By Tom Wilson LONDON (Reuters) -Bitcoin donations have soared to Ukrainian volunteer and hacking groups, some of which have supplied equipment to government forces, according to a report showing such groups received more than $550,000 worth of cryptocurrency in 2021. The report, published on Tuesday by blockchain researcher Elliptic, suggests digital currencies are growing in importance as a funding method for volunteer groups backing Ukraine s government as fears of an attack by Russian troops https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-denies-putin-told-macron-there-will-be-no-new-manoeuvres-near-ukraine-2022-02-08 massed near its border grow. Moscow denies planning an attack. Cryptocurrency worth just $6,000 was raised by the groups in 2020, Elliptic said. Cryptocurrencies can be sent and received anonymously, allowing organisations to raise money even if financial firms do not allow - or impose strict checks on - transfers of funds. Cryptocurrency has proved to be a robust and gro