Ukrainian Voices That Cannot Be Erased

Published: March 25, 2025

This week, a Trump-appointed special envoy and a real estate developer Steven Witkoff claimed that Ukrainian regions currently occupied by Russia are “Russian-speaking, and there have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule.”

This statement erases the realities of millions of Ukrainians who have been displaced, imprisoned, and killed as a result of Russia’s invasions and occupations. It ignores the brutal repression of Ukrainian identity, language, and culture in these regions. To counter such narratives, it is crucial to amplify the voices of those who have lived through these events.

Razom Literature is dedicated to bringing Ukrainian stories to readers worldwide—stories that document resilience, survival, and the truth of what Russia’s war has meant for Ukrainians. Below, we highlight books by authors from Luhansk and Donetsk who offer first hand perspectives on life before and after Russian occupation.

Olena Stiazhkina - Ukraine. War. Love. and Cecile the Lion Had to Die

Olena Stiazhkina, a historian and former Russian-speaking writer from Donetsk, explores the impact of Russia’s 2014 invasion on her hometown.

Ukraine. War. Love. chronicles daily life under occupation, while Cecile the Lion Had to Die traces the generational shift from Soviet to Ukrainian identities. The novel itself reflects this transformation, beginning in Russian and transitioning to Ukrainian—a powerful statement of resistance and self-determination in the face of war.

Buy Ukraine. War. Love. HERE
Buy Cecile the Lion Had to Die HERE

Stanislav Aseyev – The Torture Camp on Paradise Street

Stanislav Aseyev, a Ukrainian journalist and writer, was imprisoned from 2015 to 2017 in a Russian-controlled concentration camp in Donetsk. His memoir documents the torture, psychological and physical abuse, and inhumane conditions endured by prisoners under the Russian occupation, offering an unfiltered account of Russia’s war crimes.

Buy The Torture Camp on Paradise Street HERE

Volodymyr Rafeyenko – Mondegreen and The Length of Days

Rafeyenko, a writer originally from Donetsk, explores displacement and identity in Mondegreen, the story of a refugee who flees the war and chooses to adopt the Ukrainian language. In The Length of Days, he crafts a fictionalized portrait of occupied Donbas, filled with dark humor, irony, and the painful absurdity of war.

Buy Mondegreen HERE
Buy The Length of Days HERE

Serhiy Zhadan – The Orphanage

Zhadan, one of Ukraine’s most acclaimed authors, was born in the currently occupied Luhansk region. His novel The Orphanage follows a Ukrainian language teacher navigating an occupied city to rescue his nephew, a journey that forces him to confront his own identity and loyalties.

These books are more than literature; they are testimonies of survival and resistance.

Buy The Orphanage HERE

Read. Share. Advocate.

Literature is a tool for amplifying Ukrainian voices and ensuring that stories like these are not forgotten. Read these books, share them, and use them in your advocacy.

Learn more about Ukrainian books at razomforukraine.org/razom-literature

Razom Welcomes Resumption of U.S. Aid to Ukraine

Published: March 11, 2025

<b>Razom Welcomes Resumption of U.S. Aid to Ukraine</b>

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Now More Than Ever: Tell Congress Americans Support Ukraine

Published: March 4, 2025

On Friday, many Americans watched in horror as Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over Ukraine’s “attitude” toward the United States after three grueling years of war. Their hostility demonstrated a growing disconnect between American leaders and the popular will.

The fact is that most Americans know Ukraine’s cause is just. Ukrainians are defending themselves against a ruthless aggressor who rapes, plunders, and murders countless innocents. Most Americans know that Putin is evil. And most Americans will not remain neutral.

Amid these alarming signals of wavering U.S. support for Ukraine and growing diplomatic overtures toward Putin’s Russia, Americans are coming together to demand principled foreign policy and continued support for Ukraine and other key U.S. allies. Please contact your Senators and Representatives today to emphasize that Ukraine is our ally.

