Latvian public broadcaster opens new charity drive for Ukraine’s wounded

Latvia's public broadcaster, LSM, launched a new fundraising drive on August 17 to help rehabilitate wounded Ukrainian soldiers, ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24. The campaign, titled "Together with Ukraine in Thought and Deed! ", will run until September 13, 2026. Donations can be made through the charity Ziedot.lv or a national donation line, with every euro going directly to the rehabilitation goal.

The drive is timed to coincide with Ukraine's Independence Day and organized by LSM, Ziedot.lv, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Latvia. Odita Krenberga, an LSM journalist who has reported from the Ukrainian front line, serves as the campaign's ambassador. She described the invasion's devastating impact, stating that Russia has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands and wounded many more, calling it a "painful injustice." Krenberga emphasized that Ukrainians are fighting for the security of all, including Europe.

Rūta Dimanta, head of Ziedot.lv, explained that war wounds are not just physical but also include emotional pain such as loss, helplessness, and injustice. Soldiers must live with the loss of their comrades and the emotional scars in their souls. While money cannot erase these wounds, it can fund recovery efforts in both Ukraine and Latvia, enabling people to continue their lives.

Since the war began, LSM and Ziedot.lv have raised over €2 million through earlier appeals. The two organizations have already sent Ukraine a locally built naval drone and have funneled millions to frontline regions near Latvia's border with Russia. Latvia has also pledged 0.25% of its GDP annually to Ukraine's defense, a larger share than most larger allies provide.