Uber will provide complimentary rides from the Ukraine-Poland border to two Polish cities.

Uber will provide complimentary rides from the Ukraine-Poland border to two Polish cities.
Uber will provide complimentary rides from the Ukraine-Poland border to two Polish cities.
  • Uber unveiled various programs to aid Ukrainian refugees and its employees in humanitarian aid.
  • The ride-share company announced that it would provide unlimited free rides to select Polish cities from the Ukraine-Poland border.
  • The International Rescue Committee is now accepting donations from U.S. riders through an in-app button.
After Hours
People carry bags at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, as Polish Border Guards close lanes for vehicles to allow more pedestrian traffic, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, February 26, 202
People carry bags at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, as Polish Border Guards close lanes for vehicles to allow more pedestrian traffic, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, February 26, 2022. (Kacper Pempel | Reuters)

On Wednesday, it was announced that unlimited free rides would be provided between the Ukraine-Poland border and two Polish cities.

Individuals traveling from Hrebenne, Dolhobyczow, Dorohusk, Zosin, Budmierz, Korczowa, or Medyka to the southeastern cities of Lublin or Rzeszow can use the code "POMOCLUBELSKIE" or "POMOCPODKARPACKIE" to ride to and from the crossings for free.

Uber announced on Wednesday a broader set of initiatives to support Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, which includes a service.

The company stated in a release that its teams are continuously working around the clock to ensure the safety of impacted employees, riders, and drivers, while also collaborating with NGOs to provide aid on the ground.

Uber announced that it will introduce an in-app donation button for its US riders to contribute to the International Rescue Committee. Additionally, the company stated that it would match donations of up to $1 million made through this feature, which will be available in other countries soon.

Following the Russian invasion, Uber temporarily halted its services in Ukraine due to safety concerns. The company is currently evaluating how to resume ride-sharing on a city-by-city basis.

The company has given "advance payments" to its drivers in Ukraine and is investigating how Ukrainian refugees can work on the Uber platform in neighboring countries where the company operates. A spokesman informed CNBC that the advance will not have to be repaid to the company.

by Jessica Bursztynsky

technology