A Czech crowdfunding initiative raised over $6 million in just five days to purchase generators, heaters, and power banks for Ukraine, organizer Martin Ondracek told Reuters.
In recent months, Russia intensified its daily terror drone and missile attacks to focus specifically on Ukraine’s power grid. Amid freezing winter conditions, Russian forces continue to strike power stations, substations, and other electricity infrastructure across the country. Most oblasts of Ukraine are enduring scheduled outages, with some areas receiving only a few hours of power per day. The largest energy crisis has hit Kyiv, where electricity cuts and partial disruptions to heating and water supplies have continued for over two weeks.
The Darek pro Putina (Gift for Putin) campaign has been collecting donations for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Between 21 January and 26 January, the initiative gathered 126 million crowns ($6.16 million), Ondracek said. Another 15 million crowns are expected from donors.
"Over the weekend, we ordered two generators—diesel units mounted on trucks—costing 8 million crowns each, which are to be delivered to two small medical facilities," Ondracek said, according to European Pravda.
The initiative works with three foundations in Ukraine to avoid lengthy logistical and customs delays, but is also negotiating with Czech suppliers, since not everything can be purchased locally, he added.
"About 30 people are working on this, we need to spend the money as quickly as possible," Ondracek said.
On the same day, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that the Ukrainian capital received 130 generators of various capacities from Poland.
The European Commission announced the transfer of 447 backup generators to Ukraine.
