March 2025
Dear Friends of Ukraine,
By now, the shift in US foreign policy against the interests of Ukraine is quite obvious through statements and actions of our elected officials, and even has been broadcast live in presidential meetings on national television. While it is tempting to wallow in the shadow of the despair we may feel, we must remind ourselves that rumination does little to benefit Ukraine. Every day, Ukrainian civilians and Defenders pay the ultimate price for the same security and freedom we are fortunate to enjoy every day.
As civil rights leader John Lewis famously said, “Democracy is not a state. It is an act.” On February 24, 2025, the third anniversary of the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 1,100 events were organized around the world, including a rally at the steps of the Colorado State Capitol building. Big thanks to our supporters who attended this or the following rallies in person or in spirit, and showed the willpower to shape the world into what we want it to be.
Every week for the next month, there will be other opportunities to gather in support of Ukrainian sovereignty and to celebrate Ukrainian culture: from presentations and concerts to packing pallets for Ukraine. Read on to learn more about upcoming events, about the work we’re doing in Ukraine, upcoming drone projects, and team member stories. Or, read no further, and support Ukrainian Defenders by clicking the ‘Donate Now’ button above.
Thank you for being part of our community of supporters. Together we are stronger!
Kyle, Andriy, Natalie and all of us at
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine
Spread Seeds of Help!
P.S. To read longer versions of our news stories, visit our blog on the website.
YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK: FEBRUARY 2025
In February 2025, we distributed 1,340 medical, protective, and other items to 360 Ukrainian Defenders, including 193 individual first aid kits, 453 protective equipment items, 480 tactical gear items, 195 uniform components, as well as 19 optical devices and other big items. This month, the demand for IFAKs increased, and basic tactical gear like load bearing vests and knee/elbow pads came back to being needed again. Also, we almost finished giving out all of the 12,000 food and hand warmers we ordered for the cold season, and are getting ready to switch back to distributing camelbacks and water filters. Thanks to each of you who enable us to continue our mission to save the lives and sustain the resolve of Ukrainian Defenders. We will continue helping Ukrainian Defenders thanks to your contributions next month, so please keep up your support!
CURRENT PROJECT: DRONES
Drones have forever changed the way this and the future wars will be fought. Just two years ago, the war in Ukraine was mostly a battle of artillery; now FPV drones are needed to carry out a majority of military action. For example, reconnaissance missions that used to be carried out by the military on foot are now carried out remotely by drones, reducing soldiers' exposure to danger. Please help us Provide Drones, components, and replacement components to Defenders in Ukraine, so they can carry out their missions as effectively and safely as possible. Donate today to our Provide Drones project!
TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ANDY LENEC
Meet Andy, SFSU team member, a dedicated Rotarian with Ukrainian heritage, and a 2017-2018 Peace Corps member in Ukraine. Andy had a successful career in economic development and clean energy. Now, he has found a way to combine his dedication to service, his heritage, and his professional expertise through an incredibly impactful initiative that simultaneously builds awareness and repurposes solar panels to create USB chargers for people in Ukraine. “Having a charged cell phone is not a luxury now. It really falls into that category of a potentially lifesaving necessity,” Andy explains. Through a series of events in partnership with local Rotary clubs, schools, and SFSU, hundreds of solar panels, decorated with messages of hope, have been shipped to Ukrainian civilians and Defenders.
Beyond his humanitarian work, Andy has become a crucial point of contact for his network in Ukraine, running weekly Zoom calls and staying connected with local organizations. He is also passionate about youth development projects, including reviving the International Youth Conference in Ukraine, which aims to prepare young people to take on leadership roles. “The resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian youth [is] absolutely inspiring and will motivate me for the rest of my own life,” Andy says. Andy lives in Broomfield, Colorado, with his wife Joan and their rescue dog, and has two grown-up children.
To read more about Andy and his solar panel initiative, go to ourPatreon page, where we post longer profiles of our team members, interviews with Defenders, and other exclusive content
JOIN US AT AN EVENT IN THE COMING WEEKS
Over the next six weeks, there will be many opportunities to learn about Ukraine and celebrate its culture. Please go to the events page on our website to learn about and buy tickets for one of the many upcoming events being hosted here in the Front Range of Colorado by Sunflower Seeds Ukraine and Ukrainians of Colorado.
RALLYING FOR UKRAINE
This year, people around the world rallied in support of Ukraine the weekend preceding the third anniversary of russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Thank you to Ukrainians of Colorado for hosting two events at Denver’s Capitol: First, a rally on Sunday, February 23, and then the Justice for Ukraine rally on Saturday, March 9. A special thank you to United States Representatives Brittany Pettersen and Diana DeGette, and to Senator Michael Bennett for joining on March 9 to show their unwavering support for Ukraine. Their presence amplified our voices and underscored the importance of standing up for democracy and human rights.
The energy throughout the day was absolutely incredible—a powerful and unifying force that filled the streets with hope and determination. The chants, the flags, the moving speeches—all created a sense of community that will stay with us for a long time. To everyone who attended, thank you. Thank you for raising your voice, for carrying your banners, for marching alongside us. Your presence matters, your voice matters, and together, we will continue to fight for what is right. Slava Ukraini!
Read more about recent rallies in our blog post.
HOW MUCH HAS THE U.S. REALLY SPENT ON UKRAINE?
Many different numbers from many different sources are frequently cited–some claiming that the US has spent as much as $500 billion on Ukraine. The real number is much smaller than that. According to the US Defense Department, congress has appropriated $182.8 billion to Ukraine since the invasion began. Of that amount, only $83.4 billion has actually been dispersed from the USA, similar to the number from Europe. It’s worth noting that $20 billion worth of dispersed aid comes in the form of loans, which Ukraine will have to pay back, with interest. Another big portion of the aid comes in the form of outdated and deteriorating military equipment that is already on the verge of being thrown out.
To put things in perspective, the US spent $861 billion on defense in 2022, the first year of the invasion. That means that the $83.4 billion in spending on Ukraine represents about 10% of a single year’s worth of domestic defense spending. For comparison, Ukraine’s cost of war has now surpassed 43,000 dead Defenders (officially confirmed numbers only), 12,300 dead civilians, 250 destroyed hospitals and schools, and nearly 20,000 kidnapped children.
To read more about U.S. expenditures in Ukraine, including the source links, visit our blog.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
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*Misspelling and lower-casing proper names in this newsletter are intentional and used as signs of disdain and disrespect. Similarly, uppercasing of words such as Defenders are intentional and used as signs of respect and appreciation.
Note: Sunflower Seeds Ukraine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 99-3371103) registered in the state of Colorado, in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by U.S. law.
