The article discusses the Czech crowdfunding initiative "Gift for Putin", which has been raising funds to provide military aid to Ukraine despite growing aid fatigue in the West. Led by former TV news editor Martin Ondracek, the initiative has raised the equivalent of $27.5 million from over 188,000 donors to purchase a range of equipment for the Ukrainian military, including a tank, a rocket launcher, a demining system, drones, and ammunition.
The project's latest fundraising effort is aimed at acquiring a Black Hawk helicopter worth an estimated $4 million. While foreign donors have contributed about 8% of the funds, the majority of the donations have come from within the Czech Republic.
"We want to tell the world that Ukraine needs military supplies... and create a certain pressure," told Ondracek.
The article notes that the Czech government has also provided substantial humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, as well as accepting around half a million refugees. However, the government's military supplies are dwindling, and Ondracek does not expect Western European countries to make up for the decrease, as Ukraine is "too remote for them" and they lack the "dreadful historic experience with Russia" that the Czechs have.
Looking ahead, the Gift for Putin initiative is considering building a drone factory to counter Russia's advantage on the battlefield.
