despite a slowdown in donations, the Ukrainian population continues to mobilize to equip its soldiers

Hundreds of millions of euros are raised through prize pools or auctions to equip and arm Ukrainian soldiers. This outpouring of solidarity has been expressed across the country since Russia launched its invasion two years ago.

“Hello friends! Thanks to your support, the Kherson border guards received this very reliable and powerful car. It will help us on the front! Thank you again, and glory to Ukraine!” This type of message launched by a Ukrainian soldier in a video can only be found on Andriy Pytomets’ Instagram account.

From the first days of the Russian invasion, the young Kievan, who works in the video game industry, launched donation drives in his entourage to help the soldiers in his region of Kherson. In total, with his friend Oleksiy, they have already collected two million hryvnias, or a little less than 50,000 euros. There are now tens of thousands of them doing the same, all over Ukraine, to buy soldiers equipment, vehicles or even weapons that their staff cannot provide them with.

“We have to rack our brains to motivate donors”

Studies by economists estimate that this popular generosity represents around a billion euros in donations each year since February 2022, but there are signs of running out of steam. “Generally speaking, the dynamic of donations is slowing downnotes Oleksiy. Unfortunately, perhaps because society is tired, morally and physically, exhausted. It’s harder to collect donations today than it was a year ago. We have to rack our brains to motivate donors.”

The simple online prize pools of the beginning are therefore increasingly giving way to auctions, raffles with rewards for the biggest donors, or group collections where several Internet users motivate each other to manage to raise large sums. . Techniques that are borrowed from digital marketing.

But for Andriy, collecting donations for the army is no longer really enough to feel useful far from the front: “Last fall I took steps to join the army, but for various reasons it was not possible, I regret that. But I do not exclude this possibility for the future.”

“For the moment I’m trying to do everything in my power here and for the rest we’ll see.”

Andriy, Ukrainian

at franceinfo

In the meantime, Oleksiy and Andriy sometimes visit the soldiers they help with their funds. A way of maintaining the link between Ukraine at the front and that at the rear.