Drone donations to Ukraine prompt charity law probes at UK universities

Student unions at two UK universities — University College London (UCL) and Lancaster University — have suspended their Ukrainian student societies while investigating whether the groups breached UK charity law by purchasing drones later sent to Ukrainian troops fighting against Russia.

The probes follow concerns that the drone acquisitions, made in 2023, may have violated Charity Commission regulations, which explicitly prohibit UK-registered charities from providing aid or military supplies to any foreign armed force, Caliber.Az reports, referring to the Financial Times newspaper.

Both UCL and Lancaster University student unions are registered UK charities and are bound by these legal constraints.

The Charity Commission’s guidance states that such actions fall outside the definition of charitable activity, potentially putting both student unions at legal risk if funds under their oversight were used improperly.

At UCL, the student union suspended its Ukrainian Society in March after discovering the group had used £1,500 (approximately $1,995) in profits from a club night held in Mayfair in October 2023 to purchase a DJI Mavic drone — a model commonly used by Ukrainian forces in surveillance and combat roles. The drone was reportedly sent to a soldier on the front lines, who later responded with a thank-you video.

Artur Podsokha, president of the UCL Ukrainian Society, defended the purchase, stating that the group had not directly fundraised for the drone but had used surplus event proceeds. “We believe it would be unfair for us to benefit from the UK’s support while doing nothing to help our own country and soldiers,” Podsokha said. “I couldn’t remain silent while Russia’s war has been terrorising our country since 2014.”

At Lancaster University, its Ukrainian Society also faces scrutiny after publicly celebrating on Instagram last summer that it had raised over £20,000 (about $26,600) for Ukraine — more than half of which was reportedly used to purchase drones and parts. The post included an itemized list citing “three DJI Mavic 3 drones (£3,930 / approx. $5,227)” and “drone parts for territorial defence forces (£2,150 / approx. $2,860).”

After the Financial Times inquired about the post, Lancaster’s student union said it had only recently become aware of the allegations. “On the basis of the allegations, we have decided to suspend the society’s affiliation to LUSU on a precautionary basis whilst we undertake an urgent investigation,” a spokesperson said. They also clarified that the society had not received funding directly from the university.

In response, Lancaster’s Ukrainian Society insisted that its fundraising was “strictly humanitarian.” The group denied that official society activities were directed toward military support, stating, “Any social media content that might be interpreted as dual-use items was exclusively related to the personal initiatives of individual members, not official society fundraising.”

Podsokha confirmed that UCL’s Ukrainian Society committee had jointly decided to fund and purchase the drone. He described feeling “privileged to be safe in London while Ukraine endures constant shelling.”

UCL has endorsed the student union’s decision to suspend the society pending the outcome of the inquiry. “The investigation and disciplinary processes are fully independent of UCL, so it would be inappropriate to make any further comment while this is ongoing,” a university spokesperson said.

Lancaster University declined to comment.

The case follows a similar episode in January when the Charity Commission issued a formal warning to the Chabad Lubavitch Centres North East London and Essex Limited for creating a fundraising page to support a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. That campaign, which was removed after the regulator received 180 complaints, raised £2,280 (around $3,032), of which £937 (around $1,248) was sent directly to the soldier.

Both university investigations remain ongoing.

By Tamilla Hasanova