Colonel Monte Donard and his team of Traveling Colonels have partnered with Medical Missionaries since 2023. In this page we will share updates as we get them. You can support Traveling Colonels by donating to Medical Missionaries and dedicating to the Traveling Colonels. Or, you can donate directly via https://donorbox.org/travelingcolonels501c
May 12th, 2025
Dr Igor Zaporizhzhia pediatrician using supplies (equipment for inhalation, wystems for intravenous infusion, Oxygen masks and stand for intravenous infusion) we sent out last week. Everything gets used. Donations from MedWish, Operation Change, Misneach, Vanguard Ukraine-Netherlands, Partners for World Health, Durham Humanitarian, Medical Missionaries, Ukrainian Aid Direct… everything helps.
The Traveling Colonels team Thank you for your support!
May 11th, 2025
I am very appreciative- it’s not about hearing our names or of our work or gaining recognition or fame for ourselves – but it furthers our ability to get great items like this from gracious huge medical charities in America.
This medical charity, “Partners for World Health” sends me a box or two of surgical staplers, gastrointestinal endocrinology instruments and surgical mesh monthly. Many of those instruments where sent out in the three boxes to Zaporizhzhia military hospital and two boxes sent to Kharkiv military hospital this week.
When PWH see specific items they donated being used here it makes them proud of having helped Ukraine and it reinforces their commitment knowing their help is being used.
Thank you from the entire Zaporizhzhia military hospital.
Hopefully we can visit Zaporizhzhia in person on our next trip
Ukrainian Aid Direct – Thanks for the support with surgical electronic surgical device from Partners for World Health. Dr Yuri in Zaporizhzhia military hospital using it today on a soldiers fractured leg wound.
Some of our work and results this week as reported today from Zaporizhzhia. We sent this electronic surgical device out Thursday already in use.
I know your aid is not specifically shown but trust me your medical supplies were in many of the probably 100+ Traveling Colonels medical aid boxes sent forward this week. Everyone’s continued support is key to helping these hospitals. Dr Yuri said the same today. They really depend on our combined support. Thank you
It has been a long two months here in Kyiv. I have to admit I am a little burnt out and tired. I head home for a month of work collecting more supplies to send over to Ukraine later this week.
Thank you once again.
May 9th, 2025
Three videos for today. 1st is Dr Yuri using a magnet to remove a foreign body from a soldier. The other two are Col Monte updates.
May 8th, 2025
“Good! Monty, thank you very much from the 4th Ranger Regiment”
Thanks to DrGil and Medical Missionaries- Bombas Socks and hygiene items for soldiers on the frontline.
We have shipped anout 50 boxes of supplies to Zaporizhzhia military hospital in the last 30 days. Their patient load has been about 120 new patients a day so it takes a lot of gear.
We just fill in the gaps of needed supplies- we could never supply everything needed for an entire wartime hospital. But we do what we can for about 10 forward facing hospitals. Those hospitals report our aid makes a huge difference in their patient care. Thanks to everyone who is helping to fundraise, sending physical medical supplies to Ukraine for us, volunteering to work at the warehouse or at home and providing other support.
Zaporizhzhia is just one of many hospitals we support as a team.
We in turn get support from Ukrainian Relief Fund, Ukrainian Aid Direct, Misneach, Operation Change, Vanguard Netherlands, Medical Missionaries, MedWish, Durham Humanitarian, Hull England for Ukraine and many other organizations in Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Britain and volunteers.
Col Monte -Kyiv
May 6th, 2025
Dr Ivan of the 25th Military Hospital Kharkiv is using a high quality surgical mesh on an Ukrainian patient today. Donated by The Traveling Colonels who are supported by Medical Missionaries of Manassas, VA and Partners for World Health of Portland, Maine. High quality mesh is hard for forward facing military hospitals to source. It allows much better surgical results and fewer complications post surgery rehabilitation.
May 5th, 2025
Kyiv building and cars burning 2am. We clearly heard and were woken up from the impacts from two missiles which hit the city last night. 7 wounded luckily and all were reportedly released from the hospital this morning. This unfortunate incident was from debris from the shot down missiles hitting the building and causing damage.
Yes it is sad seeing the destruction and hearing of the losses. Dr Ivan our good friend in Kharkiv had his apartment building hit and his place partially destroyed about 10 days ago. So not just random unknown unfortunate people.
