The Warsaw-based Stand With Ukraine Foundation said its "Warmth from Poland for Kyiv" campaign has raised more than EUR 700,000 in four days, with over 26,000 people donating so far.
The funds will be used to purchase power generators and other equipment to be distributed to residents in the Ukrainian capital, where power and heating outages have affected large parts of the city.
Following the latest wave of Russian attacks, more than 2 million people in Kyiv were temporarily cut off from electricity and heating, Ukrainian officials said.
Temperatures in parts of Ukraine have fallen below minus 20 degrees Celsius.
"It’s very difficult," a Kyiv resident told public broadcaster Polish Radio. "There is no electricity and almost no heating. No matter how many layers of clothing I put on, I still shiver."
The foundation initially aimed to raise PLN 1 million (around EUR 235,000) but repeatedly raised its target as donations surged, first to PLN 2 million (around EUR 470,000) and then to PLN 3 million (around EUR 700,000), a level already surpassed.
Organisers said there is no upper limit to the fundraising goal, citing ongoing and future needs resulting from damage to Ukraine's power grid.
Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian energy infrastructure in an effort to leave cities without heat and power during winter.
'We will always remember your solidarity': Ukrainian FM
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he had instructed all Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad "to initiate urgent fundraising campaigns similar to the one recently conducted by our Polish friends."
"We will always remember your solidarity during this difficult time," he wrote.
'This help saves lives': Ukrainian envoy
Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, thanked donors in a post on social media.
"In the current, dramatic situation, this help is extremely important and truly saves lives," he wrote.
"We thank all the people and organisations involved in this fundraiser - for their solidarity, responsibility and true partnership with Ukraine," he added.
In recent days, Russia has launched about 1,300 drones, more than 1,000 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles of various types against Ukraine, according to reports.
Ukrainian officials said most of the attacks targeted civilian sites, adding to what they described as widespread war crimes committed by Russian forces since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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Source: IAR, PAP, PR24
The fundraiser is available online HERE.