There are multiple journalists covering the ground in Ukraine, and information is coming through at an unprecedented pace. Social media is filling in the gaps of what’s happening between official news reports, and we understand more about what’s going on in Mariupol and Kyiv than about what our closest neighbours are up to. 

Kremlin propaganda still makes it through. 

You’ve seen some of it already. 

Ukraine isn’t at war; it’s a training exercise. Russia is trying to protect Russian citizens in Ukraine. They’re fighting against Nazism. They didn’t bomb a hospital. 

The trick about Kremlin misinformation is that they have an excellent, and well-oiled, cyberwarfare machine at their disposal. It’s hampered by other hackers, but if you’ve heard even one of the things we’ve mentioned, it means it’s still effective. 

Here’s what’s going on according to the Kremlin and what’s really happening – with sources. 

Ukraine is full of Nazis and fascists. 

What the Kremlin said: The Ukrainian war is a peacekeeping mission to denazify and demilitarise Ukraine – without occupation. 

Facts:

• Ukraine’s strongest neo-Nazi group, the Azov Battalion was absorbed into the government’s military and has been instrumental in keeping the Russians out of Mariupol. 
• Azov Battalion rose to acclaim because of their actions in Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine in 2014. 
• There are no right-wing political parties in the Ukraine government: a coalition of major right-wing parties in Ukraine didn’t exceed the 5% support bracket that is required to enter the parliament. 

Russia did not attack a maternity hospital. 

What the Kremlin said: This story took a full turn – initially, the Kremlin claimed that there were no patients in the hospital and it had been taken over by the Azov battalion as a base, then that they full-out did not attack the maternity hospital. Images circulating social media of a heavily pregnant woman being led out were faked by a beauty blogger in Ukraine named Marianna Podgurskaya, and the proof of the hospital having been taken over by the Azov battalion was a picture of a tank parked outside. 

Facts: 

• The picture of the tank was taken six miles away from the bombed Mariupol maternity hospital. 
• Mariana Vishegirskaya (misnamed by the Russian Embassy in the UK) is a real beauty blogger who has just given birth to her daughter, and has been documenting her pregnancy on Instagram.  
• The Mariupol bombing was recorded and documented by independent journalists for the Associated Press.
• The hospital was still in operation as a hospital. 

Ukraine was building bio-weapons in U.S.-funded labs. 

What the Kremlin said: Russia is targeting military sites where the United States has built labs to fund bio-weapon research in Ukraine. 

Facts: 

• The first time this story broke out was onTwitter, which was taken down by Twitter immediately after, though not before people retweeted it.
• Russia has had a decades-long campaign of seeding stories about the United States’ biological weapons use to discredit the United States.
• The only biolabs in Ukraine are government-funded and their primary concern is reducing infectious outbreaks such as COVID-19. 
• The United States provides support to these labs under the U.S. Department of Defence’s Biological Threat Reduction Programme. 

Russia is in favour of the war. 

Caveat: this one is difficult to quantify or dispute correctly because while there has been a notable increase in war protests, there are definitely Russians who support the war. What we should remember is that they are equally victimised by disinformation and skewed numbers as anyone – and that Russian disinformation is powerful.

What the Kremlin said: that they are protecting Russian interests and the Russian people. 

Facts: 

• More than 4,300 war protestors have been arrested in Russia.
• Russian state television is quick to maintain the narrative that Russia is suffering because of Ukraine, particularly in Donbas.
• News outlets in Russia that publish news about the war in Ukraine can risk a 15-year jail term.

Russia is not attacking civilians. 

What the Kremlin said: Russia is only interested in military targets and not civilian targets, and happy to establish humanitarian corridors in order to allow civilians to safely leave the besieged cities. 

Facts: 

• In Chernihiv, Kyiv, and Kharkiv, Human Rights Watch documented several cases of war crimes and laws-of-war violations, including executing civilians.
• Russia created, and then shelled, the humanitarian corridor in Mariupol and Volnovahka while civilians were attempting to escape. 
• A torture chamber with five dead civilians was uncovered in Bucha (warning: graphic).
• Russia has bombed theatres, schools, and kindergartens that were used as civilian shelters (warning: graphic). 

