As War Grinds On, Ukrainians Donate Less to Their Military

  • Some fundraisers report tenfold drop in donations to the army
  • Trump election raises concerns about further support for Kyiv

Buildings destroyed after a Russian strike in Kharkiv on Nov. 8.

Photographer: Sergey Bobok/AFP/Getty Images

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Private donations to Ukraine’s military effort have plummeted, an indication that Ukrainians’ readiness to contribute to defense is waning as the war-torn nation looks warily to the future after Donald Trump’s reelection.

In 2022, donations to a charity run by Ukrainian TV celebrity Serhiy Prytula were so abundant that it could buy a satellite for defense ministry. But this year he sees the opposite trend: Ukrainians have become thriftier in financing the military effort, reflecting rising economic challenges and war fatigue.