A “gift for Putin”: with millions of euros already raised to send weapons to Ukraine, a Czech crowdfunding project has set itself the goal of purchasing a Black Hawk helicopter, amid fears of Western disengagement from Kiev.
Since its launch, the initiative, entitled “Gift for Putin”, has raised the equivalent of 27.5 million dollars (23.1 million euros) from more than 188,000 donors, for the purchase of a tank , a rocket launcher, a mine clearance system, drones and munitions.
Foreign donors provided 8% of the sums collected. Translated into six languages, the Czech site also sells t-shirts mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin and other gifts to galvanize donors. Led by a former television editor, Martin Ondracek, the project now aims to raise funds for the purchase of a Black Hawk helicopter, worth an estimated US$4 million (US$3.6 million). ‘euros).