Kyiv, Ukraine
Oleksiy Arestovych, a former adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has announced that he is ending all fundraising efforts aimed at supplying weapons to Ukraine’s armed forces.
The decision was shared via his Telegram channel.
“I am stopping all combat-related fundraising intended for supporting Ukraine’s Defense Forces,” he wrote.
Arestovych clarified that while he would no longer fund weaponry, he would continue to raise money for non-lethal assistance. That includes water, medical supplies, and evacuation equipment. According to him, the new focus is on support that “saves lives.”
His announcement comes against the backdrop of growing scrutiny and shifting political dynamics in Ukraine. Arestovych, who once held a prominent role within the presidential office, has in recent months become a more controversial figure.
Earlier, President Zelensky imposed sanctions against Arestovych. The presidential decree called for his awards to be revoked and his assets frozen. No official explanation has been provided publicly, but the move signals a deepening divide between the administration and its former adviser.
Arestovych has not responded directly to the sanctions in his fundraising statement. His focus, for now, appears to be on reshaping how he contributes to the war effort.
The shift from military to humanitarian fundraising may reflect both political pressure and personal recalibration. Whether it will affect public support for his initiatives remains to be seen.
It also raises a question. What happens when a prominent figure distances himself from supplying arms, even while remaining publicly committed to the country’s defense?
In wartime, that’s not a small pivot. It’s a signal. One that might resonate beyond his own Telegram feed.