We saw a drone fly past us two days ago. Friend or Foe unknown but it continued away from us, it gave Chuck a bit of a scare as he saw it as Foe. I thought from the size it was probably unarmed and friendly on a training mission but not sure. ~20 miles from russian lines
May 4th, 2025
Medical aid being distributed across hospitals and stabilization points today. High end sutures, gauzes/wound care and laparoscopic instruments from Cleveland’s MedWish and Medical Missionaries.
These supplies help save lives and reduce suffering from soldiers and civilians impacted by the war. But these supplies don’t just help the wounded- life continues here as in any other country. Cancer, heart disease, kidney stones, eye diseases and everything that plagues modern society is still being cared for in Ukraine. Limited supplies and stress on the national hospital systems is partially remediated by aid from The Traveling Colonels and other medical charity organizations.
Colonel Monte, reporting from Kyiv!
May 2nd, 2025
Dr Ivan of 25th military hospital, was very happy to receive medical aid which we delivered today. He presented us with a Ukrainian Trident plaque which he and his sister designed and had made. Only four made.
The intricate flower design is specific to Kharkiv and is only used in Kharkiv. This design would be embroidered on the Ukrainian style shirts Nick and I have. He also served us homemade bread his wife made for us this morning (delicious,) homemade salo cured bacon which was also very good, and a taste of his homemade vodka with horseradish flavor(good). ✔️🇺🇦🇺🇸😉
May 2nd, 2025
Medical Missionaries of Manassas Virginia donated Bombas socks to The Traveling Colonels recently which have been sent to the frontlines Dirty Dozen unit who needed resupply before returning to the front. Short notice request but we shared what was available when asked. Great socks and support from Dr Irwin.
April 29th, 2025
Today 36 boxes of aid are being sent to Zaporizhzhia military hospital, Zaporizhzhia pediatric hospital, Kharkiv military, Mezhova civilian/military hospital, Chernihiv military hospital, Gluhkov and Putivl civilian and military shared hospital. A lot of great aid sent forward by Col Chuck, David, Slava and myself.
April 29th, 2025
Chernihiv rehabilitation hospital using medical supplies that The Traveling Colonels collected from organizations such as MedWish, Operation Change, Misneach, Medical Missionaries, Partners in World Health and purchases by Traveling Colonels – all to help Ukraine. As Traveling Colonels box items for specific purposes, everyone’s aid gets combined into packages for delivery.
We thank you for your contributions, whether used on this project or another project this week.
April 28th, 2025
Former British Army and Australian Army deploying tomorrow. Colonel Monte supplying them with needed medic supplies.
April 27th, 2025
To our donors and supporters like Don who donated the Army T-shirts and Dr Irwin who donated the socks -Thank you!
Thank you video from Defactor and the “Alcatraz Battalion” a unit made up from volunteers who had a checkered life but have turned over a new leaf in the frontline hard hit Alcatraz unit. The Traveling Colonels are proud to support and help those who might have gotten on the wrong road at one point in their life but are now fighting for Ukraine’s future.
One volunteer who goes by “0369”, a former Marine who served during Colonel Chucks and my 30 year careers in Marine Corps – said that the last time we helped this unit was the first time that many of these soldiers had received much any help. We gave them uniform pieces, Camel Back water bags, sleeping pads and high quality Individual First Aid Kits.
April 24th, 2025
Colonel Charles Ikins, USMCR retired of The Traveling Colonels is presented with the Mayor of Gluhkov’s award for humanitarian aid provided to their community. The Mayor noted his dedication and ongoing high quality support to their community hospital with boxes of medical, fire department and border security military forces aid.
April 23th, 2025
Johnny, Chuck and I continue to work together after meeting on the train from Germany to Ukraine over 2 years ago. We are currently helping the 25th Brigade with life saving individual first aid kits. Training and proper use of the first aid kits can save lives.
April 23th, 2025
We work as consolidators of aid at times. For example, we work with Dr Irwin from Medical Missionaries who has helped us source donations. At the same time, we have other groups that both trust and appreciate our mission and donate items. It takes work connecting the dots on linking donations to those in need, but that is part of our program. Meeting people and learning about their work is interesting and helps Ukraine at the same time. Here is a short story on aid being passed to us then to another organization.
