The industry is continuing to step up its support of the Ukrainian people and their battle to repel a Russian invasion. For many, the fact the fight continues is surprising. Standard Russian military doctrine calls for overwhelming force mercilessly applied.
Instead, they’ve looked surprisingly ineffective. Despite the apparent reluctance to really apply their overwhelming force they continue slowly working their way across the country. They’re also destroying nearly everything in front of them.
Last week, Ammo, Inc. used board of directors member Richard Childress to publicize their support of one million rounds of ammunition to Ukrainian forces. It was the first public industry initiative to support the Ukrainian people. According to Childress, he was motivated after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told UN officials he “didn’t need a ride, he needed ammunition.”
No word on whether Ammo, Inc.’s followed through on the pledge, but others are joining in.
Remington, CCI, Speer and Federal (top) have joined the Ukrainian support movement, pledging one-million rounds of ammunition. Adams Arms (bottom) is building rifles for the Ukraine in addition to selling support shirts via their website. Proceeds of the sale are going to the Ukrainian National Bank’s war fund.
Vista Outdoor’s Remington, CCI, Speer and Federal have now joined the support efforts, stepping up to donate a million rounds of ammunition to the Ukraine Armed Forces. That’s in addition to the ammunition already sold to the Ukrainian forces. They’re also selling tee shirts to support the Ukrainians with proceeds going to the Ukrainian Crisis Relief Fund of the Global Giving organization.
Ammunition, however, isn’t all the Ukrainian government’s hoping for. I have a copy of a “shopping list” sent from the Ukrainian State Border Guard on 24 February. It lists grenade launchers/grenades, projectiles for their RPG-7 rocket launchers, more vehicle-mounted automatic grenade launchers and millions of rounds of ammunition in 9x19, 7.62x54, 23x152mm and 5.45x39mm.
They were also requested 7.62x54 machine guns, heavy (12.7x108) machine guns, and Javelin and Stinger missiles.
The surprising item on their shopping list was the last on the list: 15,000 Class 4 bulletproof vests. Those, I was informed, were to equip “citizens” should it get to the point house-to-house fighting would become inevitable.
Barring a sudden change of heart by Russia’s Putin, that day is coming in more Ukrainian towns every day.
The Ukrainian invasion impacting all of us. Most immediately in skyrocketing gas prices. But commodity prices are also rising. Not just for oil, but corn and wheat. The Ukraine is known as one of those “breadbasket” countries, and planting seasons, like the Russian army, are approaching rapidly.
That’s one reason the world financial industry has taken unprecedentedly rapid actions against Russian oligarchs and their stupefying wealth.
In my house, it’s more personal.
Years ago, one of my closest friends adopted a child from the Ukraine. Not just any child, one of the children profoundly impacted by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. His son, Alex, was born with only one arm, a profoundly cleft palate and a myriad of general health problems.
Over the years, I’ve watched Alex grow from a very undersized, malnourished seven-year old into a fine man, husband, and father. Throughout it all, dozens of major surgeries, lots of complications and the challenges faced by anyone missing a limb, he’s had one constant: the kind of smile that lights up a room.
Whatever the challenge, whatever his age, Alex has always persevered. As a child at golf tournaments, his smile won over Chi Chi Rodriguez, caused him to play pitch-and-catch with Phil Mickelson, and amass signatures from the other legends of the sport.
He’s also mastered golf - to the point he’s the top ranked ranked one-armed golfer in America and a level-one PGA professional.
He never quits- and seldom loses that winning smile.
Today, Alex isn’t smiling.
He’s hurting because of what he sees happening. His memories of the Ukraine include an orphanage where he often had to fight for scraps of food. He knows the misery of hunger, homelessness and uncertainty. But he still calls that orphanage “home.”
Last week, he saw that orphanage on TV -after being bombed by the Russian army.
Alex, being Alex, couldn’t just watching. Instead, he put together an organization to help the orphans of the Ukraine. He’s selling t-shirts, with the proceeds going to support the same organization that brought him together with Anton and Elizabeth- his parents. If you want to know more, visit www.standwithukraineorphans.shgstores.com.
Having only one arm hasn’t stopped Alex Fourie at many things in his life. Today, he’s put together an organization selling t-shirts supporting all Ukrainians, but collecting funds to help support today’s Ukrainian orphans.
Not all of us are in the position to supply the things the Ukrainians need to resist Russian occupation. But there are ways for all of us to help.
We’ll keep you posted.
— Jim Shepherd
