I still remember the trip I had planned to Ukraine in 2018. It got canceled because we couldn’t get a rental car company to insure our car and our personal car insurance didn’t work in Ukraine. I was living in Romania at the time.
I still plan to take that trip one day — to Ukraine, as an independent country.
The war is getting worse every day. I read pages of military analysis daily and I have seen some videos coming out of Ukraine that most people shouldn’t see.
Since I’m in the military, my friends ask me if the US is going to get involved. Of course, being in the military doesn’t make me all-knowing in regards to military efforts, but my answer is about the same as you’ll find elsewhere…
It only takes one slip up for a rogue rocket to land in NATO territory, and if it does, there’s a strong chance the US would get involved. NATO and the EU both have a “you mess with one, you mess with all” agreement, which is why Russia has so strategically steered clear of both. While the US isn’t part of the EU, we are part of NATO.
President Biden has emphasized we are not going to get involved in this war in Ukraine. What he means is, we are not going to Ukraine to fight. We do, however, have Ukraine surrounded by US and other NATO forces, so we’re ready to defend and deter if something does happen.
All of that being said, the important thing we must focus on is the people.
Thousands have died.
2.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine into surrounding countries in Eastern Europe.
300 major businesses have either left Russia entirely or temporarily closed.
Long story short, Ukrainians are being physically crippled, while Russians are being financially crippled.
This war is hurting Ukrainian and Russian people substantially. It’s also hurting other European countries with regards to fuel prices, finding housing for refugees, and in countless other ways. It’s economically hurting the US a little, but not much compared to the other side of the world.
By the way, it’s important to remember to differentiate Russian people from the Russian government. While most of the world seems to disagree with the leadership of Russia, we still must love the Russian people. Plenty of Russians condemn this war, and now that Russia has basically cut off the outside world from any sort of objective media (though the hacker group, Anonymous, is helping to fight this), plenty of Russians simply don’t know the full extent of what’s going on.
We teach our kids that while the Russian government may be committing atrocities, Russian people as a whole are not the Russian government.
Quick Note: It is important, especially now, that we stop putting “the” in front of Ukraine. when referring to the country, it is simply Ukraine, not “The Ukraine.”
Here’s why.
Before we get into the charities and other ways you can help, I created a video on how to choose a charity. It’s important to give with your heart, but also with your head. Know where your money is going…
I’ve done the research to make sure all of the charities and funds listed are responsible uses of your money, but always do your own research.
Now here’s how you can help…
1. Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse has already set up a field hospital on the outskirts of Lviv, Ukraine.
They are working in Ukraine and neighboring countries to help with the physical needs of the Ukrainian people still in-country, and those who have fled.
2. Ukrainian Orthodox Church of USA
This church is providing humanitarian aid directly to the Ukrainian people.
3. The Red Cross
More direct humanitarian support to the people on the ground.
4. Ukraine Cris Relief Fund
This GlobalGiving fund has already raised millions of dollars for direct support.
5. Project Hope
Your money will be going to fund medical supplies and aid the wounded.
6. United Ukrainian American Relief Committee
This is a GoFundMe set up for UUARC. Your money will be funding medical supplies and medical workers in Ukraine.
7. National Bank of Ukraine
Your money will be going directly to the armed forces in Ukraine to help sustain them and to keep them in the fight of defending their homeland.
8. Support the Kyiv Independent
Keep Ukraine’s news alive. The Kyiv Independent is one of the main ways Ukrainian people will continue to know what’s going on outside of wherever they’re living, hiding, or fleeing to inside and outside the country.
9. Keep Ukraine’s Media Going
Similar to the last one, but this is more broad support of the media as a whole in Ukraine.
10. Save the Children
Save the Children obviously focuses on the children… making sure they have access to medical support, food, water, and anything else they might need.
11. Sunflower of Peace
Another great charity accepting money as well as volunteers to help.
12. Airbnb
Airbnb has been featured in the news as people got creative with their giving. It started with people booking rooms in Ukraine to transfer money directly to the Ukrainian people. They didn’t stay in the room, they just booked it to send money. There are stories of people communicating with the host and the hosts have been using the money to help within their local area.
While you can still do that, now Airbnb has set it up for you to help financially or to use your room(s) to house refugees.
13. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee is a Hungarian human rights organization providing free legal services to Ukrainians who are fleeing to Hungary.
14. Join Ukraine’s Military in the Fight
If there was ever a “this isn’t for everyone” on a list, this is it. However, it is an option. If you have previous military/police training, you can actually go and fight for Ukraine.
Plenty of American-born Ukrainian people have taken them up on this offer, as well as some former-US-special-operators.
If you’re interested in helping in this way, here’s how to do it.
Help in More Ways Than One
Now you have options. You can choose one or a few of the ways listed here.
You can also support them through prayer and by spreading awareness about the ways listed above.
We can all do our part to help the people. It doesn’t have to be about politics. We’re just trying to actually help the people who are victims of war. And regardless of the reasons behind this war, there are millions upon millions of victims.