Dr Steve, an American Emergency Room doctor teaches ER medicine to frontline medics and hospitals/doctors. We know of his work and have received supplies from him in the past..
Dr Steve thanks for posting this safety gear. LEGO passed the face shields on to me and yesterday I gave them to General Igor who is a Volunteer Firefighters Association of Ukraine Chief. He was very happy to get the riot face masks and will send them on to firefighters doing cleanup work near the front. We have helped firefighters with IFAKs (Individual First Action Kits) and other supplies to include ambulance helmets from Ana McB.
Thanks for helping these firemen who are attacked on the frontlines.
April 22th, 2025
Thanks to 550 Cord a veteran owned non profit in Virginia
April 21th, 2025
Big thanks to Dr Gil Irwin of Medical Missionaries Manassas, Virginia USA. Socks he donated headed for the frontlines to help a unit that specifically requested socks and first aid kits.
Had such an unbelievable day that President Zelensky may call. 62 boxes shipped today between Col Chuck, David and myself. New record shipping in one day. Dream Team is in town!
April 20th, 2025
Happy Easter!
We determined long ago that our little work would not change the tide of the war but maybe we could help reduce some suffering or possibly save a few lives with our work. Same as sending out some Easter bags certainly can’t help every soldier but maybe we can help 20-30 soldiers have a better day.
I spent Easter Sunday in Fallujah Iraq in 2004; how time flies. The sun will arise in the east tomorrow and we will move forward together. I stand with Ukraine. Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦🇺🇸 Colonel MonteThanks to Dr Gil Irwin and everyone at Medical Missionaries. Your ongoing support allows us to continue to help even in the smallest way here In Ukraine. Forever grateful for everyone’s support.
At the Kyiv “Vladimir Cathedral” Easter Sunday the priest blessed the Easter Basket of morale items that will be sent to a frontline soldier. Dr Iriwn and Medical Missionaries donated great Bombas socks and hygiene items to help fill the basket.
April 13th, 2025
Chuck- Incredible job you have performed working remotely.
A new position has been added to the Traveling Colonels team: “Remote master of medical logistics and analysis”.
Job description and duties:
Position will be assigned to a highly qualified hand selected individual who is able to work independently (limited supervision) to ferret out opportunities by leveraging existing supply lines of communication in order to act as a force multiplier of medical supplies in times of unrest and uncertainty, which can be further refined with experts downstream who are capable to of sorting various boxes of mixed medical supplies either labeled or not labeled in order to further the unwritten Traveling Colonels’ rules of order (unwritten is key -which allows flexibility) that directly or indirectly influence the medical readiness of individuals regardless of race, creed, nationality or other distinguishing pathologies so that trained and untrained medical professionals can effectively work to the best of their abilities and enhance the overall Ukrainian medical readiness and set in place life saving opportunities for wounded soldiers and civilians.
Pay: Zero point zero $€£¥ UAH and an occasional pat on the back.
Duty period: Continuous
Please reach out to info@medicalmissionaries.org if you are interested, and we will forward your interest along.
Below are items that may be collected and then shipped!
April 13th, 2025
Always nice to start the day with Dr Ivan and his dad celebrating Palm Sunday with a trunk load of laparoscopic instruments and tools. By the way, the “catheters” to the right (tall thin blue) are actually anesthesia devices to basically force the tube down narrow airways “for success”.
My apologies for previously saying those were urinary catheters needed for every surgery. These are obviously single use but work fine for 6-8 uses with washing between uses. Sounds like a useful item if used repeatedly. So will take that as a win — even if accidentally!
April 9th, 2025
Hi Monte,
Received your packages
Thank you very much!!!
Many syringes are sent to therapists, kits to urologists, sterile gowns are already in the operating room, bandages are in the dressing room. Special thanks for the neurosurgical sets, the cool needle boxes and garbage bags – they are wonderful
This was an unsolicited report from Dr Serhii, a military neurosurgeon in Lviv. Dr Serhii recently received a large shipment of medical aid ranging from neurosurgery instruments to aid we received from Ukrainian Aid Direct, Operation Change, Vanguard-UA.NL, MedWish, Medical Missionaries, and items sourced entirely by the Traveling Colonels.