Ukraine is building nuclear weapons.

What the Kremlin said: Ukraine is building nuclear weapons for use against Russia. 

Facts: 

• In accordance with the Budapest Memorandum, in which the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia pledged to protect Ukraine in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons, Ukraine has no nuclear armaments.
• President Zelenskyy did question whether Ukraine was obligated to maintain its non-nuclear status now that Russia has violated the Budapest Treaty, however, nothing has come of that statement. 
• Ukraine has no nuclear weapons in its possession. 
• Ukraine also never had any way of operating any of the Russian-made Soviet-era nuclear weapons left in its territory.

There is more that’s being said: videogame footage and film stills passed off as scenes from the war, deepfakes of Zelenskyy asking for surrender, hacked Twitter accounts that post pro-Russia rhetoric and muddy the waters. 

Russia has had decades to perfect its disinformation practices. It is a master of putting out information that seems real, unless you look deeper. 

But the Ukrainian war is a war happening in the time of social media and satellite images and drones, of information as currency, of a world that is constantly aware of what’s happening on the other side of the globe. 

And it has become very clear that the Russian disinformation machine cannot stand up to the truth. 

Find more Ukraine Support resources here.

The post Russian Propaganda and the Truth appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

That’s not entirely on you. 

The Russian propaganda machine is insidious.  It’s well-tuned. It’s been notably active since the 60s. 

And it can spread a false story so fast that the truth won’t even have time to get out of the starting gate. 

Here’s how you can make sure that what you share online is what you should be sharing. 

Russian Disinformation: Tactics

• Repetitive statements designed to spread fear, for example: wouldn’t this start a nuclear war?
• Multi-channel but tailored to each channel, for example: single mother of two on Facebook who posts vague scientific reports about COVID-19 vaccines causing deaths. 

Russian trolls are online for 12 hours a day and work in shifts to ensure that the stream of misinformation is constant, pervasive, and impossible to ignore. On social media, it’s even more difficult to determine the veracity of what’s being said because it’s written by people in a way that’s very human; in a way that’s believable. 

Stopping the spread of Kremlin disinformation

You’re on social media all the time now; as an escape from reality, because you just ‘check in’ for a quick minute in between tasks, or because you’re really worried about what’s going on and want to get the unverified truth. 

You see something that a friend reposted. You trust this friend, and there’s no need to double-check what he’s written; he wouldn’t post something that isn’t real. 

So you repost it. 

The story you reposted is picked up by another person, then another person, then more. Before you know what’s happened, it’s on the news cycle. 

It isn’t true. 

Staying safe online is more than just making sure that who you’re following is who they say they are. The Kremlin is trying to control and justify this war through social media: claiming that Ukraine is bombing their own city, claiming that Russia hasn’t actually attacked civilians, claiming that this is a war to protect Russian interests. 

It’s believable. It’s justifiable. 

It’s propaganda. 

The story is far clearer than that. 

Here’s how to follow what’s really happening 

1. Follow verified social media sources. 

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: everyone’s on one of them, and the news on those social medias travel fast. Make sure that what you’re sharing comes from people who are exactly who they say they are: government officials, consulates, journalists – people who can’t hide who they are. 

Here’s a few to start with: 

• President of Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy 
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Dmytro Kuleba
• Kyiv Independent: Facebook | Twitter 
• CNN News: Matthew Chance | Frederik Pleitgen
• EU Commission: Ursula von der Leyen
• BBC: Myroslava Petsa
• Prosecutor General of Ukraine: Iryna Venediktova
• Independent journalist, founder of Public Interest Journalism Lab: Nataliya Gumenyuk
• Director of Amnesty Ukraine: Oksana Pokalchuk
• Propaganda specialist: Paula Chertok
• Associate Professor of Russian Politics: Ben Noble
• Bot, Russian politics, and propaganda specialist: Sergey Sanovich

2. Spread Zelenskyy’s words and videos as far as you can. 

Zelenskyy wants the world to know what Ukraine is dealing with – and to reach out to the Russian population, to appeal to their sense of honour, to ask them to fight against their dictatorship. He wants to be visible in this war, leading his men. 

