<div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>My world was brought to a standstill as news broke on Feb. 24 that Russia had invaded Ukraine. I have been almost glued to my phone, checking news reports and Twitter for updates. The images and video that has emerged has been difficult to watch, but it feels important to me to watch it. To be aware of what is happening and to bear witness to these events. </p><p>Already the world has seen truly inspiring people rising up with courage to defend one of the biggest assaults of one European country against another since the Second World War. </p><h3>I can't imagine what the people of Ukraine are going through.</h3><p>I feel frustrated that I am not able to help. How can I watch this beautiful country get attacked? What can I do from my safe first world life to help? I am tired of being constantly reminded that world is a scary place to live. This feeling has led me to research, something I am priviledged enough to do, ways in which we can help and show support to Ukraine as this war rages on.</p><p>In my opinion the world must stand with the people of Ukraine. That means both financial and humanitarian assistance should be available to everybody who is impacted by this catastrophe. If you share this feeling and you’d like to show support for those affected in Ukraine, below are some of the ways you can help. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/rostislav-artov-Gx5RF9rXVkE-unsplash_GH_content_1630px.jpg 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><h2>Stay Informed</h2><p>Here are a few trustworthy sources you can refer to: </p><p><strong><strong><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/" target="_blank">The Kyiv Independent</a></strong> </strong>is Ukraine’s English-language media outlet, created by journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence.</p><div><amp-twitter height="472" width="375" layout="responsive" data-tweetid="1498305661779820551"></amp-twitter></div><p>This list is written by the <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1478812778198704128" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Kyiv Independent</a> journalists.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1475104548083617792" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank"><strong><strong>Charities that help the war effort</strong></strong></a></p><ul><li><a href="https://savelife.in.ua/donate/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Save Life</a>: This NGO crowdfunds non-lethal military equipment, such as thermal vision scopes & supplies it to the Donbas front lines. It also provides training for Ukrainian soldiers, as well as researching troops’ needs and social reintegration of veterans.</li><li><a href="https://www.donbasssos.org/en/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Donbas SOS</a>: This organization helps those who live in the Donbas war zone, those who relocated to other parts of Ukraine, and freed prisoners of war. It offers legal support, accommodation assistance, and psychological aid among other things.</li><li><a href="https://krymsos.com/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Crimea SOS</a>: This organization has been helping internally displaced people from Crimea since Russia occupied the peninsula in 2014. It documents Russian authorities' repressions against Crimeans and advocates for the end of the occupation.</li><li><a href="https://facebook.com/hospitallers/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Hospitallers </a>: This is a medical battalion that unites volunteer paramedics and doctors to save the lives of soldiers on the frontline. They crowdfund their vehicle repairs, fuel, and medical equipment.</li></ul><p><strong><strong>Olga Tokariuk</strong></strong> is an independent journalist, trying to spread the news from Ukraine across the world in these difficult times, via Twitter. </p><div><amp-twitter height="472" width="375" layout="responsive" data-tweetid="1498619444687523843"></amp-twitter></div><p><strong>Josh Marshall </strong>is an American journalist and blogger who founded Talking Points Memo, which in 2004 The New York Times Magazine called "one of the most popular and most respected sites" in the blogosphere.</p><div><amp-twitter height="472" width="375" layout="responsive" data-tweetid="1496618305850945543"></amp-twitter></div><p>Global leaders have taken to Twitter to share updates and responses to the situation as well. Some people to consider checking are:</p><ul><li>Ukrainian President <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a></li><li>Minister of Foreign Affairs <a href="https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dmytro Kuleba</a></li><li>US President <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a></li><li>Secretary of State <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/SecBlinken" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Antony Blinken</a> </li><li>UN Secretary General <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">António Guterres</a> </li><li>EU Commission President <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/vonderleyen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula von der Leyen</a> </li></ul><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2022/03/tina-hartung-IwLY-pLic_U-unsplash_GH_content_1630px.jpg 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><h2>Donations</h2><p><a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1474762967581442054" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank"><strong><strong>Charities that help children</strong></strong></a></p><ul><li><a href="https://tabletochki.org/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Tabletochki</a>: This foundation has been supporting children with cancer for 10 years. They procure medicines, equipment, and arrange overseas treatment, among other things.</li><li><a href="https://vstygnemo.org.ua/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">ChildrenWeWillMakeIt</a>: This movement grew out of a campaign that raised $2 million to get the world's most expensive medicine for a Ukrainian boy with spinal muscular atrophy. It now fundraises for the treatment of other Ukrainian children with SMA.</li><li><a href="https://ruka-ob-ruku.com.ua/en/index.html" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Ruka ob Ruku</a>: This is a running club for children with disabilities. The initiative gives children an opportunity to train and take part in races together with their parents and volunteers.</li></ul><p><a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1477953071103815683" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank"><strong><strong>Charities for the elderly</strong></strong></a></p><ul><li><a href="https://happyold.com.ua/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Happy Old</a>: This charity provides older people across Ukraine with groceries and medicine, holds educational, entertainment, and sports events, as well as helps with employment. They even created a modeling agency for the elderly.</li><li><a href="https://letshelp.com.ua/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Let's Help</a>: This charity cares for older people living alone and helps state retirement homes. They also advocate for better treatment of older people by the state, including providing people aged 60+ with easy access to education.</li><li><a href="https://starenki.com.ua/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Starenki</a>: It’s a charitable initiative devoted to issues of old age in Ukraine. They help lonely seniors by providing them with groceries and hygiene products.</li></ul><p><a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1478810123900534785" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank"><strong><strong>Charities that help women</strong></strong></a></p><ul><li><a href="http://women.lviv.ua/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Women Perspectives</a>: This organization has been helping women who have faced domestic violence, discrimination in the labor market, and other issues. The NGO works with local and state authorities to promote pro-equality gender policies in Ukraine.</li><li><a href="https://marsh-zhinok.com.ua/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Marsh Zhinok (Women’s March)</a>: Every year, on March 8, this initiative holds a rally promoting gender equality and the protection of women from gender-based violence. Currently, the organization is petitioning for Ukraine to adopt the Istanbul Convention.</li></ul><p><a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1477647902956740608" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank"><strong><strong>Charities for blood donation</strong></strong></a></p><ul><li><a href="https://t.co/YeSSktWhJK" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Blood Agents</a>: It is an NGO that promotes regular, conscious and gratuitous blood donations. They have encouraged people to donate blood over 5,000 times over the past six years.</li><li><a href="https://www.donor.ua/" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">Donor UA</a>: It is an automated system for recruiting and managing blood donors, designed to promote the donor movement in Ukraine. You can help by signing up and donating blood or by supporting the project with money donation.</li></ul></div>