A crowdfunding campaign in the Czech Republic successfully raised nearly $1.3m to gift a modernised Soviet-era tank called “Tomas” to Ukraine.

Backed by the country’s defence ministry and Ukraine’s embassy in Prague, the campaign received donations from more than 11,288 individuals.

The T-72 avenger tank, which first entered production in 1969, has been modernised to improve protective systems and has upgraded night-vision and communications equipment.

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Named after the famous children’s cartoon character, the tank has an upgraded front cannon and is equipped with 22 cartridges. It is also capable of using Czech sub-caliber anti-armour missiles which can penetrate through 500mm thick armour at a distance of 2km, reported the Telegraph.

Read more: The Telegraph