"Gift for Putin": Czech Republic raised more than $240 thousand for the Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine in a day

The Czech Republic has announced a fundraiser to buy a modern multifunctional Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The fundraiser is being organized by the NGO Gift for Putin.

In one day, they managed to raise more than $247,000 (over 3 million kronas). At the same time, the cost of a used helicopter is about $4.6 million (105 million kroons). This was reported on the initiative's website.

As noted, the initiative to raise funds for the Black Hawk for the Ukrainian state, which is fighting a full-scale Russian invasion, was launched on the 34th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

On Friday, November 17, a used Black Hawk helicopter landed on Letná Square in Prague, where everyone could see it.

"We have the opportunity to purchase a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. We have named the helicopter Čestmir and want to send it into combat as soon as possible. In our biggest campaign ever, we are not only trying to buy one helicopter but we are also emphasizing that Ukraine desperately needs modern air forces to protect us all from Russian invasion," the initiative's website says.

The UH-60 Black Hawk is an American multi-purpose tactical helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is designed to transport personnel and various military cargoes, as well as evacuate the wounded and transport bulky cargo.

The helicopter has a climb rate of 7.87 m/s, can reach a cruising speed of 282 km/h (maximum of 361 km/h), climb to an altitude of 5835 m and fly without refueling for a maximum distance of 2222 km.

All Black Hawk helicopters of the UH-60A model can be equipped with a set of weapons, which includes two 7.62 mm M134 six-barrel machine guns or two 12.7 mm GAU-19 machine guns in the cockpit, plus external weapons on four suspension points. These can be AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and/or FIM-92 air-to-air missiles. The helicopter can also be armed with unguided 70 mm Hydra 70 missiles or their alternatives.

In February 2023, the DIU introduced multifunctional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The agency published a photo of the reconnaissance pilots in front of the Black Hawk with Ukrainian insignia.

Later, the DIU said that the reconnaissance men had mastered and were using the Black Hawk in combat operations. In the course of the Black Hawk training, the Special Forces practiced landing combat teams on the battlefield, evacuation and night flights.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Czech Air Force held a farewell ceremony for its last Mi-24 and Mi-35 attack helicopters. This country is switching to AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters. Now Ukraine can get the Mi-24 and Mi-35.

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