Operational rations

August/September 2025

Offered MREs

In July 2025, I unexpectedly received an offer of a batch of operational rations from the Dutch army. Whether that was of any use to me, for Ukraine? Yes indeed! They are desperately needed. The front in Ukraine is long and not all fighters can get food easily. Partly because they are in less accessible areas, partly because the logistics to the positions are risky. Shortages are partly made up by Ukrainian civilians who prepare, vacuum-pack and ship food. But that still doesn't make the food last longer.

Estimated to be two pallets, it ended up being five, including a small proportion of American rations. A total of some 1,200 24-hour meals. The gratitude in Ukraine was great.

Storage region Rotterdam

Well, how do you get five pallets of rations from the Netherlands to Ukraine with the least cost and the least risk?

Initially, I started looking for transporters. And that is still quite a challenge: there are not many parties who bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine, by truck. Those that drive to Ukraine only do so with a full truck, of course. Some have a predetermined route in Ukraine, others let the route depend on the goods going with them. And if you report with goods when the truck is already "fully booked," you will have to wait for the next trip.

Initially, the most reasonable option I could find was one from Belgium, just across the border from the Netherlands. Quite out of the direction and at considerable cost. A short time later, I came across a better alternative: De Leeuw Kyiv appeared to be back in Holland with their transport and had plans to schedule another transport soon. Departure point in Rotterdam region. That was already a lot closer for the provider.

And so in the third week of August, the pallets were delivered and stored in the Rotterdam region, awaiting transport to Ukraine.

Storage region Aalsmeer

The pallets had only been in the Rotterdam region for a few days when I was offered an alternative transport: from Aalsmeer. That transport would also carry pallets of hardware from the Dutch army for the frontline in Ukraine. Besides: this transport was already financed, so no costs for me.

The five pallets were to be picked up in Rotterdam and moved to the Amsterdam region.

On Aug. 29, 2025, the pallets arrived in Aalsmeer.

Arrival in region of Kherson

For understandable reasons, I give as few details as possible about the transport in Ukraine. The five pallets were turned over to Nova Poshta upon arrival in Ukraine. They delivered the pallets under the loyalty program of Ukrainian recipients (free of charge) in the Kherson region.