In the frantic early days of Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukrainian-Americans mobilized to provide aid, and for U.S. military veteran Paul Shmotolokha, that meant redirecting his mobile solar power company to support frontline needs. Yet, alongside shipping high-tech generators, Shmotolokha joined a grassroots effort supplying a surprisingly critical and personal form of assistance: his own retired U.S. military uniforms.
As Chairman and CEO of New Use Energy, a business he co-founded to develop and deliver mobile solar power technologies, Shmotolokha redirected the company’s mission to include supporting frontline needs in Ukraine. His team began supplying portable solar generators to Ukrainian hospitals, military and drone units, and field medics operating in hot zones. However, Shmotolokha’s contributions extended beyond energy technology solutions to include an essential yet frequently overlooked form of support accessible to many American veterans: the donation of military uniforms.
In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, countless Ukrainian-Americans swiftly mobilized to provide their support. Among them, Paul Shmotolokha, a Ukrainian-American veteran of the United States military, leveraged his cultural heritage, military experience, and professional career to deliver critical assistance to Ukrainian defenders on the ground.
For many Ukrainian-American veterans, the thought of a Ukrainian soldier wearing a U.S. military uniform, especially when the patch across the chest still bears a Ukrainian surname, becomes a link between generations. It serves as a way for them to contribute to defend the nation that their grandparents fought for.
Shmotolokha was connected to DOKO through his company’s work, and upon hearing of its ongoing uniform campaign, which calls on American veterans to donate their old U.S. military uniforms to Ukrainian soldiers, he felt compelled to join the cause.
“When I first met Xenia, she told me about the uniform program,” he recalled. “I went to my basement, pulled out my old uniforms, and sent everything over. It was my honor, I want to say.”
In the chaos of war, such gestures carry weight. Many Ukrainian special forces units work with limited supplies, and are often in desperate need of durable, high-quality gear. For many American veterans, the contribution can be as simple as retrieving an old uniform from the back of a closet and leaving your name patch on it. American uniforms are particularly appreciated on the front lines due to their notably durable quality and fire retardant properties.
Donated American uniforms serve not only as practical attire but as symbols of support and solidarity. In recent months when international support towards war efforts in Ukraine has been faltering, such donations provide reassurance to those on the front lines that there is still a community that supports them, regardless of national policies and decrees.
“I’m really hoping someone saw the last name, recognized it as Ukrainian, noticed the airborne badge, the rank. I think my first lieutenant bars were still on there,” Shmotolokha reflected. “Morale-wise, I hope it reminded them that they’re not alone, that we’re with them.” When asked his opinion, Smotolokha said, “100% leave your patches on, I think everybody should dig into their closets.” Uniforms that once carried a commitment to serve can continue to serve, defending democracy and freedom on another front.
Shmotolokha emphasised this commitment, stating “I didn’t need inspiration to beat the Russians. As a first-generation Ukrainian and someone who served, when people are putting their lives on the line for their country, you do what you can to support them.”
For many Ukrainian-American veterans, the thought of a Ukrainian soldier wearing a U.S. military uniform, especially when the patch across the chest still bears a Ukrainian surname, becomes a link between generations. It serves as a way for them to contribute to defend the nation that their grandparents fought for.