People from around the world have been buying up nights at Airbnb properties in Ukraine, despite the fact they know they won’t be able to go there.
It’s a way to support the struggling people trapped by Vladimir Putin’s invasion directly, and thousands have jumped at the chance, sending heartfelt messages along with their bookings.
One of the beneficiaries of this international show of solidarity is Volodymyr Bondarenko, who has been inundated with requests to book out his one-bedroom Airbnb property in Kyiv.
It started online as a way to provide much needed financial aid to those trapped by the war, which has seen many services cut off to Ukraine’s major cities.
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According to Airbnb’s stats, on 2 March and 3 March more than 61,000 nights in the country were booked, with more than half by Americans.
Bondarenko, 36, told CNN: “More than 10 bookings came in today. This was surprising, it’s very supportive at the moment.
“I told many of my relatives and friends that I plan to use this money to help our people who need it at this time.”
The idea sprang up on the internet and saw those who wanted to help book up rooms as close to a check-out date as possible.
That means that the funds can be released quickly, meaning that those in need of cash can get it sooner.
Airbnb usually tries to release funds to hosts 24 hours after the guest checks in.
Those in charge of the campaign have also asked anyone booking to check that the property they’re booking is owned by an individual and not a company.
One person who jumped at the chance to help was Anne Margaret Daniel.
Daniel, a lecturer in literature from New York City, booked two nights in the Old Kyiv district, which would have been absolutely lovely before the war.
She even included a message for her host.
Daniel wrote: “I hope that you, and your lovely apartment, are safe and that this horrible war is over and Ukraine is safe.
“I will come and see you one day, please count on it, and will stay with you when we visit. God bless you and God be with you, your city, your country.”
She received a message back from the host Olga Zviryanskaya, which read: “We will be glad to see you in the peaceful city of Kyiv and hug.”
Currently, Olga is letting people who have no way to get out of Kyiv stay in her apartment, while she and her three children have fled to a city 160 kilometres away.
She said: “We are alive, but we want to live as before.
“It’s very scary in Kyiv. Every word of support is valuable, not necessarily money.”
Topics: World News, Russia, Ukraine, Airbnb, Travel
Tom Wood