Westerners have bought thousands of Airbnb vacation homes in Ukraine in a bid to support people in the war-torn country.
Nearly £1.5million was spent on 61,000 holiday home bookings between March 2 and March 3, for stays that will never happen due to Vladimir Putin’s barbaric invasion.
Instead, people in Europe and the United States have booked vacation homes as a way to donate directly to those on the ground who are being hit by the bombings.
And the donations – launched by a social media campaign – have left hosts in tears, with many using their homes to help shelter those whose own homes have been bombed.
Westerners have bought thousands of Airbnb vacation homes in Ukraine to support people living in the war-torn country. Writing on social media, host Victoria said: ‘I’m crying! I’m just crying right now!’
Almost £1.5m was spent on 61,000 holiday home bookings between March 2-3. Igor, a host in Irpin near Kyiv who has suffered heavy shelling over the past three days, has pledged to use his apartment to provide accommodation for those who have lost their homes
Host Natalia said, “You can’t even imagine how thrilled we are to learn that we are not alone with tears in our eyes.” I am very grateful for your support in this difficult time for us and for all of Ukraine.
Another named Elena wrote: ‘Your help and letter moved me to tears. “I have re-read your letter several times and I am in tears of happiness. He has everything that is very important now: love, support, it gives extra strength’
Writing on her Airbnb page to someone who booked a room, host Victoria said, “I’m crying!” I’m just crying right now!
‘I’m shocked! I am incredibly grateful for your support! I have no words! Thanks only! THANK YOU!’
Another named Elena wrote to someone who made a donation: ‘Your help and letter moved me to tears.
“I have re-read your letter several times and I am in tears of happiness. He has everything that is very important now: love, support, it gives extra strength.
“I am incredibly happy to meet new friends, I invite you to our free country after the war.”
Money raised by charity Mail Force – in record time – has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving across the Slovakian border yesterday being welcomed by aid workers funded by our generous readers
Marina Yatsko, left, and her boyfriend Fedor mourn the lifeless body of her 18-month-old son Kirill, killed in a bombing, as he lies on a stretcher in a hospital in Mariupol, March 4, 2022
People lie on the floor of a hospital during a shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol on March 4, 2022
Natalia said, “You can’t even imagine how thrilled we are to learn that we are not alone with tears in our eyes.”
“I am very grateful for your support at this difficult time for us and for all of Ukraine.”
Igor, a host in Irpin near Kyiv who has come under heavy shelling over the past three days, has pledged to use his apartment to provide accommodation for those who have lost their homes.
Airbnb has announced that it is working to provide free short-term accommodation to as many as 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.
It also works with neighboring European countries to offer long-term stays.
Ukraine has more than 17,000 short-term vacation homes, according to market research firm AirDNA.
As the vast Russian armored column threatening the capital remained pinned down outside kyiv, Putin’s army shelled towns and other sites across the country.
Russian forces made no significant progress on Friday in their offensive to cut off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to its economy.
Nor have there been any changes in the north and east, where the Russian offensive has stalled, encountering fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said fighting involving airstrikes and artillery continued northwest of kyiv and the northeast towns of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka were under heavy fire.
He said Ukrainian forces still hold the northern city of Chernihiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv.
Ukrainian artillery also defended Ukraine’s biggest port city, Odessa, against repeated attempts by Russian ships, he said.
More than 840 children were injured during the war and 28 were killed, according to the Ukrainian government.
A total of 331 civilians have been confirmed killed, but the true number is likely much higher, the UN human rights office said.
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