The Truth About Republican Voter Support for Ukraine

Not only are the White House’s views on Ukraine out of step with the country as a whole, but with Republican voters as well. In a recent Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, Razom revealed the result of our recent poll that backs this up:

✅ 69% of Trump supporters agree that Russia is the aggressor.
✅ 5 times more Trump supporters have a favorable opinion of President Zelenskyy than Vladimir Putin.
✅ 71% of Trump supporters are more likely to back Ukraine aid when they learn that Russia has kidnapped more than 19,000 Ukrainian children.

This poll is significant because it reveals that Republican voters hold more nuanced and supportive views on Ukraine than the White House’s stance suggests.

Why This Moment Matters

Bipartisan lawmakers have provided Ukraine with vital moral and material support over the years. But now, some leaders are reconsidering their positions and asking whether supporting Ukraine is a winning political issue. The answer is yes.

📢 Every Republican House member who voted for Ukraine aid won their primary election. The American people see supporting Ukraine as the right—and winning—choice.

That’s why it’s so important to act now.

“The failed negotiations on Friday were not a win for America or Ukraine. The only beneficiaries were Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea. Supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom is not just about European security—it’s about U.S. national security. Russia has collaborated with Iran to attack American infrastructure, paid the Taliban for killing American soldiers, and traded military technologies with North Korea. America must send a clear message to all dictators: This is not what we stand for. Seventy percent of Republican voters say Russia is the aggressor, and 83% disapprove of Putin. It’s time to remind Washington what Americans truly care about,” – Mykola Murskyj, Director of Advocacy at Razom.

Take Action: You Can Make a Difference

America stands for freedom. Our leaders should, too. Here’s how you can help:

• Call or write your Representatives – Demand that they continue supporting Ukraine and reject any effort to cave to Putin. Surrender is not an option. Take Action Now: www.votervoice.net/RAZOMFORUKRAINE

• Donate to support Razom’s work – Help fund the crucial efforts that keep Ukraine’s cause front and center in Washington: razomforukraine.org/donate

• Join a rally – Show up, speak out, and demonstrate that Americans stand with Ukraine: EMERGENCY RALLY IN NYC 📢 Stand for American Values — Stand for Ukraine

The time is now. Tell Congress: Americans stand with Ukraine.

Ukraine Advocates Urge Elected Leaders to Disavow Trump’s Comments

Published: February 19, 2025

<b>Ukraine Advocates Urge Elected Leaders to Disavow Trump’s Comments</b>

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Ukraine at Davos 2025: Innovation, Resilience, and the Global Stage

Published: February 16, 2025

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Razom for Ukraine, alongside Nova Ukraine, stepped onto one of the world’s most influential platforms to ensure Ukraine’s voice was heard. As the world’s top leaders gathered to discuss the future of technology, sustainability, and global security, we made it clear: Ukraine is not just a country at war—it is a country building the future.

Taking Up Space, Shifting the Narrative

At Davos, we engaged with global influencers, policymakers, and investors, reinforcing our role as a trusted bridge between Ukraine and the world. Our participation wasn’t just about awareness—it was about action. We inserted Ukraine into the conversations that matter, showcasing how Ukrainian innovation and resilience are shaping global trends.

Key Highlights from Our Participation:

🔹 Davos Lodge Panel: The Power of Innovation—Ukraine’s Key to the Future
Razom and Nova Ukraine hosted a powerful discussion on Ukraine’s technological leadership and innovation. Moderated by Dora Chomiak (CEO of Razom for Ukraine), the panel featured Mariam Naiem (Independent Researcher & Author), Yaroslav Azhnuyk (Founder & CEO of TheFourthLaw.ai), and Nick Bilogorskiy (Founder of Nova Ukraine & Managing Partner of Dnipro VC), who highlighted Ukraine’s contributions to sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and drone technology.

🔹 Freedom & Democracy: More Than Just Words
Mariam Naiem delivered an inspiring reflection on the Ukrainian meaning of ‘freedom’, reinforcing why Ukraine’s struggle is a fight for democratic values worldwide.

🔹 Ukraine as an Innovation Hub
Yaroslav Azhnuyk presented Ukraine’s advancements in drone technology, illustrating how Ukrainian engineers are pioneering defense innovations at an unmatched scale. Nick Bilogosrskiy highlighted Ukraine’s tech ecosystem, citing global successes like Grammarly and MacPaw as evidence of the country’s resilience and talent.

