How to help the people of Ukraine today

As the Russian military invasion of Ukraine unfolds, so does the need for humanitarian support for the Ukrainian people and their loved ones. There are several ways you can help, even from afar. Here’s a list of organizations in need of donations, plus other nonfinancial ways you can support Ukraine right now.

Peace Koalas — Finder’s charitable NFT collection

Peace Koalas is a charitable NFT collection organized by Finder. 100% of the funds raised by this collection will be donated to verified organizations supporting those affected by the Ukraine war.

When you purchase an NFT from this collection, you receive a unique artwork — like this cuddly koala. It’s designed by our amazing team and stored in your crypto wallet. If you’re new to NFTs and don’t have a wallet, we’ve created an easy-to-follow guide to setting your wallet here.

We built this NFT collection on Immutable X — a layer-2 ETH scaling solution — to minimize gas fees and maximize your donation. All NFTs minted are 100% carbon-neutral.

All minting proceeds and secondary sale royalties will help those who have been adversely affected in Ukraine. Funds from minting transfers to the official crypto wallet published by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

Finder’s response to the Ukraine crisis

Verified organizations accepting donations for Ukraine

There are several organizations accepting monetary donations to aid Ukraine right now. Unfortunately, times like this also bring about scams — so verify all sources before sending a contribution. Below is a list of vetted nonprofit organizations looking for help.

1. Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations towards humanitarian needs from the crisis in Ukraine: https://www.redcross.ca/
2. GlobalGiving is a locally led relief hub supporting a wide range of efforts in Ukraine: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/
3. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) assists those in war-torn areas and enables medical professionals and engineers to improve living conditions for Ukraine residents: https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine-0
4. People in Need provides humanitarian aid such as food packages, emergency shelter, safe access to drinking water, hygiene items and heat: https://www.peopleinneed.net/donate/
5. Save the Children is dedicated to supporting children in hard-to-reach war-torn areas of Ukraine: https://support.savethechildren.org/
6. International Relief Committee provides life-saving support to refugees forced to flee their homes: https://www.rescue.org/article/ukraine-russia-crisis-what-happening
7. Ukrainian Red Cross assists people caught in armed conflict: https://redcross.org.ua/en/donate/
8. Direct Relief provides support and supplies to hospitals, ambulance stations and medical centers: https://www.directrelief.org/2022/02/global-update-medical-support-for-afghanistan-syria-ukraine-the-u-s-and-more/

You can also donate cryptocurrency

How can I help if I can’t contribute financially?

If you’re unable to donate money at this time, there are still steps you can take to help the situation in Ukraine.

• Donate your time and help organize fundraisers through local nonprofit organizations.
• Join a peace protest if it’s safe and accessible for you to do so.
• Encourage your employer to offer mental health services and other support to staff — especially those of Ukrainian descent or with loved ones in the area.
• Don’t spread misinformation online. Verify all news sources before sharing on social media.

Remember that Russia’s military actions don’t necessarily reflect all of its people’s beliefs. Avoid harmful rhetoric that stereotypes Russians as a group.

Stay informed with trustworthy news sources

Misinformation can be rampant in situations like this. Be sure to access reliable news sources for information regarding the events in Ukraine. Keep in mind these news sources have been under attack from hackers since the invasion began and may go offline — or become unreliable at any point.

Independent new sources

• The Kyiv Independent. As Ukraine’s biggest English-language media outlet, the Kyiv Independent is on the ground and at the front lines to cover the ongoing events of the invasion.
• The New Voice of Ukraine. Available in English, Ukrainian and Russian, the New Voice of Ukraine covers breaking news and releases informative analyses on the situation.
• Ukraine World. Ukraine World is a team of independent journalists on the front lines gathering first-hand footage, primarily published on its dedicated social media accounts.

