A Turkish weapons maker said Monday that it agreed to donate three new armed drones to Ukraine in response to a crowdfunding campaign, after the aircraft were instrumental in Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion.

The company, Baykar, said it would donate the Bayraktar TB-2 drones and return the funds to the people of Ukraine after a Ukrainian politician raised some $20 million to buy new unmanned aircraft.

“We are touched by their solidarity and resolve in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges,” Baykar said in a news release.

Serhiy Prytula, the Ukrainian politician who organized the fundraising campaign tweeted, “When united, we can do impossible things!"

The Bayraktar TB-2s played a central role in Ukraine’s battle against invading Russian forces, particularly in the early days of the invasion that began in February, striking Russian military convoys and sinking Russian naval vessels.

Inexpensive and flying with a low radar profile, the drones have proven effective against Russian-backed forces in a series of conflicts in recent years, including in Syria and Libya.

The company’s decision to send more drones comes after the head of the Turkish arms-production agency said in this month that Turkey must be cautious about sending more weapons to Ukraine, part of Ankara’s policy of increasing neutrality in the conflict.

The gift of new drones is the second time Baykar has donated drones in response to a crowdfunding campaign. It gifted one of the drones for use by Ukraine after a Lithuanian crowdfunding campaign to support Kyiv’s war effort earlier in June.

Source: Wall Street Journal