Photo report: DAWN delivers aid to front lines this winter
DAWN regularly sends shipments of life-saving aid to the front lines in Ukraine. Sometimes these shipments are delivered by our trusted partner organizations working on the ground. Sometimes DAWN members deliver aid in person directly to the front lines.
Here are some photos from the trip DAWN’s president Yulia Brockdorf made to the front lines in late December / early January.
DAWN President Yulia Brockdorf with Oleksii Anulia, Ukrainian hero, former prisoner of war, and author of Jingle Bellz.
The book documents the lived experiences of Ukrainian defenders and civilians held in russian captivity. Stories like these are essential for understanding the reality of russian prisons and countering the propaganda so often seen in the West. We hope to see Jingle Bellz translated into English soon. If you know of ways to support its translation and publication, please reach out.
DAWN has partnered with Wheels of Victory to deliver a full vanload of winter tires for Ukrainian defenders. These vehicles are used for medical evacuations, frontline aid delivery, and life-saving missions in some of the harshest conditions. We are deeply grateful to our friends at Wheels of Victory for their tireless work bringing critical support to Ukraine. We honor the men and women defending freedom for all of us.
This photo and video show anti-drone tunnels built along roads in Ukraine. They offer a measure of protection by stopping small FPV drones from flying low or dropping explosives. This was one of the roads that Yulia traveled on, in an area where people are under daily attack from russian drones
This is one of the vehicles that DAWN has just delivered to the front. It’s the car that Yulia drove to reach the front lines and then left with Ukrainian defenders. Vehicles are constantly destroyed by enemy fire, yet they are essential for saving lives. Without them, people become easy targets. Thank you to everyone who made it possible for DAWN to deliver life-saving vehicles.
This drone detection device helps identify the presence of enemy drones, allowing medics to stop and take cover before an attack. Tools like this are essential equipment for every medical evacuation vehicle. DAWN provided these devices for vehicles transporting the wounded, helping protect both patients and crews during evacuations under constant threat.
A power station delivered by DAWN. These power stations are a necessity for both tactical equipment and personal devices. With electricity supply unpredictable across Ukraine after massive enemy strikes on infrastructure, power stations like this one are more vital than ever, especially to defenders on the front lines.
Delivery of a CUB unit, manufactured by C-IT Gear, given to the medics so they can add and organize first-response medical supplies for quick and easy access.
Thank you to Cherrie Scheinberg, co-founder of SAM Medical, for donating this kit!
Delivering critical equipment to Ukraine’s demining divers. These tools are vital for safely removing explosive remnants. They help prevent enemy missiles from detonating underwater, which could harm cities and wildlife.
Thank you to everyone who donated to make it possible for DAWN to provide high-quality equipment for the defenders doing this important and dangerous work.
We delivered tourniquets, chest seals, and other medical supplies to multiple units of Ukrainian defenders. This photo shows one of the units receiving supplies they needed to treat injuries and save lives in the field.
Yulia continues making rounds near the front lines, meeting with defenders during winter conditions and providing direct support. Alongside delivering aid, she offers counseling and mental health support to frontline fighters, sometimes under very dangerous conditions.
Heading east toward the front lines to deliver aid. The cold rain, rough roads, and long distances are part of every trip, even on what counts as a good day.
Also a part of travel: On the way to deliver aid, Yulia’s car broke down after a component failed. With no immediate repair available, she spent the night sleeping in the car in freezing conditions. A local mechanic came in on their day off the next morning to make the repair.
A message from our recipient:
“Thank you to DAWN for this car, which will help save the lives of Ukrainian defenders and will help in underwater mine clearance work. Glory to Ukraine!”
Thank you to our partners at Wheels of Victory for their help in making this delivery happen.
Delivery: The back of Yulia’s car is packed with tourniquets, chest seals, hemostats, power stations, camouflage gear, drone detection units, and other life-saving gear. These items were delivered to defenders protecting Ukraine’s northern border.
Yulia visited the Alley of Heroes in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, where each flag marks a person killed while defending Ukraine. Among this ocean of flags are a number representing many of her friends and many fallen loved ones of DAWN volunteers.
The graves of the unknown soldiers section in Ukraine’s new National Military Cemetery, near Kyiv.
Yulia visited to pay her respects to the unnamed heroes laid to rest here.
On this trip, Yulia also visited Ternopil, to see the building containing her apartment that was bombed in November. One of the deadliest russian attacks on civilians from the last few months, this strike killed 38 people, including six children, and injured 94 others.
A memorial display of candles, flowers, and stuffed animals is still maintained here even months later, in silent testimony to the grief of the many people who lost loved ones in this attack.
Internally displaced Ukrainians: Yulia interviewed two refugees from Mariupol, who fled further west to seek safety. Even in the “safer” cities farther from the front lines, they have lived through deadly missile strikes aimed at killing and terrorizing Ukrainian civilians.
This couple lived in Mariupol, working in the famous steel plants. They managed to escape before russia captured their city in 2022. Many others were not so lucky – tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians were killed by russia in Mariupol. With the true numbers hidden under russia’s occupation, some estimates say the city’s death toll could exceed 100,000.
Their home remains under occupation to this day. They still miss their cat, who they were forced to leave behind when they fled.
One unit lost its food supplies after a cruise missile strike. We delivered canned meat and other food that will be delivered by drone when ordinary delivery is not possible.
In some cases, defenders are not able to exit their positions or receive supplies by land for weeks – or even months. The supplies delivered by DAWN will help keep soldiers from hunger and starvation.
Delivering medical aid: High-quality tactical medical supplies from SAM Medical!
Chest seals, splints, hemostatic dressings, tourniquets, and more.
These supplies will give Ukrainian defenders the highest chance of survival on the battlefield.
Yulia delivering a drone intended for delivering supplies on the front lines. With defenders sometimes pinned down in position for weeks, delivery of food and water by drone can mean the difference between life and death.
Photos of the drone at work: On a test flight, it’s carrying a bottle with fresh water, just like it would when delivering water to defenders in position.
Yulia met up with filmmaker Ruslan Gorovyi, who previously came to Oregon to screen his film Moschun and raise funds through local community support. The photos show people in Ukraine who were helped directly with the money raised in Oregon as a result of that screening. Another film screening with Ruslan Gorovyi is planned for later this year- details coming soon!
Yulia delivered the parchment of SCR 23, which became law in Oregon and established the state’s first sister state relationship with Cherkasy. She presented it to the governor of Cherkasy during her visit.