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Czechs Deliver a New “Gift for Putin” to Ukraine: Six D-30 Howitzers
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Czech volunteers have raised over €2.4 million to fund the purchase of six D-30 howitzers for Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The campaign was conducted under the ongoing initiative “Dárek pro Putina” (“A Gift for Putin”), which has supported Ukraine since May 2022.
The fundraising drive, launched in November 2024, officially concluded on July 20, 2025, after reaching the target sum of 60 million Czech koruna.
According to the organizers, all six 122mm D-30 howitzers are immediately available and will be delivered to the front lines following administrative clearance and in coordination with Ukrainian diplomatic representatives.
Each howitzer will carry a symbolic name honoring figures from Czech and Slovak resistance history during World War II.
The names include Josef Mašín (member of the “Three Kings” resistance group), Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík (participants in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich), and Karel Kuttelwascher, a fighter pilot who served with the Royal Air Force.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Prague endorsed the campaign. Organizers highlighted the howitzer’s effectiveness on diverse terrain, citing its 360° firing capability without repositioning, mobility, and simple design as key advantages.
The D-30 (2A18), originally developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s, has a firing range of up to 15.4 km, extendable to 21.9 km with rocket-assisted projectiles, and a rate of fire of up to 12 rounds per minute.
The “Dárek pro Putina” initiative has raised over 1 billion Czech koruna since its inception, funding various military supplies for Ukraine. Earlier efforts included the procurement of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.
According to Czech media, public support remains high: in the first half of 2025 alone, the campaign collected 120 million koruna—exceeding totals from the same period in previous years.
Following the completion of the howitzer campaign, the organization launched a new fundraiser targeting the acquisition of 500 FPV drones with munitions and control systems, with a goal of raising 12.5 million koruna (approximately €507,000).
Earlier, Czechia delivered 400,000 artillery shells to Ukraine as part of a broader effort that has supplied nearly 2 million rounds since 2022. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal praised the initiative as a cornerstone of military support, highlighting Czechia’s total military aid exceeding $900 million and its commitment to Ukraine’s recovery through 2030.
