Montreal Event Raising Funds for Armament Acquisition in Ukraine
In the wake of Russia's invasive stance towards Ukraine, a string of humanitarian relief campaigns have sprung up across Canada. However, an exceptional fundraising event, with a twist, is slated for Montreal this weekend. This unique gathering is centered around collecting funds for the Wild Hornets, a Ukrainian non-profit organization that manufactures drones. The primary aim of this event is to equip these drones for the Ukrainian forces, making it one of the scarce public events in Quebec to raise funds for lethal military weaponry.
The event will be graced by none other than Canadian sharpshooter Wali and drone pilot trainer Starpior, both seasoned veterans who have served in Ukraine. Organized by Alex Roslin, a Canadian journalist of Ukrainian descent, this evening promises to be an action-packed event aimed at aiding Ukraine in their quest for freedom.
"With the humanitarian needs staring us in the face, I chose to focus on military needs because I believe it's the quickest way to put an end to this war," asserts Alex, while exhorting that Ukrainians have endured relentless Russian attacks and are adamant in their self-defense against the onslaught of "barbarism and terrorism." He continues to argue that as humans who cherish justice, democracy, and liberty, we hold a moral responsibility to aid those who are being mercilessly attacked, even if the battleground isn't Canadian soil.
Canadian registered charities, however, are barred from raising funds to purchase military equipment. These organizations are mandated to allocate their resources strictly towards charitable activities, as per the Canada Revenue Agency. Nevertheless, the Wild Hornets, a Ukrainian-based non-profit, remains out of this purview. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ministry of Justice of Canada chose to remain mum on the issue, with unconfirmed reports indicating that Alex Roslin is in communication with the Montreal Police Service, who are aware of the event taking place this Saturday. In Toronto, four similar events have been organized recently, allowing the Wild Hornets to accumulate approximately $80,000.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, two significant bodies within the Ukrainian community, only finance the procurement of non-lethal equipment. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation utilizes its Humanitarian Appeal for Ukraine fund to provide humanitarian aid to civilians by purchasing medical equipment, ambulances, generators, among other necessities. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, based in Toronto, supports the Ukrainian defenders through their Unite with Ukraine initiative, which has been instrumental in delivering equipment worth CAD 85.2 million to Ukraine since February 2022. Although delivered as non-lethal equipment initially, this gear can be modified by fighters to add explosives to reconnaissance drones, according to Andrew Potichnyj, the director of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
For Alex Roslin, who effectively put his journalism career on hold two years ago to increasingly champion the cause of the Wild Hornets, drones serve as a lifeline for Ukraine, positioning it as a global powerhouse in the field.
"It's no secret that two-thirds of Russian casualties on the frontlines stem from drones," asserts Alex, drawing attention to the fact that a drone worth a few hundred dollars can wreak havoc equivalent to a tank worth millions. In light of the waning U.S. aid, public backing has become even more crucial, he insists, with almost half of Ukraine's drone production funded by individual and community donations.
Since the commencement of the war, the Wild Hornets have supplied over 22,000 drones to Ukrainian fighters, purportedly causing estimated losses of CAD 2.2 billion to the Russian army, both in terms of human lives and hardware.
François Audet, a professor at UQAM and director of the Canadian Observatory on Crises and Humanitarian Action, warns that organizing a fundraiser for lethal weaponry is a precarious path to tread. "Morally, we're dancing on a very thin line," he stresses, emphasizing that donors should be prepared for the fact that drones, regardless of who they are deployed against, could lead to loss of innocent lives.
The Canadian government has pledged a whopping CAD 4.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine, which includes a diverse range of lethal weapons. The potential implications of this fundraiser encompass political, diplomatic, humanitarian, ethical, legal, and regulatory aspects that warrant careful navigation.
The unique gathering in Montreal, centered around collecting funds for the Wild Hornets, is not only a fundraiser for lethal military weaponry but also a political statement, as Canadian sharpshooter Wali and drone pilot trainer Starpior, both seasoned veterans who have served in Ukraine, will be in attendance. Alex Roslin, who has suspended his journalism career to champion the cause of the Wild Hornets, argues that as humans who value justice, democracy, and liberty, it is our moral responsibility to aid Ukraine in their quest for freedom, even if the battleground isn't Canadian soil.
