Open letter to Ukraine’s allies: urgent call for air defense aid
Open Letter of CSOs, Intellectuals, and Opinion Leaders to Ukraine's Allies: Urgent Call for Sufficient Aid for Air Defense Systems to Protect Ukrainian Civilians and Critical Infrastructure
We, the undersigned, extend our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support of Ukraine's allies in its struggle against the existential threat to the nation posed by Russian aggression. Recent events have brought to light a drastic need for a comprehensive approach and urgent steps to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
Advertisement:On July 8, on the eve of the 75th NATO Summit, Russia attacked Ukraine with dozens of missiles.
44 people died, and almost 200 were wounded. Included in the Kremlin's targets for that day was the Okhmatdyt hospital in downtown Kyiv, where child cancer victims and other sick kids were being treated.
This hospital, known as the "Hospital of Last Hope," is renowned for its specialized care in pediatric oncology, neurosurgery, and genetic diseases, conducting thousands of life-saving surgeries annually. The decision to target Okhmatdyt was deliberate. There have been 1,442 Russian attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities since the all-out invasion of 2022.
As in Syria, where Russia perfected its hospital targeting, this is simply another means to terrorize the civilian population. These attacks constitute a blatant act of terrorism and a clear breach of international treaties that protect civilians in war zones, including the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute, and other norms of international humanitarian law. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russia has deployed over 5,000 strategic and operational-tactical missiles and over 5,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Ukraine, alongside approximately 29,000 glide bombs, wreaking havoc on civilian lives and vital infrastructure.
Despite initial sanctions briefly impeding Russian missile production, its arms industry has swiftly recovered and expanded. Missile production, including ballistic and cruise missiles, has surged by 50% in 2024 compared to last year. Notably, the output of the Iranian-designed Geran-2 drone has doubled, and glide bombs in Russia's possession have increased by a staggering 260%.
In addition to these atrocities aimed at medical staff and their patients, Russia continues to target critical infrastructure, with approximately two-thirds of Ukraine's energy-generating capacity now destroyed, damaged, or seized. Such ruthless tactics demand an urgent and robust international response. Therefore, we urgently call upon Ukraine's allies to take long-awaited measures to protect the country's Air Space.
While securing the delivery of F-16 fighter jets is crucial, we urge international partners of Ukraine to respond to their immediate need - additional Patriot, NASAMS, IRIS-T systems, and other critical air defense systems, along with sufficient SAMs. These defenses are essential to establishing a robust shield against cruise and ballistic missile strikes deep within Ukrainian territory. We also encourage discussions on whether Russian missiles can be intercepted over Ukraine by systems based in NATO neighbors.
This approach mirrors the recent bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Poland, setting a precedent for regional cooperation. And we urge you to consider increasing military support for Ukraine from Western democracies to 0.25% of GDP. Ukrainian society remains resilient and united in the face of adversity.
As civil society, intellectuals and opinion leaders, we urge allies to stand with Ukraine, to defend democracy, and to protect the innocents who have been caught up in this senseless aggression. Together, we can uphold the values of justice and freedom that bind us as a global community. With deepest appreciation and steadfast hope,
Respectfully! The signees: Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center of Civil Liberties
Lesia Orobets, Founder of the "Safe Sky for Ukraine" Initiative Ben Hodges, Former Commander US Army Europe Veronika Velch, communications expert
Dr. Olena Davlikanova, political analyst, Sumy State University Pat Cox, Former President of the European Parliament
Mykola Riabchuk, honorary president of Ukrainian PEN Center Serhii Plokhii, Ukrainian and American historian Myroslav Marynovych, Co-founder and former member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group (Human Rights Monitor), philosopher, religious scholar
Andriy Pavlyshyn, historian, translator, member of the Ukrainian PEN Oleh Sentsov, Film director Oksana Forostyna, Ukrainian journalist, writer, translator and publisher
Dacian CIOLOS, Former Prime Minister of Romanian Government Yevhen Hlibovytsky, Director of the Frontier Institute Yaroslav Hrytsak, Professor of Ukrainian Catholic University
Alyona Getmanchuk, Director of the New Europe Center Sergiy Solodkyy, First Deputy Director of the New Europe Center Ihor Poshyvailo, General Director of the National Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and Revolution of Dignity Museum (Maidan Museum)
Ola Hnatiuk, Professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA), Professor Emerita at the University of Warsaw Andreas Umland, German political scientist Alexander Motyl, American historian, political scientist, writer
