Partnerships

The full-scale invasion radically changed the operational needs of the Ukrainian army. One of the most pressing challenges became the acute shortage of high-mobility vehicles, which on the front line have effectively turned into consumables. Pickups and off-road motorcycles operate in heavily mined areas, under constant shelling and FPV drone attacks, performing critical evacuation, logistics, and reconnaissance missions. In these conditions, the “life cycle” of a vehicle is reduced to just a few weeks or months, and every destroyed or damaged vehicle immediately increases risks for service members and can jeopardize the execution of combat tasks.

This is not an abstract problem but a daily reality for many units. A telling example is the situation within the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade, where two brothers – EVA employees – serve. After losing two pickup trucks, their unit was left with a single worn-out Nissan Navara with more than 150,000 kilometers on the odometer and multiple combat damages. Similar cases are systemic and widespread along the entire frontline, revealing a critical gap that the state alone cannot close quickly enough. 

In response to this urgent need, the Ruslan Shostak Charity Foundation launched the HeroCar program in November 2022, aiming to supply Ukrainian service members with 1,000 high-mobility vehicles. However, the scale of frontline requests grew faster than any single organization could handle. In 2023, the national retail chain EVA joined the initiative – a major Ukrainian business with the trust of millions of customers, an extensive network of stores, and the ability to build systemic support for the military at a national level.

The partnership between EVA and HeroCar is built on a clear division of responsibilities. EVA provides the fundraising infrastructure, scale, visibility, and transparent communication, and develops various participation mechanisms – from checkout donations to the purchase of special charitable products. HeroCar, in turn, works directly with military units, procures the vehicles, inspects their condition, and delivers them to the troops. This symbiotic model allows the partners to respond to frontline needs quickly and effectively.

Over two years, the partnership has delivered five major nationwide projects. “From Small to Big” (“Vid maloho do velykoho”) introduced a mechanism for selling charitable souvenir pickups, enabling EVA customers to raise over 5.8 million UAH for 15 vehicles. “Horsepower” (“Kinski syly”) united 272,000 people, who purchased stickers featuring an Opishnia clay horse talisman, collecting 2.8 million UAH for 11 vehicles. “Checkmate Move” (“Khіd konem”) became one of the most large-scale campaigns – half a million Ukrainians raised 4.46 million UAH to purchase 17 vehicles for the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.

In 2025, “Feel to the Maximum” (“Vidchuvai na maksimum”)surpassed its initial goal more than twofold: instead of the planned 50 motorcycles, the campaign funded 119 off-road bikes, which proved critical for unit mobility during periods of intense enemy drone activity. As Volodymyr Dehtiarov, spokesperson for the Khartiya Corps, explains:

“Those brief moments when the sky is clear become the only ‘windows’ for movement for our soldiers. In those moments, speed, mobility, and maneuverability are vital. Off-road motorcycles are particularly effective – they allow fighters to cross dangerous areas quickly. Their mobility can be decisive in saving lives and accomplishing the mission” .

The Support Life (“Pidtrymai zhyttia”) campaign, implemented in 2025, aimed to provide the Patronage Service “Angels” with five medical evacuation vehicles. As a result of the fundraising effort, 4.3 million UAH was collected and has already been transferred to the foundation for the subsequent purchase of the vehicles. One medevac can transport several wounded soldiers at once, so after the vehicles are procured and delivered, they will be able to save hundreds of lives each month.

In total, within the EVA–HeroCar partnership, 162 vehicles have been delivered to the Armed Forces. More than 1.1 million EVA customers took part in the campaigns, turning an ordinary purchase in a store into a tool for systemic support of the army.

The partnership between EVA and HeroCar carries strategic significance in the context of a prolonged war. It enables not one-off actions, but a sustainable model capable of ensuring continuous vehicle supply, adapting to the changing needs of the frontline, and scaling assistance over time. It stands as an example of how business, civil society, and the public can unite to create real impact – impact that saves lives every single day.