The devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine is still wrecking lives and causing global instability, but the embattled Eastern European country also continues to get a lot of support from a variety of places. One of the more prominent celebrities who’s consistently shown their love for Ukraine is former Star Wars lead and “Luke be a Jedi” singer Mark Hamill.
As further proof of this, the original Luke Skywalker will be providing his voice to an app that warns Ukrainian citizens about potential incoming Russian rocket barrages and other attacks, utilizing one of the most famous lines in Star Wars lore when he does so.
While some of these alerts will thankfully be false alarms, there’s the very real likelihood the app will save lives. Of course, this isn’t just a fun thing that Ukrainians will use to hear a familiar voice. It’s a serious tool to help avoid further casualties in a war that’s already claimed thousands of lives. Hamill will also be providing practical advice, like “Don’t be careless. Your overconfidence is your weakness.”
In an interview with the Associated Press, Hamill had plenty to say about the tragic situation, including likening it to the franchise he’s most famous for:
“A fairy tale about good versus evil is resonant with what’s going on in Ukraine. The Ukrainian people rallying to the cause and responding so heroically…It’s impossible not to be inspired by how they’ve weathered this storm. Here I sit in the comfort of my own home when in Ukraine there are power outages and food shortages and people are really suffering. It motivates me to do as much as I can.”
Unlike many celebrities who latch onto social causes in shallow ways, Hamill is doing much more than providing his voice. He’s also helping to raise funds for the Ukrainian war effort by selling off signed Star Wars merchandise, and soliciting donations via United24. The main aim of United24 is to buy drones that can be used for reconnaissance on the front lines, but there are also plenty of other projects that will be using the collected money, including rebuilding apartment buildings and getting food and other sustenance to the worst hit regions of the war torn country.
This isn’t the only charity work that Hamill is famous for. The actor has famously been a huge supporter of many worthy causes, from the Make-a-Wish foundation to the End Hunger Network.
Ukrainians will also have the option of getting the alerts in their own language, but thanks to the global appeal of Star Wars we’re sure plenty of locals will be hearing that the Force is indeed with them.
