乌克兰战争难民 | Airbnb 提供住房援助

Most of the world is on the same page when it comes to the current war in Ukraine. In fact, the European Union’s 28 member countries are united in their disgust over Russia’s violent and devastating invasion of Ukraine in a way few thought was possible. And the biggest country in the world, headed by Vladimir Putin, is being slapped with debilitating sanctions that will hopefully give the Ukrainians who fled the ability to head home soon. Until then, the world is helping in a rather unexpected way: They’re booking Airbnb properties in Ukraine.

In the elite Vozdvizhenka district of Kyiv, several homes are listed on Airbnb, and people around the world are renting them to help fleeing hosts. Photo: OlyaSolodenkp/Getty Images

Of course, Ukraine isn’t exactly a destination for jet-setters at the moment, but the point of booking on Airbnb wasn’t to take a relaxing vacation in a charming Eastern European dwelling. International users of the vacation booking app quickly snatched up as many Airbnb properties in Ukraine as possible. And when they couldn’t, they urged others to do so on Twitter. The selfless funneling of cash into Ukranians’ hands caught on pretty fast. Even Airbnb decided to waive the guest and host fees, so that the rental money is sent directly to the homeowners and hosts.

And to top it off: Airbnb’s chief executive, Brian Chesky, recently tweeted that the company, at least for the time being, will suspend its business in Russia and Belarus. It’s just one of the hundreds of sanctions Russia has been hit with following the invasion of Ukraine. Whether or not the sanctions will be powerful enough to actually stop Russia in its tracks remains to be seen, but at least they’re making quite a forceful statement. What’s more, Airbnb isn’t stopping at waiving fees and initiating sanctions: They’re also donating up to 100,000 homes for Ukrainian refugees who left their lives behind and fled.

Russia has destroyed hundreds of buildings across the country, with no signs of slowing down. Photo: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

One hundred thousand may not seem that monumental considering that more than one million Ukrainians have abandoned their homes in search of safety in neighboring countries, but 100,000 homes can house up to four million people in desperate need of shelter. The San Francisco–based tech company has also asked an additional 14 governments to jump onto their charitable bandwagon. And, according to Airbnb, nearly 400,000 people have visited the website to donate or host the refugees.

There are currently more than 300 properties scattered throughout Ukraine that are still available to rent. From a one-bedroom apartment near Odessa to a tree house–like cabin in Slavs’ke, there are plenty of properties that are worth booking for a weekend or two during times of peace. Given the shelling, gunfire, and explosions ripping Ukraine apart, travelers’ desire to pay the country a visit anytime soon is pretty diminished. In the meantime, at least, those who would otherwise crave a taste of Ukraine’s charming rustic towns and busy cities can help stimulate the economy and help its citizens.

Bordering the Black Sea, Odessa is a charming city chock-full of Airbnbs available for rent.  Photo: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Though no one knows the fate of the war in Ukraine—even though several cities have already fallen to Russian forces since the invasion less than two weeks ago—those supporting the country are doing everything they can to support the Ukrainian people.