Russian groups crowdfund the war in Ukraine

The New York Times has found over a dozen militant organizations are brazenly raising money for the war in eastern Ukraine. The method is the popular crowdfunding campaigns online.

While the groups explicitly endorse the armed insurgency, the Times warns the organizers often portray their missions as humanitarian. In reality, they’re collecting donations for the separatists and aiding a conflict that has killed over 6,400 people.

Some of the projects seeking funds? Binoculars for rebels in eastern Ukraine to spot and destroy armored vehicles and creating “modern, combat-ready” military units fighting Ukraine’s central government.

Most donations are coming from Russia, the Times reports, with social media, including YouTube and the Russian version of Facebook funneling the funds through state-owned Russian banks and private payment terminals.
 
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