‘MAKE IT A KYIV MULE’
As Russia soldiers on with its invasion of Ukraine, companies worldwide are dropping symbolic bombshells of their own in hopes of exerting maximum impact on Russia’s economy and way of life, while helping Ukrainians relocate and recover from the crisis.
FORTUNE 500 corporations are extracting themselves from Russia, content and media platforms have gone dark in the nation, and boycotts of Russian vodka are sending Ukrainian vodka sales soaring.
Whether these moves will deter further Russian aggression remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: some of the largest companies in the world are united in sending a message to Mr. Putin.
Here’s a look at how the world’s leading brands are rallying in support of Ukraine, followed by some ways to help ⬇️
Travel
Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky announced via Twitter that Airbnb is offering free, short-term housing for up to 100,000 Ukrainians displaced by the war. While the stays are temporary, the rental service said it “will work closely with governments to best support the specific needs in each country, including by providing longer-term stays.”
Uber is offering refugees unlimited free rides between Ukraine and Poland. They are also working on an in-app donation button for U.S. riders to donate to the International Rescue Committee. Uber will match up to $1 million made through the app’s new feature. Additionally, the company has provided advance payments to its drivers in Ukraine and is exploring ways to grant Ukrainian refugees access to work on the Uber platform in neighboring countries where Uber operates.
Tech
Apple suspended Apple Pay and stopped all product exports to Russia.
Facebook-parent Meta blocked access to Russian news outlets RT and Sputnik across the European Union.
Twitter announced plans to “reduce the visibility and amplification” of Russian state media content and will begin labeling all tweets containing content from all Russian state-affiliated media websites.
YouTube, owned by Google, blocked Russian state media within Ukraine. Google and YouTube will no longer allow Russian state media outlets to run ads or monetize their content.
Microsoft is helping the Ukrainian government protect against cyberattacks from Russia, including the recent identification of a new malware package, FoxBlade. Microsoft provided insight on how to prevent FoxBlade’s success.
Sports
FIFA and the UEFA suspended Russia and disqualified the country’s team from 2022 World Cup consideration.
Formula One terminated its Russian Grand Prix Contract.
EA Sports removed Russian teams from FIFA and NHL video games.
The NHL suspended partnerships with Russia.
Adidas suspended its partnership with the Russian Football Union.
Energy
ExxonMobil announced plans to leave its last remaining oil-and-gas project in Russia, and it will not invest in new developments.
Shell is exiting Russia and ditching its joint ventures with Gazprom.
BP will exit its stake in Russia’s biggest oil company, Rosneft, and their joint ventures.
Norway’s Equinor will begin to exit its joint ventures in Russia.
France’s TotalEnergies announced it would no longer provide capital for new projects in Russia.
Hospitality
World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit food relief organization operated by Chef Jose Andrés, was on the ground in Poland within hours of the Ukraine invasion. The organization served upwards of 4,000 meals in just 18 hours. They are currently situated near a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in Poland.
The organization teamed up with local food trucks to serve meals to refugees in Korczowa; volunteers in Odesa are preparing thousands of meals for those unable to leave the city and those fighting again Russian troops; and the nonprofit in the process of dispatching volunteers to Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Biedronka, Poland’s largest supermarket chain, announced plans to hire family members of its 1,800 Ukrainian employees, who would each receive a grant valued at $233. The brand also pledged to allocate $1.2 million to deliver basic food, cleaning, and hygiene products to refugees.
Entertainment
Netflix pulled out of Russia and paused all future Russian projects and acquisitions, directly affecting four original Russian shows in the pipeline.
Disney, Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures Entertainment paused all theatrical releases of upcoming films in Russia.
The European Broadcasting Union banned Russia from entering this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Retail & Consumer Goods
Brands including Burberry, Hermes, Cartier, Chanel, Kurt Geiger, Ganni, Net-a-Porter, Nike, H&M, ASOS, Boohoo, John Lewis, Nanushka, Acne Studios, Canada Goose, Mango, Puma, and Under Armour stopped all sales in Russia.
Ikea stopped Russian and Belarusian operations while its parent company Ingka Group halted production in the company.
L’oreal started its delivery of over 300,000 personal care products to Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Poland and has donated $1.1 million in relief efforts. For the company’s 326 Ukrainian employees, the French beauty giant is providing financial assistance and psychological support – and their team members in neighboring countries are personally welcoming those employees who have crossed the border, providing them and their families with accommodation, access to private medical care, psychological support, financial assistance, and legal advice.
Unilever is working with NGO partners on the ground to donate $5.5 million worth of food, personal care, and hygiene products to those impacted by the war. The company has also launched a company-matched global employee giving program.
Spirits
Publix pulled all Russian vodka from its shelves.
New Hampshire directed state-run liquor and wine outlets to stop selling Russian alcohol brands.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board directed Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores and its website to stop buying and selling Russian-sourced products.
E-Commerce
Amazon is using its logistical expertise to get supplies to Ukrainians and its skills in cybersecurity to help local governments and companies. The company has also pledged $10 million in humanitarian efforts.
How To Help
Support Independent Journalists in Ukraine: The Kyiv Independent is an English-language media outlet formed by journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post for exercising editorial independence. The Independent has been continuously reporting on events on the ground in Ukraine as they unfold. To keep it going, the publication’s staff is raising money through a GoFundMe campaign.
Host Ukrainian Refugees: Airbnb.org is funding short-term housing for up to 100,000 people departing Ukraine. Willing property owners around the world can enroll online, and a network of nonprofits will work to pair hosts with refugees seeking temporary shelter.
Donate to Crisis Relief Efforts: Save the Children has been active in Ukraine since 2014. The nonprofit ramped up its humanitarian efforts in anticipation of the Russian invasion, and now they’re looking for more financial aid to replenish supplies and provide additional boots on the ground.
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