Anti-war
Pro-democracy
Who We Are
When Putin launched an unjustified military attack against Ukraine, people of Russian culture and origin both in the country and around the world were shocked and outraged.
Urged to do something to counter the destruction and bloodshed, writer Boris Akunin, actor Mikhail Baryshnikov and economist Sergei Guriev founded True Russia. Headed up by managing director Oleg Radzinsky, the nonprofit organisation helps those affected by Putin’s war and unites people of Russian culture around the world in their will to support the victims of the military aggression.
Our work is supported by many prominent individuals such as Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich, poet Tomas Venclova, musician Andrey Makarevich, writer Lyudmila Ulitskaya, journalist Leonid Parfyonov, conductor Vladimir Jurowski, musicians Tatiana and Sergey Nikitin and many more distinguished personalities.
Our Values
We stand with Ukraine and oppose the criminal war that Putin has unleashed on our neighbour.
We believe that Putin does not speak or act for all Russians and that true Russia does not equal Putin.
Our mission is simple: even though we cannot stop the war, we can and want to help its victims, first and foremost, Ukrainian refugees. We also support Russian refugees — those who did not wish to stay in Putin's Russia or had to flee from political persecution.
We will continue our humanitarian mission until Russia is a democratic society living in peaceful dialogue with other nations.
True Russia is not a political movement and not affiliated with any party or politician.
What We Do
True Russia’s first move was to support the efforts of The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in helping Ukrainians fleeing the war zone. Over £1,000,000 was raised in the first three months, and 100% of these funds helped the work by DEC charities and their local partners in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries, meeting people's immediate and longer-term needs.
True Russia’s appeal via GoFundMe was supported by over 5,000 people from more than 80 countries.
Following the first humanitarian project, a digital database of charitable projects by Russian-speaking communities across the world was launched. This True Russia resource hub provides information, help and advice for those who have fled the war in Ukraine or left Russia, listing dozens of initiatives from more than 15 countries. It helps to find evacuation, relocation, accommodation, employment opportunities and counselling support.
True Russia also awards grants for humanitarian aid projects to charities working directly in Ukraine and with refugees relocated to other countries.
* TRUE RUSSIA LTD is currently applying to the UK Charity Commission for an approval of a registered charity status but does not have such status at the present.
Contact Us
A Few Words From Our Founders
The dictator who currently holds power in the Russian Federation has launched a criminal war. The horror unleashed on our kindred people in Ukraine is becoming a true humanitarian catastrophe.
The hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their loved ones, and even their lives are bearing the full brunt of the blow. But all of us who speak Russian and belong to the Russian cultural world feel the blow too. The very word ‘Russian’ has become toxic.
Most of us are far away from the conflict, and from Russia. We may be powerless to stop this nightmare, but we do not have the right to remain idle.
The number of refugees will keep rising. The humanitarian situation will worsen. The very least we can do is help the people fleeing from the horror that Putin has started in Russia’s name.
The real Russia is bigger, stronger, and more durable than Putin. This Russia lives and will outlive him. The dictator is fighting a war not only with Ukraine, but against the better part of his own country. He is smothering Russia’s future.
Let us prove to the rest of the world that Putin does not speak and act for all Russians. And let us prove to ourselves that we are capable of real concrete action, not just words. Let us help our Ukrainian friends.
Please donate to help Ukrainian refugees.
Russians of the world, unite against the war!