MK Foundation hands over 15 vehicles to special forces: soldiers discuss the nature of their missions

New vehicles for special forces and marine units

Ahead of Defender's Day in Ukraine, the MK Foundation charity handed over another batch of vehicles to the Defence Forces. In total, the military received 15 vehicles, which were distributed among various branches of the service. Five units of equipment were handed over to unmanned systems units and the army aviation, another five to reconnaissance units, and five to the marine corps.

Among the recipients of the vehicles are the Separate Special-Purpose Unmanned Systems Unit Polaris, the 423rd Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment "Scythian Griffins", a unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate, the 35th and 39th Marine Brigades, the 8th Special Operations Regiment, the 141st Mechanised Brigade, the 95th Airmobile Brigade, as well as units of the river flotilla and others. The new equipment is already heading out to carry out combat, logistical, and reconnaissance missions in various sectors of the front.

Why volunteer aid determines the fate of a mission

The foundation, established by Ukrainian businessman Maksym Kryppa in 2022, has systematically supplied vehicles to the military since the start of the full-scale war. For the soldiers, a vehicle is a critically important resource, directly determining the success of an operation and the lives of people.

An officer of the Polaris unit with the callsign "Franko" explains why technical support must be continuous. His comrades work along the entire contact line and often have to travel to unprepared positions. "We are like an intensive care unit on the front: there is an order or even just a request — guys, come here immediately, there is a problem. And we go," he says.

According to the soldier, although a lost vehicle can be replaced at state expense, the bureaucratic procedure requires a lot of time, which is often simply not available at the front. That is why the role of volunteers and foundations remains important: "A vehicle is needed today — and the donors will find it, even if they have to dig it up from the ground."

What the special forces vans carry

The soldier cannot disclose details of what exactly these vehicles are transporting. According to him, it concerns operations whose results are eventually seen by the whole country. "I cannot tell you what we carry in these vans. But sometimes what you see on television and say 'we did this, Ukrainians!' — that is us, the special forces. That is what makes Russia simply scream that someone was destroyed," "Franko" shared.

At the same time, they have to transport non-combat cargo as well. The soldier recalls the evacuation from Sievierodonetsk at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, when one of the local residents categorically refused to leave without her cow. "The grandmother did not want to leave without her cow, and where would we put her — in an armoured personnel carrier? They brought a GAZ-66, stuffed the cow in there on some boards, and the grandmother left, but in the cargo bed together with her," he recalls.

Military stance on ending the conflict

"Franko's" comrade in the Polaris unit, Oleksiy Stankievych, emphasises that even despite years of combat experience, one must not get used to war. "We adapt to the processes, but one should never get used to war. We understand that it needs to be ended. We do not get used to war — we get rid of it," he says.

According to the soldier, for Russia this conflict will end badly in any case: "They are already guessing that this will end very badly for them. The only one who does not understand this and does not want to admit it is Putin himself."

Behind the scenes: the foundation summarises the scale of aid

"On Defender's Day, we want to thank every man and woman who is defending Ukraine today. For your strength, endurance, and daily work, which is often not visible to the general public. Our task, as a Foundation and as a business, is to be there and help where it is truly needed. We will continue to hand over vehicles and everything necessary for the military so that they can carry out their missions and return home as soon as possible. Thank you for defending Ukraine!" MK Foundation founder Maksym Kryppa congratulated the defenders.

In total, since the start of the full-scale invasion, MK Foundation has handed over more than 2,100 vehicles to the Defence Forces of Ukraine, and the total volume of the foundation's aid has exceeded 1.03 billion UAH. The new 15 vehicles will soon head to where they are needed.