A group of Czech volunteers from the Team4Ukraine (T4U) were awarded medals of valor by the supreme commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, in Kyiv on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion. The ten volunteers were recognized for their service in training Ukrainian soldiers in tactical first aid, providing medical assistance to civilians, and transporting humanitarian aid.

The T4U organization has been working on various projects since 2014. Initially starting with a team of four people, it has now grown to around 25 volunteers, including former soldiers, war veterans, and former police officers who have experience with weapons and war. Most of the T4U staff work under pseudonyms to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

The organization’s mission includes supporting civic society, professionalizing the non-government sector, providing specialized training to security and healthcare forces, and delivering direct humanitarian aid to civilians, civilian infrastructure, and units defending Ukraine. Its humanitarian activities primarily focus on health, logistics, the safety of civilians impacted by the war, and distribution of non-food aid.

Since the launch of the Russian invasion, T4U has dispatched humanitarian convoys with aid and material for defenders. The organization has supplied ambulances, lung ventilators for a hospital in Poltava, equipment for a hospital in Kherson, and health material and other necessities for a children’s home where it held Christmas celebrations for children affected by the war. T4U has established various forms of cooperation with NGOs, police, universities, and local municipal bodies almost all over Ukraine, with a special emphasis on eastern and southeastern areas such as the Kharkiv and Kherson provinces.

The organization has built a humanitarian storage facility in Ukraine and receives funds from Czech donors and firms to supply aid to soldiers and civilians. It has made significant contributions to the Ukrainian cause, which have been highly appreciated by the Ukrainian government and people.

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has stirred up a massive wave of solidarity with Ukraine in the Czech Republic and abroad. Western leaders have condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions against Russia. The Czech volunteers from T4U have shown that ordinary citizens can make a meaningful contribution in times of crisis by providing humanitarian aid, training, and medical assistance to those in need. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of global solidarity in times of conflict and the critical role played by civil society organizations in mitigating the impact of war on civilians.

Article by Prague Forum