How to support Ukraine: where to donate and how to help safely
Verified charities, ways to donate from Ukraine and abroad, and tips for supporting Ukraine safely.
If you want to support Ukraine but aren’t sure which charities to trust, whether you can donate with a foreign card, or how to verify a fundraiser before sending money, this guide will help.
Visit Kyiv has compiled a list of verified organizations and official platforms, ways to donate from Ukraine and abroad, and other ways to help — from volunteering and supporting Ukrainian businesses to donating blood.
What can you donate to in Ukraine?
You can support a range of causes, from the Defense Forces and medical aid to reconstruction, support for children, and animal welfare.
Main areas of support
- Defense Forces — drones, vehicles, communications equipment, gear, and other military needs;
- medical aid — treatment and rehabilitation for military personnel;
- humanitarian aid — support for civilians and internally displaced people affected by the war;
- support for children — assistance for children from temporarily occupied territories and children without parental care;
- Ukraine’s recovery — rebuilding damaged infrastructure;
- animal welfare — rescue, evacuation, and treatment of animals affected by the war.
Where can you donate to support Ukraine and the Defense Forces?
Start by choosing the area you want to support: the Defense Forces, medical or humanitarian aid, reconstruction, children, or animals. Below are verified charities and official platforms working in these areas.
Verified charities and official platforms
| Organization | Area | What it supports | Main ways to donate |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED24 | Official government fundraising platform | Defense, humanitarian demining, medical aid, reconstruction, education, and science | Card, PayPal, bank transfer, cryptocurrency |
| Come Back Alive | Defense | Equipment, vehicles, drones, gear, training, and other needs of the Defense Forces | Card, domestic bank transfer, SWIFT, cryptocurrency |
| Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation | Defense and humanitarian aid | Support for the Defense Forces, as well as humanitarian and reconstruction projects for civilians | Card, PayPal, SWIFT, cryptocurrency |
| Hospitallers | Medical aid | Pre-hospital care and evacuation of wounded service members | Card, bank transfer |
| Superhumans | Rehabilitation | Prosthetics, reconstructive surgery, physical rehabilitation, and psychological support for people affected by the war | Card, bank transfer, SWIFT, Monobank, cryptocurrency |
| Razom for Ukraine | Humanitarian and medical aid | Humanitarian, medical, and other programs supporting Ukraine | Card, PayPal, bank transfer, Zelle, cryptocurrency |
| Nova Ukraine | Humanitarian aid | Humanitarian, medical, and recovery projects for people affected by the war | Card, PayPal, bank transfer |
| Save Ukraine | Support for children and families | Return and evacuation of children, family reunification, rehabilitation, and support for affected families | Card, bank transfer |
| UAnimals | Animal welfare | Animal evacuation and treatment, support for shelters, and assistance in frontline areas | Card, PayPal, Monobank, bank transfer |
Payment methods and bank details can change. Before donating, check the latest information on the organization’s official website.
How can you donate to support Ukraine?
Most verified charities accept donations in several ways:
- Visa or Mastercard;
- Apple Pay or Google Pay;
- PayPal;
- bank transfer;
- SWIFT or wire transfer;
- cryptocurrency;
- international payment services.
Available methods vary by organization, country, and bank. Before donating, check the latest payment details on the charity’s official website.
Some organizations also offer recurring monthly donations.
How can you donate to support Ukraine from abroad?
If you’re outside Ukraine, visit the charity’s official website and look for the Donate or Support section. This is where you’ll usually find payment methods available to international donors and the relevant bank details.
If your card payment doesn’t go through, check whether SWIFT, wire transfer, or another payment method is available in your country.
What should you do if your payment doesn’t go through?
Payment options can vary depending on your country and bank. If your payment fails, check the charity’s official website for alternatives or contact its support team.
What is a Monobank “Jar”?
A Monobank Jar is a fundraising feature in the Ukrainian banking app Monobank. It allows people to collect money for a shared goal, such as supporting the Defense Forces, providing humanitarian or medical aid, or funding other initiatives.
Jars can be created by service members, volunteers, charities, or individuals raising money for a specific cause. A link or QR code is usually shared on social media, in messaging apps, or among friends and communities. To donate, open the link, enter an amount, and choose a payment method.
The fact that a Jar exists does not mean the fundraiser has been verified. Before donating, check who is organizing it, what the money is being raised for, and whether there is evidence of previous fundraising activity or reporting. If you prefer a more straightforward option, choose an official platform or verified charity.
Can you top up a Monobank Jar with a foreign card?
In some cases, yes. However, foreign-card payments may not be available for every fundraiser and can depend on the bank’s checks and payment processing.
