Despite the war between Russia and Ukraine has been an ongoing conflict since 2014, it has recently received a great amount of undivided attention upon Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, Russia has dropped missiles across multiple regions of Ukraine including the capital of Kyiv. Since the attacks began, Ukrainians have been fighting back against their invaders. While some Ukraninans stayed back in Ukraine to fight for their nation, many fled to neighboring countries for survival. The escape from home has not been easy for the Ukrainian refugees. 

WHO ARE THE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES AND WHERE ARE THEY FLEEING TO? 
Over the span of 3 weeks, more than 3 million Ukrainians have fled Ukraine to seek refuge in nearby countries such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, Belarus, and other European countries. Poland received the largest number of refugees with 1.9 million Ukrainian refugees while Belarus has received roughly 2,000 Ukrainians. 

Most of these refugees are women and children, some having to travel on their own while others are traveling with their families and relatives. Many of these refugees, however, are required to be Ukrainian citizens. Without their citizenship, they are not allowed to flee Ukraine. But there has been a rise in concern about the unfair treatment of all Ukrainian citizens.

There are African citizens in Ukraine who are not allowed to leave Ukraine. Many people have claimed that the Ukrainian government is discriminating against the non-Ukrainian populations. 
 
HOW CAN TYWLS SUPPORT UKRAINE?
Despite residing in the United States, thousands of miles away from Ukraine, there are many ways we can support those in Ukraine. The simplest thing we can do is donate. You can send your donations to help Ukrainians receive food, medical assistance, and mental health support. Make sure to check for reliable organizations to avoid any scams. Below are some trustworthy websites that you can use to send your donations to Ukraine.

Links to Reliable Donation Sites

Food Delivery:

United Nations World Food Programme

World Central Chef Relief Team
 

Medical Assistance:

Ukrainian Red Cross

International Rescue Committee

Sunflower of Peace

Doctors Without Borders
 

Mental Health Support: 

Voices of Children

Vostok-SOS

UNICEF