Ukrainian military intelligence has taken delivery of a U.S.-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, purchased through a nationwide crowdfunding campaign organized in the Czech Republic.
The handover marks the culmination of a year-long effort led by the volunteer initiative Dárek pro Putina (“A Gift for Putin”), which raised more than 72.6 million Czech crowns—about $3.2 million—from over 20,600 donors.
According to the organization, this is the first time citizens of any country have financed a military helicopter for Ukraine.
“The Czech Republic became the first country in the world whose citizens pooled resources to buy a helicopter for Ukraine,” representatives of the initiative wrote on their website.
The helicopter, acquired in the United States, was disassembled, shipped by sea in containers, and reassembled before being delivered to Ukraine.
Organizers confirmed that the aircraft has been transferred to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). Martin Ondráček, who coordinated the campaign, said Ukrainian pilots immediately demonstrated the Black Hawk’s performance during the handover.
“The pilots showed us what this machine can do. They were very impressed because, unlike the aircraft they usually operate, this is a completely different story. In terms of maneuverability, speed, and cost of operation, it is unmatched,” Ondráček said.
Ukrainian officials had specifically requested the Black Hawk.
“They asked for the Black Hawk, a helicopter developed directly for war and for the military. It can carry large numbers of people, cargo, and weapons, which makes it highly advantageous,” Ondráček explained.
The delivery was described as a day of celebration for Ukrainian pilots. “For the pilots it was a very happy day. It is not common for 21,000 people from the Czech Republic and Slovakia to contribute to a Black Hawk. The collection was long and demanding, but it ended well, and this week the helicopter will fly its first mission,” Ondráček told reporters.
The fundraising drive began on November 16, 2023, as the initiative’s largest campaign. It was intended not only to purchase a helicopter but also to raise awareness that Ukraine urgently requires modern aviation assets to defend itself and to help secure Europe against Russian aggression.
The effort encountered challenges, including a change in the aircraft being purchased.
“Originally we were negotiating for a helicopter from a Czech arms company, but during fundraising a more favorable offer emerged directly from the United States, so we completed the purchase there,” Dědek said.
Fundraising stalled in September 2024, but surged again following a public dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
“People react to these situations. That day we received millions of crowns in donations,” Ondráček noted.
Since its founding, Dárek pro Putina has raised more than 1.08 billion Czech crowns (about $47 million) from over 366,000 donors. Past purchases for Ukraine’s armed forces include an RM-70 rocket launcher named Přemysl and a T-72 Avenger tank.
Dědek said support for Ukraine remains strong. “A core of donors has formed who contribute regularly. Thanks to that, the funds keep growing, and we are able to organize further campaigns. Even on August 21 alone, a tremendous amount of money was raised, which shows that most of the Czech population wants to help Ukraine,” he said.
The group is now running new campaigns for drones and training aircraft for Ukrainian pilots preparing to fly F-16 fighters.