Czechs Raise Nearly €550,000 for “Flamingo” Missile to Support Ukraine

Czech citizens have raised almost €550,000 in less than two days to fund a long-range Ukrainian missile known as “Flamingo” for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in one of the fastest fundraising drives organized by the Gift for Putin initiative (Dárek pro Putina).

The Gaze reports this, referring to the organisation’s statement on social media.

The campaign’s organizers announced on social media that CZK 12.5 million (about €500,000) had been collected in under 48 hours. Later, the total surpassed CZK 13.3 million, contributed by more than 8,500 donors.

The missile, which will be named DANA 1, honors Dana Drábová, a prominent Czech scientist and outspoken supporter of Ukraine who led the State Office for Nuclear Safety for many years and passed away in early October.

A concert titled “Dana, Thank You!” was held in Prague on Thursday to commemorate her legacy. Event moderators thanked contributors and recalled that Drábová joined Gift for Putin shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion, becoming one of the initiative’s first ambassadors.

“We believe Dana will be watching from the sky to make sure the missile hits the right target somewhere in Russia,” organizers said during the event.

The fundraising campaign for DANA 1, described as “a missile capable of striking Moscow or St Petersburg,” was launched on October 21. 

The Ukrainian manufacturer of the Flamingo missile approved the drive for one unit, which will be delivered to Ukraine’s Armed Forces once payment is completed.

The Gift for Putin initiative, founded at the outset of the war, has previously financed deliveries of a tank, a helicopter, and other military equipment for Ukraine.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the Czech government has approved an extension of its humanitarian, stabilization, and economic assistance program for Ukraine, pledging to provide more than €40 million each year between 2026 and 2030.