Blue/Yellow USA Providing Aid In Kherson Region
War In Ukraine: Russia destroys dam creating an unimaginable humanitarian and ecological disaster
Blue/Yellow USA Managing Director, Rima Žiūraitis "Russians are still shelling evacuees and volunteers and aid workers in #Kherson. People have been injured and have died as a result of this man-made disaster, and have been injured by te shelling. They have no regard for human life, for any kind of life. We are continuing to work, regardless. Please support us as much as you can.". (Photo courtesy of RimaŽiūraitis)
Ukraine war latest: Zelensky visits Kherson Oblast following Kakhovka dam disaster; Russia shells flooded city
by Kate Tsurkan June 9, 2023
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with regional authorities in Kherson Oblast on June 8 after Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka dam caused substantial flooding in the region and elsewhere in southern Ukraine.
According to Zelensky, they discussed several key issues, including an assessment of the operational situation in Kherson Oblast, the ongoing evacuation of civilians, providing the necessary assistance to residents affected by flooding, and exploring potential plans for the region's ecosystem restoration.
The President’s Office wrote that Zelensky also instructed officials to develop a program to compensate local businesses impacted by the flooding or relocate them within Kherson Oblast.
Six hundred square kilometers of Kherson Oblast have been flooded since Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam on June 6, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on June 8. Sixty eight percent of that is located in Russian-occupied territory on the east bank of the Dnipro River, while 32% of it is in the Ukrainian-controlled west bank.
Flood levels have reached over 5.5 meters and continue to rise.
Russia shells flooded city during evacuation
Russian forces shelled the Ukrainian-controlled part of Kherson Oblast on June 8 amid relief efforts. Russia deliberately attacked evacuation points.
One attack injured nine people. Among the wounded are six civilians, including a volunteer from Germany. One police officer and two employees of the State Emergency Service were also injured, according to the Interior Ministry.
Another attack targeted the Berislav district of Kherson Oblast with guided bombs, killing one woman and injuring another individual.
The Kherson Oblast Prosecutor General reported that the woman died under the rubble.
A total of 2,339 residents have been evacuated from Kherson Oblast since June 6, according to the State Emergency Service, and relief efforts are ongoing.
The Foreign Ministry announced on June 8 that the United Nations would dispatch personnel to provide assistance in the relief efforts within the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast on the left bank of the Dnipro River, where an even bigger humanitarian disaster is unfolding.
UN aid workers would be provided safe passage into the occupied territories, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. Once the same guarantee has been confirmed by the Russian side, the operation can begin. No such guarantee was given before publication.
Ukrainian officials reveal more economic, environmental consequences of Kakhovka dam breach
According to Yevhenii Ihnatenko, head of the shipping administration, Ukrainian exports downstream of the city of Zaporizhzhia through the Dnipro River will remain impossible “for a long time.”
The river is navigable only up until the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant in Zaporizhzhia.
"The Russian Federation’s terrorist act will have catastrophic consequences for the whole region, and for the future restoration of shipping in particular," Ihnatenko wrote.
The Agriculture Ministry wrote on June 7 that at least 10,000 hectares of arable land in the region would likely be flooded, severely disrupting the biodiversity of the region. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam will also complicate the water supply to 31 irrigation systems in Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
Ukraine’s agricultural industry, which has already suffered massive setbacks because of Russia’s all-out war, will now face ever bigger setbacks.
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What is needed:
Drones
Night Vision equipment
Tactical Medicine equipment and supplies
Optics equipment
Communications equipment
Generators
Ventilators
Hospital Equipment
Vehicles
Ambulances
Ballistic Vests
Helmets
Uniforms and related supplies
Bedding
Field equipment
Other various requested items
Medical assistance
Refugee assistance
Evacuation assistance: medical and disaster
Support us by helping us get desperately needed non-lethal aid to Ukraine's heroic military and civilian defenders
We cannot do any of the work we do without your help.
