Help Heroes of Ukraine organization recognized as undesirable in the Russian Federation

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has recognized the American foundation Help Heroes Of Ukraine as an undesirable organization.

As stated in a statement from the Prosecutor General's Office, the organization was founded in February 2022 by representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora with the aim of collecting humanitarian aid and equipment for military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The main representative office of the organization is allegedly located in Lviv. “Financed by donations, including from representatives of Congress, political and religious organizations of the United States,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said in a statement.

The website of the organization Help Heroes Of Ukraine states that it was created on February 25, 2022 - the day after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its stated goal is to raise funds that are sent for humanitarian assistance to the residents of Ukraine, assistance in restoring what was destroyed as a result of Russian aggression, as well as for “protective equipment” for Ukrainian military personnel. We are talking about protection against drones, as well as FPV drones. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office claims that the organization also supplies the Ukrainian Armed Forces with off-road vehicles, but this is not stated on the foundation's website.

As of September 2023 (no more recent data available), more than $61 million in donations have been collected. The organization's partners include many large companies, including Microsoft, Dell and Goldman Sachs.

Organizations recognized by the Prosecutor General of Russia as undesirable and included by the Ministry of Justice in the appropriate register are deprived of the right to work in Russia. Cooperation with them may result in administrative or criminal liability. The list of such organizations includes foreign NGOs, analytical, scientific organizations, as well as media, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.