I have now got in touch with eight hosts and I am fully booked in Kyiv until 10th April. Yuri, my first host, still keeps in touch. This is from yesterday and contains some information that other sponsors might be pleased to know about:
Hello, Elizabeth!
We can spend money. You can withdraw from an ATM, you can pay with a card.
We send this money to people who are left without a salary for food.
We send them to the military for clothing, we send them to the manufacture of helicopters for the army, there are craftsmen who collect them.
We also populate our apartments for free with refugees.
We also just help friends who are without food.
Here the police asked for clothes, we will also send them to her.
I'm in Kiev. I won't leave. My wife is stubborn as a sheep and also does not want to leave without me. It makes me angry, I'm worried that she's here. After all, if people come with machine guns, who knows what they have in mind.
I have made many friends abroad and you are among them.
---
My exchange with Tatiana felt a little surreal at the outset:
Доброе время суток, Елизавета! Я Киевлянка. Родилась и живу в Киеве.
У нас идёт война!Должна сказать Вам что у нас очень опасно....
(Tatiana says that she lives in Kyiv, she was born there. Then she says that there is a war raging in Ukraine and she must tell me it is very dangerous to go there...)
Erzsebet15:33
Tatiana, I know there is a war going on. This is why I want to help. I will book your flat and you will get some money. I am not coming. Many of us are trying to help this way. Is that OK? Hugs, Elizabeth
I will come and see you after the war :-)... I have just booked three nights. Take care, Elizabeth
Татьяна16:11
Елизавета Спасибо Вам
(Tatiana is grateful.)
Erzsebet16:15
See you after the war :-), E
Татьяна16:23
Спасибо Вам за вашу поддержку❤️, Буду очень рада видеть Вас в своих апартаментах. 🙏🙏🙏
(Tatiana says I will be welcome at her place in the future.)
Erzsebet16:32
My privilege, Tatiana, stay safe, E
---
There is also an amazing young man, who has set his cancellation policy as "No refunds" and in a long message asks patrons to cancel their bookings after their payment has gone through so that the dates released in this way become available again. When I suggested this to Yuri, this was his laconic reply (also responding to my reaction to what he said about his wife): Your wife is a headstrong lady. Hug her for me :-)...
Жену обниму, спасибо!
А отмену делать мне неловко.
Просить человека неловко.
I'll hug my wife, thank you!
And it's embarrassing for me to cancel.
Asking a person is awkward.
---
Sorry for this long message. I am just trying to say that we need to take into account people's dignity and pride when we provide assistance.
After the war is over, I am planning to go to Kyiv and meet my hosts :-).
I would like to add another way to help … With a 9 year old granddaughter with type 1 diabetes I am particularly sensitive to the special needs of this community. Now with over 2 million refugees having fled Ukraine and this number increasing at the rate of almost 150,000 per day, those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at great risk due to this condition. They have been separated from their regular medical care, diabetes treatment supplies, and care. Ukraine has approximately 130,000 citizens with Type 1 diabetes and 2.3 million with type 2 diabetes. Many of these are women and children now refugees and without access to critical care and supplies at significant risk. The U.S. diabetes community is working to address this critical need. You can learn more about how to help and join in this effort here:
Médecins sans Frontières ( https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ )is active in Ukraine. I gave to them in honor of someone about six months ago and now they keep sending me email saying they are shipping medical supplies to Ukraine. I think I'll give through them--they're a reputable and competent group as best as I can tell.
I've just watched Fareed Zakaria's interview with Gennadiy Drukenko, a Ukrainian constitutional lawyer who runs an ambulance corps. I was deeply moved by his plea for ambulances, and also horrified that it should be necessary. Must the ambulances be provided by governments? What is the best way for ordinary Americans to help?
The other night I watched the Netflix documentary, "Winter on Fire Ukraine's Fight for Freedom". For those who don't have Netflix you can watch it free on YouTube. The documentary is about the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine in 2013-2014.
