United24, Come Back Alive Fund, and monobank announce new fundraiser for 5,000 drones
Photo: from open sources
The United24 fundraising platform, the Come Back Alive Charity Fund, and the Ukrainian bank monobank announced a new fundraising campaign, "Unity 2: New Year's Salute."
The benefactors aim to raise ₴220 million to purchase FPV drones with thermal cameras and daylight cameras, Rubryka reports.
What's the problem?
FPV drones have completely transformed the battlefield between Russia and Ukraine over the past year. This technology is continually progressing and expanding, and its use has been observed both during the day and at night.
Currently, the Ukrainian forces urgently need FPV drones, according to the Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov,
"These drones are needed on the front lines right now. They are changing the course of events," he said.
What's the solution?
On December 13, as part of the "Unity 2: New Year's Salute" operation, the United24 fundraising platform, the Come Back Alive foundation, and monobank announced the ₴220 million fundraiser to purchase 3,000 FPV drones with thermal cameras and 2,000 with daylight cameras.
The "Unity 2" continues the "Operation Unity" fundraising campaign announced in August of this year, when UNITED24, "Come Back Alive," and monobank collected funding for 10,000 kamikaze drones. In three days, Ukrainians closed the collection by donating ₴235 million.
How does it work?
"In the New Year's version of the project, together with the 'Come Back Alive' and monobank, we are collecting ₴220,000,000. With these funds, we will buy 3,000 FPV drones with thermal cameras and 2,000 with daylight cameras. Add to this 5,000 cumulative fragmentation grenades — and it will be a real fireworks show! All combat 'birds' will fly to perform tasks in the hottest spots on the front line," the announcement stated.
Contributors will also have the chance to win prizes. For a donation of ₴100, you can win a flag that has been to the top of Everest, signed by President Zelensky, 50 Azovstal bracelets with the signatures of Azov commanders, and 100 packs of "Might. Ukrainian Rock Salt," 100 monobank platinum cards with two years of service. And for a donation of ₴1,000, you can win an apartment in any city in Ukraine from the Aurora multi-brand network.
Contributions can be made through this link.
"Let's give the occupiers a single firework show that Ukrainians will like," said Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
United24 also reported that within 45 minutes of announcing the collection, they had already managed to raise ₴10 million.
As of 5:32 p.m. on December 13, the amount collected for drones reached ₴70 million.
"We have already raised ₴70,000,000 thanks to you in just over 6 hours. This is fantastic!" the United24 platform stated.
About United24 platform
On May 17, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree supporting the initiative to establish the national brand United24. The goal is to unite the efforts of international partners to support Ukraine in defending its independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, as well as in post-war recovery.
During the first four months of the United24 fundraising platform's operation, contributions for Ukraine were received from 110 countries, totaling nearly $200 million.
Ambassadors of United24 include footballer Andrii Shevchenko, actor Liev Schreiber, Balenciaga director Demna Gvasalia, members of the American rock band Imagine Dragons, boxer Oleksandr Usyk, American astronaut Scott Kelly, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina, historian Timothy Snyder, and others.
Both Ukrainians and foreigners have already donated over ₴510 million for drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the United24 platform. With these funds, Ukraine purchased its first rescue helicopter.
In August of the previous year, people from 110 countries joined the platform, and the total amount of charitable contributions exceeded ₴6 billion.
In November 2023, Zelensky summed up the results: in 1.5 years of operation, the United24 platform raised over $490 million to support Ukraine.
