By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - Lithuanians have donated €14 million ($14.7 million) to purchase air defense radars for Ukraine during a month-long fundraising drive.
The Baltic country has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine war began last year.
The money raised will be used to purchase 14 radars capable of detecting all types, sizes and speeds of objects in the sky.
"14 million euros from Lithuanians to buy radars to protect Ukraine. In four weeks. It's from us. For now. We'll be back,' tweeted television presenter Andrius Tapinas, one of the organizers of the drive.
Last year, in a similar move, Lithuanians organized a crowdfunding campaign to procure a Bayraktar TB2 drone for Ukraine and managed to collect €6 million in three days.
Baykar Technology, who was impressed, later announced it would provide a TB2 to Lithuania for free and asked that the collected money be used for Ukrainians weary of war.
Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 8,006 civilians, with nearly 13,300 wounded, according to the latest UN figures.