Keep him in the spotlight. It’s harder for Zelenskyy to disappear, and for the Kremlin to control the narrative, if what he says is amplified across the internet, the way that it’s happening now. 

It needs to keep happening.

3. Don’t be afraid. 

Russian trolls thrive off of fear. If you’re seeing a lot of news about World War III and nuclear attacks, it’s likely that you’re watching a troll in action, or at least seeing what the building hysteria on social media looks like. 

Half of what’s being said is false. The tiny kernels of truth there can be found on official sources – so take what you see online with a pinch of salt. Don’t give into your fear. Disinformation is a war tactic, not a game; it’s an effective one. 

This is why we mention the official sources. Look to those. Social media accounts that are new, or relatively new, with gibberish usernames, with the same sort of misspellings: ignore those. They’re not telling you the truth. 

4. Talk to your Russian friends. 

Over 13,000 people have been arrested for protesting the war. The Kremlin is in the process of cutting off Russia from the world. 

Get the word to your friends in Russia. Let them know what’s going on. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram might be down, but there are other ways to connect with your friends if they are living in Russia at this moment, so use those methods and get in touch. 

5. Don’t donate to random people on social media. 

You want to help, and it’s commendable.

But don’t donate to people on social media through Paypal, Venmo, Gofundme, or various crypto currencies. Donate to official causes – you can see our list here. The money will get to where it’s going quicker, and safer, and you know what it’s being used for. 

6. Study video critically.

You’ve probably already seen the video of Zelenskyy surrendering. 

That is a fake.

Video is exceptionally easy to fake, but deepfakes can be spotted if you study the video critically. Look for filters. See if the people involved are actually moving – see how, in that video, only the head is moving? Look for the way light hits: does it move the way light moves? 

If you have a doubt about the video, ignore it. Don’t reblog. Don’t let it get further. 

This is a situation amplified and echoed three times over through social media. Believing the right thing is crucial, and spreading the right message can make a difference in what’s being said online – and what people believe. 

All the social media platforms you’re using have implemented some checks to ensure that they mark Russian state-run media out, but those messages are still on the platform, and they’re designed to be believable.

Run your checks. Look at sources on the ground. Decide which side you want to believe in. 

What you do on social media now matters.

The post Spotting Russian Propaganda: What To Believe Online appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

If you want to donate to organisations based in Malta, you can reach out to the following.

Local charities accepting donations for Ukraine

SOS Malta

Support for: assisting Emergency Aid at the Siret border in Romania, where over 67,000 refugees from Ukraine have fled following the Russian invasion.

Donate here. 

Caritas Malta

Support for: Caritas Ukraine, who have been essential in providing food, water, accommodation, and personal hygiene items to Ukrainian refugees.

Donate here. 

Malteser International

Support for: mental health and psychological support for refugees, mobile soup kitchen, medical supplies including cots, blankets, food, and cash. Malteser International has been active in Ukraine since the 90s, and continues to provide humanitarian aid in these harsh times.

Donate here. 

MOAS

Support for: civilians who are suffering the consequences of the invasion in Ukraine through the deployment of Mobile Medical Units. 

Donate here. 

Donation sites for physical donations

It started with one Polish national in Mellieha trying to fill a suitcase of donations to send to the frontlines. 

Now it’s a country-wide affair, and the local air-force is helping out with delivery. 

You can drop off your donations at: 

• Luqa – DC Aviation – Departures Hall, Malta International Airport.
• Valletta – Vaia Legal –  24/25 Vincenti Buildings, Strat Street. 
• St. Julians – Alliance Jet – Level 17, Portomaso Business Tower. 
• Birkirkara – Emperor Aviation – W Business Centre, Level 3, Triq Karmenu Pirotta. 

If you’re not sure what to donate, this event page is updated regularly with new donation needs, and if you want to make sure they reach the right place, you can contact the Honourary Ukrainian Consulate in Malta for more information. They have a warehouse in Zejtun still actively accepting donations. 

