Ukrainian-American actor Mila Kunis and husband Ashton Kutcher donate $3m to Ukrainian refugees
Ukrainian-American actor Mila Kunis, known for That 70's Show, and her husband Ashton Kutcher have donated $3 million to Ukrainian refugees and started a GoFundMe page to raise a total of $30 million.
"While we are witnessing the bravery of Ukrainians, we are also bearing witness to the unimaginable burden of those who have chosen safety. Through GoFundMe, this fundraiser will provide an immediate impact on refugee and humanitarian aid efforts," Kutcher captioned an Instagram post that featured a video of the couple. "The fund will benefit Flexport.org and Airbnb.org , two organisations [that] are actively on the ground providing immediate help to those who need it most. Flexport.org is organising shipments of relief supplies to refugee sites in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. Airbnb.org is providing free, short-term housing to refugees fleeing Ukraine.
"Standing with Ukraine means supporting Ukrainians," he concluded, adding a #StandWithUkraine hashtag.
Kunis introduced herself in the video as Ukrainian and American, focusing on what it means to be the former for her in today's climate. "I was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine in 1983, I came to America in 1991. I've always considered myself an American, a proud American, I love everything this country has done for myself and my family. But today I have never been more proud to be a Ukrainian."
"And I've never been more proud to be married to a Ukrainian," Kutcher interjected before the Black Swan actor jumped to the point. "The events that have unfolded in Ukraine are devastating. There is no place in this world for this kind of unjust attack on humanity."
Kutcher continued the conversation and talked about their efforts to provide some relief to the Ukrainian refugees. "And while we witness the bravery of the people of the country that she was born in, we're also witness to the needs of those who have chosen safety. We're raising funds to support a release effort that will have an immediate impact and supply the much needed refugee and humanitarian aid to the area. The principle challenge is now logistics, we need to get housing and we need to get supplies and resources into the area."
"Ashton and I have decided to match up to $3 million worth of donations to Airbnb.org and Flexport.org through GoFundMe.org in an effort to raise $30 million," added Kunis.
As of Friday (March 4) afternoon, Kunis and Kutcher's GoFundMe has raised $3,057,200.
Ukrainian forces battled Russian invaders on three sides on Feb 24 after Moscow unleashed the biggest attack on a European state since World War II, prompting tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Thousands are thought to have died or been wounded, creating one million refugees.
Russia and Ukraine agreed on March 3 to the need for humanitarian corridors to help civilians escape Moscow's eight-day invasion, the first apparent progress in talks, as the United States added to Western sanctions on more oligarchs.
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