Not Enough : What can we do in the face of Russian terror, aggression, and barbarism?

Russian cruise missiles hit a shopping center with 1000 Ukrainians today in Kremenchuk, hundreds of kilometers away from the front lines. The attack, in which Russia once again deliberately killed, injured, and terrorized Ukrainian civilians, comes on the heels of Russian missile strikes on residential buildings in Kyiv yesterday while G7 leaders met to discuss support for Ukraine. After today’s attack, the G7 leaders issued a joint statement that, “indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime", and president Zelensky reminded the world to revisit proposals by many politicians and activists that Russia be “designated a state sponsor of terrorism”.

The news of the past few days reminds us of the urgency and importance of President Zelensky’s appeal for more weapons and defense systems. Ukraine is desperate to stem Russian attacks and to force a Russian retreat before winter so that the war can end with a Ukrainian and Western victory over the barbarism of the Russian regime. 

We may feel helpless when thinking about heavy equipment that only governments have the means to send - but we have more power than we think and we need to continue doing everything we can to use that power! 

We can write to our elected officials and representatives. It only takes a few minutes, and these tools can help:

• Canada (with info & a template email here)

• USA

• Other jurisdictions and ideas: please share in the comments & we’ll post them  

If you can, meet your elected representatives to discuss your concerns and to reiterate the urgency of getting much more equipment more quickly to Ukraine.

Your voice and efforts make a difference. The heavy equipment, although slow and in inadequate quantities so far, makes a significant difference: Russian missiles have been intercepted and destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine before reaching civilian targets. Ukraine’s effective use of equipment from the West saves lives every day, and the limited number of new HIMARS has begun to change the game on the front line. 

While we worry about the seemingly small part that we can play, we may wonder how far our contributions might go and whether we have any influence at all on this war. 

Thanks to donations great and small, and to the collective efforts of caring donors and dedicated volunteers, Mriya Aid has sent well over 2.5 million dollars of aid to the Ukrainian front. While most aid sent has been badly-needed medical equipment and supplies, our amazing donors and our supporters from the Walter Report have also made it possible to send almost 50 thermal imaging drones to the defenders of Ukraine.

Smart fundraising campaigns show us how much we can do together. Last week, the Serhiy Prytula Fund raised 20 million dollars in under three days for four Bayraktar TB2 military UAVs. Most donations were small individual amounts of just 1,2, or 5 dollars, but together they made it possible! That war-torn Ukrainians raised such a significant sum is remarkable and a true testament to their solidarity and resolve.

Serhiy Prytula @serhiyprytula

We did it!!!! 🇺🇦 Ukrainians crowdfunded for 4 Bayraktars in under 3 days! 20 mln $ / 600 mln UAH Our nation is simply amazing! When united, we can do impossible things! Thank you everyone!!

Even the most determined individuals and leaders can’t always anticipate the positive influence of their actions. The company Baykar Tech announced today that it will provide three Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to the Ukrainian front free of charge, asking that the funds collected be dedicated to help “the struggling people of Ukraine”.

In mid June, Mriya Aid, with the incredible support of the listeners of the Walter Report, launched and successfully concluded a campaign to collect the final $25,000 needed for a shipment of Fury drones.

This week, we’re aiming to collect $30,000 for tourniquets which Mriya Aid has secured, as these are are in high demand, urgently needed, and a matter of life and death at the front!

Every voice counts. Our politicians listen when our voices are united and clear.

Every dollar adds up. Millions of dollars are pooled to buy life-saving gear.  

Even “not enough” becomes enough when we work together to stem the tide of brutal Russian expansionism and to help Ukraine defend civilians and civil society.

And we can keep working together to support the diverse men and women defending Ukraine and the free world. Social activists and soliders like Roman Ratushnyi lay their lives down for the values that define our lives and that guide Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union. When Mriya Aid inscribed Roman’s name on the 10 new Fury UAVs being sent to the front, each donor and supporter can be proud to have contributed to countering a regime that hates and that seeks to destroy "the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities ... in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.” (Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union)

Your support of Mriya Aid and your feedback and comments on Twitter and Instagram are greatly appreciated. We hope that this third edition of our weekly newsletter shines light on the significance of your ongoing contribution and inspires you to keep working together to help Ukraine defend the values of the free world.