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Oskar Pedersen AS and Aclima AS have donated wool garments to equip 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers in collaboration with Fritt Ukraina.
The initiative was established during a working meeting between Oskar Pedersen and Aclima in January, explains Aclima CEO Christian Lodgaard:
“We work well together, and during the meeting we touched on what truly motivates us. It is not sales targets or quarterly reports, but our shared freedom and the future of democracy. Today, Ukraine is, more than anyone else, also fighting our battle to defend what we value most.”
“The least we can do is help Ukrainians with what we can. We sent our first aid shipment to Ukraine as early as March 2022, but this time both companies wanted to collaborate with an organization as experienced as Fritt Ukraina has become,” says Lodgaard.
Norwegian wool that keeps you warm
Aclima produces high-quality wool base layers that keep both outdoor enthusiasts and professionals warm, dry, and comfortable, and also holds major military contracts together with Oskar Pedersen AS, a family-owned company and one of the Nordic region’s leading suppliers of operational defence solutions.
Coordinated by Fritt Ukraina, personnel from Oskar Pedersen helped transport the donated wool garments from Norway to recipients in Ukraine. In total, 3,000 garments were delivered, enough to equip 1,000 soldiers.
The donated items included tops, bottoms, and beanie hats, thin caps designed to be worn under helmets. The tops and bottoms are made of wool terry, a durable construction with wool against the skin and looped fibers that provide air and insulation.
“This is the same quality used by the Norwegian Armed Forces for nearly 30 years,” Lodgaard explains.
The delivery was Fritt Ukraina’s transport number 124. In addition to the wool products, six vehicles were also donated, including three high-quality pickups and three vans for air defence.
The delivery was carried out in cooperation with our good partners Irene Avetisian and People’s Self Defence Lviv, Taras Melnyk and Support Ukraine.
The most important issue for Europe’s future
“Aclima is one of our key partners across several of our agreements with the armed forces in Norway and the other Nordic countries. We are proud to jointly deliver essential equipment to Ukrainian soldiers who will need it at the front. Ukraine’s defence against the Russian full-scale invasion is the most important issue for Europe’s future and our shared security,” says CEO Truls Oskar Pedersen of Oskar Pedersen AS.
“We do not want to be passive spectators to the effort Ukraine is making for our shared democratic values in Europe,” he adds.
Oskar Pedersen has also previously contributed both equipment and efforts to Ukraine. The company also supports the war academy cadets in Row for Ukraine, who will row across the North Sea in support of Ukraine.
“It felt important and necessary to contribute now,” says Pedersen.
See also: Oskar Pedersen AS supports Row for Ukraine 2026 – rowing across the North Sea for Ukraine
Pedersen himself took part in the drive to Lviv, located in western Ukraine near the Polish border.
“It made a deep impression to see how people in Lviv have adapted to everyday life despite the war. They live as normally as possible, on some levels strikingly similar to life back home, with bustling cafés and school classes out on excursions.”
At the same time, the contrast is stark: they must always have a plan for where to seek shelter when drone and missile alarms go off.
“The visit to the soldiers’ cemetery ‘Field of Mars’ also made a strong impression on everyone in the team, and made it very clear just how serious the situation in Ukraine is,” says Truls Oskar Pedersen.
Pedersen and Lodgaard are highly impressed by Fritt Ukraina and the way the organization enables and facilitates both large and small donations for anyone willing and able to contribute.
“The team that assisted us with organizing and leading the journey across Europe did a tremendous job. We encourage others who can and want to do the same,” says Pedersen.