On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin began a “special military operation” against Ukraine, attacking the country and its people from three fronts and starting the first major European war in decades.
For days, Russia has launched missiles and ground operations in an attempt to take control of Ukraine’s major cities, including the capital of Kyiv.
Putin—who believes “Ukraine is an illegitimate country that exists on land that’s historically and rightfully Russian,” according to Vox—is trying to overthrow the Ukrainian government and oust its president.
The invasion has forced at least 150,000 Ukrainians to flee to neighboring countries, while others have taken refuge in subway stations, using them as makeshift bomb shelters.
As citizens watch the violence unfold on the news and social media, it can be difficult to know what to do. Below, are just a few ways you can help the people of Ukraine, from wherever you are:
1. Médecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders
While the organization has stopped medical activities in Ukraine, staff will stay in the country, and the organization is looking into sending teams to neighboring countries to assist those seeking refuge, according to Politico. The outlet reports that MSF is also preparing medical kits for dispatch.
2. Voices of Children
A charitable foundation based in Ukraine has been serving the psychological needs of children affected by the war in the country’s east since 2015, according to its website.
The group’s psychologists specialize in art therapy and provide general psychosocial support with group classes or individual sessions.
Many of its psychologists are based in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, areas that have long been controlled by Russian-backed separatists and that are on the front lines of the current, wider conflict.
Now, Voices of Children is providing assistance to children and families all over Ukraine, even helping with evacuations. You can donate here.
Journalists with the Kyiv Independent have done tremendous work covering the war, offering the world constant updates as they fear for themselves, their families, and their homes.
The Independent has started a GoFundMe asking for support, but they’ve also promoted a separate GoFundMe — “Keep Ukraine’s media going” — for journalists around the country who have received less international attention.
If you want to donate medical supplies
Razom for Ukraine: Razom, meaning “together” in Ukrainian, is a volunteer charity organization that was originally founded in 2014 to support Ukrainians after Russia annexed Crimea.
United Help Ukraine: A nonprofit volunteer organization that receives and distributes donations, medical supplies, and food to Ukrainian refugees and people on the ground in Ukraine and supports Ukrainian families who have lost soldiers to war. You can access its current fundraiser here, and your donations will go toward providing emergency medical aid and humanitarian relief to those on the front lines.
Fundraiser for Sunflower of Peace: Sunflower of Peace’s fundraiser aims to provide first-aid backpacks to paramedics and doctors on the front lines. Each backpack contains enough tactical first-aid supplies for five to ten people.
Revived Soldiers Ukraine: This nonprofit provides medical aid to Ukrainian soldiers and provides support to their families.
To help children affected by the war
Voices of Children: This organization helps provide psychological and psychosocial support to Ukrainian children affected by armed conflict.
Save the Children: Based in the U.K. Save the Children has created a Ukraine crisis-relief fund that’s getting food, water, hygiene kits, cash, and psychosocial support to children and families.
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