While watching it starts out with a youthful energy and hope for a brighter future. I felt a sense of excitement, but this quickly turns to horror by the regime's brutal crackdown. There a scene towards the end where Red Cross workers and volunteers are bringing in battered, bruised and shot and killed protesters into the makeshift field hospital. You start to hear everyone in the room singing the Ukrainian National Anthem as they start carrying away the dead on stretchers. A man yells out, "Glory to Ukraine, Glory to heroes, Glory to the Nation!!" and it's at this point I started crying. The next scenes are also equally if not more moving. They parade the dead heroes in the streets. People gather in the square to honor their sacrifice. This scene really cemented what it's all about. The meaning behind the fight and struggle. I have a hard time re-watching this scene again. Makes me cry again.
It's dying for something greater than yourself! It's dying for democracy. It's dying for freedom. It's dying for this idea. I find that so immensely powerful. These people laid down their lives for a better future for their country.
It's no longer theoretical.... It's real. We see the price is paid in blood and we need to be ready to do the same to defend our democracy. Ukraine has taught me some important lessons.
In closing I'm left with a sense of understanding and feeling for their unity. Real patriotism. Real bravery. Real sacrifice. There's a beauty in that.
On Airbnb, users of the platform from different countries booked accommodation in Ukraine for 434 thousand nights. This was reported by the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. Thus, Ukrainian hosts received $15 million in financial assistance.
Will the Russian sanctions have a negative impact on the Ukrainian oligarchs? How will the Russian led war impact corruption in Ukraine? Have most of the Ukrainian oligarchs fled to other countries?
I have now got in touch with eight hosts and I am fully booked in Kyiv until 10th April. Yuri, my first host, still keeps in touch. This is from yesterday and contains some information that other sponsors might be pleased to know about:
Hello, Elizabeth!
We can spend money. You can withdraw from an ATM, you can pay with a card.
We send this money to people who are left without a salary for food.
We send them to the military for clothing, we send them to the manufacture of helicopters for the army, there are craftsmen who collect them.
We also populate our apartments for free with refugees.
We also just help friends who are without food.
Here the police asked for clothes, we will also send them to her.
I'm in Kiev. I won't leave. My wife is stubborn as a sheep and also does not want to leave without me. It makes me angry, I'm worried that she's here. After all, if people come with machine guns, who knows what they have in mind.
I have made many friends abroad and you are among them.
---
My exchange with Tatiana felt a little surreal at the outset:
Доброе время суток, Елизавета! Я Киевлянка. Родилась и живу в Киеве.
У нас идёт война!Должна сказать Вам что у нас очень опасно....
(Tatiana says that she lives in Kyiv, she was born there. Then she says that there is a war raging in Ukraine and she must tell me it is very dangerous to go there...)
Erzsebet15:33
Tatiana, I know there is a war going on. This is why I want to help. I will book your flat and you will get some money. I am not coming. Many of us are trying to help this way. Is that OK? Hugs, Elizabeth
I will come and see you after the war :-)... I have just booked three nights. Take care, Elizabeth
Татьяна16:11
Елизавета Спасибо Вам
(Tatiana is grateful.)
Erzsebet16:15
See you after the war :-), E
Татьяна16:23
Спасибо Вам за вашу поддержку❤️, Буду очень рада видеть Вас в своих апартаментах. 🙏🙏🙏
(Tatiana says I will be welcome at her place in the future.)
Erzsebet16:32
My privilege, Tatiana, stay safe, E
---
There is also an amazing young man, who has set his cancellation policy as "No refunds" and in a long message asks patrons to cancel their bookings after their payment has gone through so that the dates released in this way become available again. When I suggested this to Yuri, this was his laconic reply (also responding to my reaction to what he said about his wife): Your wife is a headstrong lady. Hug her for me :-)...
Жену обниму, спасибо!
А отмену делать мне неловко.
Просить человека неловко.
I'll hug my wife, thank you!
And it's embarrassing for me to cancel.
Asking a person is awkward.
