Flagstaff Ghosts Founder, Marine Veteran Departs for Fourth Trip to Help Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine enters its 16th month, Lance Zaal, founder of Flagstaff Ghosts, embarked on his fourth trip to the war zone in June to continue to support the men he trained and others he met along the way. Some of the fighters include Americans who have volunteered and Russian Legion members fighting for Ukraine, whom Zaal financially supports. Zaal is a U.S. Marine veteran who has traveled to Ukraine on three separate occasions in the last year.

He first trained 80 civilians to resist invading Russians in March and April 2022 and equipped them with body armor vests, first aid kits, night vision gear and other supplies. On subsequent trips, he supported the Ukrainians with drones, thermal and night vision optics and secure communications equipment.

Zaal has spent nearly $250,000 and continues to seek donations to help Ukraine through his private organization, Ghosts of Liberty, established to support the resistance movement and help citizens in Ukraine fight back.

“I will continue to do everything I can to meet the needs of those defending Ukraine. Despite assistance from governments and organizations across the world, the scope of the conflict is so vast – and brutal – that many small and important needs remain unfulfilled,” he said. “I may not be training any longer, but I feel I have a duty to continue my support by employing my resources to a just cause.”

Zaal calls the war in Ukraine everyone’s fight. “The men I trained were good people and not fighters. They are photographers, real estate investors, doctors, dentists and artists – all who rose to the occasion,” he said. “It’s easy for me to give money, when they are forced to fight for their lives and loved ones.”

In December, Zaal started Flagstaff Ghosts, operated by U.S. Ghost Adventures, which provides ghost tours in Flagstaff’s historic district. FBN