The Kyiv-based institute has set up a donation account for the Ukrainian military.
(Photo: Colourbox)
Dusseldorf Wolfgang Berg is a pacifist, a conscientious objector and no friend of guns. Nevertheless, he donated 5,000 euros to the Ukrainian military. He follows an impulse triggered by the terrible pictures in Ukraine, he says. Wolfgang Berg does not want to see his real name published, as the subject is too personal for him.
The late fifties is not the only donor: the Ukrainian national bank NBU has received 327 million euros transferred to a specially set up account, as bank boss Kyrylo Shevchenko said in a video message. The fundraiser comes in response to martial law imposed in Ukraine shortly after Russia launched an invasion of the country.
Around EUR 294 million of the proceeds have so far been released to the Ukrainian military. According to the National Bank of Ukraine, the money was distributed among others to the National Guard and the National Police, as well as to the Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Border Guard.
In addition to the donation account for the Ukrainian army, the National Bank has also opened an account for the Ministry of Social Policy. The 4.2 million euros collected by the ministry are to be used for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The NBU is the central bank in Ukraine with its headquarters in Kyiv.
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Donations reach the National Bank from all over the world. In addition to many Ukrainian private individuals and companies, people like Wolfgang Berg from abroad also donate. According to the National Bank, donations are being received from countries such as Germany, Poland, China and Finland. A total of around EUR 91 million in foreign currency was transferred to the fundraising account.
Donations from Germany legal
Two weeks ago, the Russian military entered Ukraine on the orders of President Vladimir Putin. In addition to military installations, the army attacks civilian buildings. Since then, millions of Ukrainians have fled.
The National Bank of Ukraine is trying to use the proceeds from the fundraiser to help the military buy new weapons and materials. Various IBAN connections for the respective currencies can be found on the bank’s official website, as well as the option of donating directly with a credit card. For German supporters, the donation to the Ukrainian army is legal. Since the National Bank of Ukraine is not a non-profit association, the donation is not tax-deductible.
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