One week into its war with Ukraine, Russia bombed civilians, hospitals, and historic city centers, reducing entire areas to rubble and creating a humanitarian crisis. One million refugees had already fled Ukraine. Many Ukrainians are still either unwilling or unable to leave as the Ukrainian army fights against Russia’s invasion.
Here’s how you can help Ukrainians.
One year into Russia’s full scale invasion, Ukraine Explainers published a statement “to answer the most basic questions that people might have for Ukrainians: what we feel, want, need, how to support us, and what we think will happen next;” while Nataliya Gurbo wrote this thread with five key objectives and actionable requests for non-Ukrainians. Have a conversation with any kids in your life about what is happening. Follow a couple of journalists reporting from Ukraine in English. Next, scroll down to support the causes you care about:
To Support Ukraine’s Army
The National Bank of Ukraine is taking donations to a fund to support the Ukrainian army, which you can find here.
Come Back Alive, a charity that gives equipment, supplies, and training to the Ukrainian army, is also taking donations.
The Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation takes care of strengthening the Defense Forces of Ukraine, as well as helping the civilian population affected by Russian aggression.
To learn more about these initiatives, check out The Kyiv Independent’s “Explaining Ukraine” series.
Revived Soldiers Ukraine is a non-profit that provides medical rehab and sustainable living standards to wounded soldiers and members of their families. The organization offers a suite of ways to support their work.
Hospitallers is a volunteer paramedic organization who help the wounded on the battlefield, evacuate them to hospitals, help in the rehabilitation process, and transfer the deceased to burial sites in Ukraine. Hospitallers do not receive support from the government and rely on volunteers and donations.
To Support Ukraine’s Journalists
The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s leading English-language news outlet. Donate to their GoFundMe here.
A separate GoFundMe is being held to support other Ukrainian news outlets and journalists risking their live to report on Russia’s war.
To Support Humanitarian Aid
This google doc that lists a variety of trusted nonprofits and charities helping Ukrainians and Ukrainian refugees. Organizations are broken down by category, like support for LGBTQ+ in Ukraine and trauma counseling for children. And here is a similar list on Reddit.
Here are some Jewish humanitarian charities and fundraising efforts:
The Minneapolis Jewish Federation is fundraising for The Jewish Agency for Israel, The Joint Distribution Committee, and World ORT to provide aid to Ukrainian Jews and help refugees.
The Jewish Federations of North America is also fundraising to support Ukrainian Jews.
JDC has set up an emergency fund and is providing food, medicine, and other emergency support as a lifeline to Ukraine’s Jews.
Hillel International is asking for donations to its Emergency Relief Fund to assist Ukrainian Jews.
The World Union of Progressive Judaism has a Ukraine Crisis Fund currently open.
This is a federation of Jewish centers in the former Soviet Union—communities whose names are bolded in the list under the map can accept donations.
Project Kesher is meeting the needs of women and girls in Ukraine as they face the current crisis and the fallout, including those who need to relocate. The funds will follow the people in need.
Tikva Children’s Home, a rescue aid and educational organization in Odessa, has opened an emergency fund.
You can also donate to Mishpacha Orphanage, a family to orphaned and neglected children from birth to 18 years old from all over Ukraine and the Former Soviet Union.
The Survivor Mitzvah Project is bringing Emergency Aid to Holocaust Survivors in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are fundraising through GoFundMe to help Ukrainian refugees. Kunis is a Ukrainian Jew originally from the city of Chernivtsi.
Connect With the Twin Cities Ukrainian Community
Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
Protez Foundation (Prosthetics for Ukrainians)
Thank you for this robust and thoughtful resource list of ways to support to the millions of people affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
For those interested in adding a prayer component to your support, https://ritualwell.org/ has gathered prayers for Ukraine, for peace, and against tyranny.
There is also a rally of support this afternoon, 3:30-5:30 at the Capital https://uaccmn.org/event/rally-at-the-capital/ which will include Governor Walz and a couple speakers from the Jewish community.