Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky announced Thursday that the platform is suspending “all operations in Russia and Belarus.”
Chesky’s announcement on Twitter comes eight days after Russia began invading Ukraine and two days after Belarus is speculated to have joined in the invasion. However, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko denies all allegations.
Airbnb is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus
— Brian Chesky ?? (@bchesky) March 4, 2022
Recent reports emerged of people across the planet booking apartments and homes in Ukraine with no intention of staying, just to donate funds. Chesky tweeted a compilation of examples on Thursday.
People are booking Airbnbs in Ukraine they don’t intend to stay in just to help Hosts https://t.co/L6B11ioSXb
— Brian Chesky ?? (@bchesky) March 3, 2022
DHS GRANTS TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO UKRAINIAN CITIZENS IN US
“I am very grateful to you for your support in this difficult time,” one host wrote his Airbnb guest who never was. “Glory to Ukraine.”
“Hope we will win and stop this horror,” another host wrote. “Irpin town, where this apartment is located, is a hot spot the last three days.”
“I promise to use your donation for charity and provide my apartment for free accommodation for those who lost their homes,” the host wrote.
Others who booked an Airbnb reported that there was no fee attached, so these Ukrainian hosts received the full payment.
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On Monday, the platform announced it would provide free housing for 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, paid for by Airbnb, the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, and “the generosity of Hosts through Airbnb.org.”
