The warfare in Ukraine has revealed a elementary reality of recent battle: assets are all the things. Even because the battlefield shifted into a brand new period of drone warfare and superior surveillance, conventional artillery, particularly long-range howitzer ammunition, stays indispensable. Russia, regardless of its stagnant and sanctioned economic system and the toll of a chronic warfare, continues to supply massive portions of shells. That industrial endurance has been bolstered by munitions shipments from North Korea, courtesy of Kim Jong Un.
The European Union pledged to step up and ship two million artillery shells to Ukraine, however it has repeatedly fallen in need of that objective. Officers cite manufacturing delays and restricted manufacturing capability as the first causes for the shortfall. European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen has repeatedly referred to as for a rise in European protection manufacturing. Nonetheless, after three years of warfare, the E.U. has but to efficiently implement its new protection imaginative and prescient. “Europe is able to assume its obligations,” she acknowledged. “We’re ready to extend protection investments,” with plans to bypass the E.U.’s personal monetary guidelines that will at present restrict such spending.
Within the meantime, some nations, unwilling to depend on the E.U. or anticipate the brand new technique of President Donald Trump’s second administration, are appearing independently and are supplying weapons from their very own stockpiles, offering monetary help to Ukraine, or looking for assist from impartial nations.
Czech President Petr Pavel, former Chairman of the NATO Army Committee, unexpectedly got here to the E.U.’s rescue. On the Munich Safety Convention in 2024, Pavel introduced that the Czech authorities had “discovered” greater than 800,000 artillery shells in nations unwilling or unable to promote army gear on to Ukraine. Pavel defined that these nations “would ship the gear to Ukraine themselves, however they’re prevented from doing so by political causes they contemplate insurmountable.”
After the announcement, the Czech authorities situated and delivered greater than 1.5 million shells, exceeding the promised quantity, however couldn’t fund the complete effort themselves. International locations together with Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway stepped ahead to assist cowl the prices, bringing the E.U. nearer to fulfilling its promised provide.
Governments weren’t the one ones funding the ammunition. Czech residents launched neighborhood fundraisers and raised almost $6 million towards howitzer shells. This was not the primary time residents had taken voluntary motion to assist Ukraine. By on-line fundraisers organized by neighborhood platforms like “Present for Putin,” “Staff for Ukraine,” or “Simply Retribution,” Czech residents have donated hundreds of thousands of {dollars} towards numerous causes. These included rifle magazines, which raised $700,000; howitzers, totaling $2.3 million; medical help, with $1 million; a Black Hawk helicopter, for $3.3 million; and the profitable fundraising for a direct buy of a modernized T-72 tank, colloquially nicknamed Thomas. The quantity raised on the Present for Putin platform alone is approaching $50 million, with 357,234 distinctive donors, and Czech residents present no indicators of slowing down. New initiatives proceed to emerge, discovering inventive methods to assist the wants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Initiatives have additionally acknowledged the significance of drones not solely as scouting instruments however as efficient offensive weapons. The Czech initiative “Drones Nemesis” centered particularly on drones, that are in excessive demand by Ukraine’s protection forces. Residents donated greater than $11.5 million towards the direct buy of First Particular person View drones, all constructed to Ukraine’s specs.
Neighboring Slovakia, with its Russian-leaning authorities, declined to take part within the official Czech ammunition initiative alongside different allied nations. In response, Slovak residents defied their authorities’s stance and joined the fundraising efforts, contributing hundreds of thousands and proving that voluntary motion can outweigh authorities selections. Their message was clear: The federal government just isn’t the only voice of the nation. Prime Minister Robert Fico has downplayed the importance of the fundraisers and repeated his stance in opposition to supplying any arms to Ukraine.
Czech residents additionally took word of the U.S. administration’s shifting technique on the warfare in Ukraine—notably the now-infamous White Home go to by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which resulted in a heated change between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance. Following the assembly, the Present for Putin initiative skilled a surge in donor curiosity, recording its largest day-to-day improve in over two years and elevating greater than one million {dollars} in just a few days.
One of many many causes Czech residents assist Ukraine in its existential wrestle in opposition to Russia is their very own historic and deeply private expertise with Soviet oppression and occupation. “I used to be eleven years previous when Russian tanks invaded us. I am going to always remember that feeling,” says Czech millionaire Dalibor Dědek, who can also be one of many organizers of the initiative. “The Russians are marching west, blindly killing girls and kids. I can not come to phrases with it.”
The organizers haven’t any intention of stopping anytime quickly, no matter a possible change in authorities after the October 2025 elections. As they put it, the marketing campaign will finish solely when “the Russians signal their give up within the Crimean metropolis of Sevastopol.” No matter stays, they add, will go towards rebuilding Ukraine after the warfare.
At a time when states and supranational our bodies wrestle to fulfill their very own guarantees, Czech residents didn’t wait. They acted. They raised hundreds of thousands, delivered provides, no matter Ukraine wanted. Their dedication and values have supported Ukraine and impressed a continent—not by way of decrees or directives, however by way of voluntary motion.
It serves as a reminder that citizen initiatives are efficient and that actual energy and significant change don’t all the time come from parliaments. Typically, they start with a easy donation and a deep perception in freedom, liberty, and duty.
