UPDATE: we finished the cycle, bought the drones, and wanted to THANK YOU all for your support!!! You can see updates below in the photos. We will keep this donation page open as we plan on doing another cycle soon and the war isn't over - we need to carry on raising funds to help the Ukrainian army as they enter into the next phase of the war, the battle for Donbas in the east of the country. Every day as Ukrainians recapture villages from the Russians (helped massively by the sorts of drones we are raising money for!), there is more evidence of genocide, war crimes, and heartbreaking suffering that no human should ever have to experience. We need your help to continue to protect the Ukrainian people!

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My name is Julia - I want to tell you the story of my country, Ukraine, and tell you how YOU can help us win the war against Russia. (Even if you cannot spare much, sharing this link will help too!

Russia is currently waging a barbaric war of unspeakable violence against Ukraine. We are not being provided with enough weapons and supplies, and so resort to crowdfunding for tools such as reconnaissance drones to protect our country and people. These are changing the game in the favour of Ukraine, as this Guardian article demonstrates, and have been vital to protecting the lives of countless Ukrainian civilians. The drones are used to keep track of Russian soldiers and armoured vehicles with thermal imaging, preventing them from occupying more of Ukraine's cities. We have heard from the front line that the intelligence this brings is game-changing.

To raise this money, on Saturday 10th April, my partner and I will be cycling 69km to commemorate the victims of 69 years of Soviet oppression. The roots of this war are deep and we hope to draw some attention to its history with this story. Ukraine has been under Russian imperial rule in some shape or form since the 17th century, and there have been countless attempts to eradicate Ukrainian identity and nationhood, including a genocide (the Holodomor 1932-33), laws prohibiting language, the massacres of Ukrainian cultural figures and leaders, and forced deportations of Ukrainians away from their native land.

However, the Russians have never succeeded. Ukraine still stands and we firmly believe that we will win - because the truth must always win.

You can be part of our efforts to stand up to evil. It threatens not just Ukraine but the rest of you in Europe. Every day, on Russian propaganda channels, Russian TV anchors and media personalities rave about how they will target NATO countries such as Poland and the Baltic states next. Donate to this cause today to protect those Ukrainians immediately on the ground who are suffering another genocide at the hands of the Russians - and to protect the future of democracy and peace in Europe.

When you have donated, please share this as widely as you can. One day, when peace comes to our land again, we hope to be able to invite you all to our country to celebrate our victory over evil. But first we need your help.

(Check here to see updates of the drones arriving in the field and being used)