Ukrainians have received almost $2 million from Airbnb guests who never showed up
On Wednesday and Thursday, Ukrainian Airbnb hosts have grossed nearly $2 million from 61,000 bookings for guests who never intended to show up.
According to NPR, "people abroad are booking stays and letting hosts know that it's a gesture of solidarity" to help financially support Ukrainians as the country suffers under a Russian invasion.
"More than 10 bookings came in today. This was surprising, it's very supportive at the moment," Volodymyr Bondarenko, who rents out a one-bedroom apartment in Kyiv through Airbnb, told CNN Friday. "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 Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
According to NPR, Airbnb has also offered free temporary housing to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and has suspended all operations in Russia and Belarus.
European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said Sunday that Europe "should be prepared for millions" of Ukrainian refugees.
A free daily email with the day’s biggest news and analysis – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
Explore your latest briefing
-
-
talking pointsAfter Pike disaster, is it time to rethink death penalty? -
QUOTE OF THE DAY‘What it actually means in the American context is you want to replace American workers with foreign workers and you want boys to play in girls’ sports.’
-
the explainerJustice Dept. launches largest-ever effort to strip citizenship
-
Explore your latest briefing
-
-
talking pointsAfter Pike disaster, is it time to rethink death penalty? -
QUOTE OF THE DAY‘What it actually means in the American context is you want to replace American workers with foreign workers and you want boys to play in girls’ sports.’
-
the explainerJustice Dept. launches largest-ever effort to strip citizenship
-