Ukraine’s top private donor joins troops in Kupiansk with donated tanks

American philanthropist Howard Buffett, heir to one of the United States’ largest business empires, has embarked on a visit to Ukraine’s frontline areas in the suburbs of the fiercely fought-over city of Kupiansk in the northeast of the country this week.

The trip by the middle son of legendary US investor Warren Buffett marked his 21st visit to Ukraine since 2022. During the visit on December 23, he was accompanied by the Bilyi Yanhol (“White Angel”) special police unit, as reported by Ukrainian media outlets.

During his time in the region, Buffett personally participated in the evacuation of local residents, according to a statement released by the National Police, facilitated with armoured vehicles provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. More than 200 civilians were transported to safety from frontline communities in Kharkiv Oblast, the statement said.

The city in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, located roughly 40 kilometres from the Russian border, remains one of the most active combat zones in the region. Fighting continues in and around the city as Ukrainian forces attempt to repel Russian troops seeking to seize control. Kupiansk has long been a focal point of Russian territorial ambitions. It briefly fell under Russian military control during the early stages of the war in 2022, but was later liberated by Ukrainian forces later that same year.

In recent weeks, the city has again drawn attention after influential Russian military bloggers claimed troops had taken control. In recent days, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian army, Aleksandr Syrsky, asserted that his troops were holding control of almost 90% of the city and were successful and pushing back the Russian army. The battle over the city remains an important diplomatic tool in the ongoing settlement negotiations, which are set to move into their next phase as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy travels to Washington for discussions with the US president.

Buffett has committed substantial funding to support Ukraine and to mobilise backing from other US entrepreneurs. He remains Ukraine’s largest private donor, having contributed more than $800 million toward aid efforts, including demining operations, agriculture, and local infrastructure projects as of April 2025. This support has continued despite deteriorating relations between the two countries since President Donald Trump’s second election. In 2024, Buffett received a state award from Zelenskyy, who named him a “National Legend of Ukraine.”

While primarily focused on his philanthropic work through his foundation, Howard Buffett also serves as a director of Berkshire Hathaway, the powerful multinational conglomerate founded by his father. The company is among the world’s leading conglomerates and is known for its risk-averse investment strategy in major global brands such as Walmart, Coca-Cola, American Express, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. With an estimated net worth of $150 billion, Warren Buffett continues to rank among the top 10 richest individuals globally, according to Forbes magazine.

By Nazrin Sadigova