The Blue/Yellow charity has concluded its eight-week “Dronathon” campaign, which raised more than €1.3m to support Ukrainian and Lithuanian forces.
Organisers will allocate 80% of the funds raised to the needs of the Ukrainian military, while the remaining 20% will go to the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, LRT reports.
The money will be used to buy interceptor drones, counter-drone systems, and to fund operator training.
As Russian air attacks have intensified, Blue/Yellow began purchasing the necessary equipment even before the fundraiser officially ended. The organisation has already bought and tested the first Lithuanian-made Defender interceptor drones. Four units were handed over to the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, and another 12 to Ukrainian defenders.
In addition to supplying equipment, the charity is investing in training for Lithuanian riflemen. Specialised courses are being organised for them, where Ukrainian experts will share practical experience in combating enemy UAVs.
- The “Blue/Yellow” organisation has been operating since 2014, providing material, technological and medical assistance to Ukrainian military personnel and civilians.
- Over 12 years of its work, activists have delivered more than €116m in aid to Ukraine.
- In May 2022, Lithuanians raised €5m in three days for a “Bayraktar” for Ukraine.
- In 2023, Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT, together with the civic organisations Blue/Yellow, Laisvės TV, 1K Fondas and Stiprūs Kartu, launched the “Let’s Radar! / Radarom!” campaign to raise funds for radars for Ukraine’s air defence.