Blue/Yellow seeks €1 million for drone interceptors

LRT reported that the Blue/Yellow organisation has launched its Dronatonas fundraising campaign, which will support Ukraine and Lithuania’s defence for the first time. The campaign will run until mid-October and aims to raise €1 million for drone interceptors and military training.

One in every five euros donated will go to the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union to purchase interceptors and train riflemen to neutralise aerial threats.

“The war in Ukraine has shown that unmanned aircraft have become the main weapon on the modern battlefield, and combating them is a daily necessity,” Blue/Yellow said. The organisation said the campaign, under the slogan “The most resilient win”, combines support for Ukraine’s front line with efforts to strengthen Lithuania’s resilience.

According to Blue/Yellow, the funds will provide soldiers and riflemen with interceptor drones that neutralise enemy reconnaissance and attack drones in the air either through physical impact or by using nets.

“We cannot set support for Ukraine against Lithuania’s security. This is one defensive line,” Blue/Yellow co-founder Jonas Ohman said. He added that the organisation wanted to transfer the equipment and experience gained in Ukraine to Lithuanian riflemen.

Linas Idzelis, commander of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, called investment in drone interception capabilities an urgent step. He said drones had crossed Lithuania’s border several times, although they had not caused significant damage so far.

“We must have the means to detect and destroy them,” Idzelis said, adding that interceptor drones would provide another layer of air defence alongside other systems.

Interceptor drones controlled by an operator or artificial intelligence destroy their targets by exploding nearby or striking them directly. Blue/Yellow said the technology could reduce the use of expensive anti-aircraft ammunition while providing a fast, flexible and relatively inexpensive additional layer of air defence.

Blue/Yellow director Laura Paukštė said the organisation purchased and sent such equipment to Ukraine every month and had seen it save lives and protect infrastructure. “It is time to transfer this experience to Lithuania,” she said.

Donations can be made by calling 1482 to give €5 or 1499 to give €10. Bank transfers and recurring donations are available through the organisation’s website, www.blue-yellow.lt.

Blue/Yellow, a nongovernmental organisation operating since 2014, provides material, technological and medical assistance to Ukrainian defenders and civilians. Over 12 years, it has delivered more than €116 million in aid to Ukraine.