Private Donations Help Support Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia

Private Donations Help Support Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia

A well-organized financing effort is providing private money and equipment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

The donations are being raised through crowdfunding activities. Crowdfunding is when money is raised from a large number of people who each give smaller amounts to a cause. The efforts are generally publicized and operated through the internet.

The financing system is helping¹ to support Ukrainian resistance as Russia continues its military offensive in Ukraine. Russian forces invaded the country on February 24.

The Ukrainian side has heavily depended on financial aid and military assistance from Western nations during the conflict. But the crowdfunding efforts demonstrate how Ukraine is also getting help from large networks of private donors² and volunteers.

Technology and strong organization are helping drive Ukraine's crowdfunding activities. The fundraising systems can turn millions of dollars in donations into fast deliveries of war equipment directly to the battlefield.

The crowdfunding efforts use websites to seek needed materials. The system is supported by online payment systems. Volunteers can also get involved and donate their skills and experience in areas such as buying and delivering military equipment.

Among the materials received through crowdfunding are drones -- equipment designed to help troops see on the battlefield and vehicles.

Last week, a Ukrainian television star and politician Serhiy Prytula appealed to the public for $15 million in donations to buy three Turkish-made military drones. His request went viral online. Prytula later announced that the appeal had raised $20 million in under three days. That amount was enough to buy four of the military drones.

Prytula is head of an organization that is raising money for Ukraine's military effort and for humanitarian³ aid. The group is currently one of Ukraine's biggest crowdfunding efforts for the war.

On the other side, some Russians are also donating supplies to support their own country's troops. But the Russian efforts are not nearly as organized or widespread as the crowdfunding activities in support of Ukraine.

Experts say one reason for this is because Russia has been downplaying the size, reach and cost of its invasion. Russian officials have repeatedly called the invasion a "special military operation."

The West sees the war in Ukraine as an unjustified act of aggression⁴ by Russia. The conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions and destroyed cities. It has also affected⁵ world exports of important goods such as food and energy supplies.

A Russian government-supported crowdfunding campaign was started in early June. A group called the United People's Front launched the campaign. The Russian government created the organization to seek public support. The group has made appeals for military equipment and medicines.

Mikhail Kuznetsov helps lead the United People's Front. In an appeal for the organization, he said, "The guys on the front line who are dying for the right to be Russians, who are fighting for our common freedom, will greatly appreciate any help you can offer."

Kuznetsov added: "They will win in any case, but they will win faster and with smaller casualties if we help them."

Words in This Story

deliver – v. to transport things from one place to another

drone – n. a self-piloted vehicle

downplay – v. to make something seem less important or bad than it really is

appreciate – v. to enjoy and recognize the full worth of something

casualties – n. people who are injured or killed in an accident or war

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。