Day 265+, Winter is here - We/Ukraine need your help!
November 16th, 2022 Letter #16 (Day 265)
Dear Friends,
Despite the recent encouraging news, the situation for the average Ukrainian has only gotten worse in the last several months. Just yesterday, Ukraine experienced the most devastating missile and drone attack on its infrastructure since the early days of the war. The attack killed many, including two Polish citizens on their NATO territory. Moreover, these barbaric attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and the coming winter are creating deadly environmental problems for Ukrainian civilians and soldiers alike.
Over the past several months, people have asked me, what happens to the billions of dollars of foreign aid going to Ukraine? I realized that most of us do not understand the structure of the Ukrainian Military or, for that matter, the US military's structure.
To simplify, as we do in the USA, Ukraine has a regular Military that includes regular armed forces of about 250,000 troops, including soldiers (Army), airmen (Airforce), and Sailors (Navy). They have about the same number in the National Guard/Reserves that are now mobilized for war. Ukraine also has Territorial Defense Forces. The Regular Military and Reserves are where the bulk of foreign aid goes. Western weapons, medical, and support help go to them. All the heavy weapons, airplanes, artillery units, armor, and so on are in the Regular Armed Forces. However, the Territorial Defence Forces are very much left on their own. Ukraine relies on the local population to support the troops that fundamentally are the core of the Ukrainian defenses in the cities, villages, and localities. The community provides for their sustainment and well-being. The regular forces coordinate the actions of these small bands of brothers. These citizen soldiers operate in small units, hundred or fewer, and provide the indispensable ability to defend critical areas of Ukraine.
If you wonder why the City of Kharkiv did not fall to the Russians? Despite its proximity to the RuZZian border and strategic importance. My opinion echoes the opinions of many friends on the ground. It is because of the Territorial Defense Forces and the support they receive from people like Alexandra and Maxim and their extended families and your support via organizations like ShareUkraine. I spoke about these people in my earlier letters. I speak to them daily between their "runs" to the front lines to feed and clothe soldiers and provide food and badly needed medicines for the elderly folks living on the front lines. They are doing what they always did, but now in the absence of electricity and heat. Kharkiv is where the bulk of ShareUkraine's help goes.
They need our help!
If you have already gave, and able to do it again please do. If you have not, please do it now!
Also, please let me know what you would like to read and see in these emails besides the ask for money by replying to this email. Anything Ukraine-related works, what I don't know, I will find out.
Thank you.
Sam Rozenberg
Glory to Ukraine.