Colorado to donate surplus body armor, helmets to Ukraine

Colorado is asking its law enforcement agencies to donate surplus body armor and ballistic helmets to be sent to Ukraine as the country defends itself against the ongoing Russian invasion.

“Colorado is doing everything we can to oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and supplying body armor will help save lives of brave Ukrainians fighting to protect their freedom,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “We have surplus body armor sitting on shelves, and we know that it can urgently be used to help stop Putin and save Ukraine.”

The effort is a partnership between the Colorado Department of Public Safety and the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The state is asking that local agencies donate surplus supplies by March 14 to armories in Denver, Windsor, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Grand Junction. They are not accepting donations from the general public.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. In the two weeks since, U.S. officials estimate that between 2,000 and 4,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed as they face the larger, better-equipped Russian army.

Immediately following the invasion, Polis directed his administration to review if any state contracts are with Russian state-owned companies and then end them. He also encouraged higher education institutions to divest from Russian-owned assets.

This is the first form of direct aid from the state to Ukraine.

“If even one life of a citizen soldier who is defending their country is saved, then this time-sensitive effort will have been worth it,” said CDPS Executive Director Stan Hilkey.

The Polis administration suggests that people who want to support Ukraine should make a financial donation to any verified international non-profit that is helping impacting civilians, including the GoFundMe campaign organized with the U.S. Department of State.