After Russia invaded Ukraine countless civilians have been left in danger and celebrities are stepping up to help.
Just over a week ago, Russian military forces invaded their neighboring country in Eastern Europe, Ukraine. Russian President Vladmir Putin instructed his nation’s army to invade Ukraine in attempts to begin reconstructing the Soviet Union, and, in Putin’s words, “de-nazify” Ukraine. This claim in itself could not be further from false, as Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky is Jewish, and has relatives who perished in the Holocaust.
The invasion was met with protests across the world, including from Russian civilians themselves. The sudden war has already resulted in the loss of Ukrainian lives, and many have fled for neighboring countries, including Poland and Moldova. Kharkiv and Kyiv were the first two cities to be raided. With thousands of innocent civilian lives at risk, American celebrities are using their platforms to educate people about the invasion, and help raise money to provide resources for those in need. Here are nine celebrity reactions to the invasion of Ukraine.
Sean Penn Is On The Ground Making A Documentary
Academy Award-winning actor and producer Sean Penn is in Ukraine documenting the invasion for Vice Films. Penn has been providing live updates during his time in the country, and most recently spoke to CNN’s Anderson Cooper on air about traveling across the Polish border. Penn has been a passionate activist and humanitarian throughout his life, having founded CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) in 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti that year. The organization also assisted in COVID-19 relief efforts at the start of the pandemic when resources were limited for frontline workers. Penn and CORE are currently assisting refugees crossing the Polish border.
Paul Wesley Spoke On The invasion On Instagram & Provided Resources
The Vampire Diaries star, born Pawel Wasilewski in New Jersey, comes from a family of Polish immigrants who grew up under the Soviet regime. In an Instagram post, Wesley wrote “I commend the people of Ukraine for their heroics during this incredibly difficult time as their country is being invaded. The war is not waged by the Russian people themselves but by an unhinged regime that should be condemned by the entire international community.” Wesley encouraged his followers to look into the organizations listed at the link in his bio, all of which aim to support the Ukrainians impacted by the invasion.
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Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis Organized A Fundraiser In Partnership With Flexport, AirBnB, & GoFundMe
Kunis, who was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, lived in the country until she was seven years old when her family fled the then–Soviet-controlled country for the U.S., where she grew up to become a successful actress. Kunis’ husband and fellow actor Ashton Kutcher has been a vocal activist for years, primarily in his fight to end child sex trafficking. The couple posted a video to Kutcher’s instagram account, urging their followers to donate to their GoFundMe page if they were able, as it would in part help fund refugee housing for the civilians forced to flee Ukraine. The pair has pledged to match 3 million dollars in donations.
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Miley Cyrus Condemned The Violence On Twitter
Cyrus recalled fond memories of filming her music video for “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” in Kyiv, saying that she was always grateful for the locals who “welcomed her with open arms.” She condemned the violence of the Russian invasion, and called for peace. Her statement has received thousands of retweets.
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) February 24, 2022
Ryan Reynolds & Wife Blake Lively Matched Donations For The UN Refugee Agency
Actor Ryan Reynolds posted on Instagram in solidarity of Ukrainian refugees who were forced to flee their homes. Reynolds and his wife, fellow actress Blake Lively, will be matching up to 1 million dollars in donations for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. While the match limit has already been reached, the agency is still collecting emergency donations.
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Ian Somerhalder Shared Ryan Reynolds’ Fundraiser
The actor and activist who starred alongside Paul Wesley in The Vampire Diaries also took to Instagram to express grief over the Russian invasion. Somerhalder reposted Ryan Reynolds’ fundraiser, bringing in thousands more donors, and shared a separate Instagram post about the state of the world. Somerhalder wrote “Peace to you. Your resilience inspires the whole world. The world has now changed.”
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Bethenny Frankel’s Nonprofit, Bstrong, Has Raised 25 Million Dollars In Aid
The Real Housewives of New York star founded her philanthropy group, Bstrong, in 2017, and provided aid to those impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and Texas. Since then, the initiative has also provided aid to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. Bstrong has begun setting up relief areas at the Polish border in the village of Medyka.
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Maksim Chmerkovsky Was Safely Evacuated From His Native Ukraine & Continues To Raise Awareness
The former Dancing with the Stars professional dancer and Ukrainian native Maksim Chmerkovsky (known affectionately as Maks for his many iconic performances on the show) was stuck in Ukraine for several days, documenting the horrors around him. He eventually made it to the border, and evacuated to Poland before flying back to the US and reuniting with his wife and fellow Dancing with the Stars champion Petra Murgatroyd. Upon his return to the U.S. he announced his partnership with Sean Penn’s CORE, and after sharing via Instagram the horrors of the invasion, encouraged his followers to help in any way they could.
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Actress & Activist Sophia Bush Continues To Share Resources On Instagram
The former One Tree Hill star who now stars in CBS’s Good Sam has been an active philanthropist and activist for years. Having studied journalism in college, Bush frequently shares news articles regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, personally combating misinformation. She has expressed grief over the violence, and support for the brave Russian civilians who voiced their dissent over Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. Bush has encouraged people to donate to World Central Kitchen, and to support local Ukrainian-owned businesses here in the United States.
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It is important to stay informed on the Russian invasion of Ukraine–be sure to check news outlets for updates, and keep up with your favorite celebrities to learn of even more ways to help the civilians.
