Lithuanians Fundraise to Buy Bayraktar TB2 Combat Drone for Ukraine

Hundreds of Lithuanians clubbed together to buy Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 combat drone for Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian invasion.

“This is the first case in history when ordinary people raise money to buy something like a Bayraktar. It is unprecedented, it is unbelievable," Beshta Petro, Ukraine's ambassador to Lithuania told Laisves TV, the Lithuanian internet broadcaster that launched the drive.

The target of $5.4 million was raised in just three and a half days, largely in small amounts, to fund the purchase of the drone, Laisves TV reported.

"Novel, unexpected fundraisers fire people up again. It's the third month of the invasion... it's important to avoid getting used to it," Lithuania's Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told Laisves TV.

Ukraine has bought more than 20 Bayraktar TB2s from Turkish company Baykar in recent years and ordered a further 16 on January 27. That batch was delivered in early March.