– If the Russians come home in coffins, it prevents the Ukrainians from coming home in coffins. So says “Peder”, a man in his 30s whom news speaks to on the phone, from the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. Peder is not his real name. But he has now agreed and tells news about the organization VeteranAidUkraine. For the past six months, they have been providing direct assistance to the Ukrainian armed forces, primarily in the form of clothing and other equipment for the individual soldier. In addition to drones, VeteranAidUkraine has supplied equipment used by individual soldiers in the Ukrainian army. Photo: Privat / news But the most important thing has been the collection and purchase of drones. They have been used both to observe the positions of the Russian forces, but also for direct attacks. – There is hardly any doubt that grenades released from drones we have given them have killed Russian soldiers, says “Peder” to news. According to him, a couple of thousand Russian soldiers have lost their lives or been injured because of the Norwegian drones. A number that is completely impossible for news to verify. – This is great, says the Norwegian veteran, but 12 years of service in the Norwegian defense behind him. The drones from Norway have been transported in cars to Ukraine. Photo: Privat / news Videos show drone attacks But most independent observers believe that tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have lost their lives after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack Ukraine on 24 February this year. Videos, which are said to have been taken by drones provided by the Norwegian organization, clearly show that Russian soldiers and officers are hit by shells released from the drones. The Ukrainian journalist and politician Sergii lestzhneko has posted this picture of Norwegian artillery of the type M 109 at the front in eastern Ukraine. Photo: Sergii Lestshenko Norway has sent significant arms aid to Ukraine, primarily in the form of M 72 anti-tank missiles and 22 artillery carriages of the M 109 type. The Ukrainian journalist and politician, Sergii Lestshneko, posted photos and videos on Facebook in September that showed a M 109 armored car in action at the front in eastern Ukraine. – But the artillery does not help the ordinary soldier at the front, says “Peder”. According to him, there is therefore a great need for equipment for the soldiers, including in the form of equipment that enables them to fight at night. The drones have changed the concept of war But the most important contribution that VeteranAidUkraine has made is the various drones that have been sent to the Ukrainian army. – Drones have changed the way war is waged. We have seen that ever since the Russian attack on Ukraine started in February, says “Peder”, which has also been confirmed from other sources. – A drone can replace a squad of reconnaissance soldiers and can keep watch over a large area, says the Norwegian veteran. The Norwegian veterans themselves have conducted equipment training in Ukraine. Photo: Privat / news – The drones we have sent to Ukraine we have either purchased ourselves or we have had them donated. He further says that the organization has collected around NOK 1/2 million, but that the value of what they have sent to the Ukrainian forces amounts to between NOK 5 and 6 million. Much of the equipment has been driven to Ukraine with their own cars, so that they have been able to deliver it directly to the departments at the front. Norwegian volunteers have been visiting the front in Ukraine for a long time to deliver equipment to the Ukrainian army. Photo: Privat / news Have been on six trips to Ukraine – The hardest part has been getting across the border. The Ukrainian bureaucracy often has problems with handling this type of help, says “Peder” to news. He himself has been to Ukraine six times since the war started. At the moment, he, together with around veterans from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, is training Ukrainian soldiers. A close friendship has developed between the Norwegian veterans and their partners in Ukraine. Photo: Privat / news This training is not directly related to the work that VeteranAidUkraine carries out. He himself has been to the front several times, and seen the enormous destruction that the Russian attack has caused in large parts of Ukraine. – The Russian army is still now only a ghost of itself. Nevertheless, the war can go either way. It can get much worse, but it can also get better, says “Peder”, on the phone from Odesa in southern Ukraine.
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