Konstantin Sigov, Director of the Spirit & Letter Publishing House Prof. Olexiy Haran, Research Director at the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation
Lyuba Shipovich, Director of the Dignitas Fund Maria Berlinska, Head of the Victory Drones Project Olena Halushka, Co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory
Nataliya Gumenyuk, CEO of the Public Interest Journalism Lab Sergej Sumlenny, Managing Director of the European Resilience Initiative Center Edwin Bendyk, Chairman of the Board at Stefan Batory Foundation
Igor Shchupak, Director of "Tkuma" Ukrainian institute for Holocaust Studies Zenon Kowal, diplomat, former head of mission of the French-speaking governments of Belgium Geert Cami, Co-Founder and Secretary-General of Friends of Europe
Oleksandra Suprun, Programme Manager of Friends of Europe Paul Revay, a member of the Board of Trustees of Friends of Europe Stefan Fule, a member of the Board of Trustees of Friends of Europe
Igor Chocholak, President of the Association of Ukrainians in Belgium Anne-Solene Rolland, Scientific Director of French Museum Jasminko Halilovic, Founder & Director-General of the War Childhood Museum
Plamen Pantev, Founder and Director of the Institute for Security and International Studies, Sofia Juraj Majcin, Policy Analyst for Defence & Security of the European Policy Centre Linas Linkevicius, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Lithuania
Hlib Vyshlinsky, Executive Director at Centre for Economic Strategy Marietje Schaake, Former Member of the European Parliament from the Netherlands Olga Bielkova, Former Member of the Ukrainian Parliament
Andris Piebalgs, Latvian politician and diplomat Dariia Mykhailyshyna, Ukrainian economist Ricardo Baptista Leite, Founder & President of UNITED Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Lindsey N. Clarke, Founder & Director of Women's WorldWide Web (W4) Ari-Pekka Liukkonen, Olympian swimmer, Finland
Dorica Dan, President of the Romanian National Alliance for Rare Diseases (RONARD) Victoria Vdovychenko, Program Director for Security Studies at the Center for Defence Strategies Kulesha Tatiana, Board of Directors of EURORDIS and Chairman of the Board of the NGO "Rare Diseases of Ukraine"
Olena Shershun, Associate Partner at CIVITTA Ukraine Dmytro Baranov, Director of Justice For Ukraine Foundation Katarzyna Anna Nawrot, Professor of Poznan University of Economics and Business
Klen Jaarats, Estonia Alex Tempel, Policy Advisor of GIZ Kerstin Duhme, expert in strategic communications, Brussels
Georges Dallemagne, Belgian politician and doctor Nazar Bobitski, a former Ukrainian diplomat Michael Wilbur, Chief Operating Officer of EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe
Dora Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine Lilia Pustovit, Owner & Art Director of Poustovit ltd Fashion house Olena Tsybulska, Musician at DakhaBrakha band
Olga Dukhnich, Ukrainian journalist Cengiz Aktar, Turkish political scientist, journalist, writer Zoriana Rybchynska, Head of the Culrural Studies Department of the Ukrainian Catholic University
Yurij Holovatch, Professor at the Institute for Condensed Matter Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Martin Schulze Wessel, German historian Kai Struve, German historian
Bohdan Novosyadlyj, Ukrainian astrophysicist Jurij Kozicki, Polish mathematician Olena Dzhedzhora, Ukrainian historian
Krzysztof Czyzewski, President of the Borderland Foundation Tomasz Kamusella, Polish historian and publicist Viktoriia Lavrynenko, Ukrainian podcast producer
Olivier Dupuis, Former Member of the European Parliament Petro Dolhanov, Ukrainian historian Ineta Dabasinskiene, Lithuanian scientist in the field of linguistics
Andrea Graziosi, Italian historian Wolfgang Mueller, contemporary history and Russian studies researcher Malgorzata Gorczynska, Polish scientist in the field of linguistics
Michael Moser, Austrian philologist, Slavologist Guido Hausmann, German historian (East and Southeast European Studies) Oleksandr Kruglov, Ukrainian historian
Mariya Donska, a scientist in the field of Slavic studies Ruslan Kavatsiuk, President of DreamKyiv NGO Oksana Mikheieva, Professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University
Alti Rodal, Co-Director of the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter Rev. Iouri Koslovskii, Director of the Collegium of Ukrainian Catholic University
Elizabeth Hull, an expert in American government, Constitutional law and civil liberties, Rights of prisoners Oksana Bashuk, activist Andreas Kappeler, Austrian historian
Jurij Dobczansky, Librarian at Library of Congress Halyna Hryn, President of the Shevchenko Scientific Society in the US Oleh Wolowyna, full member of the Shevchenko Scientific Society
Orest Deychakiwsky, Co-chair of the Transatlantic Task Force for Ukraine Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge Oksana Piaseckyj, National Culture Chair of Ukrainian Women's League of America
Halyna Traversa, Social Welfare Chair of Ukrainian Women's League of America Inia Tunstall, member of Ukrainian Women's League of America Peter J Piaseckyj, Memeber of the Ukrainian American Veterans
Nicholas Adam Turinski, retired from Canadian Government Public Service Roman D. Hryciw, Ph.D.
Civil Engineering, US Gennadi Poberezny, Professor at Ukrainian Free University Myroslav Shkandrij, Canadian literary and art critic
Professor Lubomyr Luciuk, Canadian historian Martina Winkler, German historian Prof.
