Slovaks collect hundreds of thousands of Euros for Ukraine

“The Peace Initiative of Ukraine,” a Czech government initiative, launched a public fundraiser to purchase ammunition for Ukraine's war efforts. After only two days in operation, the collection has been one of the most successful ever in Slovakia.

Otto Šimko, a participant in WW2's anti-fascist resistance, was one of the first to support the collection. “I kept my fingers crossed for Ukraine … because I realized the importance of the outcome of this fight. It is the result of a struggle between two worlds," explained Šimko, who is now the initiative's ambassador.

The money mostly goes as a purpose-bound gift to the Ukrainian embassy in Prague. They then buy the previously agreed goods. "We started with a larger collection two years ago, which included a tank. We sent a rocket launcher with ammunition to Ukraine for 50 million Czech crowns," said Dodo Dobrík, a volunteer from the Gift for Putin initiative.

"If they do not defend themselves, we will have a migration crisis here. It is better to collect money so that they can defend themselves. And that's good neighborly relations," said popular Slovak actor Ady Hajdu.

So far, almost 700,000 euros have been collected. The collection does not have a set target amount and will continue as long as the fighting in Ukraine continues.

Source: RTVS