Report 2024
From William McNulty, Head of Mission
From Natalka Vivcharchyn, Country Director IMPACT IN UKRAINE 2024
From Dr. Yuri Yarmolyiuk, Chief Traumatologist of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the chief medical officer of unmanned systems forces From Lieutenant Leonid Holovko, 53rd Brigade, Ukrainian Army PROGRAM: ANTI-DRONE SYSTEMS
From Andrii Khyzhnyak, Head of State Emergency Services, Poltava
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Whipsaw political changes are taking place in the United States, Ukraine’s most important security partner. At the moment, it appears that the White House is trying to broker a “land-for-peace” deal with russia without even allowing Ukraine a seat at the negotiating table. It feels for all the world like a 21st century revival of the 1938 Munich Agreement; and the results are likely to be the same. Neville Chamberlain is calling; he wants his failed strategy back.
While a ceasefire agreement will be celebrated in the West Wing, it will likely follow the same path as the Minsk I and Minsk II agreements that ended the fighting in the Donbas in 2014 and 2015, respectively. While russia will pause large-scale offensive operations, it will continue smaller attacks through "separatists". Then, at the right moment when it has rebuilt its army, russia will restart full scale hostilities.
Europe and Ukraine know this. The current administration in the White House either does not or does not care. The question now is, will Europe act?
William McNulty Cofounder and Head of Mission
At White Stork, we wonder about what is to come, but we are staying focused on the things we can control - our mission to give every Ukrainian the means to survive.
White Stork has delivered 118,034 IFAKs to the frontline since the start of this war, making us the largest charity provider of IFAKs in Ukraine. In 2024 alone we delivered 60,500 IFAKs (92% toward our goal of 66,000), more than doubling our numbers from previous years (22,646 in 2022 and 27,884 in 2023).
While we mostly report on IFAKs delivered - a bespoke solution we assemble ourselves in Ukraine - White Stork also provides other types of critical aid including demining equipment, kevlar blankets, gas masks, trench shovels, flame resistant flight suits, and body armor.
In 2024 we launched a demining program to help Ukraine clear its farmland from landmines and unexploded ordnance. With the support of TAWANI Foundation, White Stork provided demining equipment including metal detectors and sapper tools to the State Emergency Services, the lead civilian agency responsible for demining. This program was paused in late 2024 when russia's gains on the battlefield highlighted a higher priority need: anti-drone jamming systems to protect first responders.
Thanks especially to the support provided by Reed Hastings, White Stork is now supplying anti-drone jamming systems because russia is using first-person-view (FPV) drones to target combat medics who are evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield. russia is flying drones into ambulances, detonating explosives on the exposed personnel inside. Anti-drone jamming systems work by filling the radio frequencies that drones use to operate with electromagnetic noise. Jammers effectively drown out the conversation between a drone and its operator; creating a protective bubble around the vehicle. The systems cost up to $7,000 depending on the frequency spectrum they’re designed to disrupt and the power output required.
White Stork has set a goal of delivering 50,000 IFAKs and 336 anti-drone systems in 2025. Of course, these numbers will shift if a ceasefire agreement is implemented (decrease in IFAKs; increase in anti-drone systems). Even though we all know russia will ultimately violate such an agreement, there remains a silver lining. We will have some time to help Ukraine build up its defence industry.
White Stork has already pursued this approach in its own way; finding Ukrainian companies to supply world-class components for our IFAKs and jamming systems. The Ukrainians have learned the hard way that they cannot count on anyone but themselves, and their innovation is evident from the medical supply to defense industries. Young Ukrainian entrepreneurs have revolutionized warfare since the start of the full scale invasion; turning a morbund state-run defense sector into a cutting-edge industrial base that is turning heads. With outside investment, Ukraine can rebuild their economy, maintain their independence, and become the arsenal of the free world.
Slava Ukraine!
PS - Check out Messages of Unity on our website. Over 10,000 donors have written messages to Ukrainian soldiers, an option at the end of the donation process. We print those messages on postcards, pack them into IFAKs, and hand deliver to the frontline.
Natalka Vivcharchyn Ukraine Country Director
Dear All,
I am writing this statement on the third anniversary of the full scale war, February 24, 2025.