Other aid

If you have room, consider taking in a Ukrainian refugee. Hotels and small businesses have put up places for them to stay, but the rate at which they’re fleeing from their home could outpace available locations – so if you have the room, and you want to help, make room for a Ukrainian refugee. 

You can message the honourary consulate above, or leave a message on this local page or the international Accommodation, Help, and Shelter for Ukraine page.

Malta4Ukraine is also a good resource for people who want to stay updated with local initiatives and donation drives. 

Conclusion

In the face of a war that threatens not only the Ukrainian population, but the western values of choice, freedom, and safety, many of us feel powerless to help.

But we can help. 

Donate what you can: monetary or otherwise. Check in on your Ukrainian friends and neighbours. Welcome the refugees that just landed in Malta. 

#StandwithUkraine.

Each member of the Switch team is donating an hour a day of expertise to humanitarian causes. If you would like to offer time, money or resources, but don’t know where to start – get in touch with us and we’ll help put you in touch with people who need your help.

The post Helping Ukraine from Malta appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

Among the steady stream of news articles, images, videos, comments, tweets, and data going around about the situation, we have to remember that not all of it is true, accurate, or factual, and not all sources are reliable. Some of it is misinformation, some is blatant disinformation aimed to divide and confuse.

An example of misinformation around Ukraine includes out-of-context images and photos from previous protests or conflicts that are circulating online as if they are happening in Ukraine now.

The higher our emotions are running, the less we become capable of critical thinking, and the easier it becomes to believe what we see as being true even when it’s out of context or incorrect.

To help fight the spread of misinformation, we’ve gathered a list of some websites, pages, and other sources of news that you can follow in order to stay updated on the situation.

Reliable sources

Ukraine Facts

A database developed by Maldita – a Spanish nonprofit news organisation aimed at combating disinformation through fact-checking and data journalism – that publishes fact checks on the mis/disinformation circulating in Ukraine. There are currently more than 400 entries in #UkraineFacts from over 45 countries.

Visit Ukraine Facts

Ukrainian Ministry of Defence

The official Twitter page of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has been sharing information about ongoing happenings. They post in Ukrainian, but some of their posts and retweets have English translations, or are entirely in English.

Visit Ukrainian Ministry of Defence

Ukrainian Land Forces

The official Facebook page of the Ukrainian armed forces. On their page, they’ve been posting videos and images of the Ukrainian leaders and the troops, as well as sharing military updates about the battles being fought, the condition of the enemy troops, victories, losses, and the state of the invasion.

Visit Ukrainian Land Forces

Bellingcat

An independent international collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists using open source and social media investigation to cover the invasion and provide reliable fact-checking as well as debunking myths and claims regarding the war. They also put together a spreadsheet specifically for fact-checking dubious narratives that appear to be attempts at disinformation.

Visit Bellingcat

EU vs Disinfo

Established in 2015, EUvsDisinfo identifies, compiles, and exposes disinformation cases originating in pro-Kremlin media that are spread across the EU and Eastern Partnership countries. They also have articles and guides aimed at teaching readers how to spot deception techniques used by the Russian government in their propaganda and in the dissemination of disinformation.

Visit EU vs Disinfo

Ukraine Interactive Map

The Live Universal Awareness Map website has been in operation since 2014 with the aim of providing the world with information about the Ukrainian conflict, which is active and helpful now more than ever. They provide live news and updates, and their map-centric approach also allows users to see information such as explosions, blasts, armed forces, deaths, injuries, shellings, territories captured by Russian forces, and many other happenings of the war.

Visit Ukraine Interactive Map

BBC News

The Ukraine-specific part of the BBC News website, featuring the latest news about the refugee crisis, live reporting on evacuations, speeches, new sanctions imposed on Russia, news about corporations and their stance on Russia, and everything else related to the war. 

Visit BBC News

The Kyiv Independent

Ukraine’s English-language media outlet, created by journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence. The values behind the operation are all about editorial freedom, lack of censorship, and spreading information that serves the people. The platform is funded based on monthly subscriptions, and they currently also have a GoFundMe page where readers can support the media outlet throughout the crisis so that reporters can keep writing about the situation. They can also be followed on Twitter for real-time reporting, where they use a lightning bolt emoji to help readers quickly differentiate breaking news tweets from other tweets.