March 2025
It is good for us to have in person meetings with the different groups we help to validate needs and use. This week we met with wives and mothers of deceased sons and husbands. We also met with recovering soldiers at a Kyiv area hospital and Thursday we visited two hospitals we know near the frontlines near Kursk, Russia border.
On Wednesday we met with the President of the volunteer firefighters Union and donated kevlar ambulance helmets for his frontline firefighters and ambulance drivers to use. We met with other charities as well. In addiiton we met with with a mom and her two children. She is a mother a medic (she is like a Nurse Practitioner in the US) who has been deployed to a frontline stabilization point clinic.
March 2025
While I don’t have a system to track individual strands of Vicryl sutures, Dr Ivan reports this abdominal wounded soldier was sewn up with sutures donated by the Traveling Colonels. Dr Gil Irwin and Medical Missionaries recently provided sutures that were sent to the Kharkiv military hospital. Thank you for the support.
Rib spreader can’t be claimed as it came from the soviets😮 but we have sent rib spreaders out. Exam and surgical gloves have been recently donated by Medical Missionaries. Thank you.
There is tremendous need for basic hospital supplies up to and including neurosurgery supplies. Thank you for your continued support.
March 2025
Last Saturday morning we returned to Boynorka- 40 minutes NW of Kyiv to a community center. The group has children’s programs, veterans events, as well as civilian courses that train civilians first aid. They also work with families that have lost loved ones.
We met and talked with about 10 mothers and wives who were making potted plants with bulbs that would bloom in about 2 weeks. The flowers, when they bloom, are in memory of lost ones. An emotional event for those grieving and for David, Steve and myself.
When we arrived, the community center Director met with us and gave us copies of the community newspaper. The newspaper highlighted our previous trip where David donated medical moulage training devices and we donated training tourniquets.
The war is real in the small community- the building across the street where we parked last trip was hit and destroyed 2 weeks ago by a shaheed drone. Luckily no one was hurt.
Feb 20th, 2025. An update from DrSerghi 19 Feb-
“Yes, You have an update.. Yesterday he was transferred from ICU to our department and feels better”
This soldier came in with a spine injury wound, pneumonia and bronchitis. Dr Serghi received the chest clearance device from Dr Irwin last Sunday at noon. By the afternoon the device was attached to the soldier and put into use. On the 18th of Feb he was moved out of the ICU and is feeling better.
Thanks to Dr Irwin and Medical Missionaries for their leadership in care for Ukraine.
Feb 19th, 2025. Dr Serghi is a military neurosurgeon who we met through Dr Olexy. He performed brain surgery on William, a former Marine early on in the Traveling Colonels story line (2 yrs ago).
Recently, I bought some government surplus inflators -nobody wanted them. I was giving Dr Serghi some other high end items and I tossed some inflation devices into his box to move them forward not because he asked for them.
A day after shipping some of these devices to Dr Serghi, they are being used! Dr Serghi was so excited to have gotten them. Any blind sow can find an acorn every once in awhile.
Tomorrow he is performing a brain surgery procedure -he reported just a bit ago he will be using more of our supplies on the patient.
Feb 19th, 2025. Met again today with Valary who handcrafts great prosthetic limbs for soldiers. He wants to get them walking as fast as possible and “not wait for government money to buy components”. Dr Gil Iriwn, from Medical Missionaries has given us several artificial legs which we passed on to Valary, which have helped soldiers. We helped get him the rehabilitation bars last year (pictured below). If any knee joints, feet, ankle etc joints are available he will use to help amputees. We had prosthetic socks which he was grateful to receive and will be used with the devices he builds.
Feb 14th, 2025. Traveling Colonels have had support from many organizations. This is a message from Dr Ivan, a military surgeon In Kharkiv. His surgery team is using a BullDog multi tipped laparoscopic instrument, days after it was sent to him by The Traveling Colonels.
Feb, 13 2025. This set of boxes is going to to a small community hospital in Mezhova, Ukraine. Mezhova is very close and unfortunately getting closer to the frontlines due to Russian advances. We sent these white boxes of super absorbent wound care out plus other hospital/surgical aid this afternoon. Mezhova hospital just sent this message on the planned use of the supplies by military surgeons just now.
