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The students of two universities in the UK have suspended their Ukrainian associations because they investigated if they violate the charity rules for buying drones, then it was later sent to the Russian soldiers to assist the soldiers.
University College London and Lancaster University unions have suspended the societies after being aware of the purchase last year, which they argued as a possible violation of the UK charitable laws.
The student union of both universities is governed by the UK-registered charity and charity commission, which controls the use of funds and resources, as well as the rules for funding.
According to the Watchdog rules, “the help of any foreign armed forces or the military supply is not the charity, and no charity can legally adopt this national activity”.
Since the full-scale of Russia Ukraine’s attack In February 2022, both sides used drones for air surveillance, cover and long range attacks.
Investigations of Student Unions, which are still live, are investigating whether the purchase has violated the commission rules.
The UCL student union suspended its society in March, the team used $ 1,500 from an organized club knight in Myfire to buy a DJI Mavik drone last October – it was a regularly used weapon to fight Russia – and it sent to a frontline soldier.
Society president Artur Podsokha said that when the Moscow was attached to Crimea, Russia’s war has been intimidating our country for 25 years, “he could not remain silent.
Podsokha said that the Society was not clearly funded but used profit from this event to fund the drone. “We believe that it would be wrong for us to benefit from the UK support when they did nothing to help our own country and soldiers,” he said.
In a post on Social Media Site Instagram last summer, the Society of Lancaster University collected more than $ 20,000 to support Ukraine, which was used to buy more than half of the drones.
The post with the post states that the “complete list of purchased items” is “Three DJ Mavik 3 drone (3930 £)” and “Drone Parts for Regional Defense Force (2150 £)”.
Asked about the purchase of the Financial Times, the university’s student union said it was “barely aware of the allegations”.
“We have not yet had the opportunity to investigate them, but on the basis of the allegations we have decided to postpone the affiliation of society with Lusu, on a precautionary basis, though we have done an urgent investigation,” said it.
The student union added that the Society did not receive any funds from the University.
The Ukrainian Society of the University of Lancaster says “its fundraising activities were always strictly human.
“Any social media content that can be interpreted as dual-usage was exclusively related to the personal initiative of separate members of our society, not the fundraising activities of the government society,” added.
UCL Podokha said the committee of the Society bought the drone and he and his colleagues “got the chance to be safe” [in London]Although Ukraine tolerates constant shelling.
UCL says it supported the “steps taken by the Union to suspend the Ukrainian society”.
“Their investigations and disciplined processes are completely independent from UCL, so it would be inappropriate to make any more comments while it was running,” added the university.
The University of Lancaster says it has taken “a close and helpful interest” in the work of the student union and “fully expects their own rules. We support their steps to postpone society and investigate.”
In January, the Charity Commission issued an official alert to them Chabad Lubvich Center North East London and Essex Limited, which set up a fund raising page for a soldier of the Israeli Defense Force in North Israel.
The Page – The Commission was removed after receiving 180 complaints – According to the Commission, he raised about $ 2,280, sending $ 937 directly to the soldier.
