Atlanta Star Wars Fanatic Builds Nearly Life-Size Star Wars X-Wing Fighter To Help Ukraine

ATLANTA, GA — A Star Wars fan in Atlanta has found a unique way to help raise money for Ukraine.

Akaki Lekiachvili, who works as a physician at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, has built a life-size X-wing, reported WSB-TV. He has created a GoFundMe page to help Ukrainians. All donations will go directly to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Georgia Branch.

The Star Wars fanatic started building the nearly life-sized X-wing replica as a way to help teach his children about science and technology, CNN reported.

A Twitter has even been set up for the X-wing, which has been liked by Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill. The X-wing was recently shown at an Atlanta Braves “Star Wars” night, reported CNN.

His garage was used in the beginning stages, but when the spaceship became too big Lekiachvili then built a 30-foot extension for his garage, but it still wasn't big enough, reported CNN. He then moved to the next best thing and built an X-wing hangar in his backyard, he told the news outlet.

Lekiachvili, who is a father to a 13-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter, told Patch in an email Thursday that he's been involved in Georgia' independence movement and that helping Ukraine is personal because he's seen Soviet oppression first-hand.

"Plus, my wife is from Poland and we have lots of relatives from Ukraine. Poland and Ukraine are very close culturally, with close relationships and family connections and majority of the displaced Ukrainians are currently in Poland," he said.

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