A group of Ukrainian military officials has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the purchase of new fighter jets to defend their country. In a video showing destroyed military equipment and devastated cities, a pilot looks into the camera and says, “Buy me a fighter.”
He later continues: “It will help protect my skies full of Russian planes bombing my country, killing my friends and destroying our homes and everything I’ve ever known. You have a chance to stop them. Give us wings to fight for our sky.”
The campaign website claims Ukraine has been asking NATO to supply its military with fighter jets since the war began, but says “world governments fear an escalation.” The website also references the “humanitarian catastrophe” caused by Russia and the “growing threat of World War III”.
The military is crowdfunding purchases of fighter jets, which the website claims include the SU22, Su 25, Su 27, Su 24 and Mig 29. According to the website, the average cost of a jet is $25 million.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has been asking Western countries, especially those that are part of NATO, to provide it with fighter jets to defend its airspace against Russian planes. However, countries were reluctant to provide such support, fearing the conflict would escalate.
There is no confirmation that the campaign has anything to do with the Ukrainian Air Force. Before the war, the country had 210 fighter jets, but this number was drastically reduced by Russian attacks. Today that number is uncertain.