Since the middle of the week, Czechs have donated almost 69 million crowns for aid to Ukraine
Millions of people, including many in Kyiv, are without electricity, heating and often even drinking water
Foto: David Tomaseti | Unsplash
The war in Ukraine has entered a new phase in which supplying the population is increasingly becoming the central challenge. Destroyed power plants and power cuts are significantly worsening the humanitarian situation. A new appeal for donations by the Dárek pro Putina initiative is now intended to quickly deliver urgently needed assistance.
Since the middle of the week, almost 69 million crowns have been donated in the Czech Republic to support Ukraine in what is currently its worst energy crisis since the start of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022. The “Gift for Putin” (Dárek pro Putina) initiative launched the fundraising campaign SOS Kyjev for generators and emergency batteries on Wednesday evening. The amount raised continues to grow steadily. “Unbelievable,” commented co-initiator Martin Ondráček in a social media post.
The situation in Ukraine is dramatic: over the past two months, almost all of the country’s power plants have been damaged or destroyed. Millions of people, including many in Kyiv, are without electricity, without heating and often also without drinking water. Hundreds of thousands have already left the capital. The situation is considered critical.
Against this background, the Ukrainian foreign minister urgently appealed to Europe for help – particularly for generators, batteries and equipment that can save lives.
Source: Dárek pro Putina | SOS Kyjev
In order to provide rapid relief, the initiative has launched the emergency campaign “SOS Kyiv”. The aim is to immediately procure:
small portable generators for residential buildings, hospitals and schools,
emergency batteries and light sources,
further material support for the families most severely affected.
To avoid bureaucratic hurdles and long transport routes, the material is to be purchased directly on site in Ukraine. Friends of the initiative from the Serhij Prytula Foundation are organising distribution in Kyiv. They receive numerous requests every day from schools as well as medical and social institutions and from individual households.
The initiative is thus responding to the alarming situation which, in recent weeks, has left millions of people, including the residents of Kyiv, without basic supplies.
“Dárek pro Putina” was founded in 2022 as an initiative to support the defence of Ukraine. In 2023, it became an independent non-profit organisation. In cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in Prague, equipment worth more than one billion crowns has been sent to Ukraine to support its defence.
