Ukraine: Army raises $1m via text appeal for funds By News from Elsewhere...

...as found by BBC Monitoring Published duration 18 March 2014

image copyright Ukraine Defence Ministry image caption The Ukrainian Defence Ministry's website calls for donations by mobile

Ukrainians have donated over one million dollars to the country's impoverished armed forces, after the Ministry of Defence set up a telephone appeal for funds, it seems.

The appeal asked people to text 565 to automatically transfer 5 hryvnyas to the fund. According to ministry figures, more than half of the money was pledged by individuals, but Ukrainian businesses also sent significant amounts.

Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov recently said only 6,000 troops are combat-ready due to a lack of funding.

The campaign has also been hijacked by internet mischief-makers trying to trick Russians into messaging the same number.

Hoax campaigns urge ethnic Russians to "help the liberators of Crimea" from the so-called brown plague - Ukraine - by texting 565 from a Ukrainian-network mobile. They claim the money would buy "food, socks, mobile shower units" for the pro-Russian forces in the region. It's not known how many people - if any - have fallen for the joke.

image copyright Facebook image caption Facebook jokers try to trick ethnic Russians in Crimea into donating money to the appeal