One year ago, on February 24, 2022, tragedy struck Ukraine. With the support of many of you, we have been able to provide relief, safe passage, and haven to those who need it most. Since the escalation of conflict in 2022, the Weatherman Foundation has reached millions of people in Ukraine and neighboring countries. The organization’s humanitarian response has focused on supporting local partners, providing food, medicine and hygiene products to hospitals, households, and shelters, innovative solutions for supply chain challenges, delivering trauma kits and training to those on the frontline, and supporting evacuation and housing for newly arrived refugees to Poland. We have partnered with over 50 organizations in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania, to directly provide families with food, supplies, medicine, and other necessary support.

As the sun rises on a second year of war, together we are supporting Ukrainians in their fight, their livelihoods and their stand for democracy. Our team members who have worked in Ukraine since the start of the war, reflect on our partnerships with Ukrainians and others over the last year, the programs and humanitarian support you have made possible, and people’s most pressing needs, below:

Stand With Us

Robert McCreary, Vice President: “Since the senseless Russian invasion began, we have witnessed the heartbreaking horrors of war at a scale not seen since WWII. However, the Ukrainian people are not paralyzed by fear, their bravery and resilience is an inspiration to the world. Proving the point that when we stand together we can defeat evil anywhere in the world. At the Weatherman Foundation, we employ special operations veterans and highly skilled logisticians to support humanitarian operations in Ukraine. Special operations veterans are uniquely qualified diplomats with specialized skill sets. In the military, we have all supported dangerous humanitarian operations and now we use that training and experience to help people in need. We put ourselves in harm's way so others may live and I’m honored to work alongside our amazing Weatherman Foundation team in support of democracy and the Ukrainian people.”

What started out for me as a week-long trip to Romania to help re-purpose an old manufacturing building, turned into an 11-month odyssey: creating the preeminent Humanitarian Hub and bonded warehouse in Romania. We have delivered over 500 trucks and hundreds of van loads of aid to the hardest hit communities in Ukraine, with 99.8% of the products delivered without a loss. This is world class performance for any industry, but incredible for humanitarian aid in a war zone. We have shipped everything imaginable from food, medicine, medical equipment, sleeping bags, hygiene products, to hospital beds, trucks, stoves, generators, protective museum materials, ambulances and vehicles of every kind including a $500,000 rolling water treatment truck.

I am in awe of the resilience of the Ukrainian people and Tulcea Hub staff of mostly Ukrainians and Romanians. Their commitment to do whatever it takes to make sure we receive and send shipments is incredible. Now, food, medicine and generators are at the top of our needs lists and we’ll continue to deliver.

To our partners around the world who have trusted us to ship and deliver all of the incredible aid to the people of Ukraine,

thank you all for making a difference in the lives of many.

Joseph Norbeck, Director of Operations: “As I look back on the last year I am reminded of how exceptional a small talented elite team can make a difference in the daily lives of Ukrainians across the world. We have helped many families and children begin anew in Europe and the US through our displaced persons program and we continue to support their recovering and advancement in a new unfamiliar place in which they now call home.So many cities, towns, and villages have been destroyed during this past year by Russia’s lethal brutality against a sovereign and innocent nation leaving millions of people displaced inside and out of Ukraine. We will never waver in our support to help as many as we can with medical care, hard to get medicines inside Ukraine, and access to housing and education. I am grateful to our founders, our partners, our friends, and most of all our RTWF Team for always finding a way to bring a shimmer of light along with hope into a dark place.”

Tori Hill-Ross, Director of Strategy, Programs and Outreach; Women, Peace and Security Lead: “One year since the start of the war, I marvel at the resilience and heart of Ukrainians, their commitment to stand up for their rights, their families and their freedom. It’s deeply humbling to work alongside the Tulcea Hub staff, Ukrainian delivery partners, and my Weatherman colleagues who work around the clock to save lives and provide aid. But, it’s the women who have amazed me most over the course of the last year. Not only are they caring for their families, their children’s education and the every day needs in their communities; they are voluntarily fighting on the frontlines, delivering critical supplies across conflict zones and upholding the very tenants of democracy. This war would look very different without their efforts, and it’s one of the great privileges of my life to stand alongside them. Thank you to those supporting our work, and to our founders and President: for believing that providing the smallest amount of hope is worthwhile.”

Lana Rogers, Senior Advisor on Ukrainian Operations: “A year of resilience, unbelievable strength, and unity: these are words that come to mind describing the Ukrainian nation. No more fear, no tolerance, no stepping backwards. Born and raised in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. It is heartbreaking to see what is happening to such a beautiful city, country, culture, and its people. What is next? How to help? What more I can do? These questions I asked myself when the War began. Knocking on every door till it opened and not taking “no” for an answer brought me to the the The Romulus T. Weatherman Foundation. I am honored to be a part of such amazing team that stands with Ukraine, bringing such needed humanitarian aid and assistance to the Ukrainian people. “Whatever it takes to make it happen”. This is the attitude I was looking for to keep the voice of freedom and democracy going as this is the attitude my people of Ukraine have chosen.”

Our WPS Team has some exciting events coming up during March - Women’s History Month! Partnering with the U.S. Institute for Peace and Women in International Security, and the House of Representatives Women Peace and Security Caucus, the Weatherman Foundation will co-sponsor a Ukrainian women’s delegation to Washington DC. Event information can be found to the right - we’d love for you to tune in!

Watch the USIP Event

Last week, our Hub team sent insulin to Odesa with the support of our delivery partner, the Charitable Fund of Spiritual Revival. Doctors are grateful and we’re thankful to our donating partners, Insulin for Life USA, who continue to send shipments to the hardest hit areas.

Reduced access to transportation continues to affect every aspect of Ukraine’s health system, from patient visits to supply chains. Transportation limitations have reduced physical access to care for many patients and led to persistent stock-outs of needed medications throughout the pharmacy and clinical network as well.

Access to chronic illness care, like insulin for diabetics, remains better in larger towns and cities, but the situation is worse in frontline areas and recently de-occupied areas, where there are shortages. Donations from partners like Insulin for Life are critical for ongoing care.

And yet, despite the impact of attacks on health infrastructure and other services, health care within Ukraine remains manifestly resilient to shocks — a testament at once to the commitment of Ukrainian health professionals and to the strength of international support and collaboration.

The Romulus T. Weatherman foundation is prioritizing the following in its response to the 2nd year of the crisis in Ukraine: