Rickshaws for the 151st, Update 9

Hello everybody!

It’s Tuesday, and thus the time for the next update on our collection for the 151^st Mechanised Brigade, ZSU.

They say that ‘no plan survives an encounter with the enemy’. Have learned to respect (even to appreciate) this lesson already decades ago - and have experienced something of precisely that kind the last week, too. Hope, this experience is not going to frustrate any of you, though.

As first, Anastasiia has, finally, had a very useful communication with the HQ 151^st. Essentially, they’ve confirmed some of our conclusions, but then also observed something particularly important.

When it comes to ‘confirmation’: yes, the CASEVAC in the ZSU is organised so that there are two types of casualty transportation. The first is focusing on evacuation, the second on resuscitation. Might sound ‘similar’, but (and as expected), is fundamentally different. The essence of the first is to pick up the wounded from their positions and bring them to a stabilisation point, where they are given the care aiming to stabilise their condition. This is where almost everything with four wheels (or tracks) and an engine is used, including armoured vehicles like BMP-1s and M113s, special armoured all-terrain vehicles, but also SUVs…

After stabilisation, casualties are taken to the hospital by resuscitation transport (i.e. an ambulance car).

When it comes to that ‘particularly important detail’: the HQ 151^st explained that they do not need an ambulance car. They say, the entire ZSU is ‘well-supplied’ thanks to several big charities supplying enough of excellent vehicles.

…which, hand on heart, prompted both Anastasiia and me into considering abandoning this collection and returning money to every donor.

Then… ‘Vuhledar’ happened. Plus, matter of fact is that many of ZSU’s brigades are under severe pressure, and, actually: there is need ‘almost at every corner’. We can’t help everybody, but… Studying of calls for donations ‘revealed’ that most frequently requested items are such like cars, drones, electronic warfare equipment, generators and charging stations, starlinks, medical supplies… the list is actually endless, but this is what’s in biggest demand.

Thus, if nobody minds, I would recommend us to continue – and that straight away, and in ‘multiple directions’, as follows (if somebody does mind, please let me know via the ‘chat’ function here on Substack: we’re going to return your money).

The new, adapted plan is looking like this:

-          The Nissan Navara we’ve bought for the 151^st back in August was used so hard (15,000+ kilometres, and torsion bars are ‘finished’!), it’s meanwhile in need of a complete overhaul. This is going to be done this week. Details are to follow.  

-          In turn, the KIA Sportage we’ve bought two weeks ago is, finally, ready, and, finally, delivered to ‘our’ mortar battery of the 151^st.

-          Except for supporting ‘our’ mortar battery of the 151^st, Anastasiia is in touch with other parts of that brigade. So, we’re going to check what do they need.

-          Anastasiia is also in touch with the 110^th Mechanised Brigade, and the 23^rd Independent Battalion. Thus, she’s meanwhile checking what do they need.

-          Finally, I’ve mentioned ‘Vuhledar’… which, ‘automatically’ means the 72^nd Mechanised Brigade, too….

‘Full revelation’: getting in touch with the 72^nd Brigade…. sigh… sufficient to say that after months of attempts without any kind of results, Anastasiia was so kind to try for us. Has written to lots of people connected to the unit… (To make sure: the 72^nd is not the only one hard to reach: there are lots of other units de-facto absent from the social media, or where nobody is speaking English, or not reacting to e-mails and messages…)

Long story short: eventually, Anastasia was lucky in exactly one case: got in touch with one of officers serving in the Material Support Battalion (a gent I’ve attempted to contact only some 5-6 times, too). He was very surprised we wanted to help him (and a bit confused at first: was used to look for everything on his own). The exchange with him turned out the 72^nd is in urgent need of (between others) 5kW generators.

Yes, you won the bet: Anastasiia is meanwhile hard on organising the acquisition and transhipment to the 72^nd. Cost: approximately UAH 40,000-50,000 (somewhere around US$ 950-1,000).

As always, updates in regards of all these efforts are to follow.

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Regarding your donations…

Latest stand is as follows:

-          PayPal (after paying for service of the KIA Sportage): US$ 7,197,51 (at least that car is now ‘like new’…)

-          Bank account: UAH 15,650,11

-          Anastasiia’s bank has informed her that it’s turning back all donations in Euros…sigh…. Please mind: that’s the bank: no PayPal. Solution is on hand: she’ll have to set up an Euro-account for such purposes. Details are to follow.

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Bottom line: a lot is going on, ‘all at once’. Thanks to your kind support, we’re coming forward, and doing everything in our powers to help wherever we only can.

Details for this collection remain as they were, which is as follows:

https://send.monobank.ua/jar/j5TsJjQWg

Bank card number 5375411221843282

Account in USD 5375411221843282

IBAN UA333220010000026200347742354

SWIFT/BIC Code UNJSUAUKXXX

Receiver NAKONECHNA ANASTASIIA

or PayPal: 5266986@gmail.com (Purpose: ‘For Rickshaws’)

Please, be so kind, help us and donate what you can. Every cent counts!