Watch full panel here:

🔹 Ukraine House Davos Panel: Aligning Interests—The U.S., Ukraine, and a Path to a Just and Sustainable Peace

Dora Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine, joined a high-level panel discussion on Ukraine’s economic potential and geopolitical role. Participants included Daniel F. Runde (Senior Vice President at CSIS), Ambassador Kurt Volker (Founder of Alliance Strategic Advisors), RDML (Ret.) Michael Hewitt (Co-Founder & CEO of IP3 Corporation), and Andy Hunder (President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine). The conversation explored Ukraine’s role as a future economic powerhouse, its path to EU integration, and the investment opportunities that will shape the country’s recovery.

Watch full panel here:

🔹 Justice & Accountability: Seizing Russian Assets
Yuliya Ziskina, Razom Senior Legal Fellow, spoke on the crucial issue of seizing $350 billion in frozen Russian assets, arguing that the financial burden of war should shift from Western taxpayers to the aggressor. Her message was clear: the legal mechanisms that promote justice, accountability, and sustainable recovery for Ukraine are there, we just need the political will to use them.

Watch full panel here:

Why This Matters

Ukraine’s participation at Davos was more than symbolic—it was strategic.

• Together with our partners we made sure Ukraine was included in key discussions on global security, democracy, and economic development.

• We connected with decision-makers, investors, and media to advocate for concrete support for Ukraine’s future.

• We demonstrated that despite the war, Ukraine is actively contributing to solving some of the world’s greatest challenges.

What’s Next?

Razom together with our partners will continue to push Ukraine’s presence on the global stage, ensuring that its resilience, innovation, and leadership are recognized and supported. We invite you to join us in this mission—advocate, invest, and stand with Ukraine.

Key Messages for Pro-Ukraine Advocacy

Published: February 11, 2025

Negotiate from a position of strength

President Donald Trump is preparing to open negotiations for a settlement to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. No one wants peace more than Ukrainians—but they need a permanent and just peace, which can only be accomplished with U.S. support and historic, bold leadership from President Trump. As allies, the U.S. and Ukraine must negotiate from a position of strength over Russia. It’s time for President Trump to put Maximum Pressure on Russia through sanctions, unleashing American energy, and stopping Russia’s battlefield advances in order to force Putin to the table.

• Arm Ukraine so it can stabilize the front line, stop Russia’s bombardment of civilians, and start pushing Russian forces back again.

• Russia is under pressure—it’s running out of manpower to fight, it’s about to run out of tanks and cannons, and the economy is at risk of a recession. Putin is under tremendous pressure at home and abroad—just look at how he couldn’t save his client Bashar al-Assad in Syria—it’s time for the U.S. to squeeze Putin to force him to make peace, not give him a reprieve.

• The Biden administration refused to properly sanction Russia’s energy or financial sectors. It’s time for President Trump to unleash sanctions and American energy exports to break Russia’s war economy and force Putin to the table to end his war.

President Trump has signaled that he’s open to economic pressure on Russia, but Maximum Pressure won’t work without military assistance to Ukraine. Thanks to U.S. weapons, Russia has suffered record casualties on the battlefield—if this battlefield pressure lets up, Trump’s economic pressure will fail.

Joe Biden failed to properly arm Ukraine to succeed on the battlefield—it’s on Trump to act decisively and fix this mistake to achieve peace. Congress has equipped the Trump administration with a $3.8 billion dollar Presidential Drawdown Authority for Ukraine. President Trump must immediately make a new Presidential Drawdown to give Ukraine leverage for peace.

Security guarantees for Ukraine are the key to peace

The only way to achieve real peace in Europe is for Ukraine to receive credible security guarantees such as NATO membership. NATO is a defensive alliance that will never attack Russia—the only threat it poses to Putin is it stops him from trying to conquer more free countries. Without security guarantees, Ukraine won’t be able to rebuild itself. The only way to assure Ukrainians that Russia won’t restart its war in a few years is by boldly acting and finally allowing them to join NATO. Barack Obama and Joe Biden both left Ukraine in NATO’s waiting room—President-elect Trump must fix this by letting the strongest military in Europe be a U.S. ally.