Visit the Kyiv Independent

The Financial Times

The Financial Times have dropped their paywall on their coverage of the conflict in Ukraine for the sake of providing news and content for as many people to read as possible as events unfold.

Visit the Financial Times

NPR State of Ukraine Podcast

Launched on the 2nd of March this year, and with several new episodes per day, NPR’s State of Ukraine podcast features reporting from NPR journalists on the ground, and conversations with officials, experts, and other newsmakers. The podcast also takes a big picture approach to the war, since it considers the conflict’s past, future consequences, and what each new development means for the rest of the world.

Visit NPR State if Ukraine Podcast

The New York Times Russia-Ukraine War Briefing Newsletter

You can also sign up for the New York Time’s daily newsletter, sent out every evening, which delivers a summary of all the major news and updates of the day about the war straight to your inbox.

Sign up for the newsletter

Vox Ukraine

An independent analytical platform that also writes news articles debunking misinformation about the war and other political information relating to Russia and Ukraine.

Visit Vox Ukraine

Ukraine Twitter List

Curated by Daniel Dale, a CNN reporter and fact-checker, this Twitter list includes users and accounts who are sharing live updates and reports about the war on the ground, as well as breaking news about politics and sanctions imposed on Russia.

Visit Ukraine Twitter List

Ukraine War Twitter List

Curated by María Ramírez, a journalist who’s been in the industry for 20 years. The list curates tweets from other reporters, news outlets, academics and other experts on Ukraine and Russia.

Visit Ukraine War Twitter List

Tips for spotting misinformation

Even if you follow reliable sources of information, you might still come across content about the way on social media shared by people you know or follow. So how can you determine what’s real or fake and prevent spreading misinformation accidentally, without being a journalist or doing copious amounts of research?

Here’s a couple of pieces of advice from the experts:

• Be sceptical. Think twice before hitting send or share, especially if a piece of news or content elicits a strong emotional reaction. News about war and injustice is naturally going to do so, but if it drives you to react instead of reading further, be wary.
  
• Be cautious of unfamiliar accounts, especially on platforms like Twitter. If an account is brand new, has few followers, and has no previous tweets, it could be an account engineered for the occasion.
  
• Reverse search images and videos with Google or Yandex, especially if they seem particularly striking or surprising. Try to find their original source.
  
• Always be wary of anyone asking for money online.

Conclusion

Even in times of crisis, don’t believe every image or video that’s shared, and think twice before you share pieces of content related to the war in Ukraine.

It’s very easy to get lost in the sea of information, opinions, and content being published, so make sure to double-check the source and think critically about what you see online.

Each member of the Switch team is donating an hour a day of expertise to humanitarian causes. If you would like to offer time, money or resources, but don’t know where to start – get in touch with us and we’ll help put you in touch with people who need your help.

The post Sources to follow for accurate news on Ukraine appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

There’s no story here that is deeper than the truth: Russia has sanctioned a war that, in this day and age, should not have happened. It stands alone against a mostly United Europe, with no allies. 

That’s good news, but it’s not helpful to Ukraine at the moment. 

So here’s what you can do to help. 

Donate

Money will go a long way towards keeping civilians out of the immediate conflict and help the military defend their borders. Don’t donate to individuals on Twitter or private accounts: here are the latest verified sources so whatever you give goes to the right place. 

Ukrainian National Bank Fund

Support for: The National Armed Forces on a specially-established account that takes international currencies including U.S. dollars, Euros, and U.K. pounds and hryvnias. More detailed information, including addresses and account numbers, can be found on the page.

Donate here

International Committee of the Red Cross

Support for: ongoing operations to support hospitals and primary healthcare facilities and provide humanitarian aid. They’ve been operating in Ukraine since 2014, and need all of the additional support you can provide. They’re working with the Ukrainian Red Cross society, and helping families who have crossed the border reconnect, repair water stations, and rehabilitate destroyed homes. You can donate more than once.