Three years ago, Putin and many of our international allies believed that Ukraine would hold out for 3 to 4 days at most. Embassies and international organizations evacuated from Kyiv. russian troops tried to encircle the city. I remember how, in those first weeks, we celebrated each morning as a victory—because we had survived another night.
That was when ordinary people began doing extraordinary things. Regular civilians joined territorial defense units, evacuated residents from besieged cities, rescued those trapped under rubble, and snuck through enemy lines to deliver humanitarian aid. Suddenly, it became clear that people fighting for freedom and human dignity were stronger than the entire russian war machine.
People have far more strength than they realize. And no matter what anyone says, Ukrainians determine our own future.
T is war will not end until every victim is accounted for 599 children have been killed in enemy attacks, and 1,7 4 children have been wounded 20,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped and are being raised in russia, marching in military parades in uniforms at the ages of 5, , or 8 2,000,000 children have been forced to leave Ukraine to escape the war 1, 00,000 Ukrainian children remain alone under occupation (excluding those taken to russia).
And childhood has an expiration date…
Looking at these numbers, we must understand that this is a genocide. russia’s goal is not merely to conquer Ukraine, but to erase it as a nation.
That is why we at White Stork will only strengthen and expand our mission in 2025. With a total of 118,034 IFAKs delivered, we have supported 25% of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Our goal for 2025 is anot er 50,000 IFAKs and jamming systems to protect medics. We will focus on safeguarding those who save others.
The millions of Ukrainians scattered across Europe and America can exert tremendous influence on political leaders. Together, we are a force capable of stopping even the greatest evil in this world.
Thank you to the veterans and donors of White Stork for your immense support and unwavering faith!
60,500 IFAKs in 2024 118,034 IFAKs since 2022
$374,265 of Demining Equipment
586 Flame Retardant Flight Gear
6 Kevlar Blankets
On behalf of the military traumatologists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to White Stork for the steadfast support. Your contributions have served as a critical foundation for our military medics; and the impact of your generosity has been profound.
For many months, White Stork supplied us with essential medical kits and equipment necessary for providing emergency care across the frontlines. This assistance is significant as each component of medical supply can be crucial in saving the lives of our service members during combat situations.
I would like to specifically acknowledge White Stork’s and Lt. Colonel (ret.) Jennifer Pritzker’s commitment to training military medics in the United States. Through your collaboration and efforts, we have been able to acquire new technologies and skills that will considerably improve our effectiveness in treating the wounded. This knowledge has become an invaluable asset, enabling us to respond swiftly and professionally to emergencies against the backdrop of ongoing war. Together, we are making strides toward our victory and the restoration of peace in Ukraine. Thank you for all that you do.
The role of unmanned systems on the modern battlefield is becoming increasingly significant. Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) – is the world’s first independent armed forces branch that systematically employs unmanned aerial vehicles, ground robotic systems, as well as underwater and surface drones at sea to perform a wide range of tasks. Their primary goal is to protect Ukrainian citizens and the territorial integrity of the state.
One of the key uses of unmanned systems is delivering essential equipment and supplies (water, provisions, etc.) to the front lines without putting personnel at risk. Unmanned systems are also essential for evacuating the wounded, since the enemy consistently violates all rules of warfare by deliberately targeting our evacuation teams.
Currently, time is on russia’s side. We must grow our capabilities rapidly.
Thanks to the people of the United States, and our partners at White Stork, the USF has received thousands of IFAKs and anti-drone jamming systems for our medical support personnel — one of the most vulnerable links in the human-drone tandem.
With gratitude for the support and deep respect!
I first met White Stork’s team at our unit’s permanent deployment point in the fall of 2024 in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region. They arrived with a delivery of IFAKs, which were critically needed by our comrades at the time. White Stork’s first aid kits are truly high quality. All the contents are top-class and include many Ukrainian-made components. They have already saved the lives of my brothers-in-arms.
It was immediately clear that the White Stork team consists of true professionals. Right after handing over the first aid kits, they inquired about our other urgent needs. Just a few days later, we received an anti-drone jamming system from White Stork for our evacuation vehicle. One of these anti-drone systems protects all the casualties and medics in the vehicle.
