13 October 2022
Rock bands do it. Startups do it. Heck, your family might have done it to send Aunt Millie on a long-wished-for tour of Graceland.
Now, crowdfunding appears to have become a combat strategy.
Two Ukrainians—Serhiy Prytula and Serhii Sternenko—established a crowdfunding site to purchase drones to aid in the defense of their country against Russian invaders.
The duo—Prytula is a politician and army volunteer and Sternenko is an activist—raised $9.6 million in just 24 hours.
A lot of crowdfunding musicians and tech startups are likely extremely jealous of that haul, but, then again, they aren't fighting for their country and their lives.
Reportedly, the windfall will be initially used to buy 50 Ukrainian-manufactured Ram II kamikaze drones that can carry a 6.6 lb. explosive payload.
As much of a crowdfunding victory as it was, the call for drones is a temporary measure.
“We still need more weapons from our allies to stop this terror, and the crime of genocide Russia commits daily in this European country,” said Sternenko.
The Prytula-Sternenko fund is the latest in a series of initiatives dedicated to acquiring drones for Ukrainian forces. It's a critical need, as air defenses are a significant reason why Ukraine has been able to push back the Russian military.
In fact, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has requested that other nations help his country devise an air shield against Russian attacks.
“When Ukraine receives a sufficient number of modern and effective air defense systems, the key element of Russian terror—missile strikes—will cease to work,” stated Zelensky.
