Westerners bought thousands Airbnb holiday homes in Ukraine in an attempt to support people living in a war-torn country.
Nearly £1.5 million has been spent booking 61,000 holiday homes between 2 and 3 March, for stays that will never take place due to Vladimir Putinbarbarian invasion.
Instead, people in Europe and the US booked holiday homes to donate directly to those affected by the bombing.
And donations kicked off by a social media campaign have caused hosts to burst into tears, with many using their homes to help shelter those whose own homes have been hit by shelling.
Westerners have bought up thousands of Airbnb vacation homes in Ukraine to support people living in the war-torn country. One presenter Victoria wrote on social media: “I am crying! I’m just crying right now!
Nearly £1.5 million was spent booking 61,000 holiday homes between 2 and 3 March. Igor, a landlord in Irpin near Kiev, which has been under heavy shelling for the past three days, promised to use his apartment to provide housing for those who have lost their homes. Houses
Presenter Natalya said: “You can’t even imagine how pleased we are to hear that we are not alone, tears in our eyes. I am very grateful for your support at this difficult time for us and all of Ukraine.”
Another named Elena wrote: “Your help and your letter moved me to tears. “I have read your letter several times and am crying with happiness. It has everything that is very important now: love, support, it gives extra strength.
In a letter on her Airbnb page to the person who booked the room, host Victoria wrote: “I’m crying! I’m just crying right now!
‘I’m shocked! I am incredibly grateful for your support! I have no words! Thank you! THANKS!’
Another woman named Elena wrote to the donator: “Your help and your letter moved me to tears.
“I have read your letter several times and am crying with happiness. It has everything that is very important now: love, support, it gives additional strength.
“I am incredibly happy to meet new friends, I invite you to our free country after the war.”
The money raised by the charity Mail Force in record time has already been put to good use: mothers and children who arrived across the border into Slovakia yesterday were welcomed by aid workers funded by our generous readers.
Marina Yatsko (left) and her boyfriend Fyodor mourn the lifeless body of her 18-month-old son Kirill, who died in a shelling, lying on a stretcher in a hospital in Mariupol, March 4, 2022.
People lie on the floor of the hospital during the shelling of Mariupol by Russian troops, March 4, 2022.
Ukraine War: The Last
- Russia declares a ceasefire so that civilians in the besieged port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov can escape after days of bombardment. They also announce a ceasefire in the nearby town of Volnovakha;
- Officials in Mariupol accuse the Russians of violating the ceasefire by continuing to shell the city and say they have to delay plans to evacuate the population;
- Mariupol has been without electricity, water and heating for several days;
- Russian troops are approaching the capital Kiev from the north, but encounter fierce resistance along the way, including in the western suburbs of Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv;
- On Thursday, a Russian airstrike on a residential area in Chernihiv killed 47 people, local authorities said;
- The fire at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye has been extinguished, and Ukraine accuses Russia of “nuclear terror” for shelling the plant.
Natalia said: “You can’t even imagine how pleased we are to hear that we are not alone, tears in our eyes.
“I am very grateful for your support at this difficult time for us and all of Ukraine.”
Igor, a landlord in Irpen near Kiev, which has been under heavy shelling for the past three days, promised to use his apartment to provide housing for those who have lost their homes.
Airbnb has announced that it is working to provide free short-term accommodation to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.
It also works with neighboring European countries to ensure long term stays.
According to research company AirDNA, there are more than 17,000 holiday homes in Ukraine.
As the huge Russian armored column threatening the capital stopped outside Kyiv, Putin’s military shelled cities and other targets across the country.
On Friday, Russian forces made little progress in an offensive to cut off Ukraine’s access to the Black and Azov Seas, which would deal a severe blow to its economy.
There were no changes in the north and east, where the Russian offensive stalled, meeting fierce resistance from the Ukrainians.
Aleksey Arestovich, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, said that fighting with airstrikes and artillery continued northwest of Kyiv, while the northeastern cities of Kharkiv and Akhtyrka were under heavy shelling.
He said Ukrainian forces still held the northern city of Chernihiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv.
According to him, Ukrainian artillery also defended Ukraine’s largest port city of Odessa from repeated attacks by Russian ships.
According to the Ukrainian government, more than 840 children were wounded in the war and 28 were killed.
In total, 331 civilians were confirmed dead, but the real number is likely much higher, the UN Human Rights Office said.
The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline APPEALS OF REFUGEES IN UKRAINE
Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown great generosity in times of crisis.
Invoking this human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine.
For, of course, no one can help but be touched by the heartbreaking images and stories of families – mostly women, children, the infirm and the elderly – fleeing the invading Russian military.
As the number of suffering increases in the coming days and months, these innocent victims of the tyrant will need housing, schools and medical care.
All Mail Ukraine Appeal donations will be distributed to charitable and humanitarian organizations providing such important services.
In the name of mercy and compassion, we call on all our readers to donate quickly and generously.
MAKE A DONATION ONLINE
Donate to www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate
To add Gift Aid to a donation, even if it has already been made, please complete the online form, which can be found here: mymail.co.uk/Ukraine
With a bank transfer, please use these details:
Account Name: Mail Force Charity
Account number: 48867365
Sort code: 60-00-01
DONATE BY CHECK
Make your check payable by ‘Mail Force’ and mail it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY
MAKE A DONATION FROM THE USA
U.S. readers can donate to the appeal by bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by mailing checks to dailymail.com headquarters at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003.