Donate here

Ukrainian Red Cross

Support for: mobilising volunteers and resources, emergency services, blood collection, first aid. 

Donate here

Voices of Children

Support for: psychological and psychosocial support for children experiencing war at home, family therapy, children’s rights. 

Donate here

Revived Soldiers Ukraine 

Support for: medical aid, sustainable living standards for former soldiers in Ukraine, support for citizens affected by the current military conflict. 

Donate here

Ukraine Emergency Aid

Support for: non-lethal army supplies such as helmets, body armour, first aid kids and radios. Donations are collected in Polish złoty and taken to the border by volunteers. 

Donate here

Come Back Alive

Support for: thermal imagery equipment, mobile surveillance equipment, night vision devices, UAVs, mine clearance kits to Donbas, where the Joint Forces Operation is stationed. Donations are taken in Ukrainian Hryvnia. 

Donate here

World Central Kitchen 

Support for: feeding families who cross the border into Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Hungary. They’re also working in restaurants stationed in Odessa and Lviv to support the families who have remained in Ukraine.

Donate here

UNICEF USA 

Support for: clean water in parts of Ukraine where the water systems are no longer functioning, health care, nutrition and education support, and protecting children from violence. UNICEF USA has been working in Ukraine from four field offices, and has been on the ground since the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations are in USD. 

Donate here

Save the Children

Support for: Ukrainian children and their families who have fled their homes or are hiding in basements and bomb shelters to secure safe places to stay, delivering winter and hygiene kits, providing humanitarian aid, and providing psychological and mental help for children in war zones. Donations are in pounds. 

Donate here

SOS Ukraina

Support for: humanitarian aid to people leaving their homes and Polish refugees. You can donate via text, but all donations are in złoty.

Donate here

United Help Ukraine

Support for: first aid kits with blood-stopping bandages and tourniquets, emergency response teams, humanitarian aid for civilians, and emergency medical supplies for the frontlines. You can donate via Paypal. They’ve been in operation in Ukraine since 2014.

Donate here

United Nations Refugee Agency

Support for: protection and shelter for displaced citizens and refugees, counselling services and psychological support. 

Donate here

Medicins Sans Frontieres

Support for: emergency preparedness response teams, humanitarian assistance and medical aid in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, medical kits for dispatch. They’ve been working in Ukraine since 2014 to support health care initiatives such as HIV, however, the conflict has made them pause this project in order to pivot their attention to more pressing matters. They’re also involved in training and supporting family doctors and community nurses. 

Donate here

International Rescue Committee

Support for: medical care, mobile clinics, temporary shelters, supporting and helping refugees to safer locations. 

Donate here

Vostok SOS

Support for: medical and humanitarian aid to locals, evacuation procedures for vulnerable citizens, trauma support for survivors and maintaining a hotline for Ukrainian citizens in need. You can donate via Paypal, bank account or credit card. 

Donate here

Nova Ukraine 

Support for: currently, humanitarian aid for victims of the Russian invasion, which include supply packages with diapers, baby food, hospital supplies, and food for a children’s hospital –  however, Nova Ukraine has been working in Ukraine for years, and has also supported book translation, teaching initiatives, English-language learning support, COVID-19 relief and more. 

Donate here

Sunflowers of Peace

Support for: first aid backpacks for paramedics and doctors on the front line. They raised money in 2014 for a similar cause following the annexation of Crimea. This has surpassed its collection call, however Sunflowers of Peace is still accepting donations. 

Donate here

Malteser International and the Order of Malta

Support for: mental health and psychological support for refugees, mobile soup kitchen, medical supplies including cots, blankets, food, and cash. Malteser International has been active in Ukraine since the 1990s. 

Donate here

CARE

Support for: aid and recovery, food, water, hygiene kits, cash assistance with a priority for families, the elderly, and women and children. Donations in USD. 

Donate here

International Medical Corps

Support for: emergency care for vulnerable civilians, mobile medical teams, mental health and psychosocial services. It has been in operation in Ukraine since 2014 and is raising funds to continue to support people who are now displaced by war. 

