Russian model Irina Shayk voices support for Ukraine as war rages between the two countries: 'No to war'

Model Irina Shayk has expressed her heartbreak over the war unfolding between her native Russia and Ukraine.

The 36-year-old, who was born in Russia but resides in New York, pleaded for fans to donate to UNICEF and the Red Cross as the war rages between the two countries. 

"No To War 🙏💔💔. I will be donating to @unicef and @redcrossukraine," she wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of a peace sign. "Please check my stories for donation links and resources, give what you can. 💔 Praying for 🌏peace 🕊🙏🙏🙏."

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In a previous interview with Vogue UK last year, Shayk opened up her childhood in Russia and how the lifestyle there forced her to grow up quickly. 

"I was born and raised in a town called Yemanzhelinsk, in the middle of nowhere in Russia. My father was a coal miner and my mum was a pianist — she couldn't find a job, so she played for kids in kindergarten," the model recalled. 

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"It was a very simple life: one main street, no movie theatre, no restaurants," she continued. "I lost my father when I was 14. He was the healthiest man alive, and at 44, out of the blue, he was coughing for a while then got pneumonia and died. Me, my mum and my sister were left. Three women."

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"We learnt how to [survive] early in life, even when we had a father, because in Russia you have to. In summer you grow vegetables and bury them, so in wintertime you have potatoes, carrots, everything, so you can survive. When I moved to New York, I was shocked that people go to the supermarket and buy potatoes. I was like, 'That's crazy.'"

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