Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine mobilized not only the defense forces, but also civil society. The “Come Back Alive” Charitable Foundation started working at 4 am on the day of the invasion.
About thisChannel 24Andrey Rymaruk, head of the military department of the Come Back Alive Foundation, said. He shared his memories of the first day of a full-scale war.
Emotions are not every day
Andriy Rymaruk told how he walked on the morning of February 24, 2022 through the capital with two packages containing a tidy sum.
It was probably the only day in my life when I walked through the center of the capital, looked back at the already semi-armed capital of Ukraine and held in my hands 2 black bags containing one million dollars. Such emotions do not happen every day,” Rymaruk said.
The head of the military department of the Come Back Alive Foundation recalled the incredible number of challenges that were in 2022. The fund compared the amount of funds raised in 2021 and in 2022.
How the work of the Come Back Alive Foundation has changed during the year of full-scale war: watch the video
According to Rymaruk, in 2021 the fund raised 22-24 million hryvnias, and in 2022 this amount amounted to more than 6 billion hryvnias. He also talked about the “unusual” purchases that the fund began to make in 2022.
“No one expected that we would surely become the only charitable foundation in the world that would afford to buy high-precision guided missiles to Bayraktars and the TB2 complex itself, together with aircraft and missiles,” Andriy Rymaruk said.
What has changed over the year
But the fund's purchases were not limited to Bayraktars. In addition to them, benefactors bought lethal weapons in the form of mortars, kulmets and many other weapons and equipment.
No one expected that we would buy lethal weapons – mortars, machine guns and much more . But we have all this and we understand what the army lacks,” Rymaruk said.
The head of the military department of the “Come back alive” fund added that the charity fund is constantly in touch with representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is trying to analyze weaknesses in order to proactively cover the niche for strengthening the army.
Talking about the difference in the work of the fund now and last year, Rymaruk noted that the very essence of the work has not changed, but the scale has increased significantly. Now, instead of 26 people, the fund employs about 100, and the team has become more competent and systematic.
Anniversary of a full-scale invasion: what is known
- February 24, 2023 – exactly one year since Russia took a step towards self-liquidation, deciding to destroy Ukraine.
- On the anniversary of Russia's most shameful act, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrived in Kiev. He announced the transfer of 60 more post-Soviet PT-91 Twardy tanks to Ukraine.
- On this day, Ukraine is supported by most civilized countries. Officials of Ukraine's key partners express their support and belief in victory.
- China has announced its 12-point “peace plan” for the war in Ukraine. The reaction of Ukrainians and NATO is mixed.
