WITH news of the catastrophic invasion of Ukraine by Russia this week, it is easy to feel demoralised, anxious and powerless at the scale of global events rapidly unfurling.
However, here in Scotland, we have a history of showing solidarity with disenfranchised people internationally. Many may be wondering: "what can we do to best help Ukranians?"
Here is a list of the way you can help.
Donate
There are various organisations working on-the-ground in Ukraine who can use your support.
- The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (UGB) have set up a GoFundMe to support accredited Ukrainian charities to provide medicines, food and critical services.
- The Ukrainian Red Cross provide first aid in areas where access to medical services will be limited, raise awareness of health risks and provide humanitarian support to all people in need.
- Voices of Children give psychological and psychosocial support to children in Ukraine traumatised from war, working in various villages and towns along the frontline in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
- The Kyiv Independent brings credible news from Ukraine to the world, countering disinformation put out by the Russian government. They have set up a GoFundMe here.
Keep yourself informed with reliable information
Ensure that you are staying up to date with reliable information and always make sure to check sources when consuming or sharing information. NiemanLab have put together a useful list of resources - from lists, liveblogs and maps - to help you cut through the noise and navigate the overwhelming amount of information available online.
Particularly if you are sharing information on social media, the Ukraine Crisis Media Center have put together guidelines on wordings as follows:
Russian troops in Ukraine are not “peacekeepers”, they are invaders.
The so-called “L/DPR” in eastern Ukraine are not “self-declared republics” or “breakaway regions”, they are the Russian puppet republics.
The occupying forces are not “Russia-backed separatists” or “rebels”, they are Russian formed, led and financed proxy forces.
Write to your MSP
You can lobby your elected representatives to ask what they are doing to support the people of Ukraine and encourage them to push for sanctions on the Russian government. Write to Them provides an easy way for you to quickly locate and contact your local MSP and other elected representatives.
Show up to protests and rallies
Rallies and protests against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are taking place across Scotland. The group Solidarity with Ukraine - Scotland are organising demonstrations across Scotland, and you can keep up to date with actions here.
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