On February 22, 2022, Vladimir Putin unleashed the Russian military in an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. In the largest conventional attack on European soil since World War II, this aggression presents an existential threat to an independent Ukraine and undermines the global rules-based order. Although European nations (with the exception of Belarus), the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and others have joined in applying punitive economic sanctions on Russia as well as providing military assistance to Ukraine, direct military involvement is currently off the table. This leaves the fight to the Ukrainian people but, even as we look on in horror, there are ways we can help. Stay informed and donate if you are able.
To Stay Informed
Trusted Twitter Accounts to Follow:
Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) / - EFE Agency (Spanish news agency) freelance correspondent based in Kyiv; non-resident fellow at CEPA; disinformation researcher.
Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) / Twitter - defense reporter with the Kyiv Independent; based in Kyiv, originally from Donbas.
Olga Rudenko (@olya_rudenko) / Twitter - Ukrainian journalist on the ground in Kyiv, chief editor of the Kyiv Independent
Daria Kaleniuk (@dkaleniuk) / Twitter - Executive director at Kyiv-based Anti-Corruption Action Centre (aimed at curbing political corruption in Ukraine); based in Kyiv.
Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) / Twitter - National security & extremism correspondent at BuzzFeed News. On the ground in Kyiv.
Ukrayinska Pravda (@ukrpravda_news) / Twitter - Ukrainian online newspaper
Hromadske (@HromadskeUA) / Twitter - Ukrainian public broadcasting station & NGO
The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) / Twitter - English-language media outlet, founded by journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence.
Anna Myroniuk @AnnaMyroniuk - founding member of Kyiv Independent; from Donetsk, in Kyiv.
Thomas van Linge @ThomasVLinge - Dutch student and researcher who provides detailed OSINT analysis + commentary.
Jane Lytvynenko - based in the US now, but Ukrainian reporter and disinformation researcher @Shorenstein.
Rob Lee - King's College War Studies Ph.D. student; not in Ukraine, but a good source for military and OSINT analysis.
Trusted Websites and Facebook Pages to Follow:
Euromaidan Press - English-language media outlet, founded after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 to provide accurate information about developments in Ukraine.
Kyiv Independent - started by independent journalists from Kyiv Post; Facebook
Novoe Vremya - Ukrainian trusted media
The world's main liar - Fact-check on Putin's speech justifying the invasion.
StopFake - a project out of Kyiv Mohyla Academy to identify cases of fake information about events in Ukraine and initiates international discussions on how to resist Russian disinformation.
Weekly reports examining Russian narratives on social media - Hamilton Reports from the Alliance for Securing Democracy (check weekly for updates or use the Hamilton tool yourself).
Ukrainian Officials to Follow:
These accounts tweet in English
Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) / Twitter - spokesman for the Ukrainian MFA
Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) / Twitter -- Minister of Defense of Ukraine
Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) / Twitter - MMF alumna; Ukrainian MP for the political party "Holos" (Voice)
President Zelensky @ZelenskyyUa - both in Ukrainian and English
Facebook pages of Ukrainian officials and agencies
Office of the President of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/president.gov.ua
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/KabminUA
Ministry of Defense of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofDefence.UA
Ministry of Internal Affairs https://www.facebook.com/mvs.gov.ua
National Police of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/UA.National.Police
State Emergency Service (SES) https://www.facebook.com/MNS.GOV.UA
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/DPSUkraine
Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security https://www.facebook.com/StratcomCentreUA
State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/dsszzi
Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/UkrainianLandForces
Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/navy.mil.gov.ua
Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces https://www.facebook.com/TerritorialDefenseForces
Independent Russian Sources
The media environment in Russia has been in a government chokehold for decades, but independent voices survive (in-country or in the region) and are taking big risks to oppose the war and state narratives. It's worthwhile to pay attention to their reporting as well. There are many Russian journalists who don't have English-language social media accounts. Here are accounts that do provide English coverage:
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- Meduza: website and Twitter (in English)
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- Steve Rosenberg @BBCSteveR - BBC correspondent in Moscow
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- Sarah Rainsford @sarahrainsford - BBC correspondent recently expelled from Moscow; still in the region and providing coverage
Ways to Help: Donations
Support independent journalists at the Kyiv Independent as they work overtime to cover the war: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kyivindependent-launch or become a patron https://www.patreon.com/kyivindependent.
Come Back Alive - https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/ (works directly with the command and personnel of military units, purchasing infrared thermal imaging cameras, night vision goggles, hemostatics, etc).
United Help Ukraine - https://www.facebook.com/donate/337101825010055/ (providing life-saving individual first aid kits and other emergency medical supplies to the front lines, cooperating with other emergency response organizations to prepare humanitarian aid to civilians).
