Uber’s generous offer to evacuating Ukrainians

The ride-share giant has made a generous offer to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees trying to flee to Poland as Russia’s illegal invasion continues.

Uber will offer unlimited free rides between Poland and Ukraine for refugees and their families fleeing the war-ravaged country.

With Russian officials threatening larger missile strikes across Ukraine, more civilians and children are fleeing the country they called home.

The rideshare giant said people wanting to travel from the wartorn country’s border could enter the code “POMOCLUBELSKIE” or “POMOCPODKARPACKIE” to travel for free.

The free trips are for people wanting to get to Poland’s southeastern cities of Lublin or Rzeszow from Hrebenne, Dolhobyczow, Dorohusk, Zosin, Budmierz, Korczowa or Medyka.

The United Nations says more than 830,000 refugees have fled Ukraine as of Tuesday, with over half going directly to Poland on its safe western border.

Ukrainian residents wait to board an evacuation train to western regions Picture: Getty Images.

Earlier this week, Uber announced a set of initiatives to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

“Our teams are working 24/7 to keep impacted employees, riders, and drivers safe and are partnering with NGOs to support relief efforts on the ground,” it said in a statement.

Uber said it would also add an in-app donation button for US riders to give to the International Rescue Committee.

It also pledged to match donations up to $1 million (US).

The company has also provided “advance payments” to its drivers in Ukraine and is exploring how Ukrainian refugees can have access to work on the Uber platform in neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, Airbnb has offered free, temporary housing to up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.

“We know that hosts on Airbnb and guests around the world will be eager to stand up and assist this massive effort and in the coming days, Airbnb plans to share details on how hosts on Airbnb and the broader community can support this initiative,” the home rentals platform said.

It comes as the Ukrainian city of Kherson becomes the first to fall to Russia.

A Ukrainian official confirmed it was now under the “complete control” of Russian President Vladamir Putin’s forces.

Kherson – considered to be a strategically key centre – has around 300,000 residents, and its capture could enable Russia to control a significant chunk of the southern coastline and allow troops to head west towards the port city of Odesa.

According to the New York Times, mayor Igor Kolykhaev confirmed Russian troops had encircled the city with Ukrainian forces retreating to the nearby city of Mykolaiv.

Russia has claimed victory over the city, with Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov stating that Kherson was under the “complete control” of Russian forces.

He claimed in a statement that Russian authorities were in talks with Ukrainian leaders and that Kherson’s infrastructure was still operational.