Government news sources

• War in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government recently launched an official website about the Ukraine invasion, including a live feed of events as they unfold. All information on the site is verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
• Kyiv Post. A mainstream media outlet affiliated with the state, this source is at the forefront of delivering breaking news directly from government and national offices, releasing statements from ministry officials, military leads and other dignitaries.

Follow verified news accounts on social media

If you prefer to access your news from social media, here’s a list of reliable accounts reporting out of Ukraine. Like news sources, many of these social media accounts are also under attack from hackers. Remain vigilant while accessing any information online.

• Stand With Ukraine shares knowledge wrap-ups based on the ongoing situation and ways followers can support Ukrainian citizens. Instagram: @withukraine.
• Svidomi offers updates on the ongoing conflict from the English version of a Ukrainian social media-based outlet as it shares brief but frequent posts from the front lines. Instagram: @svidomi_eng. Twitter: @Svidomi_en.
• Ukrainians in Solidarity provides information on how followers can support Ukrainian citizens. Instagram: @ukrainiansinsolidarity.

Follow verified accounts of the Ukrainian government and its officials

Many members of Ukraine’s government have taken to social media to update Ukrainian citizens and the world of the unfolding events.

• Ukraine’s official social media releases verified information about Ukraine, its government and the current invasion. Facebook: @UkraineUA.MFA. Instagram: @ukraine.ua.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is the ministry of the Ukrainian government that oversees the foreign relations of Ukraine. Facebook: @UkraineMFA. Twitter: @MFA_Ukraine.
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy became Ukraine’s president on May 20, 2019 and has been fighting against the invasion directly on the ground alongside the Ukrainian army. Facebook: @zelenskiy.official. Twitter: @ZelenskyyUa.
• Mykhailo Fedorov is Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, and oversees many of the donations coming into the country. Twitter: @FedorovMykhailo.

What actions is the Canadian government taking?

Canada has had a long-term relationship with Ukraine as Canada was the first western nation to recognize Ukraine’s independence in 1991. Here is a breakdown of the actions the government of Canada is taking to support Ukraine during this Russian invasion (these actions are current as of the time of writing):

Targeted sanctions – Canada has sanctioned members of Putin’s inner circle and key financial institutions. It is now prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to directly or indirectly transact in, provide financing for or otherwise deal in new Russian debt.

Export controls – Canada announced restrictions on exports to Russia, stopped issuing of new export permit applications and cancelled valid export permits for controlled goods and technology to Russia.

Military support – The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is providing two C-130J tactical airlift aircraft and a team of 40-50 personnel to contribute to NATO efforts in Europe for a period of at least two weeks. Canada launched Operation UNIFIER back in 2015 to train Ukrainian military members in battlefield tactics, maneuver, and other advanced military skills and has extended this program until March 2025.

Financial aid – Canada is sending $25 million in military aid to support Ukraine in its efforts to “retain sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence”. Canada also announced that the government would match every donation made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross between February 24, 2022, and March 18, 2022, up to a maximum of $10 million. As of March 1, 2022, this target has been met.

What actions is the US government taking?

For weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the US had deployed troops into Eastern Europe in solidarity with Ukraine, along with other allies. With Putin’s declaration of war against Ukraine, the US is allocating additional military resources to the area.

In addition to a military response, President Biden has announced sanctions against Russia, primarily targeting its oligarchs and banks. Further restrictions focus on blocking technology, including semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics and maritime technologies.

The White House also announced that it would cut off 13 major state-owned companies from raising money within the United States, including Sberbank — Russia’s largest financial institution.

On March 3, 2022, the Biden Administration officially asked Congress for $10 billion in emergency defense and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. The funds would cover the following:

• Increased intelligence and cybersecurity support.
• The deployment of US troops to NATO countries.
• Additional weapons for Ukraine through the Defense Department.
• Economic and humanitarian assistance for Ukrainians, including refugees.
• Enforcement of economic penalties on Russia, including those on Russian oligarchs and on high-tech goods.

The response from the US and its allies is expected to evolve over the next several days and weeks as events in Ukraine unfold.