Since the beginning of the war, humanitarian aid organizations have collected donations for Ukraine. Over the past six months, 67,000 euros have been donated to Mondo. A large portion of the funds goes to supporting Ukraine. This money has helped Ukrainians survive the winter and improve children's health.
Mondo communications manager Kelli Eek says that donations have decreased. In the first year of the war, 2.4 million euros were donated to Mondo. In 2023, this amount was nearly half a million euros. Last year, 180,000 euros were donated.
The prosecutor's office has filed charges against former Slava Ukraini leader Johanna-Maria Lehtme. Lehtme may have misused donation funds. According to the prosecutor's office, the total damage caused is nearly 450,000 euros.
Eek says that the decrease in donations is not directly related to the Slava Ukraini case.
The Estonian Red Cross has received 128,000 euros this year to assist Ukraine. A large portion of the funds goes directly to the Ukrainian Red Cross.
Estonian Red Cross crisis manager Kirill Badikin says that donations have decreased for several reasons. Attention has waned, and economic difficulties have increased. Public attention to cases like Slava Ukraini has also had an impact.
Badikin adds that cases of misuse of donation funds have influenced donors' opinions of humanitarian aid organizations. The Slava Ukraini case is not the only such case.