April 2026
Dear Friends of Ukraine,
As we commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster this April 26th, we acknowledge that russia’s crimes against Ukraine cause profound and lasting damage not just to its people, but also to its environment. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian government has documented over 10,000 cases of environmental destruction linked to the russian invasion. Vast swaths of agricultural lands turned to minefields, displaced wildlife, decimated forests, blown up dams, polluted waterways, and attacks on nuclear facilities are just some of the many deliberate acts of ecocide inflicted by the russian invaders on Ukraine. Much of this destruction will persist and plague Ukraine’s ecosystems for decades to come.
While russia depends upon senseless brutality to wage its war, Ukraine counts on its ingenuity. Militaries across the globe are quite literally taking notes on how Ukraine sets the standard for modern warfare, from battlefield drone tactics to long-range weapons. When the middle eastern countries needed inexpensive ways of protecting themselves from Shahed drones, it was Ukraine that answered the call.
Read on to learn about how your donations were used in February and about upcoming events near you. We also highlight recent examples of how ingenuity and resourcefulness are making a difference in Ukraine: recycled fishing nets that can protect evacuation and supply lines from drone strikes, repurposed solar panels from Montana that now power a university in Ukraine, and direct communication with Defenders that allows us to provide the most useful supplies possinle to the heroes protecting the world from authoritarianism and barbarism.
Kyle, Andriy, Slava, Nyk, Ulana, Natalie, and all of us at
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine
Spread Seeds of Help!
In February 2026, we provided 835 items to 419 Defenders:
81 individual first aid kits (tourniquets, chest seals ...)
342 protective equipment items (electronic earmuffs, knee pads...)
322 field gear items (backpacks, load bearing vests, pouches...)
21 uniform components (uniform sets, sleeping pads, boots...)
69 other items (mostly drone detectors...)
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our 167 donors that contributed to our efforts this month–we appreciate your help!
We recently surveyed the Ukrainian Defenders who received aid in 2025 funded by your donations. The results are clear: from high-performance field gear to life-saving medical supplies, your contributions provide a vital "survival edge", with no bureaucracy or red tape.
However, the feedback also brought a sobering reminder of the real cost of this war. One soldier shared: "My brother also 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."
As the war evolves, so do Defenders’ needs, and so does our work. Our recipients are calling for more drone safety gear to navigate an increasingly transparent gray-zone frontline.
Read the full survey report on our blog here.
russia launches thousands of drones at Ukraine every month, threatening not just hospitals, apartment buildings, and energy infrastructure, but also vital military supply and evacuation lines. Ukrainian Defenders and civilians have responded with characteristic ingenuity by repurposing used commercial fishing nets into overhead tunnels that shield roads and positions from aerial attack. These drone-shielding net tunnels have become a vital and proven line of defense against attacks on both military and civilian vehicles alike.
We recently obtained 30,000 square meters of high-quality decommissioned commercial fishing nets at no charge and kept them out of the waste stream, thanks to our partner nonprofit in Canada. Though the nets were obtained at no charge, shipping them to Ukraine comes at a cost. We need your help to transport the 15 tons of fishing net, capable of protecting 5 football fields worth of supply lines, from the Pacific Coast to Ukraine. The total cost of shipping this container is $10,000. Will you help us reach our goal?
Please join us for Ukraine events in Colorado in April and save the date for several upcoming events:
April 26: 40th Anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster commemoration ceremony at Cheesman Park in Denver at 1:30 (see flier above) followed by the Ukrainian Film Series “Freedom Under Fire: Ukraine in Three Films.” Doors open at 3:30 at the Buell Public Media Center (sponsored by Ukrainians of Colorado).
May 2: Solar Chargers for Ukraine Event in Boulder from 10-12:30 (see flier above)- convert and decorate solar panels to be sent to Vinnytsia, Ukraine which is Boulder, Colorado’s new Sister City!
May 21: Vyshyvanka (Embroidery) Day gathering/meet and greet for friends of SFSU and SFSU volunteers at Crystal Springs Brewery, Main Street, Louisville, Colorado 5:30-closing.
May 24: NaDiya Band fundraiser at Avagadro’s Number, Fort Collins (2-5pm).
May 25: Join Team Ukraine at this year’s Bolder Boulder 10K! Click HERE to register. To join Team Ukraine and order a t-shirt (proceeds for power banks), please contact Ellie Titarenko at 515.447-3582! Be Bold, like Ukraine!
July 22: Sunflower Seeds Ukraine, along with KGNU, proudly presents DakhaBrakha to Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder on July 22, 2026. Click HERE for tickets!
For details about these events and events continually updated on our website, please visit the SFSU events website.
FROM MONTANA TO KHARKIV: AN INTERNATIONAL STORY OF SUCCESS AND COOPERATION
In recent months, the Solar Panels for Ukraine Project championed an incredible feat, delivering nearly 200 solar panels from Montana to the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) in Kharkiv, Ukraine: all made possible by passionate volunteers, exceptional international cooperation, and caring donors.
The Solar Panel Project of Ukraine—a fiscally-sponsored program of SFSU—transferred four tons of equipment from an American-based nonprofit in Montana to KPI. At KPI, the solar panels will be incorporated into the Institute's off-grid energy system, while smaller samples will be used for educational and research programs.
The project, with the help of Dr. Ksenia Minakova, Andy Lenec, Krista Yedidovich, Charlie Wesley, and numerous other volunteers, turned a decommissioned solar installation into a transformative addition to KPI's energy and educational capabilities, and demonstrated how solidarity, commitment, and cooperation can benefit Ukraine and its institutions.
Read more about this critical project on our blog.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
To read longer versions of our news stories, visit the blog on our website, where you also can learn more about upcoming events and volunteering opportunities.
Please forward this newsletter to anyone who might be interested, or use this form to manage your communication preferences. For more frequent updates about our work, please like our Facebook page, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our Youtube channel and Patreon page. Browse our website for multiple ways to help, or send us an email if you have any questions.
*The misspelling and lower casing of proper names like ‘russia’ in this newsletter is intentional and used as signs of disdain and disrespect. Similarly, the uppercasing of words such as ‘Defenders’ is intentional and used as a sign of respect and appreciation.