---
Sorry for this long message. I am just trying to say that we need to take into account people's dignity and pride when we provide assistance.
After the war is over, I am planning to go to Kyiv and meet my hosts :-).
I would like to add another way to help … With a 9 year old granddaughter with type 1 diabetes I am particularly sensitive to the special needs of this community. Now with over 2 million refugees having fled Ukraine and this number increasing at the rate of almost 150,000 per day, those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at great risk due to this condition. They have been separated from their regular medical care, diabetes treatment supplies, and care. Ukraine has approximately 130,000 citizens with Type 1 diabetes and 2.3 million with type 2 diabetes. Many of these are women and children now refugees and without access to critical care and supplies at significant risk. The U.S. diabetes community is working to address this critical need. You can learn more about how to help and join in this effort here:
https://beyondtype1.org/help-ukraine-diabetes-community/
The organizations behind this effort are well organized and recognized. If you are able please help in these efforts.
Thank you, 🙏🏻🇺🇦💙💛
Médecins sans Frontières ( https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ )is active in Ukraine. I gave to them in honor of someone about six months ago and now they keep sending me email saying they are shipping medical supplies to Ukraine. I think I'll give through them--they're a reputable and competent group as best as I can tell.
Thank you so much for collecting these sources in one spot.
I've just watched Fareed Zakaria's interview with Gennadiy Drukenko, a Ukrainian constitutional lawyer who runs an ambulance corps. I was deeply moved by his plea for ambulances, and also horrified that it should be necessary. Must the ambulances be provided by governments? What is the best way for ordinary Americans to help?
I would like to know if Prof. Snyder has an opinion as to whether this might be a helpful way to get the truth to the Russian people.
I like the idea very much, and have gone to the website, but want to make sure I'm not missing some implications before going ahead with it.
Thank you. https://www.wsj.com/articles/using-a-new-cyber-tool-westerners-have-been-texting-russians-about-the-war-in-ukraine-11647100803?reflink=share_mobilewebshare
The other night I watched the Netflix documentary, "Winter on Fire Ukraine's Fight for Freedom". For those who don't have Netflix you can watch it free on YouTube. The documentary is about the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine in 2013-2014.
While watching it starts out with a youthful energy and hope for a brighter future. I felt a sense of excitement, but this quickly turns to horror by the regime's brutal crackdown. There a scene towards the end where Red Cross workers and volunteers are bringing in battered, bruised and shot and killed protesters into the makeshift field hospital. You start to hear everyone in the room singing the Ukrainian National Anthem as they start carrying away the dead on stretchers. A man yells out, "Glory to Ukraine, Glory to heroes, Glory to the Nation!!" and it's at this point I started crying. The next scenes are also equally if not more moving. They parade the dead heroes in the streets. People gather in the square to honor their sacrifice. This scene really cemented what it's all about. The meaning behind the fight and struggle. I have a hard time re-watching this scene again. Makes me cry again.
It's dying for something greater than yourself! It's dying for democracy. It's dying for freedom. It's dying for this idea. I find that so immensely powerful. These people laid down their lives for a better future for their country.
It's no longer theoretical.... It's real. We see the price is paid in blood and we need to be ready to do the same to defend our democracy. Ukraine has taught me some important lessons.
In closing I'm left with a sense of understanding and feeling for their unity. Real patriotism. Real bravery. Real sacrifice. There's a beauty in that.
A quick note - crowdfunding at its best...
On Airbnb, users of the platform from different countries booked accommodation in Ukraine for 434 thousand nights. This was reported by the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. Thus, Ukrainian hosts received $15 million in financial assistance.
Started watching The Oligarchs l Al Jazeera Investigations.
https://youtu.be/ughFLQDcI_Q
Will the Russian sanctions have a negative impact on the Ukrainian oligarchs? How will the Russian led war impact corruption in Ukraine? Have most of the Ukrainian oligarchs fled to other countries?
Update: Airbnb cancelled the homes I reserved in Ukraine and returned the money.