How to help Ukraine from the Czech Republic: donate charity and aid now

A train carrying 188 million crowns worth of military weapons and ammunition left Prague for Ukraine on Sunday morning, the latest in the Czech Republic's efforts to aid the country following the invasion by Russian forces.

Czech Minister of Defense Jana Černochová added that the country would continue to send aid to Ukraine. The Czech government will hold an emergency session today from 12:30 p.m. to discuss additional military support.

Citizens of the Czech Republic have also banded together to support Ukraine through humanitarian and financial aid. By Saturday evening, a total of CZK 100 million had been donated to various efforts supporting Ukraine through the Darujme platform, according to Hana Morávková from the Via Foundation, which operates the platform.

Through Darujme, users can donate to charities such as Caritas of the Czech Republic, ADRA, Post Bellum, People in Need, Doctors without Borders and others. The platform allows users to quickly browse through different charities and see how much money they have raised for a specific cause, and where the funds will go.

"The wave of solidarity with Ukraine does not recede [...] Like after the tornado in Moravia, we see that in critical moments, Czechs are able to stick together and help others selflessly," Morávková said in a statement released by Darujme.

If you'd like to contribute financially to support Ukraine following the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian Embassy in Prague recommends choosing a charity of your choice through Darujme.

Each NGO outlines where they will use the money raised; most will use the donations to buy food, hygiene kits, medical and protective equipment and other necessities for civilians in affected areas. People in Need, Post Bellum, and Caritas Czech Republic primarily donate to those in war-torn areas.

If you'd like to support Ukrainian troops, the Ukrainian Embassy in Prague has also set up a fundraiser to support military efforts in Ukraine.

Donations can be sent directly to the Council of Ukraine in the Czech Republic through the bank account 304452700/0300. Funds donated will be used to purchase defense material for the Ukrainian military.

The Ukranian Embassy is also running a drive for military equipment including helmets, bulletproof vests, tactical goggles and gloves, and other material. Goods can be donated at the at the Prague House of National Minorities at Vocelova 3, Prague 2, as well as locations in Pardubice, Liberec, and Brno (see this Facebook post for full list of requests and dropoff points).

The Memory of the Nation (Paměť národa) project also donates primarily to acquiring supplies, training, and medical support for the Ukrainian military. As of Sunday morning, they have raised over 45 million crowns through Darujme.

The Czech charity Dog's Life (Psí život) is cooperating with the Ukrainian shelter Friend to assist injured and abandoned pets in affected areas of Ukraine. Animal Freedom (Svoboda zvířat) cooperates with the Ukrainian charity UAnimals, which distributes funds to shelters caring for injured and abandoned pets.

Others charities and organizations are raising funds to support refugees coming to the Czech Republic. For information on supporting Ukrainian refugees coming to the Czech Republic, see our breakdown here.

If you're in Prague, the Telegram group Humanitarian Aid in Prague has organized the delivery of aid packages from the Czech capital. A list of where aid packages can be dropped off in Prague can be found here.

From Wednesday, you can send your own aid package to a Ukrainian address through the Czech Post free of charge.

The Czech Red Cross is currently planning a blood drive to support those in affected areas of Ukraine. Keep an eye on their social media pages for more information about when and where you can donate blood and plasma.

According to Martin Rozumek, director of the Organization for Aid to Refugees, traveling to the Ukrainian border is not currently recommended. Most refugees already have transportation options, and buses and trains are regularly traveling to border areas.

While the situation can quickly change, the number of drivers currently registered with the Drive for Refugees project currently outweighs the demand.

The spread of online misinformation can be especially harmful during times of crisis. Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan has asked all citizens to verify information before sharing online, and remain vigilant about the information they consume.

"I would like to ask you all, let's not drown in a sea of ​​lies and misinformation," Rakušan states. "Ukraine is not an aggressor and Russia is not a liberator."