Czech volunteers suspend purchase of Flamingos for the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to corruption scandal in Ukraine
1 December 2025 00:21
The Czech initiative “Gift to Putin” is reconsidering plans to purchase a Flamingo missile for the Ukrainian Armed Forces amid rumors of the arms manufacturer’s connection to corruption scandal figure Timur Mindich. This was reported by the Czech media outlet IDNES, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“We are currently resolving this issue. We are looking for an alternative and are still negotiating with them,” said Dalibor Dedek, founder of the “Gift to Putin” initiative.
The initiative still has the collected 12.5 million kroons (equivalent to almost $600,000) on its account and has not transferred them to Fire Point, the company that produces Flamingo missiles.
“We act cautiously and have very good contacts there. In this case, we raised the money very quickly. But there were serious doubts whether the money would be used for the production of what it was raised for. So we are looking at what could be a proper alternative,” the Czech philanthropist emphasized.
The article says that doubts have arisen because the missile was manufactured by Fire Point, which has grown from a small film company to a recipient of huge military contracts. In addition, the company is linked to Mindic, who was at the center of a corruption scandal and fled abroad.
The initiative “Gift to Putin” raised 12.5 million kroons ($595,000) for the Flamingo missile in less than two days. The collection was held in honor of the deceased nuclear physicist Dana Drabova. Initially, the plan was to buy one missile, but later it became known that the amount would be enough for two units.
