Czech Volunteers Raise €2.4 Million to Buy Six D-30 Howitzers for Ukraine

In the Czech Republic, the fundraising campaign Dárek pro Putina (A Gift for Putin) has successfully completed its collection of funds for six new 122 mm D-30 howitzers.

The organizers announced the completion of the fundraising on their official website.

The initiative, supported by the Embassy of Ukraine in Prague, raised the necessary €2.4 million, enabling the purchase of the artillery pieces and their immediate delivery to the front lines.

As the organizers note that all six howitzers are already available – an exceptional achievement under current conditions, when most weapons have to be waited for months.

The official handover to the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be coordinated with diplomatic representatives, and the delivery itself is planned to take place shortly after the completion of administrative procedures.

“The military values them for their simple design, mobility, and the ability to rotate 360° without changing position, making these howitzers an effective means of artillery support in combat operations across varied terrain,” the initiative’s organizers noted.

The D-30 (2A18) howitzers, developed in the 1960s in the Soviet Union, have a firing range of up to 15.4 km (or up to 21.9 km with rocket-assisted projectiles) and a rate of fire of up to 10-12 rounds per minute.

It should be noted that, in addition to howitzers, the volunteer organization Zbranê pro Ukrajinu (Weapons to Ukraine) is raising funds for other equipment and gear – including FPV drones, as well as supplies for female service members.

Previously, Czech volunteers within the same initiative Dárek pro Putina (A Gift for Putin) raised funds to purchase a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.

The fundraising for the Black Hawk helicopter began in November 2023. However, according to the volunteers, the pace of donations significantly slowed after a few months – partly due to pressure from certain individuals who claimed that Ukraine hadn’t needed the helicopter and that the funds would be better spent on other needs.

In addition to the helicopter, the volunteers also delivered 1,000 RPG-75M anti-tank rocket launchers. These were procured just two months after the fundraising started, once the initiative had raised over €900,000.

The volunteers have also purchased 10 tons of explosives for a Ukrainian special police unit.