Mila Kunis Is "Proud to Be a Ukrainian," Launches GoFundMe With Ashton Kutcher
"The people of Ukraine are strong and brave, but being strong and brave doesn't mean you're not worthy of support," Kunis said.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have launched a GoFundMe to support Ukrainian refugees, the donations of which they plan to match up to $3 million.
The funds will go toward Flexport, which is delivering resources and relief supplies to nonprofits on the ground, and Airbnb, which will support housing and the cost of living for those who are taking in refugees. The couple's goal is to raise at least $30 million (at the time of writing, the GoFundMe has reached more than $3 million with more than 10,000 donations made).
The duo announced the news through a video posted to GoFundMe's YouTube channel, with Kunis reflecting on her Ukrainian heritage.
"I was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, in 1983. I came to America in 1991," she began. "I have always considered myself an American, a proud American. I love everything that this country's done for myself and my family. But today, I have never been more proud to be a Ukrainian."
"And I've never been more proud to be married to a Ukrainian," Kutcher responded, later adding, "While we witness the bravery of the people of the country that she was born in, we are also witness to the needs of those who have chosen safety. We're raising funds to support a relief effort that will have immediate impact and supply much-needed refugee and humanitarian aid to the area. The principle challenge right now is logistics. We need to get housing, and we need to get supplies and resources into the area."
Kunis continued, "The people of Ukraine are strong and brave, but being strong and brave doesn't mean you're not worthy of support. We need to support the people of Ukraine. Please help us and stand with the people."
Since Russia began its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24, about one million people have left the country and sought refuge in neighboring nations.
"Our colleagues on the ground in Ukraine tell us that the needs in Ukraine are growing and spreading by the hour," Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for the United Nations secretary-general, said in a briefing yesterday. "They warn that while the scale and scope of displacement is not yet clear, we do expect that more than 10 million people may flee their homes if violence continues, including four million people who may cross borders to neighboring countries."
This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US