But 2013 showed that the struggle for the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens is only gaining momentum, as the country’s political leadership has departed from the statutory course of European integration and in the future wanted to abandon this course. The Revolution of Dignity began and again our paratroopers were among those who fearlessly came out in defense of our freedom, and again took an active part in the events of the Maidan, supporting it with their active participation, knowledge and experience. And in the spring of 2014, when the war in Donbass began, they did not hesitate to take up arms and went to defend Ukraine.

Once in the war zones, it turned out that there were more people willing to defend the Motherland than weapons, especially modern ones. The issue of providing the soldiers of the volunteer detachments with weapons, ammunition, food, modern technical means of protection, medicines and many other equipment became acute. Therefore, a decision was made to establish the Union of Veterans of the Paratroopers, as well as to provide assistance to our Armed Forces of Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation Union of Veterans of the Paratroopers. A team of patriots was quickly formed, who began to support the military in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO)/ joint forces operation (JFO) by all available means.