June 2026
Dear Friends of Ukraine,
Those of you familiar with our organization, who have read our emails and seen our banners at events, know that we have provided aid to more than 15,000 Ukrainian Defenders since the start of the full-scale invasion. That’s more than 500 per month at this time. How do we do it so efficiently?
One of our greatest advantages as a small nonprofit organization is that we react to changing frontline needs more quickly than the government, and have more statistically significant data than single volunteers. As soon as the data we collect with each request shows Defenders need a new type of supply - whether it’s drone detectors, night vision devices, or power banks - we find a supplier and get a high-quality product.
Another advantage is our financial efficiency. All our team members in the USA are volunteers, which means donations go directly towards supplying Ukraine instead of inflated administrative costs. Our volunteer logistic experts purchase supplies in bulk from the factories at a fraction of the cost, sometimes as little as 20% of retail prices, and use sea freight container shipping to save of transportation costs.
The remaining piece of the puzzle? Our Ukraine warehouse operation team. Staffed by high schoolers and college students, it is a pivotal link in our end-to-end aid distribution chain, processing more than 800 requests from Defenders every month. To learn how we operate - read on, or visit our blog “How We Help 500 Defenders a Month.” Or read no further, and click ‘Donate Now” to support monthly or warehouse operating expenses.
Together we are stronger!
Kyle, Andriy, Slava, Ulana, Gretchen, and all of us at
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine
Spread Seeds of Help!
P.S. - We are also excited to share with you our brand new USA Facebook page and Instagram page. Please follow both pages and share with your friends and family. We will post updates focused on Colorado area events, news from Ukraine, and other important updates.
In April 2026, our team provided 1,533 items to 545 Defenders:
66 individual first aid kits (tourniquets, chest seals ...)
410 protective equipment items (electronic earmuffs, knee pads...)
489 field gear items (backpacks, load bearing vests, pouches...)
117 uniform components (uniform sets, sleeping pads, boots...)
451 other items (powerbanks, NVDs, drone detectors...)
Thank you to our donors that contributed to our efforts this month. We appreciate your help! And thanks to all of you that support our mission to save the lives and strengthen the resolve of Ukrainian Defenders.
Defenders also thank you. One of our frontline Defenders, call sign Alabai, reiterated the importance of remaining adaptable as the war changes, which is one of SFSU’s greatest strengths:“The war, compared to the beginning, is very different from what it is now. With drones, FPVs, and ground robots now in use, everything has changed dramatically. Even being on different fronts at the same time, the hostilities themselves take place with different features. You have to adjust, adapt as quickly as possible.”
To see Alabai’s full interview, including his experiences on the front lines, please subscribe to our Patreon.
Every first aid kit, power bank, and pair of boots that reaches a Ukrainian Defender does so with the help of our warehouse team in Ukraine. Our warehouse team is a pivotal link in our end-to-end aid distribution chain, processing more than 800 requests from Defenders every month and getting supplies directly into the hands of more than 500 frontline Defenders. This work, often performed by high schoolers and college students for a small stipend, is what makes our operation one of the most efficient and direct aid pipelines from your donation to the front lines.
Supporting this monthly donation campaign does double duty: it keeps our distribution operation running at full capacity, and it puts money directly into the Ukrainian economy at a time when every dollar spent locally matters. Your support provides:
$25/month in packing supplies
$50/month in gas and transportation supplies
$100/month for partial help from one person (a couple of days a week)
Any amount is incredibly helpful in sustaining a consistent network of supply lines. Donate today to keep the pipeline open and the supplies flowing to the front lines.
Saturday, June 27: Celebrate Ukrainian Constitution Day with SFSU at Launchpad Brewery in Aurora from 12-3. For more details see the events website.
Sunday, June 28: Join us for the screening of Ash and Crayons on Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 4:30 at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, CO. Click HERE for tickets or purchase in person to watch this award-winning documentary that tells the stories of Ukrainian children who continue to pursue their dreams despite lives shattered by occupation and deportation.
Wednesday, July 22: Sunflower Seeds Ukraine, along with KGNU, proudly presents DakhaBrakha to Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder on July 22, 2026. Click HERE for tickets!
Thursday, July 23: Save this date to Dine Out for Ukraine! We will update this website as additional restaurants sign on, so check it often! If you’d like to nominate a restaurant or help organize the event, please email events@sunflowerseedsukraine.org
For more details about these and other events, please visit the SFSU events website. For a recap of our recent events, visit our blog.
The U.S. House passed the Ukraine Support Act (H.R. 2913) on June 4th, proposing new sanctions on russia, new weapons sales, and $1.3 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. The bill now proceeds to the Senate and requires the support of at least 60 senators to pass. We urge every supporter to contact their senators now and demand they pass this bill. Ukraine needs this support, and your voice matters.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, President Zelensky publicly offered putin direct peace talks. putin refused, revealing to the world who is genuinely seeking peace. On the battlefield, Ukraine intensified its middle-strike campaign targeting russian logistics 100-200 km from the front line, and struck military targets of an oil depot, a military port, and an ammunition depot approximately 1,000 kilometers inside russia using domestically produced drones.
russia launched a massive aerial assault on Kyiv on June 2nd, killing at least 23 civilians, including two children. The attacks underscore Ukraine's urgent need for additional ballistic air defenses. Read the full update for details.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
To read longer versions of our news stories, visit the blog on our website, where you also can learn more about upcoming events and volunteering opportunities.
For more frequent updates about our work, please like our Facebook page (new USA page here), follow us on Instagram (new USA page here), and subscribe to our Youtube channel.
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*The misspelling and lower casing of proper names like ‘russia’ in this newsletter is intentional and used as signs of disdain and disrespect. Similarly, the uppercasing of words such as ‘Defenders’ is intentional and used as a sign of respect and appreciation.
