One group, “Gift for Putin,” said it collected more than 72.3 million Czech Koruna (roughly €2.9 million) from over 20,500 donors – enough to purchase a UH‑60 Black Hawk in the United States.
“The Czech Republic has become the first country in the world whose citizens crowdfunded a military helicopter for Ukraine,” the organization announced, noting the aircraft will help evacuate soldiers and conduct special operations.
“As Trump increases public pressure, some people in the Czech Republic are reaching for their credit cards to push back,” said Martin Ondráček from Gift for Putin, speaking to iRozhlas.
Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) is set to operate the helicopter. “Ukraine cannot win the war with drones or ammunition alone. It also needs tanks, aircraft, howitzers—and helicopters for special operations,” the group wrote on its website.
Jan Heřmánek of Team4Ukraine, which has assisted Ukraine since 2014, said donors had been galvanized by Trump’s contentious meeting with Zelenskiy in Washington.
“There’s a feeling that people don’t want to stand by and do nothing—they understand Ukraine’s trauma because we’ve been through similar historical experiences,” Heřmánek told iRozhlas.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala underscored the country’s commitment before heading to a European security summit in London, stating that “military support is the only path to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová visited the Kharkiv region over the weekend, reaffirming the government’s stance in favor of bolstering Ukraine’s defense.
(jh)
Source: Euractiv, Kyiv Independent