Cars and candles to Ukraine: How Czech volunteers are providing non-military supplies to Ukrainian troops
On February 24th 2022, the world was shocked by the Russian military’s sudden invasion into Ukrainian territory as part of a so-called “special military operation”. Three years later, the fighting continues, and many Czechs are still actively supporting Ukraine’s efforts with their time and money. Danny Bate spoke to one such volunteer, Jiří Pospíšil from the organisation Pomáháme Ukrajině, about his work, which takes him close to the war’s front lines.
Could you tell us about the work that you've been doing? Your organisation that you work with to get supplies to Ukraine, how does it function, and what does the job involve?
“I'm a member of a group of volunteers with the non-profit organisation Pomáháme Ukrajině (‘We are helping Ukraine’). We are directly linked to specific brigades and units [of the Ukrainian army], with which we maintain direct contact through a non-profit volunteer organisation in Transcarpathia, Ukraine. Its name is SOHTASH.
“The way how it works is that the chairman of our sister organisation SOHTASH in Transcarpathia receives a request for necessary supplies, such as vehicles, equipment, medical supplies, anything except weapons. Our organisation here in the Czech Republic then organises a financial collection for purchasing supplies through the Donio platform. Some of the items we manage to get through donations. We buy used off-road cars and vans, and arrange their preparation and repairs, and overpainting if needed. We transport them loaded with all of the supplies over to Ukraine.
“We also organise a candle wax collection, so we can produce our survival candles, and we also manufacture trench stoves and camouflage nets as well. We coordinate all the deliveries according to the locations of the units on the front line, where we organise the handovers. Just recently, a week ago, I came back from a handover trip in the Zaporizhzhia and the Kramatorsk Regions.
“Afterwards, we make sure to provide to our donors with feedback from the deliveries, which is also very important. All of it would be absolutely impossible without the financial support from donations.”
And could you tell me about your perspective on Ukraine? Do many people share it here in Czechia? How would you describe the general perspective on the war among Czechs, and among people who you are looking for donations from?
“The reactions of people around us here in the Czech Republic, I would say, can be divided into three groups. Some of them join us, or just support us with their respect. Some are passive, or pretend that the situation doesn't exist. Some try to sabotage our projects, and some even leave negative comments on social media. We really don't pay attention to that. It's a waste of time, and it's their headache anyhow.”
But then, of course, the perspective that matters more is the Ukrainian perspective. How do people in Ukraine react to your work?
“Ukraine needs support, of course, both financial and military. They need weapons. But they also need to feel that they are not alone. Personally delivering supplies to them is a moral support, which from my point of view is very important to them too. To see us face to face, coming all the way over from the Czech Republic really means a lot to them.
“The support of every individual who understands the situation is important. There are many ways how to get involved. Everyone can choose their own form of how to support the fight.”
