My heart is broken.  What is happening in Kyiv and Ukraine overall is unimaginable.  All I can think of is, how to help Ukraine.  How we can help Ukraine?  This is a country that has been under attack since 2014 and shamefully we and the rest of the world have done very little but turn a blind eye on the Russian encroachment of this peaceful nation.

We were very lucky to visit Kyiv a few years ago in 2022.  It was so clear that the people of Ukraine although quite diverse were and are united.  Russian and Ukrainian languages could be heard throughout the city.  Yet there was no disdain for one or the other.  People were open, proud, inclusive and kind.

Memorials for the fallen soldiers of the ongoing war were very present in the center of the city.  Many had already fallen to this Russian invasion.  And now with Putin’s unprovoked additional attack many more are being slaughtered.  In 2024, it is noted that over 500,000 Ukrainians have been senselessly slaughters by Russia.

This week as the 2024 Summer Olympics begins in France, 487 Ukrainian athletes and coaches will not be in attendance because they were killed by Russia in this unprovoked and senseless invasion.

What are Young Russians Saying About Ukraine?

During that time we had an interesting vantage point into the minds of some Russians.  During the full scale invasion of Ukraine we were in Sri Lanka where tourism is thriving.  80% plus of the tourists here were and are from Russia.  We heard interesting conversations between Russians and people from Poland as well as other European nations.  It is refreshing to hear the young Russians say, “We cannot believe that in 2022 we have known the same leader/dictator for over 20 years!  How can this be happening?!  We need to do something about this”.

Yes, something absolutely has to be done.  Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man before he fell foul of the Kremlin, said that only revolution would topple Vladimir Putin, and he expected the Kremlin chief to crack down further on dissent at home after invading Ukraine.

It is also heartening to hear Polish and Romanian tourists changing their travel plans to return as soon as possible to help take in displaced people from Ukraine.   We are further encouraged that European nations are opening their borders to help displaced Ukrainian refugees.  Currently (in 2024), 3.7 million people have been displaced inside the country and nearly 6.5 million people have been displaced into neighboring countries.

How to Help Ukraine – Ukraine Aid

So what can we do to help? There are a number of things.  We have donated to World Central Kitchen as they have set up a number of places on the border to help feed the displaced Ukrainians.  In addition the Canadian government was matching donations to the Red Cross to help Ukraine.  United Help Ukraine is another organization that is raising money to help.

In addition, poisoned and jailed opposition leader of Russia Alexei Navalny was urging people in Russia and all over the world to stand up against Putin’s war.   Navalny was imploring folks to come out at 19:00 and on weekends at 14:00 in main squares in Russia to protest.  One of the reasons he was jailed again and killed in a Russian penalty colony.

So many brave Russian citizens have already been imprisoned for their courage to stand up against Putin and this war.  The least that we can do in the west is to protest as well – at main squares, at Russian Embassies, etc.,

How we can help Ukraine

Our thoughts and hearts are with the strong and courageous people of Ukraine.  Everyone, my thoughts are with them and everyday I ask myself, how we can help Ukraine?

This cannot be another protracted war like in Sarajevo.  We hope and dream that Ukraine will be victorious over this horrific and protracted attack.   Ukraine aid needs to keep on flowing.  So, if you find yourself asking, “how we can help Ukraine ?”….well, you can  talk to your government representatives and see if there is anything that we can do to put pressure on them to continue providing aid to Ukraine.

Once Ukraine is victorious, we will return to their stunning country and continue to marvel at it’s beauty, resilience and strength.