Patreon, the platform that creators usually use to monetize their content, blocked the 'Come Back Alive' crowdfunding page for raising funds for the Ukrainian military.
This blocking is done because Patreon prohibits campaigns that involve violence or the purchase of military equipment, whatever the reason. Come Back Alive is a non-governmental organization (NGO) from Ukraine, which says the fundraising will be used to train soldiers and also buy technical equipment.
Actually, the Come Back Alive page has existed since at least May 2020. However, since January 26, 2022, it suddenly attracted many donors, to be precise there were 936 patrons - as they were called - who contributed as much as USD 19 thousand per month.
But when Russian President Vladimir Putin started military operations in Ukraine, the number of donors shot up to 14 thousand patrons, with a total donation of USD 436,000 per month.
On the Come Back Alive website, the Kyiv-based NGO aims to provide technical assistance to the Ukrainian military. For example, buying night vision equipment to rehabilitating veterans.
In a CNBC report, it is stated that this organization also provides bulletproof vests, medical equipment, and head protection for Ukrainian soldiers. However, on its Patreon page, the organization also lists 'Bullet', 'Projectile', and 'Bomb', which may be the basis for the blocking, for fear of being used to buy ammunition.
Not only NGOs such as Come Back Alive that raise funds for the Ukrainian military. Even the Ukrainian government on its official website does the same thing, where they include an account number for donations, which is used to help with logistics and medical assistance for the Ukrainian army.
It's unclear what happened to the funds raised by Come Back Alive, the organization's director, Taras Chmut, said he only found a notification that his page had been deleted when he tried to access his account and withdraw the money.
Whereas in the Patreon rules it is stated that the money that has already been collected will be given to the creator when the page is closed, as quoted by us from The Verge, Saturday (26/2/2022).