Campaign seeks drone donations for Latvia’s National Guard and Ukraine

A new campaign is asking the public to donate towards drones for Ukraine’s army and Latvia’s National Guard, with the funds raised in November to be split equally between them, LSM reports.

The campaign, titled “A drone for Latvia, a drone for Ukraine”, says drones have become crucial in modern warfare. They help with reconnaissance, while drones launched by Russia have killed soldiers and civilians.

Rūta Dimanta, head of charity organisation Ziedot.lv, said supporters had asked how they could help strengthen Latvia’s defence while continuing their civilian lives. Until now, people could support national defence by joining the National Guard or, for young people, volunteering for national defence service.

“By defending Ukraine’s freedom, we are defending Latvia’s freedom,” Dimanta said. She described the campaign as a way for civilians to contribute, while the armed forces and National Guard determine what equipment they need.

Dimanta said that although people initially saw the war as confined to Ukraine, acts of sabotage in Europe and Latvia had underscored the importance of strengthening Latvia’s own security. “Ukraine alone will not be able to hold us,” she said.

The National Guard says mass drone attacks during training exercises help prepare its members for real threats.