Ukraine, illegal imports and waiting list for bulletproof vests: “Millions are needed”

From masks to bulletproof vests, which have become the most wanted items in Ukraine from Kiev to Mariupol. “I’m a British photographer. I’m looking for a bulletproof vest to rent or buy in Lviv. Let me know where to find it.” It is one of the frequent messages we read in a chat of war reporters working in Ukraine. “Journalists who request them must wait at least a week to be able to get them. I put them in contact with those who can accept the orders. But for less than 500 euros they are nowhere to be found”, a Kiev fixer, problem solver, tells Adnkronos of the requests of journalists at the front, these days in Ivano Frankivsk. “In times of peace, bulletproof vests were much cheaper, but now they have to be picked up abroad because our production is limited and delivery is not always fast,” he explains. “I wonder why the foreign media are not already equipped with this type of equipment.” Solicitation in keeping with the huge demand for bulletproof vests, as well as helmets, tactical vests, thermoscopes, armor, shields that, in addition to reporters, come from the front, military and paramilitary forces, from non-governmental organizations, from medical personnel operating in the hottest areas of the country and from civilians, who need it to protect themselves, exactly as happened with the covid for masks. “Millions would be needed,” Michael, the fictitious name of a nineteen-year-old ‘enlisted’ in an organization of Ukrainian and foreign volunteers, in whose ranks there is also an Italian, who clandestinely imports non-lethal equipment into Ukraine with machines having foreign license plates driven by drivers with European passports. “We import everything legal in Ukraine without the government’s special permission. We have to do it to respond quickly to requests because people are dying, otherwise the customs lead time would be too long. We are ready to go to jail for that. We do this. for our country. It is better to be locked up in a Ukrainian prison than in that of an occupied country “, he says. How are you organized? “We are about a thousand volunteers, divided into groups. The transport of non-lethal equipment is handled in small quantities distributed among the vehicles that are loaded with other aids, such as food and medicines. A thousand tactical robes do not pass, but 5 do. So. we manage to cross the border, where they certainly control us but not so well … “. What about the costs? “They are very high, but not because we make money. We sell at the price we buy, only a couple of organizations speculate on us: The tactical vests are of various kinds and range from 350 to 700 dollars, a minimum of 500 for bulletproof vests , helmets cost about 300 dollars, thermoscopes from 750 to 1500. To date we have a total of 1500-2000 bulletproof vests with the other groups, about 300 helmets, 500 thermoscopes. But I would like to clarify one point: we sell giving absolute priority to the military ” The doctors at the front are thinking mainly of non-governmental organizations on the front line on the issue: “Today we received incredible news, we received 6 thousand bulletproof vests to protect doctors, ambulance drivers and anyone else in need of personal protection in this dangerous moment “, announces on its Facebook page one of the largest NGOs in the country, 100% Life. And the civilians? “Nothing at the moment. Also because it is difficult for them to face expenses of this type”, concludes the fixer. The Ukrainian decree under examination by the Senate has provided for the possibility for journalists, photojournalists and operators who will have to go to work in Ukraine to purchase non-lethal equipment even without the license to carry a firearm, notwithstanding the prohibitions in force in Italy. Free transfer to Ukraine has also been established until December 31st. (By Roberta Lanzara)