- Ukraine has launched a crowdfunding website so people can donate to its war effort.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the funds would go directly to Ukraine's national bank.
- Ukraine has lost billions in infrastructure since Russia's invasion began.
Ukraine has started an online crowdfunding site to raise funds for its fight against Russia's invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday.
"Today, the whole free world got united around Ukraine, countries, companies, international organizations and most importantly, people. Now you, too, are among them," Zelenskyy said in a video address.
He outlined three ways that donations could help Ukraine: by protecting troops, saving civilians, and rebuilding the country.
All funds donated through the Ukrainian initiative United24 will be transferred to the national bank of Ukraine and distributed to the relevant ministries, Zelenskyy added.
The Ukrainian leader also said that the crowdfunding platform would provide 24-hour updates on how the money is used but gave no specifics on that the reports would include. The United24 website states that its first report will be available on May 12.
"We will always remember your contribution to the victory of Ukraine, to the victory of freedom," Zelenskyy said in the video address, thanking his viewers.
The crowdfunding site isn't the first time Ukraine has opened a platform for donations. In March, it created a website for cryptocurrency donations, which claims that it has raised $60 million so far.
Ukraine has lost billions in infrastructure since the Kremlin authorized a full-scale invasion of the country in late February, including destroyed factories, schools, and medical institutions.