United to win: Ukraine’s intelligence soldiers receive drones funded by Latvian citizens

The military of Ukraine's intelligence received drones, which were purchased with charitable funds collected in Latvia.

The Ministry of Defense's main directorate of intelligence reports this.

What is the solution?

Jānis Slaidiņš, a major in the Armed Forces of Latvia, public figure, and volunteer, spearheaded a charity fundraiser.

Photo: Ukraine's intelligence

How does it work?

Jānis Slaidiņš, who brought and handed over the drones for Ukraine's military intelligence.

"Many people in Latvia are worried about Ukraine. We will continue to help," he emphasized.

^{Photo: Ukraine's intelligence}

Andrii Yusov, the representative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, expressed his gratitude to his friends from Latvia for the systematic assistance to scouts and all the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine.

"While major international institutions are thinking, weighing, hesitating, Latvia – the state, the people, and volunteers – are relentlessly helping Ukraine throughout the entire period of Russian aggression.

We certainly appreciate it. Ukrainians will never forget this," Yusov said.

As reported earlier, the head of Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, participated in her first half-marathon to raise funds for Ukraine's drones. The event raised 13,500 euros, with the total amount still increasing.

Next year, as in the current year, Latvia will allocate 20 million euros for the international coalition of drones designed to strengthen Ukraine's defense potential. In addition, Latvia has started training Ukrainian drone operators.

For reference:

On January 18, the creation of the Coalition of Drones and Radio-Electronic Warfare was reported.

Latvia initiated the creation of the Coalition. The initiative was announced during a December 2023 meeting between its Minister of Defense, Andris Spruds, and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov.

As of April 2024, the drone coalition led by Latvia has already collected almost 500 million euros to purchase drones for Ukraine.

Latvia also provides a drone testing ground to industrial and military enterprises to continuously improve drone technology.

In addition, Latvia will transfer more than 2,500 drones to Ukraine in July, costing about 4 million euros. The deliveries will take place within Latvia's Drone Coalition.

Great Britain has announced an industry competition for developing and procuring FPV drones, which has received 265 applications. These proposals are currently under assessment, and the initial contracts are anticipated to be signed in August.

Currently, the International Drone Coalition includes 14 countries – Latvia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Canada, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Great Britain, France, Sweden and Estonia.