How You Can Help Ukrainian Refugees

The situation that’s currently unfolding in Ukraine and Eastern Europe has shocked the world. As is typical in times of crisis, people near and far want to help however they can. Many have been left wondering how to volunteer in Ukraine and how to best help Ukrainian refugees fleeing violence in their hometowns.

Normal life in Ukraine has turned into chaos amid the conflict.

Although the situation on the ground is too dangerous for civilians to volunteer on-site in Ukraine, there are many organizations in border countries like Romania, Poland, and Moldova where you may be able to lend a hand.

And of course, one of the best ways to help Ukrainian refugees is to donate directly to international and Ukrainian organizations that are working around the clock to help those displaced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Below you will find more information about how to help Ukraine either hands-on or via donations.

If you have resources that you would like to share or if you find information below that is no longer accurate, please reach out to us at information@goabroad.com.

How to help Ukrainian refugees right now

As long as the conflict persists, Ukrainian refugees and citizens need our help.

Due to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, many Ukrainians have fled Kyiv and surrounding cities to Poland and beyond. At this time, it’s not advisable to try to enter Ukraine. Please see the State Department’s advisory for more information.

If you want to know how to help refugees from Ukraine, the best way to do so right now is through direct donations. Thousands of people have lost their homes and livelihoods, and therefore need food, water, and clothing above all else.

Below we have listed humanitarian organizations who are helping both Ukrainian refugees and those who have stayed behind, as well as organizations aiding Ukrainian Forces and those who have been injured in the conflict.

Please note that Ukrainians in Ukraine cannot receive money through PayPal; if you are solicited for donations through PayPal by someone claiming to live in Ukraine, it may be a scam. (However, Ukrainians outside of Ukraine are able to receive money through PayPal.)

Ukraine-based charity and humanitarian organizations

• Nova Ukraine. Nova Ukraine helps fund frontliners who are assisting both Ukrainian refugees and those forced to stay behind.
• National Bank of Ukraine. The National Bank of Ukraine is accepting direct donations for humanitarian causes linked to the conflict.
• UKRAINE CRISIS | International Committee of the Red Cross. ICRC is working on providing access to clean water in Ukraine.
• Animal Save Movement. This organization works to provide funds to shelters in Ukraine that are actively feeding and treating pets left behind and other stray animals caught in the conflict.
• Doctors Without Borders - Ukraine. Doctors Without Borders are assisting those in Ukraine who need access to medications and healthcare.
• All-Ukrainian Foundation. Direct assistance to children and orphanages in Ukraine.
• Voices of Children. Voices of Children work to provide aid to children directly affected by war.
• Razom. Razom has strategized an emergency response to the conflict in Ukraine and is distributing critical medical supplies, like tourniquets and satellite phones, in both Ukraine and Poland.
• Caritas. Caritas is working to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in Ukraine and to other socially vulnerable populations.
• Facebook | Katya's Fundraiser for Sunflower of Peace. Sunflower of Peace works to put together first aid backpacks for frontliners and doctors in Ukraine.
• GoFundMe | Keep Ukraine's Media Going. A fundraiser to help Ukrainian journalists safely relocate their operations.

International humanitarian organizations directly helping Ukrainian refugees and citizens

• GoAbroad Foundation. GAF has started a Facebook fundraiser to directly provide food, water, and clothes for Ukrainian refugees. 
• People in Need. A humanitarian organization based in the Czech Republic that’s working to assist Ukrainian refugees.
• IFRC. IFRC is providing first aid and psychosocial support to Ukrainian refugees, as well as helping support refugee centers and shelters.
• UNHCR | Donate to families from Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency is aiding families fleeing Ukraine.
• Save the Children. Provides educational assistance and psychosocial support to Ukrainian children, as well as clean water and hygiene kits.
• Care.org. Care.org is trying to reach the goal of providing 4 million Ukrainians with clean water, hygiene kits, and food.
• International Medical Corps. Providing medical and mental health services to both those inside Ukraine and those who are fleeing the conflict.
• Global Giving. Providing shelter, food, clean water, healthcare, and economic assistance to people in Ukraine and the surrounding area.
• IRC. International Rescue Committee is on the ground in Poland to directly help Ukrainian refugees crossing the border.
• Ukrainian National Women’s League Of America. Collecting donations for both civilians inside Ukraine and military hospitals caring for injured soldiers.
• UNICEF. UNICEF is providing clean water, education, nutrition, and HIV prevention to children and families caught in the conflict.
• Americares. Americares is working in Krakow, Poland to receive and distribute emergency medical supplies.

More resources for helping during the Russia-Ukraine conflict

The resources below include dozens more organizations that are actively assisting people involved in the conflict and those who are unable to leave Ukraine. Please note that some of the resources below are in other languages; you can use your browser's translate function to view the page in English or your native language.

Military and Injury Support

• Save Life. Directly assists soldiers who are returning from war and need resources to readjust to civilian life.
• Army SOS. Provides funds to the Army of Ukraine where they lack state funding.
• People's Project. A crowdfunding website where you can donate to those who have been injured in battle.
• Phoenix Wings Charitable Foundation. Provides the Ukrainian Army with non-lethal equipment, such as helmets and bulletproof vests.

News & Media Resources

• TVN24—A great resource for finding organizations helping Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
• NPR—Information vetted by NPR on how to help with the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• CNN—CNN has partnered with Public Good to collect donations for multiple humanitarian organizations.
• Polish News—Information on how to volunteer in Warsaw and organizations collecting donations.
• Kyiv Independent—More information on how to donate and help Ukrainian citizens.
• Romania-Insider—Information and resources for assisting Ukrainian refugees in Romania.

Crowdsourced Resources

Note: GoAbroad has not thoroughly vetted the resources below, which have been compiled by people or organizations that we are not affiliated with. Please exercise caution.

• Google Docs | Donate to Ukraine - Master Doc
• Support Ukraine
• SUPPORT UKRAINE | Linktree
• Ukraine Crisis
• Ukrainians in Solidarity

Hands-on options for volunteering with Ukrainian refugees

There are currently limited options for volunteering on-the-ground in Ukraine. Instead, there are organizations in surrounding countries where you may be able to find more feasible options.

Please be sure to reach out to these organizations directly to get the most up-to-date information on volunteering.

• Global Volunteers. Provide psychosocial support to Ukrainian refugees in Poland, specifically mothers and children.
• Refugee Action. Assist with refugee resettlement in the UK.
• Refugees Welcome. Help Ukrainian refugees in Poland settle into their new homes.
• We will update this list as we come across more resources. If you have programs that you would like to add, please contact us at content@goabroad.com.

More ways to help refugees abroad

If you’d like to find out more about helping refugees around the world, please explore the resources below.

Resources for relief volunteer work abroad

• All Hands and Hearts
• United Nations Volunteers
• 80+ Refugee Volunteer Programs Abroad
• 80+ Disaster Relief Volunteer Programs Abroad
• 100+ Conflict Resolution Programs Abroad
• 400+ Human Rights Volunteer Programs Abroad

GoAbroad articles about working with refugees and displaced populations

• What I’ve Learned Volunteering During Humanitarian Crises
• Volunteering with Crisis Refugees in Europe
• International Relief Volunteer Work—Hurricane Recovery, with Refugees, & More
• The Refugee Crisis & How International Volunteers Can (or Can't) Help
• How to Provide REAL Relief When You Volunteer in Refugee Camps

Explore Refugee Volunteer Programs Abroad on GoAbroad.com

If you have resources that you would like to share or if you find information above that is no longer accurate, please reach out to us at information@goabroad.com or comment below.