Student unions at University College London (UCL) and Lancaster University have suspended their respective Ukrainian societies amid investigations into whether funds raised by the groups were used to purchase drones sent to Ukrainian forces — a move that could breach UK charity regulations.
Both student unions are registered UK charities and fall under the oversight of the Charity Commission, which prohibits any charity from providing military equipment or aid to foreign armed forces.
The regulator clearly states that such activity “is not a charitable purpose” and therefore cannot be undertaken legally by UK-registered charities.
DJI drone purchase prompts UCL suspension
UCL’s Ukrainian Society was suspended in March after the union discovered the group had used £1,500 in profits from a student club night in Mayfair last October to purchase a DJI Mavic drone — a type frequently used by Ukrainian troops in the ongoing conflict against Russia. The drone was reportedly sent directly to a soldier on the frontline.
Artur Podsokha, president of the society, defended the purchase, stating: “I couldn’t remain silent while Russia’s war has been terrorising our country since 2014.”
He added that the funds were not solicited through direct donations but were proceeds from the event, and emphasised the group’s belief in taking action: “We believe it would be unfair to benefit from the UK’s support while doing nothing to help our own country and soldiers.”
Lancaster society raised over £20,000 for Ukraine aid
Meanwhile, Lancaster University’s Ukrainian Society came under scrutiny after posting on Instagram last summer that it had raised over £20,000, with more than half spent on drone-related equipment. The post listed three DJI Mavic 3 drones (£3,930) and drone parts for territorial defence forces (£2,150) among the purchased items.
Responding to the allegations, the Lancaster University Students’ Union (LUSU) said it had only recently become aware of the claims and had yet to fully investigate.
However, it has taken the precautionary step of suspending the society’s affiliation while an urgent internal review is conducted.
LUSU confirmed that the society had not received any official university funding.
Legal and ethical boundaries in student fundraising questioned
The cases highlight growing concerns about how student-led societies navigate fundraising during global conflicts.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both sides have heavily relied on drones for surveillance and combat support — raising questions about the intersection of charitable activity and political or military involvement.
Both investigations remain ongoing, and the Charity Commission is expected to assess whether further regulatory action is required based on their outcomes.