• When Ukraine joins NATO, it will automatically make the alliance stronger and make Europe more secure. President Zelenskyy has suggested that once Ukraine joins NATO, Ukrainian forces could help reinforce bases in Europe to give the U.S. the necessary flexibility to meet security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Vladimir Putin is trying to trick President Trump into thinking that Ukrainian neutrality will end the war—it’s just another Moscow hoax. Putin wants Trump to make the same mistakes that Obama and Biden made and leave Ukraine in no-man’s-land so that Russia can rearm and restart the war in a few years. Trump must fix Obama and Biden’s mistake and finally let Ukraine help the U.S. as its strongest ally.

• Europe must step up and take ownership of security on the continent as President Trump has called for. In addition to buying American arms, it can do this by providing an intermediate security guarantee while Ukraine joins NATO to end the war. At Ukraine’s invitation and with enablement from the U.S., European troops should help enforce a ceasefire and European fighter jets should stop Russia’s bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Make Russia pay for Ukraine aid

Congress passed the REPO Act last year, giving President Trump the power to transfer the more than $5 billion in Russian state assets in the U.S. to help Ukraine. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said it would be “pure poetry” for Russia to be the first to pay for aid to Ukraine, and President Trump should do what Joe Biden refused to—use Russia’s own money to pay for aid to Ukraine.

The Biden administration also violated the REPO Act by failing to disclose a report on the true value of Russian state assets in U.S. jurisdiction, which experts believe are worth tens of billions of dollars. Once President Trump acts decisively on this issue, Europe will follow his leadership and make use of the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Russian state assets in European jurisdiction.

Pass the Ukrainian Genocide Resolution in Congress

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) reintroduced a resolution recognizing Russia’s war against Ukraine as genocide (H.Res.16). It’s time for the House of Representatives to pass this resolution and rightly recognize Russia’s barbaric invasion, annihilation of Ukrainian cities, and mass abduction of Ukrainian children as genocide.

Razom’s Statement on the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

Published: November 6, 2024

Razoms-Statement-on-the-2024-U.S.-Presidential-Election

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Razom Volunteers Targeted in Airstrikes While Delivering Aid in Sumy Region

Published: September 13, 2024

On the morning of September 13, Razom’s volunteers came under heavy airstrikes while delivering humanitarian aid to Yampil Hospital in the Sumy region. As they were unloading supplies, two air-dropped bombs (KABs) exploded just 100 meters from the hospital. Thankfully, the volunteers and hospital staff escaped serious injury. However, the hospital’s windows were shattered, and vehicles, along with the much-needed aid, were damaged by shrapnel.

Immediately after the attack, the hospital began receiving injured civilians, mainly women, children, and the elderly. Under extremely difficult conditions, the medical staff provided urgent care, even relocating to the hospital’s basement for safety.

Yampil, located just 7 miles from the Russian border, has been enduring nearly daily airstrikes, according to local residents.

In response to the worsening situation in Sumy and nearby regions, Razom for Ukraine launched an emergency program to supply hospitals in Sumy with essential medications, orthopedic equipment, and other critical materials. With today’s delivery to Yampil and previous deliveries to Sumy, Khotin, Shostka, and Hlukhiv, Razom has now provided nearly 10 tons of humanitarian aid, valued at $200,000.

Razom needs your help!

Innocent Ukrainians and volunteers are being targeted while delivering humanitarian aid. Let’s also remember the recent Red Cross tragedy on September 12, where three workers lost their lives in a similar attack.

Support Razom for Ukraine to replace the damaged vehicle and continue delivering life-saving aid across Ukraine. Every contribution saves lives!

Statement from Razom on the Release of Hostages and Political Prisoners from Russia

Published: August 1, 2024

Statement from Razom on the Release of Hostages and Political Prisoners from Russia

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Okhmatdyt’s Medical Staff: Faces of Resilience in the Face of Tragedy

Published: July 10, 2024

On July 8, 2024, a day that will forever be etched in our hearts, the world witnessed the incomprehensible destruction caused by a massive Russian bombing campaign that targeted civilian areas in Ukraine, including a major cancer center, Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. The stories of the brave medical professionals and the innocent children affected by this heinous attack, paint a vivid picture of the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people.

