Ukraine

Meet the defence analyst-turned-YouTuber who's raising thousands to help Ukraine

Watch: Meet French YouTuber Xavier Tytelman raising money to help Ukraine

Ukraine's war effort is not just being supported by governments, as there are plenty of individuals who are also raising money to help buy equipment for soldiers on the frontline.

One is a French defence analyst turned YouTuber called Xavier Tytelman, who with his over 400,000 strong subscribers has raised hundreds of thousands of euros.

Forces News reporter Simon Newton was able to meet him in Ukraine.

With several hundred French-speaking soldiers believed to be fighting in Ukraine, Mr Tytelman is not only a supplier of high-tech kit, but offers them some home comforts too.

He showed Forces News some of the items he is donating. As well as warm clothes, he showed off a jar of duck meat from France.

"There is a French artisanal conserverie [delicatessen] that makes duck food, from Strasbourg, from the eastern part of France," he said.

"All the French here [in Ukraine], they are waiting to have their food from France."

French Defence analyst turned YouTuber, Xavier Tytelman with french food 12122023 CREEDIT BFBS
Xavier Tytelman shows off a jar of duck meat - one of the French food donations he's supplying to French-speaking volunteers

Mr Tytelman's online community has raised hundreds of thousands of euros.

He has used this money to assist with the donation of kit and equipment - as well as providing 26 vehicles.

Mr Tytelman explained that the presence of France's most elite infantry regiment, the French Foreign Legion, was felt among the ranks of Ukraine.

He said the French language was even being used to help communicate sometimes, helping to confuse the Russians.

"Every group has a French-speaking guy. Sometimes, they even speak French on the radio because when they don't have a cryptic radio, when they speak French, of course, the Russians can't understand it.

"They fear when they hear French that it's the French Foreign Legion in front of them."

French YouTuber Xavier Tytelman  helmet he supplied to a French-speaking volunteer 12122023 CREDIT BFBS
Mr Tytelman shows off a battle-damaged helmet he supplied to a volunteer

Mr Tytelman showed Forces News a helmet he supplied to a French-speaking volunteer.

"So he gave it back and said 'you saved my life'. I don't mean me, because the money is collected from the French-speaking community looking at my channel," he said.

"Wow. We save people. We help people... so the motivation is just to help to save people, stay alive."

When the Russians invaded Mr Tytelman also used his online skills to create data maps, combing social media for videos and posts to show where the fighting was happening.

Digital map created by French YouTuber Xavier Tytelman to help flee Ukraine 12122023 CREDIT Google, Xavier Tytelman
Mr Tytelman used his online skills to create data maps, which were used by French citizens trying to escape from Kyiv (Picture: Google/Xavier Tytelman)

The digital maps were used by French citizens trying to escape from Kyiv.

Mr Tytelman uses his holidays to visit Ukraine, travelling up and down the country to deliver supplies as he and his online community continue to bring some of France to the frontline.

You can find his YouTube channel here.

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