Lithuanians have started a frantic crowdfunding effort to raise money for a military drone.
Hundreds of Lithuanians donated to a fundraiser to help Ukraine purchase an advanced military drone for its conflict with Russia. In Lithuania, 5 million euros ($5.4 million) was raised in only three and a half days, mostly in modest sums.
The fund-raising campaign was started by Laisves TV, a Lithuanian online broadcaster. “This is the first time that regular people have raised money to acquire anything like a Bayraktar,” the Ukrainian envoy to Lithuania said.
In recent years, the drone has proved helpful in battles in Syria and Libya, and Lithuania’s defense ministry oversees its procurement. After the Ukraine conflict, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia stated that they would no longer buy Russian natural gas.
