According to Novinky, the initiative “Gift for Putin” (Dárek pro Putina) will file a criminal complaint for defamation on Monday against an anonymous influencer named Thomas Paukner, following social media claims that a 72 million CZK Black Hawk helicopter bought for Ukraine was never delivered. Co-founder Martin Ondráček announced the legal action over the weekend, stating the online posts severely damaged the reputation of the initiative and threatened civil lawsuits as well.
Dispute Over the “Čestmír” Black Hawk Helicopter Purchase
The public fundraising campaign raised approximately 72 million CZK from diverse donors to acquire a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter named “Čestmír” for Ukrainian defense efforts. However, according to posts published on the Thomas Paukner Facebook profile cited by Novinky, the author claimed that independent sources suggested the aircraft never reached Ukraine and called the initiative potentially one of the most severe frauds of recent years. Paukner alleged that the machine currently remains in Mělník and fights fires in France.
Furthermore, Paukner asserted on his profile that the helicopter is the exact same machine with the registration mark OM-BHB that the initiative showcased on November 17, 2023, at Prague’s Letná Plain. According to that social media claim, the aircraft actually belongs to Czech arms dealer Jaroslav Strnad and his Slovak company, Slovak Training Academy, which allegedly leases the machine alongside another helicopter to the Czech Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Agriculture for 70 million CZK annually.
NGO Response and Evidence of a Separate American Purchase
Refuting the allegations, Ondráček explained in a video published on the “Gift for Putin” X account that the initiative deliberately avoided buying the European exhibition model because the initial asking price exceeded 100 million CZK. Instead, according to Ondráček’s statements reported by Novinky, the organization collaborated with Ukrainian military intelligence to purchase a different, slightly more modern Black Hawk helicopter directly from a private firm in the United States for a lower price.
Did you know?
The “Gift for Putin” initiative relies on public crowdfunding to supply military equipment directly to Ukrainian armed forces fighting against the Russian invasion.
Ondráček emphasized that transaction records and delivery details confirm the acquisition of an entirely different aircraft overseas. “We bought a different Black Hawk through cooperation with Ukrainian military intelligence, buying it overseas rather than in Europe, and it was 30 million cheaper and also a bit more modern,” Ondráček said, as quoted by Novinky. He added that the aircraft is now property of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Political Fallout and Subsequent Retractions
Following the weekend confrontations, the anonymous author of the Thomas Paukner profile removed the original allegations from Facebook. Before the deletion, however, ANO movement lawmaker Denis Doksanský shared the claims, describing them as significant enough to distribute to his followers. A subsequent post on the Paukner profile acknowledged that the initiative might have purchased a distinct aircraft under secrecy terms that left registration numbers unpublicized, prompting the author to pull the text until the origin and serial numbers are fully clarified.
Ondráček maintained that operational security prevents the public release of flight logs, specific transport methods, and current deployment locations. “You are moving in a war zone. Numbers and a list of their machines are therefore of course not public and no one can trace them,” Ondráček stated to Novinky, confirming that legal counsel is preparing formal filings for the police and courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Thomas Paukner?
Thomas Paukner is an anonymous influencer whose commentary on social media has occasionally been cited by politicians, including Andrej Babiš (ANO), according to Novinky.
How much did the “Čestmír” helicopter cost?
According to project organizers cited by Novinky, the public fundraiser collected approximately 72 million CZK for the helicopter acquisition.
Where is the helicopter located now?
According to “Gift for Putin” organizers, the aircraft belongs to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and operates within confidential combat zones.