FRIDAY FIVE
It’s been almost two weeks since Russia enacted a war against the sovereign state of Ukraine. Nearly a million people have fled the country, seeking refuge elsewhere. Collectively, thousands of military troops participating in the war have died. Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians are believed to now be dead. Cities and airports and power plants and residential areas have fallen (or have been outright obliterated) by the Kremlin.
The worst ground conflict to descend on Europe in the past 75 years will have consequences that will ripple outward for generations to come. History books will describe this time as a collective, global effort to thwart ongoing violence and pull the rug out from Putin’s autocratic regimes. Or… well, they will denote the Ukrainian war as the last gasp before the iron curtain closes on other countries bordering Russia.
And, yes: We Bay Area locales are literally 6,200 miles away from Kyiv’s city center. We can’t just hop on a JetBlue flight and start handing out essential goods or take up arms (although some local Ukrainians have done just that). But most of us can, however, stand in solidarity with Ukraine in ostensibly small ways that when compounded, will have massive ramifications for Russia, all while also supporting the Ukrainian people.
Here are five ways you can do just that described above in the Bay Area this weekend… and long after Sunday comes to an end.
Walk or bike — everywhere
Did you know that Russia’s main exports are fossil fuels and other nonrenewable resources? They’re effectively the backbone of the country’s economy — and largely the reason why sanctions against oil exports haven’t been applied to Russia yet. By walking or biking everywhere you can simultaneously give Mother Nature some respite and show Russia the middle finger. If the distance from point A to point B is unreasonably long to walk, opt for public transit… or at least carpool. And with gas literally at $6 a gallon, you’ll save some coin embracing your bipedal nature, as well. More info.
Don’t drink Russian booze, tysm
A handful of Bay Area bars have taken up the initiative to not serve any alcohols that are either made in Russia or are fiscally affiliated with the country. San Francisco’s Madrone Art Bar and Bond Bar joined a number of local bars and restaurants boycotting Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine by not using any Russian vodkas in their drinks. Other watering holes have, however, taken a different approach; the Mission District-located Bond Bar changed its “Moscow Mule” to a “Kyiv Mule.” Whatever poison of choice you choose, cheer in the name of Ukrainian solidarity. More info.
Eat at SF’s only Ukrainian Restaurant
Pushkin — the beloved Eastern European eatery near Chinatown — has seen more local support in the last week, per KTVU; it, too, has been inundated with social media threats that have tanked reviews and made workers uneasy about their safety. Co-owner Sergey Shukalo still has friends and immediate family there, and he finds himself in a similar situation to many who frequent the eatery for its kick-ass dumplings and desserts. consider grabbing dinner there this weekend… or snag a sublime lunch, much like 48 Hill’s Tamara Palmer did earlier this week. More info.
Understand Ukraine’s intricate relationship with Silicon Valley
According to the SF Ukrainian consulate, there are now about 20,000 people of Ukrainian descent living in the Bay Area — many of whom work in various tech industries in the Bay Area, especially in Silicon Valley. JustAnswer, a San Francisco-based tech company, employs 252 people in Ukraine; Grammarly was founded by Ukrainians; KQED notes that JetBridge employs more than 20 people in Ukraine; companies like Google, Ring, Oracle, Twitter, and Snap also have a workforce in Ukraine. For this section of the Bay Area that’s credited for revolutionizing how we live — think, share, ideat, communicate, etc. — in a digital era, the Kremlin’s continued advancement into Ukraine hits close to home and heart. Too close, frankly. More info.
Donate to the Bay Area-born nonprofit Nova Ukraine
Nova Ukraine, which was founded by local Ukanrains in 2014 amid the aftermath of Euromaidan, is an extension of the Maydan SF movement. Nova Ukraine has an “established and proven network of partners on the ground in Ukraine” that it trusts. Every donation to the local nonprofit — that is tax-deductible, mind you — is allocated daily to frontline volunteers helping provide emergency resources to both refugees and citizens, who have remained in the war zone. Donating to Nova Ukraine is maybe the most pragmatic, hyperlocal means to stand in direct Solidarity with the war-torn country, at the moment. More info.
