Help keep volunteers safe in Ukraine

ONGOING WORK — Waynesville resident and retired explosives expert, John Culp, is in Ukraine as a volunteer for Bomb Techs Without Borders (BTWOB). He is shown carefully lifting ordnance as part of his training mission for Ukrainians on handling remnants of war.

Bottom line up front: I’m hoping you might be willing to donate to purchase a woman’s tactical uniform for a female bomb technician in the National Police of Ukraine.

Any amount would be appreciated, but $225 will get a set of tactical uniforms tailored to fit a female who has volunteered for one of the most dangerous jobs in Ukraine.

I’m sending this out to friends who have either seen one of our presentations on Ukraine or to whom we’ve talked with about Ukraine...or both. I’m hoping you will be willing to help in this effort.

We have continued to support the Ukrainian National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. They came to me recently with a request to help raise funds for tactical uniforms for 24 women (by name) who have stepped up to become bomb techs with the National Police.

As I have mentioned at various points, the two primary repositories of EOD expertise in Ukraine are the National Police and the State Emergency Services (fire and rescue). The Army does not have EOD specialists as such, they have combat engineers (sappers) whose mission it is to breach minefields for the passage of armor and infantry units, and of course emplace minefields in the defense.

The responsibility for the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mines from civilian areas falls largely to the National Police. The State Emergency Services engages in the immediate aftermath of an attack and deals with those emergency threats, but there is a huge gap in the need and the capability of all the services. The National Police EOD find themselves often on or near the front lines dealing with hazards to life and limb.

Women’s uniforms: More than 60,000 women have answered the call to arms with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and were initially handed men’s uniforms, boots, and armor and told to “get on with it.” Only recently has the Army approved a uniform specifically designed for women and is now designing armor that fits; up until now, the need has been met by a patchwork of NGOs and private citizens.

The National Police do not fall under the Army or receive equipment or funding from them. Needs always exceed available funding; so they have come to me (and others) to provide tactical clothing, boots, and armor that fits.

I have enlisted the aid of The Moldova World Children’s Fund (https://moldovawcf.org/) to collect and disburse the funds. MWCF, a 501©3 non-governmental organization (NGO) headquartered in Hendersonville, was started over 20 years ago to support children and families in Moldova. Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the tiny country of Moldova has been inundated with refugees, more per capita than any other country in the world. The Fund has temporarily shifted part of its focus to humanitarian support inside Ukraine and has already provided food and tools to the National Police EOD. The Fund has agreed to match donations up to $2000 and will handle the funds and transfer them to the uniform manufacturer in Ukraine.

Manufacture of the first set of “three-season” uniforms has already begun, and a second set is needed. Winter is on the way and winter uniforms will be required as well. We hope you can help.

If you are willing to donate $225 (the cost of one uniform) or more, I will ensure that the female officer gets a personal note with your name (if you wish).

Here’s how to donate:

Donate by check:

Mail your tax-deductible donation to The Moldova World Children’s fund, P.O. Box 548, Hendersonville, NC 28793-0548. Be sure to put “Ukraine Women’s Uniform” on the “for” line.

Donate by credit card:

1. Go to https://moldovawcf.org/ and click on “Donate” at

the top right corner of the main page.

2. Select an amount or enter a custom amount in the “Other” category.

3. Click the down-arrow next to “General Fund Doing the Most Good” and select “Other.”

4. Select a donation for fees if desired then click “Donate with debit or credit card.”

5. Where it says “is this gift for a specific cause” click the plus (+) sign.

6. Type in “Ukraine Women’s Uniforms.”

7. Complete the contact, credit card, and billing information.

8. Uncheck the “save your info and create a PayPal account” line unless you want to create a PayPal account.

9. Select “donate” and you are done!

Thanks for your time and attention!

John Culp is a Waynesville resident who has been volunteering in Ukraine with Bomb Techs Without Borders (BTWOB), an organization dedicated to protecting Ukrainians from the thousands of unexploded munitions.

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