On February 24th, Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade the neighboring country of Ukraine. Since then, the whole world has been keeping a close eye on the war evolving in the Eastern European country. According to a New York Times article, the number of refugees that have fled the country has surpassed half a million. Mr. Putin seems intent on capturing the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, which would dismantle the country’s democratically elected government and capture Ukraine under Russian rule.

How did this confrontation develop?

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) started taking in European countries that were previously under Communist rule. As a result, The Baltic republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, along with Poland and Romania joined NATO. Then in 2008, NATO expressed plans to possibly enroll Ukraine. Mr. Putin views this expansion of NATO as a threat to his own borders and insists that the country of Ukraine is fundamentally Russian territory. Ultimately, Mr. Putin’s objective seems to be drawing Ukraine back into the sphere of Russian rule.

What are the best ways people can help Ukraine?

The people of Ukraine are not safe. They are sleeping in bomb shelters and trying to flee the country. We have compiled a list of resources on how to stay informed of the situation, where to donate, and evacuation resources that can be sent to loved ones in and around Ukraine.

Stay Informed

A Time Magazine article noted that Russia’s main weapon of war is misinformation. Major Russian news outlets are not reporting on what is happening inside Ukraine, but rather pro Russian propaganda. Stay informed with what is happening in Ukraine with the resources listed below:

The Kyiv Independent is covering a timeline of ongoing events. The news outlet is reporting on how the invasion is affecting Ukrainian citizens, the economy, and foreign politics.
The New Voice of Ukraine is covering news in English, Ukrainian, and Russian. It not only reports on day by day events of the invasion but also posts op-eds by Ukrainian scholars and experts that help view the tone of the situation.
Kyiv Post is a non independent media outlet related to Ukrainian government offices. The outlet releases statements from ministry officials, military leads, and other dignitaries.
Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba are giving regular updates on Twitter in English.

Places to Donate

Another way to help Ukraine is to donate money to organizations helping the citizens of Ukraine. Large international aid organizations such as UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross are currently on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries. A list of more organizations have been compiled below:

Vostok SOS is a Ukrainian based organization that partners with German-Swiss NGO Libereco to provide evacuation support for Ukranians trying to flee their homes.
How to Help Ukraine Now Super Site was created by Global Shapers Hubs in Ukraine, a network of inspiring young people that work to address local, regional, and global challenges. The website offers a comprehensive list of places to donate and ways to send money to loved ones in Ukraine.
Doctors Without Borders is an organization that provides medical care during humanitarian crises. Donations towards this organization will go towards mass casualty kits, emergency medicine, and preparedness training for local hospitals.
Ukraine Now is a non profit organization based in the US that is collecting donations, volunteers, and abroad hosts that can assist Ukrainian citizens with crossing the border. The website is in English and Ukrainian.

Evacuation Resources

If you or a loved one needs help evacuating Ukraine, a list of resources have been compiled below:

Ukraine Evacuation Project Dynamo is receiving requests for Ukrainian evacuation assistance. Enter the group or individual information on their website.
Romania is currently open to Ukrainians seeking shelter from the war. Ukrainian citizens can enter Romania through any official border points with a valid passport. Those who do not have a valid passport can seek asylum at the border. Find out more information here and on the Romanian Border Police website.
Slovakia has created a website to coordinate drives from the Slovakian border. The website is in Czech, Ukrainian, and English. Create a profile as a driver or refugee to get connected.
Poland is offering free travel for Ukrainian citizens on PKP Intercity trains from now until March 25, 2022.
Further transport and accommodations can also be found here and in the following Facebook Groups.

Ways to Help Africans at the Ukrainian Border

Another recent New York Times article reported that Ukrainian authorities are hindering Africans from fleeing. A good amount of people fleeing from Ukraine include students or migrant workers from Africa, Asia and other regions. Some have reported having to wait in long lines for Ukrainian citizens to pass through first, and in extreme cases authorities are beating them and sending them to the end of the que. In a recent Twitter thread, Korrine Sky, a birth educator and student doctor shared ways to help the African and Carribean students trying to flee Ukraine.

A thread of contact information for Zimbabwean, Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Cameroonian students that include their respective embassies.
Donate to the PayPal of Olatokunbo Koiki and Korrine Sky to help Afro-Carribean students leaving Ukraine. They have already raised £20,000 towards the cause.
Additionally, Polish activists Amanda Waliszewska, Joanna Wilkuse, and Anaid have been sharing resources for Nigerian and Black migrants arriving in Poland. You can view their list of resources here.
Finally, you can keep amplifying Black voices and raising awareness by sharing what is happening at the border.

In the end, the best ways to help the citizens of Ukraine is to stay informed, donate money if you can, or spread the word on evacuation resources. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is an ongoing and ever changing matter, so please let us know if any of our information is outdated. From our team here at Jejune, the people of Ukraine are in our thoughts during this tumultuous time.