Helping Ukrainians survive the Easter Offensive

Trusted organizations active in and for Ukraine

Dear Friends,

Since the last time I made a list of organizations to support in Ukraine, we have learned a great deal about the genocidal atrocities committed under Russian occupation.  Russia is commencing a second stage of the war, with an Easter Offensive in the Donbas.  Aside from that, thousands of you had not yet subscribed when I last published such a list.  So today I will offer an updated list, with some new organizations.  These are trustworthy small groups which are acting nimbly and resourcefully on the ground to support Ukrainians.

1.  Be a Hero for Ukraine.  This is a new and small NGO, based in Poland, that has proved its worth in delivering assistance to Ukrainians who have remained in the country but who find themselves in unexpected positions: the internally displaced and the newly recruited soldiers.  You can donate here with a credit card or Paypal.  NB: when you get to the payment page, "Imie" just means "first name" and "Nazwisko" just means last name.

2.  My colleague, the social anthropologist Dr. Anastasia Piliavsky, continues to do excellent work through her Direct Aid for Ukraine Project.  She accepts donations and then supports individuals and small groups and NGOs through Ukraine via her Ukrainian bank account.  Very simple and fast. You can make donations through Paypal or bank transfer here.

3.  The war has threatened Ukraine's heritage, destroying landmarks, memorials, libraries, and archives.  Ukraine itself is an extraordinary set of archaeological sites, some of the most important of which are in the Zaporizhia region, which is now threatened by Russian attack.  That area is home to the New Archaeology School, a well-reputed NGO that works on awareness of ancient history in Ukraine.  Some of its activists are now in the Ukrainian army, protecting this heritage in a quite literal sense.  You can support them and their project by donating here. 

Kharkiv is the secind city of Ukrraine. A pciture of John Lennon hung in Kharkic city hall before Russia shelled it.

4.  We know about this war thanks to the efforts of journalists, above all Ukrainian journalists.  They break the stories we read a day later, and they are in the background helping their colleagues from Europe and North America.  They are very often working for very little or without a regular salary.  The 2402 Fund provids them with gear to necessary for war reporting.  (If you would like to support Russian journalists in exile, consider a donation to Meduza). (If you are a reporter in Ukraine, consider applying to the ‘Documenting Ukraine’ project at the Institute for Human Sciences.)

5.  The Borderland Foundation is an extraordinary Polish NGO that has been working in the field of intercultural communication for more than three decades.  They are hosting Ukrainian refugees, and devoting a summer program to encounters with Ukrainian culture.  They can be supported via Paypal here.

6.  If you are an American and you are making a donation substantial enough that you are thinking about a tax deduction, consider Razom.  They do a good job working with local partners in distributing humanitarian aid. 

As Russia's second major offensive begins, you can also support the men and women in the Ukrainian armed forces. (About 16% of Ukrainian soldiers are women).  While Western governments have pledged supplies, smaller NGOs and initiatives have their own methods, and often act more quickly.  

7.  The NGO Come Back Alive, in Ukraine, concentrates on protective gear and other equipment soldiers need.  You can donate to them with a credit card here. 

8.  Army SOS, another NGO in Ukraine, includes medical gear and other things soldiers need.   You can donate via PayPal here. 

9.  Unite with Ukraine (Ukrainian World Congress) makes it easy to donate medical supplies, fuel, night-vision goggles, vests, and communications systems.

Thank you for thinking about Ukraine with me.  Please feel free to mention your donations in the comments section! And share this with others who might be interested in helping.

TS

Kharkiv, before the war, as I remember it from my last visit

PS  Today is the publication date of my new audio book on Ukraine.  It has been released as twenty new lectures (eight hours of new material) in a new audio edition of On Tyranny. My proceeds will go to humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.