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We are a registered 501(c)3 organization
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Bank:
BMO Harris, FO Blue Yellow Ukraine NFP, Routing#: 071025661, Acct#: 4827159173
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Additional donation and support options will be added here
ABOUT US
Blue/Yellow for Ukraine in Lithuania and Blue/Yellow USA (501(c)3) have transported over $45 million in defense and medical equipment, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, donated from around the world, since 2014.
Both are sister organizations, legally separate and each is self-funding.
Blue/Yellow for Ukraine Lithuania is led by Jonas Öhman, a former Swedish special-operations soldier, democracy activist and humanitarian. In 2014 Jonas founded Blue/Yellow for Ukraine in Lithuania and began providing concrete help to the Ukrainian regions that were invaded by Russia, finding himself and his team on the front lines. He and Blue/Yellow for Ukraine Lithuania have received numerous awards and recognition for their work in Ukraine.
Blue/Yellow USA, a US registered 501(c)3, followed with its founding in 2019, and is led by Rima Žiūraitis, a political scientist, historical researcher, and democracy and human rights activist. Rima has been an activist for Ukraine’s right of self-determination and border integrity since 2014. The US team advocates for for Ukraine on the Hill and in communities, and provides much needed aid to Ukraine on the ground. We are a member of the American Coalition for Ukraine and have worked with Congress and with other organizations, most recently the Helsinki Commission, the Atlantic Council, and the American Foreign Policy Council.
Our unparalleled network experience in logistics allows us to coordinate the procurement and delivery of the exact aid needed to the location where it’s needed in record time, coordinating with governments and more than 100 battalions especially on the front lines, hospitals, evacuation teams, de-mining teams, and refugee organizations.
Blue/Yellow's skilled team combining years of military, logistics, business, and leadership experience enables rapid mobilization and response in the provision of both non-lethal and humanitarian aid to crisis and war zones, logistical and supply networks, various training programs, and strategic planning.
PRESS/media & NEWSLETTER
PRESS, MEDIA, AND PUBLICATIONS
AID PROVIDED DURING RUSSIA'S WAR ON UKRAINE: 2022-2023
We have been providing similar aid to Ukraine for 9 years between our two independent organizations, and are continuing to provide assistance as requests from the government and population continue to increase:
- transportation vehicles
- protective equipment
- thermal camera drones , drones
- uniform gear
- ballistic vests
- ballistic helmets
- optics equipment including thermal, and night vision
- tactical medical equipment and supplies
- medical supplies, medications, and instruments
- ventilators
- communications equipment
- units for the disarming of mines and bombs
- CBRN protective equipment
- miscellaneous tools and equipment
- With the help of several other organizations:
- refugees and wounded were evacuated
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FUNDRAISERS & EVENTS
FUNDRAISERS
PLEASE CHECK BACK THIS WEEK FOR:
Our online auction featuring a jacket and flag signed by General Zaluzhny
The Kickstarter campaign for the stunning UnbreakableUnkraina playing card deck honoring the Heroes of the Ukrainian resistance. The campaign will launch in a few days, and all proceeds after production costs will go to Blue/Yellow USA. You can view the deck at www.unbreakableukraina.com
We will be posting information on upcoming fundraisers shortly.
EVENTS
Ukrainian Days
Advocacy Event: June 14-15, 2023
Washington DC
Azovstal Defenders Family Foundation
Fundraising and Speaking Tour June 2023
Chernova Ruta Festival
Fundraising and Community Outreach June 10
Palatine Illinois
Recent FUNDRAISERS & events
RECENT FUNDRAISERS
LITHUANIAN WORLD CENTER
LEMONT, IL
DECEMBER 2ND AND 3RD
https://www.lcenter.org/events/holiday-craft-fair-4/
Please stop by and visit Blue / Yellow for Ukraine USA's table, LF8, to discuss our work, donate, get a t-shirt, a copy of Blue Yellow Ukraine Jonas Ohman's book "Donbaso Dziazas". If you can't stop by, donate here: US resident's and citizens: www.foblueyellowukraineusa.org
Thank you Kerry Secrest! Thank you to everyone who participated in the event. The bids on donated auction items, direct donations brought in over $15,000!
