The Come Back Alive foundation and PrivatBank have announced a UAH 31 million fundraising drive to purchase fireproof uniforms and aviation helmets.
This will cover the need for special equipment for army aviation crews.
"We are buying fireproof uniforms and helmets because burns are one of the most common injuries and causes of death among helicopter crews who have been hit by enemy fire. We will purchase the equipment, which consists of an aviation helmet and fireproof jackets, pants, balaclavas and gloves, from the United States. The total amount of the contract is more than 846,000 dollars, or 31m hryvnyas," said Oleh Karpenko, Director of Development and Partnerships at the Come Back Alive project.
Army aviation is one of the most secretive branches of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Due to the rather small number of pilots, flight engineers and technicians, information about the soldiers is kept secret and hardly ever shared in the media.
At the same time, army aviation has been performing important and very risky tasks since 2014. For example, the crews of Ukrainian Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters delivered aid to the blockaded Azovstal plant in Mariupol. From 2014 to the present, helicopter pilots have been evacuating wounded soldiers, delivering food, medicine, water and ammunition to the most difficult areas of the frontline, and supporting Ukrainian infantry from the sky.
According to Olesya Zhulynska, Head of Communications at PrivatBank, the financial institution provides its convenient tools for this fundraising campaign so that everyone can realize their desire to support the army aviation.
You can transfer funds in the Dobro menu of Privat24, on the website of the Helping is Easy charity fund, at PrivatBank ATMs and terminals in the Charity section, as well as at the cash desks of the bank's branches.