Slovaks launch crowdfunding campaign to help Ukraine buy ammunition

A crowdfunding campaign has launched in Slovakia to finance the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine. Organizers of the fundraiser explained on Wednesday that they want to raise one million euros, overruling their government’s refusal to send military aid to its war-torn neighbor.

Thousands of people have already donated €750,000 to the campaign since Monday, when the Peace to Ukraine group launched its initiative.

“We want and can help”

Since returning to power last year, Prime Minister Robert Fico cut off military aid to Ukraine and advocated peace talks with Russia. One of the donors, Tomas Benetin, said this is his main motivation. “I wanted the world to know that Slovakia is not only made up of pro-Kremlin politicians,” said the 36-year-old Kosice resident.

Zuzana Izakova, a representative of the initiative, said: “We, the people of Slovakia, want and can help” Ukraine. “We want to show that it is not just the government and Robert Fico who are addressing this issue.”

The organization plans to use the proceeds for an international project led by the Czech Republic to purchase ammunition for Kyiv.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Tuesday that twenty countries had already committed to finance the purchase of 500,000 shells outside Europe. The Slovak government did not join the Czech project.

Marian Kulich, another representative of Peace to Ukraine, explained that the Slovak initiative arose out of disagreement with the government’s position on Ukraine. “We are convinced that many people in Slovakia do not support the Czech government abandoning the project,” she said. According to Zuzana Izakova, the group wants to match the million euros offered by the Slovenian government last month.

“Help Ukrainian defenders”

One prominent supporter of the Slovak fundraising campaign, Holocaust survivor Otto Simko, believes his own war experiences can be applied to the situation in Ukraine.

At the age of 99, this former journalist participated in the 1942 Slovak National Uprising, an attempt to resist German forces during World War II.

“We fought the aggressor, the German occupier (…). They could not be reasoned with, they had to be defeated,” says Otto Simko in a campaign video. “If I can spend just twenty euros to buy one ball, I know that the ball is in good hands,” he assures.

This initiative is also supported by documentary director Pavol Pekarczyk, who spent several months in Ukraine making films. “Feeling helpless is probably the worst thing a person can experience,” he said in a video message promoting the campaign. “This way we can help Ukrainian defenders so that they are not left empty-handed when someone shoots at them,” he added.