In Marseille, a business manager reconditions bulletproof vests for civilians in Ukraine

In Marseille, business manager Nicolas Risterucci recovers bullet-proof vests downgraded by the police. It routes them through the Ukrainian diaspora to the combat zones in Ukraine. Around Nicolas, the initiator of the project and his Belarusian wife Albina, there are Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians. Everyone has a good reason to be there. And all work for the good cause in the living room transformed into a workshop.

We try to do everything we can to support our people, and we will win.

Nina Bekalo

Ukrainian volunteer

These volunteers recover old bulletproof vests to recondition them. The vests will then be sent to Ukraine to allow civilians to protect themselves from Russian fire. These vests mostly come from stocks of “decommissioned” vests that are no longer used by law enforcement and most of the time destined to gather dust or be destroyed.

When I understood while digging that there were vests that were thrown away when they could save lives, for me it’s not possible, I’ll go all the way.

Nicholas Risterucci

project initiator

As soon as he receives the jackets, Nicolas Risterucci removes all identification from them: serial number, model, supplier. Each vest is made anonymous. Deliveries are always made in small quantities: less than 10 units, for greater security. These highly sought-after goods are sold for exorbitant prices on the black market. In a fortnight, the Marseille entrepreneur at the head of a company specializing in safes has already shipped around fifty vests thanks to a formidable chain of solidarity within his professional network and the Ukrainian diaspora.

At the same time, the Marseillais launched an online kitty to buy new vests, which he negotiated at 500 euros / piece. Nicolas hopes to be able to ship a dozen additional protections. From the first hours, the Leetchi kitty collected several hundred euros.