Private donations to Ukraine's military needs have fallen sharply, suggesting that Ukrainians' willingness to contribute to defense is waning as the war-torn nation looks warily to the future after Donald Trump won the US presidential election. About this reported the Bloomberg.
In 2022, donations to Serhiy Prytula's charity fund were so large that it was possible to buy a satellite for the Ministry of Defense. But this year, he sees the opposite trend: Ukrainians have become more frugal in financing the military effort, reflecting growing economic problems and war fatigue.
"To collect the same amount of donations, we will have to work three times harder than in previous years," Prytula told Bloomberg News.
The reduction in donations happened at the most inopportune time for Ukraine. With the worsening of the situation at the front, unpopular mobilization and constant power outages, the mood in society is becoming increasingly difficult. The fear that the future US President Trump may reduce support or force Kyiv into an unwanted peace only adds to the anxiety, the publication writes.
Most private charities report a significant drop in donations this year. Prytula says donations have dropped by a fifth, and other organizations are experiencing an even worse situation — some have even experienced a tenfold drop in contributions.
These funds cover only part of the army's needs. For example, the Prytula fund collected UAH 1,4 billion this year, while the country's total military budget exceeds $50 billion. However, donations remain an important resource that complements state funding. With their help, volunteers quickly buy the necessary things - from clothes to cars and reconnaissance drones.
The drop in donations worried the volunteers. According to public data, Ukraine's largest military charity, the Return Alive Foundation, has experienced a drop in donations of approximately 15%.
Prytula cites the economic struggle, including a difficult life during power outages, as possible reasons for the drop in sums.
"This summer, during power outages, the need for donations rivaled the need to buy a generator," - he said.
According to the August survey conducted by the Kyiv Foundation "Democratic Initiatives" named after Ilka Kucheriva and the Razumkov Center, more than half of Ukrainians said that they continue to donate to the army, more than a third said that they have reduced their donations since last year.
Reactive Post, another charity, reported that donations this year were down more than 40% compared to the same period in 2023. Most donors today are those who contributed in the past.
"Army SOS", which collects funds for defense software for military units, recorded a tenfold decrease in donations compared to last year, said volunteer Hanna Morozova.
Morozova prefers not to call the mood of Ukrainians "fatigue". According to her, those who donate less or have stopped donating are "used to" the war, perceiving it as something far removed from their daily lives.
As more Ukrainians have joined the military, their families and friends have become more pragmatic in how they donate, Morozova said. Many send aid directly, rather than through volunteer charities.
And, of course, constant corruption cases of government representatives and deputies demotivate people.
Thank you for being with us! Monobank for the support of the ElitExpert editorial office.
