Main image: Honorary Chairman of Group D Karel Řehka and one of the founders OndÅ™ej Vetchý | Source: Group D Archive
Czech military personnel and reservists have joined forces to purchase, under the Nemesis project, 10,000 FPV drones for the Ukrainian military.
According to the Czech publication iROZHLAS, philanthropists and former members of Czech security forces have established the Group D association under the patronage of the Chief Commander of the Czech Army, Karel Rzehak, to initiate fundraising for 10,000 drones.
"The Russians understand the importance of drones on the battlefield and are increasing their production during the war. They are doing this in prisons and schools. We understand that we need to react somehow," said investor and army reserve member Jan Veverka.
In the coming days, the association will launch a public fundraising campaign called Nemesis, aiming to collect around one hundred million Czech crowns, equivalent to 4.5 million dollars.
In the Czech Republic, there are other fundraisers for Ukraine, but according to Řehka, the Group D initiative is unique because, thanks to its soldiers, it precisely knows what and where the Ukrainian army needs most.
"Since the association has connections with people in the army and active reserves, it can accurately assess what can truly have a strategic impact. And drones are one such case," explained the head of the Czech army.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Czech army explained that project participants will make efforts to ensure that the drones are manufactured considering the knowledge and preferences obtained from Ukraine.
In addition, the association can also check how selected drones are resistant to electronic warfare signals.
According to Řehka, the formation of the association is beneficial for the Czech army as well because, like during the training of Ukrainian military in the Czech Republic, it can also gain knowledge from the Russian-Ukrainian war.
"Our Ukrainian partners are ready to share with us all their experience, organize professional seminars with us, provide us with invaluable information. Simply, no one gives you that. And if you give someone a few thousand drones, it also has an effect," said Řehka.