If the payment doesn’t go through, try another available method or contact Monobank support or the fundraiser’s organizer.
How can you verify a fundraiser before donating?
Before sending money, check who is organizing the fundraiser, what the money is being raised for, and whether there is evidence of the organizer’s activity.
- Check the official website and social media accounts.
Make sure the charity or organization exists and that the fundraiser appears on its official channels. - Verify the organizer or charity registration.
If it is a registered charity, you can search for it by name or EDRPOU code in Ukraine’s Unified State Register. - Check the payment details and reporting.
Bank details should match those listed on the organization’s official channels. Also check whether it publishes reports on money raised and spent. - Use trusted links.
Open donation pages through the organization’s official website or verified social media accounts rather than links from random messages or emails. - Don’t donate solely because an appeal feels urgent or emotional.
Legitimate fundraisers can also be urgent. Focus on who is organizing the fundraiser, its purpose, and whether there is evidence of how the money is being used.
Volunteer fundraisers in Ukraine are often run through personal bank accounts or Monobank Jars. A personal account does not automatically mean a fundraiser is fraudulent, but it makes checking the organizer, purpose, and previous reporting especially important.
Can you donate items to help Ukraine?
Yes. Some charities and volunteer organizations accept equipment for the Defense Forces, medical supplies, clothing, household items, and supplies for animals.
Before buying or donating anything, check the organization’s current needs. These can change quickly, particularly for military equipment, medical supplies, and aid for frontline communities.
What can you donate?
Depending on the organization and its current needs, this may include:
- equipment for the Defense Forces — charging stations, Starlink terminals, radios, optics, drones, and other equipment;
- vehicles — for military units or evacuation;
- medical supplies — tourniquets, hemostatic products, dressings, and other essential medical supplies;
- clothing and household items — seasonal clothing, footwear, textiles, hygiene products, and other essentials;
- supplies for animals — food, veterinary supplies, and other items needed by shelters and rescue centers.
Organizations that accept in-kind donations
| Organization | Area | What you can donate |
|---|---|---|
| Dzyga’s Paw | Support for the Defense Forces | Equipment and supplies from the foundation’s current needs list. Check with the organization before sending other items |
| StayWithUkraine | Medical aid | Tourniquets, hemostatic products, dressings, and other medical supplies, subject to prior coordination |
| Kengurush | Humanitarian aid | Clothing, footwear, textiles, toys, and other items for people in need |
| LASKA | Social and charitable support | Clean clothing and footwear in good condition, bags, accessories, books, and selected household items |
| Patron Pet Center | Animal welfare | Pet food, veterinary supplies, and other essentials. Check directly with the center for its current needs |
Do not send medication, military equipment, or large quantities of goods without confirming them with the organization first. Check current needs, acceptance requirements, and delivery options on its official website or social media pages.
How else can you support Ukraine?
If you’re in Kyiv, there are other ways to support Ukraine beyond making a donation.
Attend charity events
Kyiv regularly hosts charity concerts, exhibitions, fairs, and other events that raise money for the Defense Forces, humanitarian initiatives, and recovery projects.
Support Ukrainian businesses
Choose Ukrainian brands, local venues, producers, and services. Supporting local businesses helps sustain the local economy and jobs.
Volunteer
Kyiv has volunteer organizations and initiatives where you can help with humanitarian projects, support military personnel and civilians, take part in recovery efforts, or help animals.
Share reliable information about Ukraine
Share verified information about Ukraine, its history, culture, and everyday life, and support Ukrainian media, artists, and cultural projects.
Donate blood
Blood donation helps hospitals maintain supplies for military personnel and civilians. In Kyiv, you can find current donation opportunities through DonorUA, Blood Agents, or the Ukrainian Transplant Coordination Center.
FAQ
You can support the Defense Forces through UNITED24, Come Back Alive, or the Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation. They raise money for equipment, vehicles, drones, gear, and other military needs.
Yes. Many charities accept international bank cards. Available payment methods vary by organization, country, and bank, so check the charity’s official website before donating.
In some cases, yes, but foreign-card payments may not be available for every fundraiser. If your payment doesn’t go through, try another donation method or contact the fundraiser’s organizer or Monobank support.
Check the charity’s official website and social media accounts, registration, and financial reports. Verify the payment details as well, and only use donation links from official sources.
Yes. Some organizations accept equipment, medical supplies, clothing, household items, and other forms of in-kind support. Check the organization’s current needs and acceptance requirements before donating.
You can volunteer, attend charity events, support Ukrainian businesses, or donate blood while in Kyiv.
