Betty and Jack Hubbard were given an award from the Ukrainian navy for donating night-vision goggles.
A local couple, which already has demonstrated its humanitarianism by sheltering a family of Ukrainian refugees, is now contributing to the war from the other side of the Atlantic.
Jack and Betty Hubbard have been given the award from the commander of the Ukrainian navy, Oleksiy Neizhpapa, for donating money to buy their European allies three pairs of night-vision goggles.
Although the Hubbards are not looking for more recognition — they already have been lauded for housing the Pinchuk family — they believe publicity about their donation could inspire other people in Jamestown to donate.
Oleksandr Pinchuk, a chief of Ukraine’s maritime command, told his wife, Viktoria, about the navy’s need for infrared sensing. Viktoria, who is living with her three children in Hubbard’s house, relayed that info to her landlord.
According to Hubbard, Oleks, as he is called, “respected the decisions” of Ukraine’s high command to send the navy’s goggles to the frontlines, which left a void of infrared sensing on the waterfront. Still needing the equipment to keep track of his Russian adversaries, however, naval officials were tasked with securing their own equipment.
Oleks identified a trusted recipient in Ukraine to relay him the money, and that person also helped with procuring the equipment. Although the source for the equipment was expected to come from Poland, a better source was found in the Balkans.
“The Lithuanians liked the idea so much that they matched our three sets,” Hubbard said. “So, the Ukrainian navy now has six, and they have been used to their advantage.”
