Hundreds of Lithuanian citizens rallied to raise about $ 5 million to buy an advanced military drone for Ukraine to use in its ongoing war against Russia.
The fundraiser was completed in just three and a half days and consisted largely of small donations from ordinary Lithuanian citizens, Reis reported on Saturday, citing Laisves TV, a Lithuanian Internet broadcaster that launched the effort. The money, totaling $ 4.7 million, will now be used to buy a Bayraktar TB2 military drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle that has proven very successful against Russian forces.
“This is the first case in history when ordinary people raise money to buy something like a Bayraktar. It’s unprecedented, it’s unbelievable,” Beshta Petro, Ukraine’s ambassador to Lithuania, told Laisves TV, according to Reuters.
Hundreds of Lithuanians gathered to buy an advanced military drone for Ukraine. Above, a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone flies north of Cyprus on December 16, 2019. Birol BEBEK / AFP / Getty Images
Ukraine had bought about two dozen Bayraktar TB2 armed drones from Turkish company Baykar in recent years and received an additional 16 in early March. Drones have become legendary among the nation’s defense, and it’s even the subject of a popular song that claims that the Bayraktar “makes ghosts of Russian bandits,” according to The New Yorker.
Lithuania, a former Soviet Union and NATO member state, has been openly critical of the invasion. Along with other Baltic states, he has expressed fears that Russia may expand the war into its own country and has moved to step up security efforts in recent months.
Earlier this week, Lithuania’s foreign minister accused Moscow of committing “genocide” and warned that if Ukraine ceded territory to Russia to help achieve peace, it could “normalize” what the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to achieve. Several Lithuanians, who made donations to help buy the Bayraktar, said they were happy to help the nation of Eastern Europe in its effort to end the bloody war.
“Before this war started, none of us thought we would buy weapons. But now it’s normal. Something needs to be done to make the world a better place,” said Agne Belickaite, 32, who sent 100 euros. as soon as fundraising began on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
“I have been making a donation to buy weapons in Ukraine for a long time. And I will do so until victory,” he said, adding that he was partly motivated by fears that Russia could attack Lithuania.
The Russian invasion began more than three months ago, and has so far killed thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. However, the Russian army has seen a major setback and few military successes.