Lithuania’s Bayraktar UCAV Fund to go for Humanitarian Aid as Ukraine Receives it as Gift

Turkey’s Baykar company said Thursday it will gift a Bayraktar TB2 combat drone to Ukraine, while the money raised by Lithuanian people for the drone will be used as aid.

Hundreds of Lithuanians clubbed together to raise $5.4 million to purchase the drone for Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian invasion. The target amount was reached in just three and a half days.

“This is the first case in history when ordinary people raise money to buy something like a Bayraktar. It is unprecedented, it is unbelievable," Beshta Petro, Ukraine's ambassador to Lithuania told Laisves TV, the Lithuanian internet broadcaster that launched the drive.

Confirming the development, Baykar tweeted, “The people of Lithuania have honorably raised funds to buy a Bayraktar TB2 for Ukraine. Upon learning this, Baykar will gift a Bayraktar TB2 to Lithuania free of charge and asks those funds go to Ukraine for humanitarian aid.”

That will also be the first foreign military donation pledged by a Turkish company.