Andrij Potichnyj: "If i were to buy a bulletproof vest now, i would Ukrainian-Made one"

Our goal is to raise $1 million by the end of November to meet the winter needs of at least 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

When Vasyl was 10 years old, his father drew a tryzub on a rock, and told him: "Your great-grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, your grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, and I was imprisoned for Ukraine. What will you do for Ukraine?"

“Dad died in an accident in 1983,” recalls Vasyl Hladenky, 57, “but I assure you, that I’m continuing our family’s cause, and am also fighting for Ukraine. As are my sons. Both our generations must finally defeat Russia, and put an end to this fight.”

Hladenky has raised three sons and three adopted daughters. The eldest son moved to the Czech Republic with his family years ago. So, when Vasyl Hladenky and his two younger sons set off to fight for Ukraine in February of this year, a clear historical-hereditary pattern emerged: all the generations of men in the Hladenky family have fought for Ukraine over the course of the last 100 years!

Vasyl’s great-grandfather was a well-educated officer in the Ukrainian Galician Army; he died for Ukraine.

Vasyl’s grandfather served in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army; his nom de guerre was “Chervony,” and he was an officer in “Bey’s” company. In the winter of 1946, his unit was surrounded by NKVD forces. The boys fought back, firing all their bullets; they saved the last few rounds for themselves, and took their own lives, in order to avoid surrender.

Albertans should be so proud of this donation

When Vasyl was 10 years old, his father drew a tryzub on a rock, and told him: "Your great-grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, your grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, and I was imprisoned for Ukraine. What will you do for Ukraine?"

“Dad died in an accident in 1983,” recalls Vasyl Hladenky, 57, “but I assure you, that I’m continuing our family’s cause, and am also fighting for Ukraine. As are my sons. Both our generations must finally defeat Russia, and put an end to this fight.”

Tyzhden’ spoke with Andrij Potichnyj, the head of the Ukrainian World Congress’s supply program “Unite with Ukraine”. The conversation hinged on how Ukrainians abroad are helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces, how the needs of the Ukrainian military are being met and how the conditions for importing aid to Ukraine have changed since the beginning of the full-scale war, and why bulletproof vests, bags for first aid kits and backpacks are no longer needed.

By Roman Malko

When Vasyl was 10 years old, his father drew a tryzub on a rock, and told him: "Your great-grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, your grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, and I was imprisoned for Ukraine. What will you do for Ukraine?"

“Dad died in an accident in 1983,” recalls Vasyl Hladenky, 57, “but I assure you, that I’m continuing our family’s cause, and am also fighting for Ukraine. As are my sons. Both our generations must finally defeat Russia, and put an end to this fight.”

When Vasyl was 10 years old, his father drew a tryzub on a rock, and told him: "Your great-grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, your grandfather gave his life for Ukraine, and I was imprisoned for Ukraine. What will you do for Ukraine?"

“Dad died in an accident in 1983,” recalls Vasyl Hladenky, 57, “but I assure you, that I’m continuing our family’s cause, and am also fighting for Ukraine. As are my sons. Both our generations must finally defeat Russia, and put an end to this fight.”