This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has helped launch a global crowdfunding site to raise funds to help Ukraine repel an unprovoked attack by Russia and rebuild the country once the war ends.
Speaking in English in a video posted on Twitter on May 5, Zelenskiy said all funds raised on the site will be transferred to the Ukrainian central bank, where they will be disbursed to the “relevant ministries.”
“In one click, you can donate funds to protect our defenders, to save our civilians and to rebuild Ukraine,” Zelenskiy said in the video as he launched the United24 platform.
Zelenskiy said that the site will help allow ordinary people from around the world help in the battle against Russian forces.
“Every donation matters for victory,” he added.
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and has since bombarded the country on a daily basis. While Moscow says it is not targeting civilians, mounting evidence shows civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, hospitals, and cultural centers, have been destroyed.
The crowdfunding site says that the money raised will be directed toward three sectors: defense and demining, medical aid, and rebuilding the country.
“Only together we have the potential to stop the war and to rebuild what Russia has destroyed,” Zelenskiy said.
