Kateryna Leshchyshyn leads international partnerships at the Come Back Alive foundation, which has raised over $1 billion to support Ukraine's defense since 2014. She shares the evolution of the NGO from a charity to a key military-support entity. Kateryna highlights the vital role of NGOs in boosting resilience and provides insights into the types of equipment they procure, including drones and vehicles. She discusses the challenges of working with international donors and urges listeners to support Ukraine through various means, stressing community involvement.
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insights INSIGHT
Civil Society As A Defense Actor
Come Back Alive operates at the intersection of military, defense industry, civil society and charity in Ukraine.
The foundation evolved from post-2014 volunteer fundraising into a unique, large-scale defense actor driving rapid adaptation.
insights INSIGHT
Unprecedented Crowdfunding Scale
Come Back Alive has raised over $1 billion since 2014 and publishes transparent reports online.
The scale underlines how state and allied support alone cannot meet Ukraine's wartime needs across a 1,500+ km front.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Prioritize Buy-And-Test Projects
Focus donations on material procurement for immediate battlefield impact: weapons, drones, vehicles and critical peripherals.
Support rapid testing and small-scale innovation that can be handed to government or scaled by partners.
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Imagine an NGO that has raised over one billion dollars to support the Ukrainian army. Imagine a civil society initiative that purchases armaments and military equipment. Imagine a transparent organisation with an independent board and detailed reporting. This NGO exists — it is called “Povernys Zhyvym”, or “Come Back Alive”. It is one of the largest Ukrainian civil society foundations supporting Ukraine’s defense.
In this episode, we will speak about its work — and about the ways you can help Ukraine.
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Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media platform about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine.
Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine
UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en
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Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine.
Guest: Kateryna Leshchyshyn, head of the international partnerships at the Come Back Alive foundation.
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SUPPORT:
You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.
You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.
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The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR
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CONTENTS:
00:00 What is Come Back Alive (Povernys Zhyvym)?
02:09 Come Back Alive`s Role: at the crossroads of the military, defence industry, and charity
04:33 Why does Ukraine need charity foundations to win?
07:49 Povernys Zhyvym buys a lot of things: from arms and vehicles to drones and chairs
09:58 Come Back Alive tests and develops new solutions
13:27 Working with foreigners: Challenges and successful stories
16:09 Why foreigners are reluctant to fund military equipment
19:34 Reality of the Ukrainian army: 80-90% of soldiers are former civilians
22:07 Who are the main donors of Come Back Alive?
29:38 Ways to support Ukraine: Spreading information, demonstrations, literature
37:37 Why donors should choose Come Back Alive
Explaining Ukraine