  Despite their drawbacks and unintended consequences, social media networks
have recently emerged as a crucial resource for individuals in distress,
particularly during times of crisis. These platforms serve as a means to seek
assistance and support, share reliable information, and appeal for action and
solidarity. In this paper, we examine the online networks of support during the
Russia-Ukraine conflict by analyzing four major social media networks: Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Using a large dataset of 68 million posts, we
explore the temporal patterns and interconnectedness between these platforms
and online support websites. Our analysis highlights the prevalence of
crowdsourcing and crowdfunding websites as the two main support platforms to
mobilize resources and solicit donations, revealing their purpose and contents,
and investigating different support-seeking and -receiving practices. Overall,
our study underscores the potential of social media in facilitating online
support in distressed environments through grassroots mobilization,
contributing to the growing body of research on the positive impact of online
platforms in promoting social good and protecting vulnerable populations during
times of crisis and conflict.
