DEFENDERS SURVEY RESULTS
As we enter the fifth year of the full-scale invasion, the nature of the conflict in Ukraine has shifted, but the vital necessity of your support has not. We recently conducted a survey of the Defenders who received aid in 2025, funded by your donations. Their responses offer a raw, unfiltered look at how your donations are functioning on the ground in 2026.
Most importantly, the medical supplies and electronic defense tools you’ve funded are actively preventing casualties. We received numerous reports of first aid kits and drone detectors being the literal difference between life and death during recent engagements. Another resounding theme from our recipients is that your aid is not just "field gear”—it’s a survival edge. Defenders highlighted that the tactical gear provided, such as backpacks, power banks, and active headphones, often outperforms standard-issue items.
While the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, the defenders were clear about the "gaps" that still exist as the war evolves. There is a continued demand for specialized drone detection and other drone safety equipment. We are also seeing a shortage in the most common sizes for boots and uniforms we used to provide, though sourcing them is a challenge. We are also working to tighten our delivery windows, prioritizing requests from the front lines rather than training centers so we can meet demand when the danger intensifies.
Among the hundreds of messages of thanks, one stood out as a sobering reminder of the stakes involved. A soldier wrote to us about the impact of the gear on his unit:
The gear is great and arrived in short order... specifically for the combat units on the front. My brother received everything he needed, but unfortunately, he didn't get to use it for long - he has since gone missing in action. You are doing a great job. Thank you again.
Your donations are reaching the people who need them most, without the red tape. Our recipients specifically praised the "lack of unnecessary bureaucracy," which allows us to get gear into their hands while it is still relevant. Because of you, a soldier has a power bank to charge a radio to call in air support or make a phone call to home, a medic has a kit to stop fatal bleeding, and a crew has a detector to dodge a drone.
Thank you for standing with Ukraine. The fight continues, and so does our mission to save the lives and strengthen the resolve of Ukrainian Defenders.
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine
