Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively pledge to match up to $1 million donations for Ukrainians

Feb 28 2022

Hollywood stars Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have pledged to match every donation up to $1 million for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Posting to Twitter on Saturday, Reynolds, known mostly for his role as Deadpool, said that;

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‘In 48 hours, countless Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to neighbouring countries. They need protection. When you donate, we’ll match it up to $1,000,000, creating double the support.’ With Reynolds promoting donations to the United Nations refugee agency, Gossip Girl star Lively posted a UNHCR photo on instagram showing a child and saying the agency is providing life saving aid.

The couple are known for making several donations, with many of them reaching millions. Earlier this month, the couple donated another $1 million to Feeding America and Good Banks Canada amid the pandemic.

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Ukrainians crowded onto trains and waited in long lines for hours to leave the country after Russia invaded Ukraine. With around 368,000 refugees managing to leave, the EU commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said that the EU needs to prepare for millions to arrive. The UN agency said that because of years of violence, more than 2 million people had left Ukraine even before Russian troops invaded last week. Around 3 million people in Ukraine will need humanitarian aid just this year.

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Ex-Miss Ukraine fighting back Russian invasion alongside other civilians

Feb 28 2022

A former Miss Ukraine is one of the hundreds of civilians and locals taking up weapons against the invading Russian forces in Kyiv. As satellite images released today show Vladimir’s army encircling the capital city, Anastasiia Lenna, 31, was pictured wielding a massive rifle with a pink scope. The caption? ‘Everyone who crosses the Ukrainian border with the intent to invade will be killed!’

The now viral photo came amid reports of long queues by citizens waiting to be issued weapons in the capital as they expect another Russian assault. Ms Lenna, whose normal job is a public relations manager in Turkey, posted the image alongside two hashtags, #StandWithUkraine and #HandsOffUkraine. This is not the first time she was pictured with a fun as previous posts show here training in wooded areas with the rifles.

The model is not the only one standing up against the Russians, as snapshots show a man with a prosthetic leg as well as a young couple who rushed their wedding ahead to tie the knot and join the civil defence. Ordinary citizens all across the country have been receiving basic combat training in everything from gun handling, tossing grenades and even making Molotov cocktails. Some Ukrainians living abroad flew back home to join the ‘Territorial Defence Units.’

Newly trained forces have been seen standing guard behind stacks of tires at checkpoints in the capital, patrolling its empty streets and wearing yellow arm bands to identify them as volunteer soldiers. Satellite imagery showed a large deployment of Russian ground troops moving in the direction of the Ukrainian capital. Despite yet to be independently verified, a huge build up has been noted.

The mayor confirmed that nine civilians in Kyiv have been killed so far, including one child. As others take shelter in the subway system turned bomb shelters, others are trying to keep the border of the city safe whilst also finding Russian saboteurs.

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Ukraine calls for instant EU membership as invasion continues

Feb 28 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the European Union to grant his country immediate membership on Monday as Russia continues its invasion of the pro-Western country.

The 44-year-old president appealed ‘to the European Union for the immediate accession of Ukraine via a new special procedure.’

‘Our goal is to be together with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing. I’m sure it’s fair. I’m sure it’s possible.’ Revealing the horrific news that 16 children died during the first four days of the invasion, he went on to hail Ukrainian heroes for defending the country.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday that at least 102 civilians, including seven children, had been killed but warned that the real numbers were probably much higher.

The Ukrainian leader, who came into power in 2019 after a career in comedy, released his latest video statement as Russian and Ukrainian negotiators prepared to sit down for their first talks since the invasion was ordered.

Zelensky also urged Russian soldiers to lay down their weapons and not to believe the propaganda of their commanders. Around 4,500 Russian soldiers have already died, revealed Zelensky.

This comes as countries place several sanctions on Russia and Belarus for aiding the Kremlin’s assault. The EU also announced that it will be providing weapons to help the Ukrainians defend their country as others ban several Russian airlines, banks, etc.

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Malta will be welcoming seriously ill Ukrainians for cure

Feb 28 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela has just revealed that Malta will be offering oncology services to Ukrainian nationals who are fleeing from Russia’s invasion.

Making the announcement during a party press conference on Monday in Bormla, Abela said that the government would handle any issues related to the COVID-19 red listing to enable easy transition from Ukraine to the island.

The services will be offered at the St Anthony Mamo oncology centre, next to Mater Dei Hospital. It will be available to Ukrainian nationals who have already started chemo or radiation therapy.

Well over 360,000 people have fled the Ukrainian conflict into Poland and other neighbourhood countries following the Russian invasion.

The Prime Minister also brought up the Opposition leader’s position which according to him labels all Russian people in Malta as criminals. This comes amid calls to ban the selling of Maltese passports to Russian nationals made by several entities, as well as the refusal to play against Russian football teams.

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Photo Source: Wikipedia