On February 24th, 2022 Russia prepared a long awaited attack upon Ukraine, years after the Ukrainian revolution took place. Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, attacked Ukraine with a large army to keep them from joining the NATO alliance and strived to insert his influence upon the Ukrainian government. 

The invasion has left many civilians in need of refuge and resources, leaving some to begin to feel helpless and wondering how they can help those in need. After speaking to a Ukrainian family friend with relatives currently in the country, I learned how we can all lend a hand. 

Victoria Korns, mother of 2 and Ukrainian-Arlington resident, is not only experiencing the horror behind the attacks but watching her family suffer from it from miles away. 

“Few are fortunate enough to have U.S. visas but others are not as lucky,” Victoria said. 

One such person is Victoria’s father, left in a burdening situation. The complex U.S. immigration system has left Ukranians alone and scared, making it difficult for Ukrainians to come to the U.S. as refugees.  

However, Korn believes that there are several U.S. based organizations with strong efforts to support these civilians in need, which we can participate in. Whether it be donating money or volunteering in-person or virtually, there are organizations we can all help.

The first group you can donate to is Save the Children. Their mission is to grant humanitarian aid to kids around the world and provide them with the necessary resources for survival. Ukraine has become one of their biggest issues of focus, as many are heavily suffering with loss of food and shelter. By donating just $50 to the foundation, you are able to feed three children for a month. 

Link: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/ukraine 

Another organization that you can help, which is collecting monetary, medical and food donations, is the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral located in Silver Spring, Maryland. So far, they’ve collected 2,500 boxes of humanitarian aid with donations from Maryland, DC and Virginia. You can donate first aid & medical supplies, nonperishable food items and any other items on their list of accepted donations.

Link: https://www.standrewuoc.org/ 

St. Andrew’s also has an Amazon list of items that are in high demand and making a purchase from the list sends the item directly to the church. Alternatively, instead of buying items off the Amazon list you can drop off items at a local hub in the Arlington area (1045 N Stuart St). 

Link to list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/genericItemsPage/2ADMR0OG6MBVX?type=wishlist&filter=unpurchased&sort=priority&viewType=list 

Lastly, use your own voice to take charge and write a letter to your representatives in Congress. Razom [Together] for Ukraine, a group dedicated to unlocking the potential of Ukraine, has supplied a form that can serve as a guide to write your letter in effort of supporting Ukraine. 

Link to guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s2RFC2nHgTGbI5-Aq8mhesEi__h3xsMWpyeSwXjbJVU/edit 

Now that you have learned how you can help Ukrainians in need from your own home, I hope you can use these resources and your voice to continue their fight for freedom & independence. 

Pictures from Ukraine March near the White House, taken by Anna Brisciuk 24’

On February 24th, 2022 Russia prepared a long awaited attack upon Ukraine, years after the Ukrainian revolution took place. Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, aimed to attack Ukraine to keep them from joining the NATO alliance and strived to insert his influence upon the Ukrainian government. 

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