A public organization with the eloquent name Slava Ukraini was founded in Estonia. Estonians support both Ukrainian defenders on the front lines and take care of civilians.
About this Channel 24said the Estonian volunteer, founder of the NGO Slava Ukraini Joanna-Maria Lehtme. The idea of creating an organization arose almost immediately after the start of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
How the idea to help Ukraine arose
As Lehtme noted, she could not stay away, because she once lived in Kyiv, and her daughter is Ukrainian.
On February 26, my ex-husband called me and said that I needed an ambulance. I immediately called one person who, as I knew, could definitely help me, the volunteer said.
She turned to the Estonian film director and producer Ilmar Raag, who is also a military man.
Estonian volunteers delivered more than 70 ambulances to Ukraine/Photo from Slava Ukraini em>
“After 2 hours, he called me back and said that there was a car, and also asked what else was needed. So we started working, and today we have already transferred more than 70 cars to Ukraine ambulance “, Lehtme noted.
How Estonian volunteers work on the front lines
Estonian volunteers also help the Ukrainian military and distribute humanitarian aid to the civilian population. According to the founder of the NGO Slava Ukraini, the volunteers themselves contact the Ukrainian soldiers.
We ourselves meet with the commander every time, we go to the front line. We are in the east most of the time. We provide medical training, evacuation vehicles and personal first aid kits for soldiers. said the volunteer.
An Estonian organization is trying to cover all the needs of the military. In particular, it is engaged in the purchase of drones and other equipment requested by representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Estonians do not get tired of helping Ukraine
The people of Estonia are very supportive of the Ukrainians in the war with Russia. According to Lehtme, most of the funds received by the organization are transferred by Estonian civilians. There are also large companies that also join the volunteer initiative.
Over the entire period, we have been allocated about 5 million euros. Sometimes they say that people in Estonia no longer have the strength (to help Ukraine – 24 channels). This is not true,” the volunteer emphasized.
Thousands of Heroes in the Snow Campaign
She said that 2 weeks ago Slava Ukraini announced a campaign “Thousands of heroes in the snow.” Its goal was to provide a thousand Ukrainian defenders with winter uniforms.
I wanted to raise 400 thousand euros to make a thousand good kits in Dnipro. However, a day later we raised money and decided to prepare 2,000 kits. After 2 days, this amount was also accumulated,” Lehtme said.
“We understand what it means when your neighbor is Russia”
She added that Estonians are not losing their desire to help the Ukrainians, because they are well aware of what the Russian invasion means.
We perfectly understand what it is like when your neighbor is Russia. Then all the time you have to worry about what they will do. They have no standards,” the volunteer said.
According to her, the Estonian authorities are now doing a lot of work on the issue of assistance to Ukraine. And the population in the country not only donates, but also learns how to act in the event of a Russian invasion.
“Even my mother is now in the Estonian army and knows how to plant mines,” Lehtme added.
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Estonia supports Ukraine in the war: the main thing
- The Estonian Parliament condemned Russia's attempt to annex the occupied Ukrainian territories. The country has declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
- A new military aid package for Ukraine has been approved in Estonia. In the near future, new equipment, ammunition and ammunition for our soldiers will be delivered to Ukraine.
- Estonia, together with Latvia and Lithuania, call for the creation of a tribunal to investigate Moscow's crimes.