Donate here

People in Need

Support for: emergency preparedness response and humanitarian aid trucks in affected areas including Lviv. Donations are in Euro.

Donate here

OPU

Support for: a new accommodation facility in Prague for Ukrainian refugees, interpreters, lawyers, social support and material aid. 

Donate here

With Ukraine Global Support Fund 

Support for: humanitarian assistance for victims of the Russian war, set up by the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom. You can donate via Paypal, bank card, or bank transfer.

Donate here 

Razom

Support for: medical supplies such as tourniquets, sterile pads, satellite phones, and combat gauzes, Ukrainian support and information amplification, procurement and logistics to send the supplies to Ukraine via air drop and delivery services in the Ukraine and Poland. 

Donate here

Ukraine Humanitarian Fund

Support for: partner organisations in the front lines to enable them to support a greater number of citizens in need. 

Donate here

The $1K Project Ukraine

The $ 1K Project Ukraine is a volunteer-based effort to directly connect sponsors in the USA and around the world to help Ukrainian families impacted by the senseless and inhumane war. After a quick application process, new sponsors get matched with a family in need and are provided with instructions for how to send a donation directly to them.

Donate here

Conclusion

When Russia invaded, the war was intended only to be a one-day bombardment, with a victory for Russia at the end. 

Ukraine has held out so far. 

Help them keep going. Help their people. Stand with what Ukraine is fighting for: the freedom to live as they want, to elect their own leader, to make their own decisions and trade agreements, to foster partnerships with the West and with other countries without the fear of retaliation, to keep their homeland and their home theirs. 

Support Ukraine. Stand with Ukraine. 
In the words of President Zelenskyy, on the front lines with his soldiers, the goal isn’t victory, but “peace in Ukraine and the safety of our people.”

Each member of the Switch team is donating an hour a day of expertise to humanitarian causes. If you would like to offer time, money or resources, but don’t know where to start – get in touch with us and we’ll help put you in touch with people who need your help.

The post The Best Ways to Donate to Ukraine appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

But that doesn’t change a thing in my mind. This war affects all of us.

I cannot imagine what it might be like to be suddenly hurled into a war. I’ve thought about it a lot. I love history, probably too much for my own good, so the prospect of war is something that I have spent quite a bit of time dwelling on.

Some of the scariest and most depressing moments of my life have been the countless hours of war books and podcasts I’ve read and listened to.

But I’ve always felt that it was critical for us to know what’s happened in the past in order to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Not that I can do much about it. Having a feeling that Putin was going to invade Ukraine did not empower me to change the course of history in any way.

Being able to read the situation at the moment in a way that’s marginally better than how people with little knowledge about the subject can read it makes me feel a little bit closer to the action, but it’s not empowering me to change the course of history, either.

The truth is that we’re helpless. We can’t go there and fight in the streets. We can’t convince a madman that he’s acting like a madman. History has shown, time and time again, that despots will be despots, and that there is no use in trying to reason with them.

They’ll sacrifice everything, and everyone, around them in order to gain more power. Paranoid people will keep on being paranoid. It’s just the way they are. And this paranoid goon happens to have a million soldiers and a few thousand nukes under his control.

What can I bring to the table to help turn the tide?

Not much, really.

But I can try. And I’m lucky enough to work with a group of people who have decided to do their bit to help in any way possible.

We’re going to help by donating our time. Because what’s the use of refreshing our news apps every ten minutes? What’s the use of spending a couple of hours a day watching the situation unfold without doing anything about it?

For the foreseeable future we’re going to donate an hour of work a day per team member to help causes that help people who are being affected by the war. Some of us have also offered to give more help from their after-work hours, too.

It might not make a massive difference in the long run, but every little bit helps, so if you can, please find some time to help out, too.

Finally, I want to bring something up about which side you’re on.

We called this a Ukrainian crisis because that is what it is. This does not exclude the fact that this is also a Russian Crisis. The Russian people have been living under a despotic dictator for years, and this war is affecting them too. 

Our heart goes out to each and every person who’s caught in this senseless war built on the fantasies of one psychopathic megalomaniac.

The post Why we want to help with the Ukraine Crisis appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.