Upcoming U.S. Events Focusing on the Abduction and Deportation of Ukrainian Children by Russia
The war in Ukraine has inflicted unimaginable suffering, but one of the most egregious and heart-wrenching aspects is the widespread abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia. These innocent victims are being torn from their families, their homes, and their childhoods, with devastating consequences.
In the coming days and weeks, several key events will be taking place around the U.S. about this urgent issue. Razom invites you to participate in order to raise awareness and demand action:
Washington, D.C.
January 31st:
The Helsinki Commission hosts a hearing, “Eyewitness Accounts: Ukrainian Children and Civilians Abducted by Russia” featuring firsthand accounts from victims and experts, including:
-Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S.
-Pia Kauma, Member of Parliament from Finland and former Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly; OSCE PA President at the 2023 Annual Session in Vancouver.
-Mykola Kuleba, Founder and CEO of Save Ukraine, President of the Children’s Rescue Service, and former Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Ukraine.
-Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.
Join the hearing at 2 pm ET at Longworth 1334 in person or online at bit.ly/HChearing.
February 2nd:
Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues, co-hosted by the U.S. State Department and the Embassies of Ukraine and the UK, presents “The War Against Ukraine’s Children”. Hear from high-level officials and advocates including:
-Gillian Huebner, Executive Director of the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues at Georgetown University and a member of the Bring Kids Back UA task force.
-Nicole Chulick, the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State.
-Joel Hellman, the Dean of the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University.
-Mykola Kuleba, Founder and CEO of Save Ukraine, President of the Children’s Rescue Service, and a former Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Ukraine.
-Kyrylo Lapko, the Head of the International Relations Office at the Ukrainian Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development.
-Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner (Ombudsman) for Human Rights.
-Kati Csaba, the Executive Director of the Ukraine Bureau with Global Affairs Canada.
-Lesia Zaburanna, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Co-Chairwoman of the Ukraine-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Join the discussion from 2 pm to 4 pm ET at Copley Hall or online at https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalGeorgetown.
New York City
February 8th:
The Harriman Institute at Columbia University hosts “Kidnapped Childhood: Russia’s War on Ukraine’s Children”. Featuring Ukrainian filmmaker Tanya Khodakivska, artist Alevtina Kakhidze, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Dr. Volodymyr Venher and Mykola Kuleba from Save Ukraine. This event promises powerful insights and discussions and a peak into the upcoming animated documentary “The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole.”
Join in person at 6 pm ET at Pulitzer Hall or online at bit.ly/harrimanevent.
Across the U.S.
February 14th-24th:
Razom together with Kyiv Independent will bring their documentary “Uprooted” to five cities: Washington, D.C., New York City, Austin and Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ.
This investigative film delves into the abduction and illegal deportation of children from Mariupol. Catch the screenings and panel discussions featuring the creators and one of the film’s subjects, Ivan, a young boy who experienced forcible transfer but was successfully returned to Ukraine.
- February 14:
New York City, 7 pm
Location and tickets: HERE
- February 15:
Washington DC, 7 pm
Location and tickets: HERE
- February 17-18:
Houston: time and location TBD
Tickets: TBD
- February 19-21:
Austin: time and location TBD
Tickets: TBD
- February 22-24:
Phoenix: time and location TBD
Tickets: TBD
These events are crucial platforms to amplify the voices of Ukrainian children, shed light on this grave human rights violation, and urge action from international communities.
Attend in person, watch online, share the information, and raise your voice against this criminal injustice!
Together, we can demand accountability for stolen childhoods!
Research Project Championing Freedom: Increasing Popular Support for Pro-Democracy Causes
Research Project Championing Freedom: Increasing Popular Support for Pro-Democracy Causes
Razom’s Advocacy program is working to enhance engagement with American audiences in order to establish popular, long-term support for Ukraine in the United States.
As part of its advocacy work, Razom received a grant supporting a project titled Championing Freedom. Its purpose was to understand what motivates Americans to support pro-democracy causes and be in favor of government support for a fight for freedom outside the U.S., as in the example of Ukraine.
