CHESTERFIELD, Virginia– In February of 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Ukraine has not only lost its buildings and infrastructure, but also the lives of its citizens. Millions have been displaced and thousands have been either killed or injured. As these devastating statistics continue to rise, people from all over the globe are joining together to support the brave souls of Ukraine. Here are five celebrities advocating for Ukraine.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis was born in Ukraine, but fled to the States at age seven due to Russian forces invading her country. She and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, are two large celebrities advocating for Ukraine. These two have made tremendous efforts to support the Ukrainians. Kunis and Kutcher emphasize their support for the Ukrainians through their GoFundMe, which had an initial goal of $30 million, but has exceeded that by over $7 million as of August 2023. There have been over 76,700 donations and the video the couple made to go along with their fundraiser has over 320,000 views. The donations from their fundraiser are going to Flexport, an organization focused on providing refugees with supplies, aid and relief, and Airbnb, which will provide Ukrainian refugees with places to stay when fleeing their country. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has commended the couple on their unwavering support and efforts to help his citizens, stating that “[Kutcher and Kunis] inspire the world.”
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller, a Goodwill Ambassador, is a long-time advocate for refugees and a long-time supporter of the U.N. Refugee Agency. Through his work with the U.N., Stiller has supported a myriad of campaigns as a way to uplift and empower the voices of refugees — advocating strongly for their rights. In the summer of 2022, Stiller visited the cities Irpin and Makarov alongside U.S. ambassador, Bridget Brink, and saw firsthand the destruction done in Ukraine. Stiller also met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who praised Stiller for his humanitarian efforts. Passionate about fighting for the rights for refugees, Stiller wanted his visit to attract attention to the Ukrainian crisis and to confirm his loyal standing with the refugees — becoming one of the most outstanding advocates on this list.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is no stranger to helping out refugees. Jolie dedicated about two decades to the U.N. Refugee Agency, is a former Special Envoy and Goodwill Ambassador and has executed about 60 field missions to protect the safety of displaced refugees. In the late spring of 2022, Angelina Jolie made a visit to the Ukrainian city of Lviv to visit children injured and orphaned by the Ukrainian War, boarding school students and other evacuees. Her visit to Ukraine inspired many volunteers and has brought attention to the devastating events occurring in Ukraine.
Liev Schreiber
Actor Liev Schreiber — another celebrity on this list who is of Ukrainian descent — has made it his mission to raise support for those in Ukraine. Schreiber is the Co-Founder and a Board Member of the organization BlueCheck, which is an organization that vets financial support and raises funds for Ukrainian non-governmental organizations. New to activism and speaking on camera when it doesn’t have to do with a film, Schreiber remains unfaltering when it comes to advocating for and supporting Ukrainian refugees and citizens.
Celebrity endorsements have proven to be extraordinary when it comes to fundraising and advocacy. It not only allows new audiences of a variety of demographics to be reached, but also explodes the number of participants and donors due to celebrities’ large platforms. In just the span of two years, Ukrainians have received a tremendous amount of aid and support because of celebrity endorsement. The people of Ukraine remain strong and resilient, and celebrities across the world are utilizing their fame and platform for good by continuing to advocate for those suffering in Ukraine.
– Nina Argel
Photo: Flickr