Czech volunteers have purchased and delivered a Black Hawk military helicopter to Ukraine, funded by donations from citizens of Czechia and Slovakia. The news was shared by the Darek pro Putina (“Gift for Putin”) initiative on Facebook. “Ladies and gentlemen, the UH-60 Black Hawk ‘Blackestmir’ is now in Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who believed in this and contributed – over 20,000 people in total. Today, Czechia became the first country in the world where citizens have donated a helicopter to Ukraine. Many Slovaks also supported the effort. For us, it was an honor,” the campaign organizers stated.
It is worth noting that Czechia is the first country in the world where ordinary citizens raised the necessary funds to donate a combat helicopter to Ukraine. Slovak donors also played an active role in the initiative. The idea of raising money for a Black Hawk emerged at the end of last year. In December 2024, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate announced that Czech volunteers had launched a campaign specifically to purchase this helicopter for Ukrainian military intelligence. At that time, about two-thirds of the total cost – around $3 million – had already been raised.
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Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate noted that it already operates several Black Hawk helicopters, which are actively used for strikes against Russian forces and other combat missions.
The UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-class, multi-purpose military helicopter. It has multiple variants, including the SH-60 naval model, the HH-60 for search and rescue, the MH-60 for coast guard operations, and the civilian S-70. The helicopter is in service with the United States and is also widely operated by other countries.
The Black Hawk has earned a reputation as a reliable and durable aircraft capable of handling a wide range of missions. It is used for troop transport, air assault operations, medical evacuation, command and control, as well as for special operations and even humanitarian missions.
Source: Dárek pro Putina