The Championing Freedom project lasted six-months and examined how Americans, as well as pro-democracy activists around the world, identify with democratic causes. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was the case study used to better understand just how Americans think about supporting and defending democracy. The project was conducted in cooperation with Ukrainian civil society groups, global pro-democracy campaigners, friends of Ukraine, and other communicators already working in this space.
The results of the research can be applied by pro-democracy movements to activate popular support for foreign nations under invasion that is committed to preserving their democracy.
Key findings
The key question this research sought to answer is how Americans feel, perceive, and understand Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
- Poll results consistently indicated that the majority of Americans, despite multiple media manipulations, want to continue to support Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.
The poll conducted in August, 2023 showed that 63% of Americans support continuing military support for Ukraine in next year’s federal budget. The poll, conducted in October, confirmed that 60% of U.S. voters believe that America’s allies and enemies would view a U.S. withdrawal of military support for Ukraine as a sign of weakness.
However, the resumption of the Israel-Palestine conflict introduced a split among the respondents, with some demonstrating less support for military aid to Ukraine if aid is linked to Israel, while others indicated more support.
- Americans strongly believe that Putin is a major threat to the US. Putin received the lowest approval rating among all the world political leaders across all the audiences – 85% total unfavorable; 74% very unfavorable. Americans do not like bullies and see Putin as a bully.
Messages that place Putin as the main villain and mastermind of the war against Ukraine and other conflicts around the world performed best in persuading Americans to support Ukraine.
- Americans root for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, but they do not see either side winning.
70% of Americans believe that Ukraine should win the war imposed by Russia — this number holds throughout time — however, they do not see any side currently winning.
This response is important; winning is crucial for Americans to become invested in any conflict. Currently, Americans do not have a vision of a Ukrainian victory, and shaping that vision would be integral to obtaining popular support in the U.S.
When describing a timeline for the commitment to a struggle, many Americans hear “as long as it takes” as code for “forever”. Proclaiming “victory” as the end goal of aiding Ukraine is crucial to obtaining and sustaining popular support in the U.S.
Survey results indicated that the goal of “defending democracy” lacks broad appeal in the U.S. because different segments of Americans understand the word “democracy” differently. “Defending freedom” unites and motivates Americans more.
Comprehensive interviews with members of the general public indicate that Americans feel that their nation is weak and ineffectual, and are cynical about America’s goodness as a nation. Respondents once again want to feel strong, effective and good. They want their country to lead, but also want that the burden of leadership be shared with the allies. Most think that European allies are not doing their fair share in the war, and should be doing more. Whether it is true or not, this is how Americans perceive their role in the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.
- Finer segmentation of polling indicated that an anti-Ukrainian mood prevails in a small segment of the conservative minority. However, that small segment more positively views support for Ukraine after learning that the U.S. spent less than 3% of its defense budget to destroy 50% of Russian armed forces, and that Ukraine has regained over 50% of previously occupied territories. The information that most boosted support was the persecution of Evangelical Christians by Russian occupational forces in Ukraine.
Key arguments
From our research, there are key points Americans need to know to sustain popular support for
Ukraine. Americans need to know the main facts about events in Ukraine,and most do not have accurate information, therefore sharing key arguments is crucial.
- Ukraine is not involved in a regional “squabble” with Russia. It is fighting for its freedom and for the right to govern itself.
- Although the situation is complex, given the U.S.’ vast experience and capabilities, America is up for the task, and has a clear path to victory.
- Getting involved is critical both for U.S. national security and because morally, when innocent lives are at stake, supporting Ukraine is the right thing to do.
- Ukraine is not in a “forever war” and the U.S. is not going in blind. America has the resources for assisting Ukraine and will do everything possible to preserve the lives of not only Americans but of those who are defenseless and oppressed.
- The stakes couldn’t be clearer—either we live in a world where bullies roll over defenseless innocents or we stand up for freedom, we stand up for innocent lives, and we work with other nations to win a better future for us all.