The frontline of russia’s war in Ukraine is a 10+ kilometer dead-zone of first-person-view (FPV) drones patrolling the skies in search of targets. Increasingly, these drones are targeting Ukrainian first responders and combat medics who are evacuating the wounded from the battlefield. As russia increasingly deploys drones for reconnaissance, target acquisition, and direct attacks, the ability to counter these systems has become an essential capability for battlefield survival.
Radio-controlled FPV drones appeared on the battlefield in late 2022. In the spring of 2024, russia was the first to deploy fiber optic FPV drones; which do not depend on a radio signal. However, the majority of the drones russia uses today are still radio-controlled; and White Stork provides anti-drone jamming systems to Ukraine to neutralize this threat.
Sources: Tochnyi.info OSINT analysis, Defense Express, Atlantic Council, and various battlefield reports.
Anti-drone systems blast electromagnetic noise that disrupts the communication link between radio-controlled drones and their operators; effectively causing the drone to either return to their launch point, land immediately, or crash. Often fixed to the roofs of evacuation vehicles, anti-drone systems create a protective bubble that extends up to 300 meters around the vehicle. This capability protects Ukrainian personnel and equipment from FPV drone attacks and prevents sensitive position information from being gathered by enemy forces.
White Stork purchases jamming systems from five producers in Ukraine, then hand delivers the systems to the frontline. Systems cost up to $7,000 depending on the quality of the unit and the frequency spectrum they are designed to disrupt. We have negotiated preferred pricing agreements with each producer. With major gifts from TAWANI Foundation and Reed Hastings, White Stork is now the leading supplier of anti-drone jamming systems to Ukraine.
Andrii Khyzhnyak Head of SES in Poltava
Due to russian military aggression, the workload of rescuers has significantly increased and the range of their tasks has expanded: extinguishing fires caused by enemy strikes; clearing rubble from destroyed buildings; searching for the injured and deceased, and conducting humanitarian demining of liberated territories. Our professional team works not only within the Poltava region, but also assists colleagues in other regions of Ukraine.
In 2023, White Stork and the rescuers of the Poltava region began a new chapter of cooperation. Since then, White Stork has provided us with 2,250 IFAKs, 16 pairs of anti-mine footwear "Spider boots", 10 blasting machines "Volyn", and 20 metal detectors "TREMBITA". White Stork specialists also conduct training for our staff who use the equipment.
When dealing with the aftermath of enemy missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, rescuers have been using White Stork’s IFAKs to treat the injured. The anti-mine protective footwear and metal detectors help save the lives of our sappers during operations to clear areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance and land mines.
We are grateful to everyone who helps our rescuers. Our cooperation with White Stork is very important and fruitful. We continue to carry out our work, dealing with the consequences of emergencies and helping those affected, no matter the conditions. All of this is enabled by the work of the White Stork team!
Ukraine is now the most mined country in the world, with approximately 30% of its territory contaminated by explosive hazards following russia’s full scale invasion. These hidden killers include anti-personnel mines, anti-vehicle mines, and unexploded ordnance scattered across agricultural fields, residential areas, and critical infrastructure. Each day, land mines claim civilian lives and limbs; with farmers, children, and returning residents particularly vulnerable as they navigate what were once familiar lands.
The scale of mine contamination presents a monumental humanitarian and economic challenge that will take decades to address. Vast agricultural lands - crucial for Ukraine’s economy and global food security - remain unusable, while reconstruction efforts in many areas are effectively paralyzed until demining is complete. Despite significant international support for demining operations, the resources available fall far short of what is needed, and the ongoing conflict means that new mines are being laid even as clearance work proceeds. Ukrainian officials estimate that complete demining could cost over $30 billion dollars and require more than 25 years to accomplish; making it a generational burden for a country simultaneously focused on defense and rebuilding.
White Stork launched a demining program in early 2024, only to pause it several months later when russia’s gains on the battlefield highlighted a higher priority need - anti-drone systems to protect first responders. With the support of Lt. Colonel (ret.) Jennifer Pritzker and her TAWANI Foundation, White Stork delivered $375,000 worth of demining equipment including spare tillers and flailers for the Armtrac 400 demining machine, spider boots, blasting machines, metal detectors and body armor.
The White Stork team expresses our gratitude to Reed Hastings, Cofounder of Netflix, for his major gift to provide anti-drone jamming systems to first responders. With Reed's support, White Stork is now the leading charity supplier of anti-drone jamming systems to combat medics along the frontline.
“I’m grateful to have Reed’s support in our fight for national survival.” said Alexander Kamyshin, Ukraine’s presidential advisor for strategic affairs, in a press release.
“The men and women fighting in Ukraine are not professional soldiers. They are civilians who have been thrust into this war for national survival. As veterans, we’ve seen the horrors of war and know how to deliver aid directly to the front. No middlemen, no BS.
Reed’s gift to support Ukraine means their survival.” said William McNulty, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who serves as White Stork’s head of mission.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
When my husband Seth first became involved with White Stork and prepared to travel to Ukraine in 2023, I was understandably nervous. What I didn't fully anticipate was how quickly his journey would become our family's journey, uniting us in a shared purpose. Witnessing Seth’s dedication and seeing firsthand the powerful impact of White Stork’s work inspired me profoundly, and I found myself eager to join the team.
My personal contributions have primarily revolved around leveraging my professional skills in project management and marketing. I served as the bridge between our talented digital marketing agency, Exactius, and the storytellers on the ground in Ukraine — Valentyna and Dima, who were capturing the raw, powerful, and deeply personal stories emerging from Ukraine into narratives that resonate with our American audience.
Each story of courage, resilience, and humanity from our Ukrainian partners deserves a voice and recognition, and playing a role in amplifying these stories has been both humbling and immensely rewarding.
The authenticity and effectiveness of our messages were a direct result of the close collaboration between White Stork and Exactius.
Sarah Brody Digital Marketing Advisor
We genuinely operated as one cohesive group, continually learning from each other and thoughtfully adapting our communications as our understanding evolved. This deeply integrated teamwork reinforced the integrity and urgency of our shared mission every single day.
Perhaps the clearest demonstration of our ability to unite with our supporters is the Messages of Unity project, a particularly meaningful initiative for me. The original vision came from our extraordinary Country Director, Natalka, who imagined creating heartfelt, personal connections between individual American supporters and the brave recipients of our aid on Ukraine’s frontlines. Utilizing my project management background, I was privileged to help bring Natalka’s vision to life. Through this initiative, donors send personalized messages of encouragement, hope, and solidarity that are physically delivered along with each first aid kit directly to the frontline. These messages represented powerful bonds of empathy and shared humanity, reinforcing why the White Stork mission remains so
Thank you for your continued belief in and support of our mission. Your generosity has allowed us to touch lives directly and profoundly.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Sarah Brody
In 2023, White Stork began a digital marketing initiative to connect with donors to support our work in Ukraine. Led by Advisors Seth and Sarah Brody, and in collaboration with digital agency Exactius, we created campaigns for META and other platforms and also invested in a donor CRM system to track all contributions from our digital marketing efforts. By 2024, we moved from setup to scale—refining campaigns, improving targeting, and investing in paid media. The result: more donors, stronger retention, and clear ROI. We ended the year with 27,796 unique donors, a 7X increase year over year (YoY) with an intentional strategy to convert them from one-time donors to monthly sustaining donors.
Most Successful Ads:
Sustaining Donors:
Launched in August 2024, our Sustaining Donors initiative uses CRM-driven follow-up to convert onetime donors into monthly givers. In just four months, it generated $89K and 253 recurring gifts, representing 71% of email-driven donations during that period.
White Stork launched Messages of Unity, a part of the digital marketing program that allows donors to write personal messages to Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline. After completing the donation process through White Stork’s website, a screen appears that gives the option to write a personal message. White Stork prints these messages on post cards, packs them into our IFAKs in Ukraine, and then delivers them to units along the frontline. White Stork also posts some of these messages on our website. To view, simply navigate to Messages of Unity in the menu bar or scan the below QR code.
Thank you for stopping the Russian bear. Bless you all!
Gregory
9.18.2024
You are Super Heroes defending democracy in your beloved Ukraine!! Slava Ukraini!!��������
Catherine 9.11.2024
My son serves my nation as a U.S. Marine. I believe in democracy with all my soul. I pray for Putin’s DEFEAT! May you know, American citizens are hoping and praying for the survival of democracy! Thank you for your sacrifices, you deserve so much more support! ️May you defeat the dictator!