Wow!!! Thanks a lot! I’ll definitely do it. Moreover, now our operating rooms are used by military surgeons. Now the frontline is 12 kilometers away from us and the wounded are being brought to us. we’ll give it to them.
The hospital had declined some laparoscopic instruments last week because “their surgeon” is 74 yrs old and he didn’t use that type of supplies.
MedWish Cleveland, Dr Gil Irwin president of Medical Missionaries and Wisconsin Medical Charity all contributed along with supplies the Traveling Colonels acquired by their means. Colonel Monte reporting from Kyiv.
Feb 11th, 2025. The video below was made as culmination of the circle of life for Chuck’s work. He personally picked these items at MedWish. Then, personally shipped these items via Meest. A trip to Boryspil area over the last 3 weeks picking up items was done. And, yesterday, 10 boxes shipped by Chuck arrived at Boryspil. Last stage of his quest was the sorting and boxing in Brovary, the general purpose hospital, boxes which he put together and directed to be sent to Gluhkov and Putivl hospitals which he has a personal interest in supporting. Well done start to finish. MedWish and Col Chuck support of Ukraine Sumy direction hospitals.
Feb 9th, 2025: These surgical instruments (shown below) on the table center back were sent to Dr Serghi the chief military neurosurgeon in Western Ukraine along with a series of 3 boxes of neuro cranial drapes, a box of laparoscopic instruments and surgical mesh, and many other boxes of gauzes, tapes, ambu bags, IV lines, syringes, chest tubes, urethra catheters and other high end needed medical and surgical supplies. Over the past month approximately 12 large boxes each weighting 40 pounds (20 kilos) have been sent to Dr Serghi’s team that helps Ukrainian soldiers.
The western Ukraine military hospital and staff are very pleased with support gained from MedWish of Cleveland, Dr Gil of Medical Missionaries Northern Virginia and Wisconsin Medical Charity Madison.
The Traveling Colonels working from Kyiv facilitated the shipments from the various medical charities and other volunteers. These donations are being used within days of shipping. This is very solid proof or concept of the collection of high quality medical aid being sent to where it is needed.
Feb 3rd, 2025. Pete this is the chief doctor from Putivl rural hospital. She posted a recent report on our support and included the Medical Missionaries sonogram that Dr Irwin donated last year.
I personally drove it out to their hospital as I had to rebuild it in Kyiv after shipping it internationally to Kyiv. Older machine but still helping their hospital.
Jan 30th, 2025 I admit now before everyone I did not scrub in on this procedure but we can say that Dr Yuri chief military medical officer/surgeon for the Zaporizhzhia area reports our sutures and laparoscopic grabbers were used during this procedure. Expert steady hands operating the instruments way it looks. Sutures from Door County, Dr Irwin, Medical Missionaries of Manassas VA and MedWish of Cleveland OH.
Image has graphic surgery.
Dec 5th, 2024 In late Oct Medical Missionaries donated coban tape and alcohol wipes to The Traveling Colonels. The supplies were shipped by sea container to Kyiv and today they are being sent to Ipren’ Hospital for trauma surgery use. It all helps. We had the supplies that were requested by the Ukrainian hospital Ipren’ -thanks to Dr Gil and Medical Missionaries. Colonel Monte, Kyiv
Dec 3rd, 2024: Really great collection of high quality tooth brushes and tooth paste from Medical Missionaries going to help soldiers that have been wounded and evacuated to the rear hospitals and major hospitals across Ukraine. Important supplies for their personal hygiene and mental health. Thank you!
Thanks to the volunteers who put time, energy and dollars into putting these hygiene dental care packs together. Well packed and super high quality toothpaste and brushes. Thanks Colonel Monte Kyiv. Shipping to wounded soldiers in Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇸
Dec 2nd, 2024 Today we closed a deal with a left bank civilian hospital with 18 military members getting treated in the ophthalmology department. Seemed like roughly of the 10-12 soldiers we saw 1/3 to 1/2 were totally blind. Other soldiers lovingly acting many times as guides to the blind soldiers – the guides had a patch over one eye.
