"Blowing off steam after a tough day": Banker Gorokhovsky explained why the fundraiser for the "nuclear option" was just a joke.

Ukrainian businessman and co-owner of Monobank Oleg Gorokhovsky stated that the fundraising he initiated for "nuclear weapons" was a joke meant to "let off steam" after a tough day. He shared this in a comment to BBC Ukraine.

The businessman expressed disbelief that anyone would "seriously donate specifically for nuclear weapons" and noted that the fundraising was aimed at easing tension.

"I apologize if I disappointed many people... I don’t understand how the money raised could be used for nuclear weapons, and I certainly didn’t plan that," he said, adding that the collected funds would be directed towards the purchase of drones or humanitarian needs for the front lines.

According to the businessman, the fundraising lasted just over a day, and he created the "bank" in a minute, "quickly shared it, and this madness began."

"But this clearly illustrates how sensitive this topic is for Ukraine. It shows how painful the current situation is for Ukrainians," the banker remarked.

He emphasized that he did not coordinate his initiative with Ukrainian authorities and does not rule out the possibility of joining in funding nuclear projects if "they reach out to us."

"When it comes to the point where it might be necessary to finance such developments... if the government needs money, then we would donate for that ourselves, if they ask us. It is clear that Ukraine currently has no nuclear weapons, and I certainly cannot be the initiator of bringing them into existence. This is, in my opinion, obvious," said the businessman.

According to Gorokhovsky, creating nuclear weapons requires "a completely different order of magnitude" than what is currently available at Monobank, and the process "would not need such publicity."

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainians raised 10 million for nuclear weapons. The fundraiser was announced by Monobank co-founder Oleg Gorokhovsky. In just 30 minutes, two million hryvnias were donated for "nuclear weapons."

It was also reported how winners of Eurovision Kalush Orchestra got involved in a scandal. The group Kalush Orchestra refused to support the fundraising for drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stating that they do not promote information on fundraisers "that pertain to weapons."