It’s day 97 of the Russo-Ukrainian war and the situation continues to escalate. Nearly 7M people have escaped their home country, whilst millions more remain in continuous questioning of what the next day will bring. One thing is for certain – people continue to fight in the hopes of the nightmare finally concluding.

Kalush Orchestra, this year’s Eurovision winners, have joined in aiding the Ukrainian army by auctioning off the crystal trophy and the iconic pink hat frontman Oleh Psiuk wore during the performance of Stefania. However, they weren’t the only ones as Lithuanian journalist and influencer, Andrius Tapinas, came forth with his own initiative. Let’s dive into the details.

More info: Facebook

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra became the winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and they came up with a creative idea to support their home country

Image credits: kalush.official

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra were crowned the winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. Stefania – a tribute sung in Ukrainian to Psiuk’s mother that merges rap with traditional folk music – was in fourth place after the national juries’ points were announced, but shot into first place thanks to a record-breaking number of viewer’s votes.

Upon returning to their homeland in mid-May, they got to work aiming to support Ukraine’s war efforts. From charity concerts to auctioning off the crystal trophy, they’re doing what they can before they’re expected to join other Ukrainians on the battlefield.

They auctioned off the crystal statue, as well as frontman Oleh Psiuk’s pink hat, raising well over 1M dollars for Ukraine’s war efforts

Image credits: Kalush офіційна сторінка

The auction for the winner’s statue commenced on May 29th, led by Ukrainian TV presenter Serhiy Prytula. The frontman Oleh Psiuk’s pink bucket hat that he wore during the performance was added to the auction as well.

The funds raised will be used to purchase for the armed forces the PD-2 unmanned aerial system, which includes three drones and a ground control station, Prytula said at the auction. By the end of it, the group had raised over a million dollars for Ukraine’s military and war efforts; $900,000 for the statue and another $370,000 for the hat, as reported by The Guardian. 

The funds raised will be used to purchase the PD-2 unmanned aerial system, which includes three drones and a ground control station

Image credits: kalush.official

Whitebit, a cryptocurrency exchange owned by Vladimir Nosov and Oleg Kayin from Estonia and Ukraine, purchased the trophy with 500 Ethereum. The hat, however, will be going to the Czech Republic. It is said that there were an impressive 31,088 entries in the hat auction.

“Friends, you are incredible! We are grateful to each of you who donated money to this auction,” said Kalush in a Facebook post. “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Armed Forces!”

“We are grateful to each of you who donated money to this auction,” said Kalush in a Facebook post. “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Armed Forces!”

Image credits: kalush.official

However, they weren’t the only ones, as Lithuanian journalist Andrius Tapinas launched an initiative to buy a Bayraktar TB2 military drone for Ukraine

Image credits: andriustapinas

However, they weren’t the only ones purchasing equipment. Lithuanian journalist and social media personality Andrius Tapinas has launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy a Bayraktar TB2 military drone for Ukraine.

The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.

Manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar, they’ve been used in the four months of the ongoing war by Ukrainians, with one missile launched from the vehicle destroying a Russian landing ship near Snake Island in the Black Sea, as reported by LRT.

The campaign that was supposed to run for 3 weeks concluded in less than a week as the 5M euro goal was exceeded

Image credits: Andrius Tapinas

“The defense ministries of Lithuania and Turkey gave the green light, the manufacturer said yes. And now one word is sounding in my head – Bayraktar,” Tapinas wrote in a Facebook post.

The response from the people, both within and outside of Lithuania, has been incredible, the impossible becoming very much possible.

The campaign’s goal was to raise 5 million euros in three weeks with Tapinas’ own media company, Laisvės TV, contributing 62,000 euros left over from earlier Ukraine support campaigns. However, they didn’t need three weeks, as 5,915,207 euros were donated in less than a week.

The response from the people, both within and outside of Lithuania, has been incredible, the impossible becoming very much possible

Image credits: Eugene Soch

In a Facebook post, Tapinas thanked everyone that participated: “We got donations from all over the world. Hundreds of transfers came with foreign names and I give sincere thanks to all Latvians, Estonians, Polish, Danish, Germans, French, Americans, Japanese, Swedes, Dutch, Canadians, Norwegians, Italians and others who took part.”

One of the largest Ukrainian TV channels, 1+1, invited Tapinas to speak on the initiative and its importance.

Laisvės TV plans to transfer the money to Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense, which will be in negotiations with Turkish Bayraktar manufacturers

Image credits: Artūras Kokorevas

Laisvės TV plans to transfer the money to Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense, with representatives traveling to Turkey to begin negotiations and the building of the Bayraktar.

The drone will be purchased and handed over to Ukraine as soon as possible, Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said on Sunday, May 29. According to the minister, “Ukraine has the control equipment, the skilled people to operate [the Bayraktar].” More news is to come shortly.

The support for Ukraine comes both from within and the neighboring countries, yet propaganda and negativity follows closely

Image credits: Mathias Reding

However, the propaganda machine is one to applaud, as, already, there have been rumors circulating about the Bayraktar being shot down after just 3.5 minutes in the air.

Tapinas humorously stated in a Facebook post: “Russian propaganda on social networks spread the message that our Bayraktar has already been knocked down. Being able to shoot down an unmanned aircraft that has not yet been purchased and is in the factory requires incredible anti-aircraft artillery.”

Regardless, both acts are commendable and unity between neighboring countries speaks volumes.

We continue to observe the developments of the war, hoping for it’s quick conclusion

Image credits: kalush.official

If you’d like to support Ukraine during this difficult time, I will leave a link to resources here. We can do more than hope for the war to be ending soon.

Leave your thoughts in the comments below as I am sure there will be a discussion had. I wish you all a safe day!

People have sent their support, both for Andrius Tapinas and Kalush Orchestra. Leave your thoughts in the comments below

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