- Ukrainians are making good use of American aid and making progress against Russia. But that doesn’t mean the fight is over. Civilians, churches, and schools are still being targeted and hurt by Russian forces. Americans can’t let that stand.
Key stories
Beyond polling, another element of this project was a series of deep-dive interviews with a representative group of American voters. When combined with the polling data, a pattern of narratives emerged around how Americans identify with and support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
Heroic Moments from Shared History
For many Americans, helping Ukraine is a chance for the U.S. to be a hero to the world, just as in World War II. The American Revolution of 1776 is sacred to both Americans and Ukrainians. Describing Ukraine’s fight as a revolt against Russia’s colonial domination—or Ukraine’s own “1776 moment”— can inspire Americans and make them more closely identify with Ukraine.
Respecting Order, Protecting Innocents
Many Americans are deeply offended and moved by Russia’s abuse of innocent lives: the bombing of civilians, abduction of children, rape of women, and other war crimes. They need to hear the stories that bring to life Russia’s rule-breaking, use of torture, and targeting of civilians beyond more abstract claims that Russia is “violating international law.” Narrating the suffering and bravery of Ukrainian civilians living in Russian-occupied areas gives Americans a better understanding of Ukraine’s stake and motivation in this war.
Doing What’s Right *
Narratives about America’s fundamental desire to oppose evil and fight for good; America’s role as the world’s most powerful nation should be provided. Stories should narrate fundamental values—the right to safety, security, freedom, and self-determination. When a major power attacks a small nation, most Americans want the U.S. to side with David and beat Goliath.
* America’s stance in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, however, detracted from this argument as many Americans see a double standard in how the U.S. has responded to the protection of innocents in the Middle East conflict and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Winning a Safe, Freer Future
The fundamental purpose of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is for Russia to define the future of humanity: oppression vs. freedom; liberty vs. censorship; impunity vs. the rule of law. Offering a vision of a future where Ukraine’s victory makes the world safer and deters future authoritarian aggression motivates Americans to be more invested in Ukraine’s cause.
Summary
The research demonstrated that content featuring Putin as an enemy of the free world and the U.S. as a force for good, works for different audiences, especially conservative and independent ones, to amplify support for Ukraine. Since Putin enjoys an extremely low approval rating even among anti-Ukrainian audiences in the U.S., the most universally persuasive messages would focus on him personally.
Based on research insights, Razom, in partnership with Spirit of America, produced an ad that features Col. Matt Dimmick, who went to Ukraine and is an avid advocate in the U.S. of Ukrainian victory.
Overall, Americans’ hearts are in the right place: the majority of people are motivated to support causes to help civilians and vulnerable populations and to safeguard justice and freedom for all. What Americans lack are awareness and reliable facts. Due in part to a competitive information environment, people repeat a set of statements they hear from public figures and in the media (e.g. that the war is a “territorial dispute”, Ukraine is “too corrupt”, the U.S. has given Ukraine a “blank check”, etc.). These types of statements disperse public attention from Ukraine and refocus it on Americans’ deepest anxieties and concerns.
Educational and informative campaigns aimed at boosting awareness about Ukraine and providing Americans with reliable information from resources they trust, are key to securing popular support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom.
This research was conducted in real time and the results were influenced by a fast-moving news cycle. Future research would be beneficial to ensure these findings stay relevant.
Project team
Katya Pavlevych, Project Manager, Razom for Ukraine
Gretchen Barton, Team Lead, Worthy Strategy Group
Kirk Cheyfitz and Rose Hackman, Narrative Development & Strategy, Kirk Cheyfitz/ Political Narrative,
Stephen Clermont, Polling Lead, Change Research
Ellen Kirk, Creative Project Manager
Milan De Vries, Content Testing and Analysis
This research was supported by the Temerty Foundation and Open Society Foundation.
