The founders of UK-based event tech platform ExpoPlatform, Tanya Pinchuk and Mykyta Fastovets, are both from Ukraine, and although they have been living in Cambridge for many years, they both have family and friends back in Ukraine who have been displaced following Russia’s invasion last week.
Tanya Pinchuk, CEO of ExpoPlatform, is urging the global events community to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine whose lives will be forever changed by this devastating attack, using the hashtag #EventsWithUkraine.
“The invasion of Ukraine is deeply personal to us. We have friends and family members who have had to relocate far away from home and are trying to keep their children safe,” Pinchuk said in a statement. “All our teams at ExpoPlatform, from the UK, India, United States, France, Portugal, and even colleagues within Russia itself, are united in standing against this evil and unprovoked attack of a modern democracy.
“The events industry is truly international, and is built on bringing people together to exchange ideas freely and peacefully. These are the same values that Putin hates. Today, we would like to ask the industry we love to join us in standing together against these war crimes.”
For eventprofs and anyone else around the world who would like to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, Pinchuk suggests donating to Ukrainian forces with a SWIFT bank transfer or to the British Red Cross, which is providing food and shelter to those in need.
She added: “I’d like to thank everyone for your messages of support. For those who are in the UK, I look forward to seeing you next week at Confex. The darkest hour is the one before dawn.”