Mariyana Morozova: A Day of Unimaginable Horror

Dr. Mariyana Morozova, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Okhmatdyt and expert in Razom’s Breathe initiative, shared her harrowing experience. She splits her time between a private clinic and Okhmatdyt, located just across the street from each other. On that fateful day, Dr. Morozova was working at the private clinic when the air raid sirens blared and explosions shook the ground.

“I tried to contact my colleagues at Okhmatdyt, but there was no response. I ran over there, and it was just a disaster! There were so many wounded,” she recalled. The intensive care unit’s lab technician was severely injured, suffering from a concussion, a jaw fracture, and bleeding. With the help of the entire community, they evacuated the most critical patients, including those in the neonatal ICU (Intensive Care Unit), neuro ICU, and surgical ICU. Dr. Morozova’s department was among the most severely damaged, and she tragically lost a dear friend and colleague, Dr. Svitlana Luk’yachuk. Miraculously, all the children survived, but the emotional scars will remain forever.

Alyona Bezlehka: First Day Back Turns into a Nightmare

For rehabilitation specialist Alyona Bezlehka, it was her first day back at work after a vacation. She had been eagerly anticipating reuniting with her patients. As the explosions began, she quickly led her patients to the corridor and then to the bomb shelter. Returning to her department on the 5th floor, she encountered her colleague, covered in blood and holding a child they couldn’t evacuate in time.

“The floor was covered in blood and dust. I am not a surgeon, but I saw bandages and started applying them to stop the bleeding,” she recounted. Among the chaos, one boy’s cries for his grandmother haunted her. He was in shock, shivering, and vomiting, with his hand covered in blood. The sight of injured children, medical staff on stretchers, and parents with bandaged heads was overwhelming. Her department was almost completely destroyed, with windows blown out and the ceiling collapsed. Despite the devastation, the motivation to help and the outpouring of support from the community kept her going.

Valeriy Bovkun: Narrow Escape from Death

Valeriy Bovkun, head of the Department of Reconstructive-Plastic Microsurgery at Okhmatdyt, was organizing the evacuation of patients when the explosion occurred. “I was in my office when the sirens started, and then went out to check if the patients were moving to safe places. Moments later, the explosion occurred. My office was critically damaged: the blast wave tore out the window and threw it right onto my workspace,” he recounted. If he had stayed a moment longer, he would likely have been buried under the rubble. Thanks to the timely evacuation, most patients were unharmed, but five staff members were injured by glass shards.

Despite being in a state of shock, Valeriy and his colleagues immediately began providing first aid to the injured. “We applied bandages and sutures, examined the children, and did everything we could to help,” he said.

Roman Shevchenko: From Routine to Ruin

Roman Shevchenko, head of the Children’s Sleep Laboratory at Okhmatdyt, was in the laboratory next to the building hit by the missile. “By the time the explosion happened, we had not yet managed to get to the shelter, so after the impact, glass shards flew at us. I was slightly injured, but our nurse was severely cut by glass and bleeding. We started looking for something to bandage her with, but there was nothing nearby, so we went down to the floor, and there I provided her with first aid,” he explained. Despite the devastation, most of the laboratory’s equipment remained intact and continued to function. “We had a laptop on the windowsill, it was covered with glass but still working!” Roman recounted in astonishment.

He emphasized the unexpected timing of the attack: “Russia struck right after all the morning meetings were over and all the doctors had started working. We were already used to Russia striking at night, so this attack was completely unexpected.”

Photos courtesy of Okhmatdyt medical staff.

How You Can Help:

The attack on Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital has devastated the lives of many innocent victims and shaken the global community. Razom Health is actively on the ground, mobilizing crucial supplies and support for those affected.

You can make a difference today by supporting our dedicated teams as they work tirelessly to aid the victims of the Okhmatdyt tragedy and other healthcare facilities in Ukraine that remain under constant threat of attack.

Donate now to provide immediate relief and assistance to those in need.