Brattleboro distillery hosts successful fundraiser for Ukraine | Business | reformer.com
"Kerry Secrest, Brattleboro resident and Honorary Consul to Vermont for the Republic of Lithuania, and her brother, Christian Stromberg, owner of Saxtons River Distillery, raised more than $15,000 for Ukraine at a fundraiser on Thursday at the distillery in Brattleboro."
RECENT EVENTS
US HELSINKI COMMISSION CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
CROWDSOURCING VICTORY
DECEMBER 7TH, 2022
Blue / Yellow for Ukraine USA and Blue Yellow Ukraine 's Jonas Ohman and Rima Žiūraitienė will testified at the Helsinki Commission Hearing on December 7th in DC, with three other non-profit organziations: Razom for Ukraine @comebackalive and Благодійний Фонд Сергія Притули / Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation. The link to the webcast can be found in our video section.
Ukraine Action Summit, Washington DC
September 18-20
https://sites.google.com/view/americancoalitionforukraine/summit
On August 29th our MD, Rima Ziuraitis and Blue/Yellow Lithuania’s MD, Jonas Oehman, presented to a delegation of United States Congressional staff members brought to Vilnius by the Atlantic Council, on the work of both Blue/Yellow USA and Blue/Yellow Lithuania, and the current situation in Ukraine with frontline soldiers sharing their perspectives as well. It was a productive and informative afternoon! Thank you to the Atlantic Council!
STAFF-BOARD OF DIRECTORS-AWARDS
OUR STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Managing Director:
Rima Žiūraitienė
Board of Directors:
President/Treasurer: Aušra Tallat-Kelpša
Lt. Col. (ret) Kestutis (Kasey) Eidukonis
Dr. John (Jonas) Prunskis, MD
Andriy Glebiv
Natalie Glebiv
Yuriy Makar
Advisory Board:
Jonas Öhman (Ohman, Ohmanas, Oehman)
Commander (USN, ret.) William L. Manofsky
Igor Rubchinski
Thomas Vaitys
AWARDS FOR SERVICE IN UKRAINE
(Partial list)
Blue/Yellow USA
Global Lithuanian Leaders Award for Diaspora Engagement to Support Ukraine 2022
Volunteer of Ukraine Badge 2023
Volunteer Medal for Dignity and Patriotism 2023
Helsinki Commission Profiles of Courage Recognition 2023
Commendation Award to Blue/Yellow USA for the significant individual contribution and assistance in ensuring the defense of Ukraine 2023
Commendation Award to Rima Žiūraitis for assistance in ensuring the defense of Ukraine 2023
Commendation Award to the volunteer team of Rima Žiūraitis
for the systematic volunteer aid, moral and material support of volunteer fighters 2023
Advisory Board Member
Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: I International Legion of Defense of Ukraine Commendation for active support in ensuring the defense of Ukraine 2023
William Manofsky, Jr.
for Jonas Öhman's awards please go to www.blue-yellow.lt
Blue/Yellow for Ukraine Lithuania
Service Cross, Ukrainian Marine Corps, 2016
Medal of Merit, Commander in Chief, Ukrainian Armed Forces, 2016
Army Support Medal, Ministry of Defense, Ukraine, 2016
Medal “For Services to Lithuania”, President of Lithuania, 2017 (given for work in Ukraine)
Badge of Honor, Ministry of Defense, Ukraine, 2017
Medal “For the defense of Avdiivka”, 2018
Ukrainian Cossacks Cross III rang, 2018
Combat Volunteer support medal, President of Ukraine, 2018
Awards