Razom For Ukraine Announces New Advocacy Advisory Board Members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2023
Contact:
Nana Gongadze, Head of Advocacy Communications
nana.gongadze@razomforukraine.org
Razom For Ukraine Welcomes New Advocacy Advisory Board Members
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Razom Advocacy, a program of Razom for Ukraine committed to advancing Ukrainian victory, announces the addition of three new members of its Advocacy Advisory Board. Composed of experienced leaders, the advisory board will guide the Razom Advocacy team as it seeks to ensure that Ukraine receives the tools it needs for a swift victory.
The three new members are:
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Gen. Philip Breedlove (ret.), Former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
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Mark Levin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, National Coalition for Supporting Eurasian Jewry
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Steven Moore, President, Ukraine Freedom Project
“We are thankful to these influential experts and executives for joining our Razom Advocacy Advisory Board. They bring decades of experience in the military, international politics, and the government, and have already done so much to help Ukraine at this critical time. Together, we will continue to work relentlessly to make sure Ukraine gets the resources it needs for victory,” said Mykola Murskyj, Director of Advocacy for Razom for Ukraine
Established in the United States in 2014, Razom strives to create a more democratic and prosperous Ukraine. Razom Advocacy was created in March 2022 as part of Razom’s response to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since then, Razom has raised more than $100 million for emergency relief and psychological assistance to Ukrainian civilians, supplies and generators for medical facilities, tactical medicine and communications gear for the armed forces, and support for Ukrainian cultural projects.
New members join the existing Razom Advocacy Advisory Board, which includes:
Dr. Anders Åslund, Senior Fellow at the Stockholm Free World Forum for Global Affairs
Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Victor J. Herlinsky, Jr., Attorney, Sills, Cummis & Gross
Yevhen Hlibovytsky, Partner, Pro.Mova Consulting
Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (ret.), Former Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe
The Honorable Tom Malinowski, Former Representative for New Jersey’s 7th District, U.S. House of Representatives
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head, Center for Civil Liberties & 2022 Nobel Laureate
Nate Mook, Former CEO, World Central Kitchen
Nataliya Popovych, Founder & President, One Philosophy & WeAreUkraine
Christina Walsh, Senior Director of Activism and Coalitions, Institute for Justice
Diane Zeleny, Head of External Affairs, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
###
For media inquiries or other questions, Nana Gongadze at nana.gongadze@razomforukraine.org. Razom (“together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to helping build a more democratic and prosperous Ukraine. More information is available at RazomForUkraine.org.
Razom and Partners Welcome Delegation from the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations
Header image: Delegation with Senator Chuck Grassley
Razom, in cooperation with Nova Ukraine, HTX4UKRAINE and MedGlobal, recently hosted a delegation of distinguished religious leaders from the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) for advocacy programming in Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas.
The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) was established in 1996 as an interdenominational institution, aiming to unite the efforts of various denominations to focus on the spiritual revival of Ukraine, coordination of interconfessional dialogue in Ukraine and abroad, participation in a legislative process on church-state issues, and the implementation of comprehensive charitable actions. It is one of the largest nonprofits in Ukraine and represents over 95% of religious communities in Ukraine, including Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities.
During their visit, the delegation engaged in a series of meetings with U.S. government officials, church counterparts, local communities, and media outlets, while also attending a range of public events.
The delegation shared information and perspectives on the state of religious freedoms in Ukraine and highlighted Russia’s disinformation efforts. They also exchanged insights with their U.S. counterparts, shedding light on how Ukrainian religious communities have responded to Russia’s invasion and the profound impact of Russia’s aggression on religious life within Ukraine.
Highlights included:
- An interfaith panel with the Atlantic Council at the US Institute for Peace, moderated by Marie Yovanovitch, former Ambassador to Ukraine, followed by a USIP private roundtable.
- A meeting at the State Department with Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain
- A panel discussion at Hudson Institute moderated by Nina Shea
- Meeting with USAID, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Senator Chuck Grassley, the Heritage Foundation, ADAMS Center, the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry and more
- A meeting with Commissioner Eric Ueland and Ex. Dir. Erin Singshinsuk at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
- A trip to the White House for a meeting with Kelly Razzouk, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Democracy
- A conversation with the American Jewish Committee, hosted by the Consulate General of Ukraine in Houston
- A special Ukraine Gratitude Dinner in Houston hosted by Ecclesia Houston Christian Community, featuring Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
The visit highlighted the unity and diversity of Ukrainian religious communities in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and gave the leaders a chance to spread their message to a wider audience through interviews with the press.
