What Tufts and Greater Boston community can do to #SupportUkraine

Ukraine is at a unique geo-political location between the West (European Union, NATO) and Russia. The ongoing full-scale unprovoked war by the Russian government on Ukraine is a result of a chain of historical and political events that not only involve Russian and Ukraine but also neighboring countries, the European Union, and especially the United States (— moderator).

“Post-Soviet Russia was plunged into a decade of economic turmoil and political turmoil while the United States began to expand NATO into the territory that Russia considered to be its near abroad. The fact that this alliance not only … continued to exist after the Soviet Union’s demise but had expanded to include the Soviet Union’s former client states and even three former Soviet republics — Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania — was seen by Vladimir Putin and many Russians as an insult, as a humiliation and as a threat,” said Jeffrey W. Taliaferro, a professor of political science at Tufts University (— Tufts Daily article).

Not a single resource will provide enough context about Ukraine and the war, and not all sources can provide neutral, accurate information. Below are a few resources shared by the Ukrainian community on social media or official information sources that can get you started:

• Ukraine Before 24 February 2022- Must Know. • Instagram

• Ukraine 24 February 2022 (Day 1)- Must know • Instagram

• MFA of Ukraine @MFA_Ukraine) / Twitter: Official Twitter account of Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) / Twitter: Official Twitter account of Ukrainian President.

• Russia invades Ukraine: Live updates (cnn.com): CNN has a team of journalists on-site in Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities providing live updates.

• Ukraine | Today's latest from Al Jazeera: Not West nor Russia affiliated news agency funded in part by the Qatari government.

(to be updated)

• 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.

• What is going on in Ukraine is a full-scale "war", not "conflict", "crisis", or "military operation".

Some points about were taken from this article: You can help Ukraine against Russian aggression | UACRISIS.ORG

Whether you are a US citizen or a citizen of a country with democratic regime, you have the power to urge your government to stand against Russian invasion. However, standing against Russia can have a negative effect on your home country, especially European countries that have close economical and energetical ties with Russia, so we understand if you are reluctant about taking this step.

Here are some resources if you want to write and call your government officials and members of parliament:

• The demands we need to make as well as scripts for calls that you can use: Instagram post with scripts and demands that might help Ukraine defend itself (according to the author).

• Support Ukraine: Write to your Reps in Congress: a simple guide for US citizens to reach out to their representatives in Congress.

• List of actions MFA of Ukraine asks world leaders to take: a Twitter post of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Petitions to sign that might make a change (beware of fraud petitions that collect your personal info)

• War aggression against Ukraine: immediately exclude Russia from SWIFT: Online petition to German Federal Government.

• Petition · UKRAINE - WAR IS MADNESS! · Change.org

• Pledge any necessary military support to defend Ukraine: Online petition to UK parliament.

Demand your academic institution to provide support to Ukrainian and American-born Ukrainian students, as well as any other students affected by the war directly or indirectly (e.g.,collapse of local currency value in several countries due to sanctions on Russia).

You can reach out to Ukrainian or Eastern European organizations on your campus to inquiry about planned rallies or to offer support.

If you are willing to send financial support to the Ukrainian army and volunteers, protecting their country against the aggression, please make sure that you are sending your money to a trusted organization. You can verify it by examining the website, asking a Ukrainian or Ukrainian American friend, or check tax exemption status for nonprofit organizations here: Tax Exempt Organization Search | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

• A handful of nonprofits and charitable foundations with a history of success and transparent reporting compiled by Ukrainian diaspora: Donate to Ukraine - Master Doc

• List of Ukrainian nonprofit organizations that accept donations compiled by a Ukrainian nonprofit organization: UACRISIS

• List of organizations that accept donations for humanitarian and military aid in Ukraine compiled by a US-based nonprofit organization: @RazomForUkraine

• List of donations made by a group of individuals interested in gathering resources for their international friends with clear disclosure of any political or religious affiliation of listed organizations (make sure to select "list" tab to see the list): List of organizations to support Ukraine's war relief