“A Gift for Putin.” That is the name of an unusual crowdfunding campaign that has caught international attention. More than 20,000 people from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other European countries raised over 72 million Czech crowns (€2.87 million) to purchase an American UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine. The aircraft, named Čestmír (“the peaceful”), is already in service, marking the first time in history that a combat helicopter has been financed not by a government, but directly by citizens, reported by The WP Times.

A Symbolic Campaign With Real Consequences

The initiative was launched by the Czech organization Dárek pro Putina (“Gift for Putin”). The ironic name reflects its intent: every tank, drone or helicopter provided to Ukraine is framed as a “gift” to the Kremlin—one that weakens President Vladimir Putin’s position on the battlefield. Previous campaigns had raised money for tanks, drones and ammunition, but the Black Hawk marks an escalation both in scale and symbolism.

Citizens as Actors in Security

While European governments continue to approve billion-euro military aid packages, this campaign reveals a parallel reality: societies themselves are taking responsibility.

  • Germany has delivered Leopard 2 tanks, IRIS-T air defense systems and cruise missiles.
  • Poland has provided fighter jets and Soviet-era tanks.
  • France has supplied SCALP-EG long-range missiles.
  • The Baltic states have committed a significant share of their defense budgets to Kyiv.

The Black Hawk campaign shows that solidarity is no longer only the realm of states but also of ordinary citizens.

UH-60 Black Hawk: A Military Expert’s View

The UH-60 Black Hawk, built by Sikorsky Aircraft, is one of the most versatile and battle-tested helicopters in the world. It has been the backbone of U.S. Army operations from Afghanistan to Iraq.

Technical specifications (UH-60A+ version supplied to Ukraine)

  • Length: 19.76 m
  • Rotor diameter: 16.36 m
  • Height: 5.13 m
  • Maximum take-off weight: ~10.7 tons
  • Engines: 2 × T700-GE-701D turbines (1,940 shp each, 25% stronger than standard)
  • Crew: 2 pilots + up to 11 fully equipped soldiers
  • Maximum speed: 295 km/h
  • Cruise speed: 270 km/h
  • Range: up to 590 km (extendable with auxiliary tanks)
  • Service ceiling: 5,790 m
  • Armament: M240 or M134 Minigun, optional 70 mm Hydra rocket pods

Operational roles

  • Troop transport under combat conditions
  • Medical evacuation (MEDEVAC)
  • Low-altitude reconnaissance with night-vision and infrared systems
  • Fire support with door-mounted weapons
  • High survivability through armored cockpits and redundant systems

Why It Matters for Ukraine

For Ukraine’s military, the Black Hawk represents a technological leap away from aging Soviet helicopters toward NATO standards.

  • It offers modern avionics and operational capability at night or in poor weather.
  • Its versatility makes it a rapid-response tool across front lines, from special operations to fire support.
  • Its acquisition through citizen donations highlights not only Europe’s solidarity, but also a new form of civic engagement in security.

As one military analyst in Prague put it: “It is not just about hardware. It is about people deciding that the outcome of this war also depends on them.”

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