SAG-AFTRA Artists #StandWithUkraine

The Russian war against Ukraine has its foundation in a long and complicated history — far too long and complicated to be addressed here.

The one thing that isn’t complicated, however, is that when civilians become targets in conflicts, they need help from anyone who can offer it.

The entertainment industry and SAG-AFTRA count many first and second generation Ukrainian-American performers among their ranks. From legendary figures such as Natalie Wood, Alex Trebek and Ed Asner to contemporary actors and recording artists like Bruno Mars, Vera Farmiga and Mila Kunis, ties to the embattled Eastern European nation are strong.

During this time of personal and political upheaval, union members with Ukrainian ties, as well as those who simply wish to send aid to the people of the war-torn country, have put advocacy into action in a variety of ways. Social media posts have given visibility to those who have remained in Ukraine and are still under attack, and to those who have fled to neighboring countries. These public comments have also helped open up financial avenues that allowed resources to be directly delivered to families and organizations, including animal rescue operations that are aiding the country’s zoos and other animal life.

In mid-March, Kunis, who was born in Ukraine and moved with her family to the United States when she was 7, met with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a Zoom call that also included her husband, Ashton Kutcher. The couple had, at that point, raised $35 million dollars, which was sent to Flexport, a San Francisco shipping company delivering relief supplies to refugee sites in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. Kunis also alluded to the conflict at this year’s Oscars ceremony, offering a tone of solidarity and hope.

Many other union members took up the mantle to help with relief efforts, as well. Reese Witherspoon and Jillian Harris donated to and helped spread word of the Kunis-Kutcher effort, and Angelina Jolie visited Lviv, Ukraine, in late April as a special envoy to the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pledged to match donations up to $1 million to help those fleeing Ukraine, and Leonardo DiCaprio made several private donations to humanitarian groups supporting displaced and embattled citizens. In a bold move, legendary action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is still extremely popular in Russia, publicly condemned the invasion in a video message aimed at the Russian people. He also warned them against buying into the disinformation campaign he said was being waged by the Russian media and President Vladimir Putin.

Some actors even found themselves caught in the crossfire on the ground. Sean Penn first traveled to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv last November. He returned in February to attend a press briefing at the office of President Zelenskyy and to film scenes of the Russian invasion for a documentary, but just days later was forced to flee on foot with a mass exodus of refugees to Poland.

Union performers from across the pond have also taken public stances on the war, with Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello, among others, playing a fundraising concert for Ukraine, and Emilia Clarke and Benedict Cumberbatch pledging their support for the country and asking fans to donate to humanitarian organizations that are helping displaced Ukrainians.

This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine spring 2022 issue.