A humanitarian emergency is occurring in Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion. Below is a list of practical ways to help the people of Ukraine and support anti-Putin resistance in Russia.
Donate to Support Humanitarian Efforts
Voices of Children are a non-profit based in Ukraine. They provide psychological and psychosocial support to children. It helps them overcome the consequences of armed conflict and develop. You can find out more and how to donate here.
Go Fund Me has set up the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. All donations raised will be distributed to verified nonprofit organisations supporting vulnerable communities to obtain access to shelter, food, medical services, education, and psychosocial support, as well as other people impacted. You can donate here.
The Red Cross in Ukraine helps with blood collection, mobilization of volunteers and emergency resources and supports all who are impacted by armed conflict. You can donate here.
LGB+T Ukrainians face additional risks and have specific support needs as an already marginalized group. OutRight Action International have established a fund to help support LGBTIQ organisations which are preparing to receive Ukrainian LGBTIQ people in search of shelter, safety and security. You can donate here.
Donate to support a free press in Ukraine and Russia
Novaya Gazeta is a Russian newspaper critical of the Putin regime, its Editor-In-Chief is the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dmitry Muratov. You can donate to keep the free press alive here.
The Moscow Times is an independent media outlet with both English and Russian editions. The Moscow Times is the last independent English language news source based in Russia. You can donate to keep the free press alive here.
The Kyiv Independent is an English language newspaper committed to independent, uncensored journalism. Donate to their Patreon or Go Fund Me
Donate to support anti-Putin resistance in Russia
Russians have taken to the streets in at least 50 cities to protest the invasion at great personal risk. 150 Russian local government officials have signed an open letter condemning Putin’s actions as an ‘unprecedented atrocity’. Nearly 300 journalists, including some from state-controlled media outlets, have signed a letter condemning the invasion. This is not a war supported by the Russian people and they will suffer because of the actions of Putin. We must stand in solidarity with anti-Putin Russia.
OVD-Info is an independent human rights media project dedicated to ending political persecution in Russia. They help those who are persecuted for exercising the right to freedom of assembly and other basic political rights. You can donate here
Russian LGBT Network is the largest LGB+T organisation in Russia. They campaign for the human rights of LGB+T people and are already facing persecution from the Putin regime. This persecution is likely to increase as they have spoken out against the war in Ukraine. You can find out more by visiting their Facebook page @LGBT.Russia
Human Rights Centre Memorial is an organisation working in Russia and Belarus to help political prisoners. HRCM raises awareness of their cases and legally and financially assists victims of politically motivated criminal prosecution and their families. You can donate here.
Lobby Your MP
Well over 100,000 Ukrainians have fled to neighbouring countries already and the UN predicts this crisis will eventually force up to 4 million people to flee Ukraine. The UK response to this element of the crisis has been woefully inadequate. At the time of writing the Home Secretary has said that Ukrainians living in the UK will have their visas extended but new applications from people hoping to flee Ukraine must be made under existing immigration rules. The UK should suspend any visa requirements for Ukrainians immediately. Please write to your MP now and ask them to lobby for this.
Black people trying to flee Ukraine are being met with racist discrimination at the borders. I have been unable to find a practical way to directly help those impacted. However, we can engage in anti-racist action where we are. This article looks at why our loyalism must be anti-racist and contains a list of anti-racist actions you can engage in right now.
An independent inquiry into Russian influence in the UK is now a necessity. the Salisbury poisonings demonstrated the willingness of Putin’s regime to engage in illegal acts of aggression. The response of the Conservative government was more muted than this violation of state sovereignty and the international system warranted. If the UK and the international community had responded more robustly following that incident Putin may have been discouraged from greater acts of aggression. The Conservative party has received substantial donations from donors with apparent links to Putin’s regime, Russian oligarchs own approximately 2 billion pounds worth of property in the UK and since 2015 200 Russian millionaires have been able to buy their way into the UK. Please write to you MP and ask them to lobby for an independent inquiry or sign this petition from openDemocracy.
Sources
UK visa restrictions for Ukrainians blasted as ‘shameful’ by Labour | Metro News
Putin’s henchmen arrest nearly 1,400 anti-war protesters in Russia | Metro News
Prominent Russians join protests against Ukraine war amid 1,800 arrests | Russia | The GuardianAfrican students fleeing the Russian invasion say they have been prevented from crossing to Poland due to a ‘Ukrainians’ first’ policy (msn.com)
