On March 15, a charity auction took place in Tartu. The TÜ Institute of Computer Science at the University of Tartu, the British Embassy Tallinn, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia, Ukraina Maja, and the University of Tartu Ukraine Centre (UTUC) joined forces to bring together like-minded supporters, raise funds, and support Ukrainian soldiers who are defending peace and security in Ukraine and across Europe at the cost of their lives!
16 unique lots, three hours of intense bidding, and the result - €28,000 in donations for the needs of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
A portion of the raised funds will go to NGO Vaba Ukraina, which has been supplying FPV drones to Ukraine since 2014. Another part will support the Come Back Alive Foundation, which has been systematically strengthening Ukraine’s security and defense sector since 2014 by procuring various types of weaponry - from Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to mortars and machine guns. The remaining funds will be directed to Dzyga's Paw, which specifically provides drones for the 456th Battalion of the 141st Brigade.
The Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia, Maksym Kononenko, presented a unique lot at the auction: an original autograph of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On January 10-11, 2024, President Zelenskyy paid a working visit to Estonia. During his stay, he delivered a speech at a special plenary session of the Riigikogu. We all remember that solemn gathering - the green sweater with "Kaitsetahe" written on it, in which President Zelenskyy addressed the Estonian Parliament, the thunderous applause, and the family photo with the entire Riigikogu…
But what stood out the most were his words: ««We must win the battle that is now underway. … We must win this battle not only because it decides the fate of our state and all the countries and nations that have to border Russia. This battle determines the global attitude toward freedom now, after us, and after our children and grandchildren.»
In preparation for the charity auction, the Embassy printed this symbolic phrase and asked the President of Ukraine to sign it as a keepsake for the person who would make the next significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s defense forces. Siim Nellis, the head of the sauna manufacturing company HUUM, became the proud owner of this unique autograph. It will now be kept in his office, serving as a source of inspiration for Siim and his team to achieve new milestones.
We express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the event and contributed their personal, highly symbolic, and special items for the auction lots! First and foremost, our thanks go to the British Ambassador to Estonia, Ross Allen. A huge thank you to Viktoria Berezina, Lena Solohub, Ana Sumuk, Alina Paas, Kalle Paas and Ukraina Maja, Dmytro Khutkyy, Bohdan Petryshak, Jaak Vilo, Maarja Peegel-Vilo, Miina Vilo, Kärt Summatavet, Vaba Ukraina, Aliis Liin, Ivar Koppel, Siim Nellis, Dima Fishman, and Kateryna Kubrak.
Your generosity and support made this event truly special!