashko a good vest and helmet right then and there, but not without making him promise that he wouldn’t give it away to anybody under any circumstances. It was a genuine concern he’d give the armor away to someone else he knew also needed it.
Our work with Sashko continues: Sashko needs to purchase a new trailer for his vehicle recovery efforts ($4.5k); a frontline unit needs a new car ($3k); and another frontline unit along the Dnipro river needs 3 boat motors ($4k).
We are proud to work with Sashko. When you donate to forPEACE, these are the very people that you are supporting, the experts, the ones on the ground, in the trenches, fighting for their own survival.
One of the boats Sashko is repairing for defenders along the Dnipro.