On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a military invasion in Ukraine. The unrest continues today. 

As a defense partner and military ally to Ukraine, (the United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991 following Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union), companies like ours have committed time, energy and resources by providing aid, financial assistance and delivering humanitarian support in Ukraine.

In fact, on February 28, 2023, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed American businesses during the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) board meeting. NAM CEO, Jay Timmons, stated “Manufacturers in America will continue to stand with Ukraine.”  

Here are a few examples of American manufacturers supporting Ukraine during this war.  

  1. In Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry Co. (WAFCO) drastically increased their production efforts to build 3,000 medical sterilizers for UNICEF. UNICEF has been buying sterilizers from this company since the 1970s. 
  2. MSA Safety Incorporate is a leader in the development and manufacturing of safety solutions and products to protect people and infrastructure. Core products include self-contained breathing apparatuses, gas and flame detection systems, and fire and rescue helmets. To support the war on Ukraine, MSA Safety Incorporate donated over $400,000 worth of safety equipment to Ukrainian firefighters.  
  3. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is a leading American company specializing in digital products and systems that protect, control, and automate power systems with the goal of preventing blackouts and improving power system reliability. With their expertise in hand, SEL manufactured equipment to help monitor and manage substation equipment in Ukraine.  
  4. In the small town of Lima, Ohio, there is a big production facility (25-acres large) doing big things. In this building, owned by the Army and operated by General Dynamics, you can find about 800 skilled trades personnel disassembling Abrams tanks down to the hull and rebuilding them until they’re good as new again.  
  5. AeroVironment out of Arlington, Virginia, generously donated unmanned aircraft systems and drones in addition to ramping up production to meet contract requirements with The Defense Department. This isn’t surprising considering their support after 9/11 led them to become the world leader in small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).  
  6. General Electric’s Gas Power division has partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to manufacture for and supply Ukraine a mobile gas turbine power plant. By doing so, this piece of equipment could supply at least 100,000 homes with electricity as well as hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure.  
  7. In addition to all of these, MANY manufacturers have committed hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars to Ukraine to support efforts in defense, rebuilding, emergency and medical services. Check out this list of manufacturers who have already donated and pledged to continue to donate until the war is over.  

Of course, this isn’t all the companies in the U.S. supporting Ukraine. Even if we tried to list them all, we wouldn’t be able to. Manufacturing is a complex and interwoven industry supplying anything and everything during war and peacetime.   

If you’re looking to support Ukraine, a great place to start is here.