Sunflower for Peace - https://www.facebook.com/donate/507886070680475 (preparing first aid medical tactical backpacks for paramedics and doctors on the front lines).
Revived Soldiers Ukraine - https://www.rsukraine.org/ways-to-help (helps rehabilitated wounded soldiers).
Voices of Children - https://voices.org.ua/en/ (provides psychological support to children from Donbas who have war trauma).
Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement - https://www.uwvm.org.ua/?page_id=3437&lang=en (a consolidation of female veterans; amongst other things, organizes preparation for actions in case of emergencies and defense situations).
Vostok SOS - https://vostok-sos.org/en/ukraine-under-fire-support-vostok-sos-aid-operation/ (helping people evacuate, providing humanitarian aid and psychosocial support).
Razom - https://razomforukraine.org/razom-emergency-response/ (an organization based in the U.S. that aims to increase civic engagement to build a more prosperous and democratic Ukraine. Currently channeling funds towards medical supplies in the war effort).
Nova Ukraine - https://www.facebook.com/donate/1137971146948461/10161497920013976/ (an organization based in the U.S. that is providing humanitarian relief to Ukrainians).
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Viewsridge, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The National Bank of Ukraine has opened a special account to raise funds for the Ukrainian Army. Anyone from any country can donate. The account is multi-currency and is open for transfers of funds from international partners and donors.
All funds will be wired into Account No. UA843000010000000047330992708 at the National Bank of Ukraine.
For UAH (Ukrainian hryvnia; ₴) remittances:
Bank: National Bank of Ukraine
MFO 300001
Account No. UA843000010000000047330992708
EDRPOU Code 00032106
Payee: National Bank of Ukraine
For USD (United States dollar; $) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, New York
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33
Account: 400807238
383 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10179, USA
For GBP (British pound sterling; £) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
Bank of England, London
SWIFT Code: BKENGB2L
Account: 40000982
Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH, UK
For EUR (euro; €) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
DEUTSCHE BUNDESBANK, Frankfurt
SWIFT Code: MARKDEFF
Account: 5040040066
IBAN DE05504000005040040066
Wilhelm-Epsteinn-Strabe 14, 60431 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
For CHF (Swiss franc; Fr.) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
ZURCHER KANTONALBANK, ZURICH
SWIFT Code: ZKBKCHZZ80A
Account: 0700-01227572
IBAN CH32 0070 0070 0012 2757 2
Josefstrasse 222, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
For AUD (Australian dollar; $) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, Sydney
SWIFT Code: RSBKAU2S
Account: 81753-2
GPO Box 3947, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
For CNY (Chinese renminbi; 人民币) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, Hong Kong
SWIFT Code:SCBLHKHH
Account:447-0-946243-6
GPO Box 21, Hong Kong
For CAD (Canadian dollar; $) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
BANK OF MONTREAL, Toronto
SWIFT Code: BOFMCAM2
Account: 3144-1044-166
100 King Street West, 24th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1A1, Canada
For JPY (Japanese yen; ¥) remittances:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
MUFG BANK LTD, Tokyo
SWIFT Code:BOTK JP JT
Account: 653-0430048
1-2-3, Nihombashi HONGOKU-CHO, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 1003 -0021 Japan
Ways to Help: Skills and Time
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- #TechForUkraine Ukrainian NGOs need tech support to build resilience and strengthen civil society. Help them design digital solutions that matter.
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- For US citizens: write to and call your elected representatives! Suggestions for asks: sanctioning Putin himself, movement on a SWIFT cutoff or analogous financial restrictions on Russian financial institutions, defense assistance to the Ukrainian government, and support for the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act 2022, providing temporary protected status for Ukrainians in the U.S., and welcoming Ukrainian refugees.
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- Find your House rep: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
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- Find your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
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- For US citizens: Join this telegram channel where ways to help remotely will regularly be posted: https://t.me/+EXwYt2WZ9H01YzEy
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- For UK citizens: Considering the vast amounts of money and property parked by Russian officials in the UK, the UK government has a lot of levers available. Write to your representatives to encourage action.
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- For Ukrainian/Russian speakers: Use your language skills to help Ukrainian asylum seekers. https://respondcrisistranslation.org/en/get-involved
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- For everyone: Find (or organize!) a rally in your area to show support for Ukraine. You can find a list of currently scheduled events worldwide here: https://www.stopputin.net
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- For everyone: follow through with all security updates on all of your devices. This is not a direct way to help Ukraine, but a way to stem the global consequences of the cyber components of this war.