We delivered 6 boxes of ophthalmology surgical care items. FootPrint had sent us a box of eye surgery supplies, Chuck had miniature eye surgery instruments from MedWish, Steve had many items in his recent Door County boxes including calcium chips for facial bone reconstruction, Medical Missionaries of Manassas VA contributed gauzes and surgical gloves, Jan had sent eye patches which were eagerly scooped up as soon as I pulled them out to show the doctors. We even gave some brand new miniature scoops attached to a probe that we got off the 38 pallet deal from London- a very valuable instrument the surgeons commented.
I offered some extra plastic eye cup devices and our ophthalmologist about cried. They can’t buy them here -out of stock; we have 50 to give them.
I have never seen such a bazaar – head nurse in all blue scrubs was going over the surgical instruments with a fine tooth comb and looking up with a chee’ky smile and thumbs up- yes, GOOD! Nurse in all white went over all the instruments and kept 8 in her hands and had no intention of letting go of them. The surgeons and nurses both commented at least once or twice in astonishment that we had given them instruments they had only read about or seen at a trade show- but they knew exactly how to use the instruments. They requested more of a few things and said they couldn’t use 3 boxes of FootPrint’s devices – not because they were expired (2 yrs ago) but because it did not fit their machine, but they said they knew the exact hospital/ person who had this machine and could use all three boxes. Very valuable items!! Great day and great help to the soldiers, doctors and community.
Dec 1, 2024:
From our person who is passing the aid to the medics this morning. Your team in Manasass Medical Missionaries is helping.
Anya english is not her first language- “zero line” is the trench holding back russians
He’s the chief medic of the 37th Brigade and our battalion and he came with the vehicle from Line 0 directly to us to pick up your boxes. I promise you I have tears in my eyes. I asked him how he was doing but he’s not doing well at all. There are a lot of wounded and a lot of dead, a lot of dead and your equipment is really crucial and that’s why he came to pick it up. You are directly involved in saving lives on Line 0.
I wanted to know how much I put in boxing and just in the column and then I know how to do the rest and thank you very much today, it’s downright the armored vehicle that came from the front line to get your equipment, the front line has come closer to us.
They use this vehicle directly on line 0 and therefore it is not far from where we are and many injured every day dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens what you give as material helps to save lives.
Monte Dunard: I wanted to tell you this because it is very important that you know this and the ambulance will then evacuate the injured to less dangerous points.
Monte Dunard: What you sent as the first box, he told me it was one of the best materials he had received and here she is also very happy with what is inside. He will try to make a list when he has time but he is always evacuating the wounded and the dead.
Monte Dunard: But he comes every time to pick up the equipment from my house even if it’s a few boxes because a few boxes save and protect lives.
Nov 30th, 2024: Big shout out to Dr Irwin and everyone at Medical Missionaries. Great boxes of supplies from Manassas to Kyiv. Next stop stabilization points near the frontlines.
Nov 29th, 2024 Thanks to Defacto who helped with this project. We added her donated forceps to the 80 other specialized vascular surgical instruments we sent to the surgeon. We added 75 coagulator electronic surg instruments that he requested also.
The surgeon stated: “we are helping to save lives and save limbs. Thanks- I appreciate everyone who has helped us along the way the last 2 years- Nurse Anna, Chaplain, Kate the Canadian, Jezebel, FootPrint, Dylan, 3XR, Misneach Ireland, D. Vangaurd, Hanuska, Irish Dave UAD, Johnny Ukr Relief Fund, Pam, Ana McB of UK, Kaz, many others… it’s not just The Traveling Colonels. Thanks. We have a lot to be thankful for– Slava Ukrainii!
Nov 5th, 2024. Great support from Dr Gil and Medical Missionaries Manassas.
I collected these items in Northern Virginia about 6 weeks ago and shipped them to kyiv by sea freight. They have arrived just as the first snow and below freezing weather on 5 Nov 2024. The bag I just unpacked will be the basis for a larger box of supplies I am sending to a frontlines Stabilization Point this afternoon. Great support, timely, needed items- surgical gloves, gauzes, tape, wound care all needed as the Stab Points are short on supplies. Thanks. Colonel Monte, Kyiv
Nov 4th, 2024. Kyiv, Winter is coming!
I am sending out first aid kits and a few soldiers gift bags along with some extra socks Dr Gil of Medical Missionaries donated for Ukraine. Some nice hand made scarfs, hat and supplies to cheer up the somdiers and some dry socks. Thanks for the support. Colonel Monte
