As part of the #LaptopsForUkraine campaign, DIGITALEUROPE, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation and the European Commission, has shipped the first batch of donations which amounts to over 1000 devices – laptops, tablets, phones –  through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) Humanitarian Hub in Slovakia.

The devices will soon be distributed to students, nurses, and local government offices impacted by the war and the regions that need them.

DIGITALEUROPE’s Director-General Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl said:   “15 per cent of Ukraine’s internet infrastructure was destroyed by Russian invaders in the first year of war1. Around 6 million children have had their education disrupted and 500 hospitals have been destroyed2. Today’s first shipment will help Ukrainians to stay connected, but much more is still needed. 

This first batch of devices would not have been possible without the incredible work done by European volunteers setting up collection hubs all over Europe, from university students in Spain to an ICT repair shop in Belgium to a church in Germany. And not least, the leadership of the European Commission, the UPCM Humanitarian Hub in Slovakia, and Ukrainian government, and DIGITALEUROPE’s member companies and national associations who have stepped in since day one”

Launched on the 1st of December 2022, the Laptops for Ukraine campaign aims to collect over 50,000 laptops, tablets, and smartphones to help schools, hospitals and governmental administrations maintain essential services and ensure that Ukrainian citizens stay connected to the internet.