Kai in California
9.4.2024
My son was a medic in Afghanistan. The work he did with others was invaluable. Know that your work is valued beyond measure.
Nicole
9.11.2024
Politically we are in a very bad place in the U.S.A. But some of us know Russia is the enemy. I hope you never need to use this IFAK.
I’m 76. Wish I was younger I would volunteer to fight along with you Ukrainian heroes. Heroiam Slava. Former USMC Sgt. Vietnam era vet.
Andrij Witiuk
9.12.2024
Dear Friends,
The Jesuit presence in Ukraine has a rich and complex history spanning several centuries. The Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, was officially approved in Rome in 1540 by Pope Paul III, though its founder, Ignatius of Loyola, had begun forming it several years earlier in Paris. Ignatius—born Íñigo, a Basque soldier—discovered his faith during a long recovery from a cannonball wound sustained at the Battle of Pamplona.
Jesuits first arrived in Ukrainian lands in the late 16th century. Those early missionaries established schools and centers of learning, particularly in cities like Lviv (then Lwów), where they founded a college in 1608. Colloquially referred to as “God’s Marines,” Jesuits are known for our missionary zeal, our commitment to education, our dedication to the poor and the powerless, and our willingness to go wherever the pope may send us.
So it seemed fitting that, at the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Jesuit-educated U.S. Marine veteran named William McNulty knocked on the door of the Jesuit residence in Kraków. William and his team were in the early stages of establishing an evacuation program to help Ukrainian civilians escape villages under Russian attack. They named their mission White Stork, in honor of Ukraine’s national bird— and the Jesuits became their first fiscal sponsor.
Father Artur Demkowicz, S.J.
Treasurer, Southern Province of Poland, Society of Jesus
In those first chaotic days of war, the White Stork team evacuated dozens of civilians, some of whom found shelter in our dormitory rooms. As the war intensified and the needs of innocent people grew, I urged William to “triple this!”— and that is precisely what happened. Thanks to the tireless work of White Stork, in partnership with the Jesuits, their impact multiplied, and they have not stopped since.
Out of the roughly seven million Ukrainian refugees, White Stork evacuated 37,829 women, children, and elderly persons using a network of otherwise-idle tourist buses. In partnership with Airbnb, they provided temporary housing for 14,590 refugees. More than 100,000 first aid kits have been delivered to Ukraine, with many of the medical supplies passing through the warehouse of our Jesuit publishing house.
I cannot help but believe that our founder—a wounded soldier who turned his pain into a mission—would be proud of these efforts.
As a close Jesuit collaborator of White Stork, I am deeply honored to serve this mission of profound compassion for Ukraine. May our shared work continue to offer consolation, healing, and the promise of a better future for all Ukrainians.
Slava Ukraini!
Father Artur
• Director, White Stork
• President, University of Detroit High School
• Strategic Advisor, White Stork
• Product Development &
Marketing Professional
Colonel G.I. Wilson, USMC (Ret.)
• Strategic Advisor, White Stork
• USMC veteran
• Board Observer, White Stork
• Strategic Advisor, White Stork
• Partner, Apax Partners
• Cofounder, White Stork
• Founder, GKC
Matt Vacca
• Cofounder & Director, White
Stork
• Director, Leveraged Finance
Trading, RBC
• USMC veteran
• Founding Funder & Strategic
Advisor, White Stork
• President, Polsky Family
Foundation
Father Artur Demkowicz, S.J.
• Chaplain, White Stork
• Treasurer, Southern Province
of Poland, Society of Jesus
William McNulty
• Cofounder & Head of Mission,
White Stork
• Cofounder, Team Rubicon
• USMC veteran
Period ending December 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
We pull inspiration from the white stork - the national bird of Ukraine - a symbol of birth, family well-being, and love for the homeland. The white stork is considered a lucky talisman that can protect a home from evil.
Thousands of white storks appear in the spring, migrating back from their wintering grounds in Africa. Ukrainians believe it is good luck to have white storks nesting near their home.
Annual Report 2024