Dr. Tomas Halik, Czech Catholic priest, philosopher, and theologian Andrew Ripecky, Former president Former president of Ukrainian Medical Association of North America
Dr. Liudmyla Pidkuimukha, Ukrainian linguist Ingrida Unikaite-Jakuntaviciene, Lithuanian political scientist
Michael Naydan, American professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures Mykhailo Honchar, Associate professor of Pedagogy and Education Management Department of Kherson Academy of Continuing Education Oleh Tretiak, Emeritus Professor at Drexel University, US
NAFO Bremen Askold Melnyczuk, Editor, Publisher of Arrowsmith Press Nina Tsybulko, volunteer at Non-profit organization Misto Syly
Alexander B. Kuzma, Chief Development Officer at Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation Martin J.
Kummel, German linguist Alexander Ebner, German sociologist Bohdan Klid, Ukrainian and Canadian historian
Paul Micevych, neuroscientist, US Markus Fulmek, Professor at Universitat Wien David R.
Marples, Canadian historian Alexandra Stefanyshyn, Active member of Republican Party Barbara Dash, librarian at US government agency
Petro Hewka, President of the Philadelphia Chapter of Ukrainian Engineers' Society of America Jars Balan, Research Associate at University of Alberta Yuliya Ilchuk, Professor, Director of Slavic Studies Program at Stanford University
Taras Koznarsky, Canadian literary critic and historian Bohdan Vitvitsky, American lawyer Victoria Karpiak, Executive Member of Ottawa-Gatineau branch of the Ukrainian National Federation
Anni Beck, Mitglied at Nafo HB Vladyslav Yatsenko, Chief editor of "?????????? ???????\Historical webinar" Youtube channel John-Paul Himka, Canadian historian
Maksym Vakulenko, linguist scientist Wioleta Grzesiak, Project manager at UA Future Dr Ihor Cehelsky MD, lifetime member of UIA
Tilman Eichstadt, COO at Hellofresh, Germany Taras Banakh, Professor of Mathematics at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv Tatiana Rad, Member of Ukrainian Women's League of America
Katja Kolcio, Associate Professor and Chair at Wesleyan University Bruno Heidlberger, Assistant Professor at Freie Universitat Berlin Walter Clemens, Emeritus professor at Boston University
Irene Zabytko, writer Elzbieta Kwiecinska, Assistant Professor at the Polish Academy of Sciences Marta Farion, Vice-President of the Ukrainian World Congress
Oleh S. Ilnytzkyj, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta Olga Bertelsen, historian, researcher of Global Security and Intelligence
Yurij Wowczuk, Director of the Vovk Foundation Inc., Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms of Ukraine (ODFFU) Joshua D. Zimmerman, Professor of History, Chair in Holocaust Studies at Yeshiva University
Francis Flaherty, writer, US Olena Zotova, Professor at Penn State University Tomasz Stryjek, Polish historian
Yaryna Fedus, Doctor Nadiyka Gerbish, Ukrainian writer, journalist, translator Piotr Oseka, Polish historian
Marianna Yeleiko, Director of the Ukrainian Charitable Foundation 'Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation' Tetiana Brynzak, HR at Dragon Capital Mykola Hryckowian, President of Organization for the Defense of the Four Freedoms for Ukraine
Ulana Holovatch, Associate Professor of the Ukrainian Catholic University Daniel Katscher, Doctoral Student at the University of Vienna Joanna Konieczna-Salamatin, Professor at the University of Warsaw
Prof. Dr. Joachim von Puttkamer, German historian
Holly Case, American historian Bohdan O. Gerulak, member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Trojanowski Bogdan, Director of the Svichado Publishers Khrystyna Cholach, licensing rights manager at Svichado Publishers Ltd. Valeriia Kolinchasik, CEO Assistant at LEVIT Publishing House
Sergiy Yakovenko, Associate Professor of West Virginia University Nicholas Rudnytzky, Dean of Academic Services at Manor College Liudmyla Voronchenko, Director of Tulip Publishing House
Pavlo Bandriwsky, Chicago Branch President of the Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms For Ukraine Domas Bogusevicius, Lithuanian historian Roman Andryxzyk, member of the Ukrainian Federation of America
Vera M. Andryczyk, Former President of the Ukrainian Federation of America Eiji Furukawa, Visiting Professor at the Akita International University
Dariusz Stola, Polish historian Ariel Rose, editor at "Both Sides of the Border Face East" Dr.
Dmytro Berdnik, Head of Markets' Development Fund Harald Binder, Founder of the Center for Urban History Dr.
Natalia Pylypiuk, Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta Vera Yuzyk, member of the Ukrainian National Federation of Ottawa Maria Flynn, Public Relations of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America
Jerome P Flynn, Professor at Rutgers University Lada Roslycky LLM PhD, Founder at Black Trident LLC Yurii Herasin, Student of the Technische Universitat Ilmenau
Grzegorz Skrukwa, Polish historian Fjoralba Caka, Lecturer of the Faculty of Law University of Tirana Josephine Goube, CEO of Sistech
Tijana Tamburic, Co-Founder of Female Narratives Lukasz Dziekonski, CEO of Montis Capital Maria Vircikova, Co-Founder and CEO of MATSUKO
Kamilla Sultanova, Founder of ConnectUz Paul Ames, writer Philippe Maze-Sencier, President of Teneo France
Ringaile Trakymaite, Lithuanian linguist Pawel Radziszewski, Chief Engineer of Nevomo, Poland
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