01/03/2022
Dear Colleagues, allies, friends,
We write to ask for your support and help in these dark times for Ukraine and the world. After eight years of military aggression against Ukraine Russia has launched an unprecedented full-scale war against our country. Russian invasion has the potential of becoming bigger and even deadlier than any other conflict that took place in Europe since World War II. United in rage and determination, Ukrainians are fighting the aggressor on all fronts. We at the Ukrainian Institute would like to share some updates and requests with you.
The situation in Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, at 5.00 am the armed forces of the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine. It is a completely unjustified and disproportionate attack that inflicts unnecessary suffering throughout Ukraine. Russia is conducting warfare with disregard to the key principle of the international law, namely distinction between civilians and combatants, or between civilian and military objects. Explosions are heard in many cities of Ukraine, including those from bomb shelling. The aggressor’s tanks and heavy artillery crossed the Ukrainian border from the north, the south, and the east.
As a result, Ukraine suffers the loss of its residents, both combatants and civilians, including children. As of the morning of February 26, 198 people died due to Russia's actions, including three children. Also, 1,155 people have been injured, including 33 children. The Ukrainian Army continues to defend every piece of the Ukrainian territory, every civilian, and the very spirit of freedom and democracy. Ukraine resists and strives for peace.
How you can HELP Ukraine. Our team keeps receiving hundreds of requests and inquiries on how to help Ukraine. The most important things we ask you to do right now are:
• read and share verified information about Russia’s attack on Ukraine, e.g.:
• Ukrainska Pravda: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng
• NV: https://english.nv.ua/?utm_content=set_lang
• UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org
• Euromaidan Press: https://euromaidanpress.com
• Ukraine Crisis Media Center: https://uacrisis.org/en
• The Kyiv Independent: https://kyivindependent.com
• Kyiv Post: https://www.kyivpost.com
• Finally, you may check the globally renowned media with high journalistic standards and comprehensive coverage, such as BBC, CNN, The Guardian and others.
• Donate funds to support the Ukrainians in this fight and encourage your family, friends and networks to do so:
• Come Back Alive, a charity that has effectively raised over USD 21.5 million for the army and humanitarian needs since the beginning of Russian aggression in 2014 - https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/. The charity is a transparent and trustworthy organisation, one of the most efficient of its kind in Ukraine;
• a special account created recently by the National Bank of Ukraine: https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi. All funds accumulated on this account will be used solely to procure supplies and otherwise support the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
• Join or organise peaceful protests and rallies in your cities. Your governments are much more likely to proportionately respond to the world’s most outrageous military aggression in contemporary history if they see a clear message from their citizens, that is YOU;
• Publish posts on your personal and institutional social media pages to condemn the Russian aggression and support Ukraine using , , and any of the images created by the Ukrainian activists.
Today, we need your solidarity and support more than ever.
We ask you to suspend all your projects that involve Russian institutions and individuals and not engage in any cooperation with Russian. Please make sure you communicate your decision publicly and issue a formal statement outlining your decision. You may use the hashtag , along with , .
The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to open a special fundraising account to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The central bank’s decision comes after the Ukrainian governme...
