The Loughborough University community stands in full solidarity for Ukraine and in support of all those impacted following the invasion.

Loughborough is a plural and international university, with colleagues and students from 130 countries across the world. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time.

Our Ukrainian students and colleagues are at the very forefront of those thoughts. We know you will be deeply worried for your loved ones at home. We stand in full solidarity with you and offer you our support. 

We also offer our support to our Russian colleagues and students at the University. This is Putin's invasion and not the Russian people's. 

We are exploring and taking any measures we are able to in support of our position. 

Together we call for peace and reject violence, and hope this will prevail. 

Support for those at our University
For those in our community who are feeling worried, distressed and upset about the war in Ukraine, the University is here to help.

Student Services (Email: studentservices@lboro.ac.uk, Tel: 01509 222765) offer a range of support, including mental health and wellbeing, and advice specifically for international students. Support for London students is also available by emailing London-Welfare@lboro.ac.uk or calling 020 3805 1303/1351.

The Staff Counselling Service is available to all University employees, giving you the opportunity to talk confidentially to a professionally trained person who is outside your immediate situation. Colleagues can also access support through our Employee Assistance Programme, as well as our Mental Health First Aiders.

The Centre for Faith and Spirituality (Email: cfschaplains@lboro.ac.uk, Tel: 01509 223741) also offers staff and students a space for reflection and has chaplains of various faiths. 

How you can help those impacted
You can donate funds to the following organisations: 

• British Red Cross, who are providing food and shelter, supporting hospitals and healthcare facilities and providing first aid training.
• Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) – the largest representative body for Ukrainians in the UK – who are collecting to provide items urgently in need, including food and medical packs.
• UNICEF, who are working to keep children safe in Ukraine by ensuring access to water and food and providing vital supplies to support families.
• UNHCR refugee agency, who provide support to refugees and those displaced because of war.
• Voices of Children, who are helping children affected by the war in Ukraine by providing psychological and psychosocial support.

Loughborough Students’ Union, in partnership with the University, is collecting items to be sent to Ukraine. You can drop off items in LSU on Sunday 6th March 1pm-4pm or at any of the collection bins which will be set up at key points around campus today (Friday 4th March). Further details of the collection, including a list of requested items, are available on LSU’s website.

Our academics are providing expert commentary about the war in Ukraine:

• Putin and the West - The restoration of Russia's ambitions in Europe - Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, Professor of War Studies
• Ukraine: nonviolent resistance is a brave and often effective response to aggression, The Conversation - Alexandre Christoyannopoulos, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
• Swift: ejecting Russia is largely symbolic – here’s why, The Conversation - Alistair Milne, Professor of Financial Economics
• Fortress Russia: Has Putin built a sanctions-proof economy? France 24 - Alistair Milne, Professor of Financial Economics
• For companies that invested in Russia, unloading toxic assets is a difficult business, The New Statesman - Dr Anna Grosman, Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship