Last autumn, the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA) launched the "Lawyers at War" initiative to support colleagues who have traded their office suits for military uniforms. Its primary goal is to provide steadfast support to those defending Ukraine.

The first major effort within this initiative was a joint fundraising campaign to purchase cutting-edge ScubaPro and Waterproof wetsuits for the legendary Chimera Unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU). One of the heroes of this unit is Anton Molchanov, a former legal advisor at Arzinger law firm and now a combat medic saving lives on the front lines.

Thanks to the unity of the UBA community, we successfully raised UAH 205,940 (approximately $4,800). Despite the higher-than-expected cost of modern wetsuits and the logistical hurdles in delivering them, we managed to secure three top-quality suits and deliver them directly to those who risk their lives every day, allowing us to work and build a stronger legal state.

"Just as every small stream feeds the mighty Dnipro River, every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to our goal. Thanks to the support of law firms and colleagues, we managed to close this fundraiser remarkably quickly. This once again proves that our legal community is not only powerful in words but also in actions. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who believed in this initiative and became part of it," said Victoria Krasnova, UBA Executive Director, initiator, and coordinator of the "Lawyers at War" fundraiser.

"This joint fundraising effort is a powerful example of how the legal community can act together and act fast. We are pleased to have been able to support this cause and believe that we will continue standing by our defenders, as many challenges still lie ahead," — Kateryna Pyshchyk, UBA Project Management Advisor and Co-Coordinator of the "Lawyers at War" initiative.

We express our sincere gratitude to the following law firms — Avellum, Arzinger, AGA Partners, VB Partners — as well as to the fundraiser's ambassadors, including the UBA Students' League, Ivan Horodyskyi, Stanislav Borys, Dmytro Nykiforov, and all other colleagues who supported this important cause. Your support is invaluable! Thank you for standing together when it matters most!