How Melburnians can help Ukraine right now

When it comes to war, language and semantics are crucial in how the events are perceived. Instead of calling it the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, refer to it as the Ukrainian-Russian war or the Russian war. Refer to Ukraine's capital as Kyiv, rather than with the Russian spelling of Kiev, and refer to Russian troops as invaders instead of peacekeepers. All of these language choices are part of ensuring that we are only sharing fact-based information about Russian aggression. 

To ensure that you're not spreading misinformation, it's important that you're primarily referring to news from leading media outlets in Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent is an English-language outlet that provides ongoing information about the war, fact checks on disinformation campaigns and highlights human rights issues in areas that Russia has occupied. You can also try Ukrinform, Liga.net and InformNapalm for additional insights about the war. You can also find reliable coverage from the Guardian. And if you prefer podcasts, Bugryn suggests an English-language one called Ukraine World. 

Reading news articles can be helpful for getting all the facts straight, but if you want to understand the lived experiences of people in Ukraine, you should set some time aside to watch documentaries. Bugryn's War Mothers was filmed just a few years ago and follows the lives of three women living in Zaporizhia along the eastern front of the war in Ukraine. The Guardian has put together a list of 20 films, including both documentaries and fiction features, that highlight experiences like abuse in the Soviet army, the Chernobyl explosion and more. To understand what's happening now, it's important to understand what has happened in the past. 

If you'd prefer to donate to an Australian organisation, then consider making a monetary contribution to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal (UCA). It's supported by the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations and it works to meet the immediate needs of the crisis-affected civilian population in Ukraine. That means using the funds for things like medical equipment, food and more. The organisation also uses some of the funds for the sponsorship of a veteran's aid program, to assist Ukrainians who have served in the ongoing conflict with services like occupational therapy. 

In order to be a match for the size and scope of Russia's military, Ukraine needs support funding necessary ammunition, shields, communication devices and more. As you've probably seen on the news, heaps of civilians have been joining the fight on the front lines, as well as president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and they'll all need the proper equipment. The National Bank of Ukraine created a special multi-currency account to collect donations that will be used to support the Ukrainian military. You can find how to donate with AUD here. If you'd prefer, you can also donate to Kyiv-based charity Army SOS  

According to the ABC, more than 1,000 visas have been approved and many Ukrainians are due to start arriving in Melbourne. Bear in mind that many of them are leaving the only home they've ever known and may struggle to support themselves here. If you can, offer assistance in the way of monetary support and gifting food items. A warm welcome goes a long way. You can also register with the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria and indicate that you're interested in helping in the resettlement of refugees entering Victoria. This could mean donating goods, helping to coordinate their arrival, taking phone calls, running community and social events, amongst other things. 

On February 27, thousands gathered in Federation Square to stand up for Ukraine and to rally against Russia's aggression. And it's likely only the first of many to come, so keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to show your solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Follow the AUV on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date on upcoming events. 

Aside from violent conflict, another major aspect of this war is a Russian disinformation campaign. To combat this, the  Association of Ukrainians in Victoria (AUV) suggests joining online campaigns by using hashtags like #CloseTheSky, #NoFlyZone, #StandWithUkraine, #StopPutinNOW and #StopRussianAggression. Resharing photos and videos from Ukraine that show destruction can help combat propaganda. 

Another way to show the world is in solidarity with Ukraine is by signing onto petitions that condemn Russia's actions. The AUV suggests one here that asks the world to recognise Putin as a war criminal, and one here that petitions NATO to close the sky above Ukraine.