Press coverage highlights include:
- On a US tour, Ukrainian faith leaders plead for continued support against the Russian invasion – by Peter Smith, Associated Press
- Catholic Church in Ukraine facing extermination, bishops say – by Peter Pinedo, Catholic News Service
- Russia is attacking religious freedom in Ukraine. Does Mike Johnson care? – by Karen Tumulty, The Washington Post
- Ukrainian Church Leaders Sound Alarm on Russia’s Use of Religious ‘Jihadist’ Language to Prop Up War Effort – by David Zimmerman, National Review
- Ukrainian faith leaders say if Russia prevails, religious freedoms would be curtailed – Kate Scanlon, Catholic Standard
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our partners and friends for engaging with the UCCRO delegation last week and helping us organize this trip!
Razom’s Ukraine on Campus Project Supports Student Activism Across the Country
(Uliana Storoshchuk / Ukraine Action Summit)
Pictured, right to left: Svitlana Kukharuk, Ukraine on Campus stipend awardee, Vitalii Svichinskyi, Razom in Ukraine, Oleksa Martiniouk, Ukraine on Campus
Hailing from universities across California, Florida, Iowa, New York, and Wyoming, the first cohort of Ukraine on Campus stipend awardees brought their unique stories and impactful advocacy to the halls of Congress recently. Razom for Ukraine, through the Ukraine on Campus project, was able to support five students in offsetting the cost of attending the third Ukraine Action Summit, which took place October 22-24, 2023.
The Summit, organized by the American Coalition of Ukraine, of which Razom is a founding member , consisted of panel discussions, collaborative advocacy training, and Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill. The three day event offered students, and constituents at-large, an opportunity to engage with their Congressional Representatives and Senators and develop sustainable relationships with their offices in advancing continued and unwavering support and aid for Ukraine. Student awardees brought their unique perspectives, academic expertise, and personal connections to Ukraine as they sat down with members of Congress and their staff to present legislative remedies to the greatest challenges facing Ukraine and her allies today.
This semester’s cohort of UAS stipend awardees included students from across the country, each displaying highly unique, yet very impactful leadership in championing Ukraine on their campuses and in their local communities. Solomiya Kovalenko, a student at Iowa State University, co-hosts a podcast about Ukraine on the local radio station in Ames, Iowa, in addition to her work with the Ukrainian club there. Svitlana Kukharuk, studying human rights at Bard College, launched the Ukrainian Solidarity Club focused on social, cultural, and activist outreach,after serving as an on-campus ambassador with the Lubetzky Foundation’s Global Democracy Ambassador Scholarship program. Pournima Narayanan, engages students at Stanford and beyond through her work with the Ukraine Support Alliance at Stanford and SUSTA, and makes an impact in the community through TeleHelp Ukraine and Brave Generation‘s MentorUkraine program. Oleksandra Nelson, president of the Ukrainian Student Association at the University of Florida, leads efforts to fundraise, educate, and advocate both on campus and in the Gainesville city community. Anastasiia Pereverten, working on an advocacy-related capstone project for the Honors College at the University of Wyoming after an internship with the New Lines Institute, has championed Ukraine in her small college town with everything from rallies and fundraisers to movie screenings and stickers.
Ukraine on Campus, already a database of 50+ Ukrainian student groups across American university campuses, is a developing project focused on connecting students interested in championing Ukraine and mobilizing the resources they need to activate their campuses in support of a Ukrainian victory. Its goal is to engage student activism both on campus and beyond through conferences, event tours, and more.
Like with the Ukraine Action Summit, Ukraine on Campus will offer a number of travel stipends for students to attend the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Convention this November-December. This year’s theme is decolonization, which is vital to the study of Ukraine.
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