Crimea Is Memory, Culture, and Resistance: Explore Crimean Tatar Voices This Remembrance Day

Published: May 5, 2026

Every year on May 18, Ukraine commemorates the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide — a day that honors the lives lost and the resilience of an indigenous people whose history continues to shape Ukraine today.

In 1944, the Soviet regime forcibly deported the entire Crimean Tatar population from their homeland. Families were given minutes to gather their belongings before being loaded onto trains and sent to remote regions. Tens of thousands perished due to starvation, disease, and inhumane conditions. These events are now recognized as genocide.

Since Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014 — and especially after the full-scale invasion in 2022 — Crimean Tatars have once again faced repression, arrests, and persecution. Today, remembrance is not only about the past. It is about an ongoing struggle for rights, identity, and the right to live freely on their land. This day invites us not only to remember, but to learn — to engage with Crimean Tatar culture, language, and history in ways that deepen understanding and solidarity. Below is a curated selection of resources to help you begin.

Crimea: History and People (Online Course)

Explore HERE.

A comprehensive course exploring Crimea through the perspective of its indigenous people. Led by scholars and experts, it covers history, identity, and the political realities shaping the region today — offering a deeper understanding of both past and present.

Crimea: History and People (Ukrainian Institute)

Explore HERE.

A free, English-language course featuring 12 video lectures on Crimean Tatar history, culture, and their long struggle to return home. Ideal for anyone looking for a structured, accessible introduction to Crimea beyond headlines.

Qırım: Crimea Is Us (Prometheus Course)

Explore HERE.

This Ukrainian-language course challenges stereotypes and reframes Crimea as a story of people, identity, and resistance. It explores the place of Crimea and Crimean Tatars in Ukraine’s past, present, and future through a thoughtful, reflective lens.

“Ukrayinanıñ İçinden” by Ukraїner

Explore HERE.

A cultural exploration of Ukraine that includes perspectives and stories reflecting the diversity of its regions and peoples, including Crimea. A visually rich and narrative-driven entry point into Ukrainian identity.

“The Crimean Tatar Nation in Great Works of Art”

Explore HERE.

This academic work examines global art as historical evidence of Crimean Tatar presence and identity. By analyzing paintings as primary sources, authors Zera K. Mustafaieva and Zarema K. Mustafaieva offer a unique and rigorous approach to understanding indigenous history through visual culture.

“There Is Land Beyond the Perekop”

Explore HERE.

A novel weaving personal and historical narratives, tracing generations shaped by deportation, repression, and resilience. Through storytelling, it explores identity, belonging, and the enduring impact of Crimean Tatar culture.

Bulbul (Crimean Tatar Learning Platform)

Explore HERE.

A multimedia platform designed for young children — but equally valuable for beginners of any age. Featuring songs, stories, cartoons, and a dictionary with audio pronunciation, it’s a gentle and engaging introduction to the language.

Qırım Ailesi (YouTube Playlist)

Explore HERE.

A collection of Crimean Tatar fairy tales and legends told in the original language. Listening to these stories offers a powerful way to connect with cultural traditions and hear the rhythm of the language firsthand.

Engaging with Crimean Tatar culture is not just about learning history — it is about recognizing a living, resilient people whose identity has survived displacement, repression, and attempted erasure. Culture carries memory. Language carries belonging. Stories carry truth. When we read, listen, and learn, we help ensure that these voices are not silenced — that Crimea is understood not as an abstract territory, but as a homeland with a deep and complex human story.

This May 18, remembrance can include curiosity and a step toward deeper solidarity. Because to truly stand with Ukraine, we must also know Crimea — and the people who have always called it home.

We Work Together. And It Saves Lives.

Published: May 1, 2026

Ukrainian medicine under full-scale war is not only adapting. It is advancing how complex trauma care is delivered in active combat conditions.

Dnipro is a major city in eastern Ukraine, located along the Dnipro River and serving as a key medical hub for patients evacuated from front-line regions. Its hospitals receive a continuous flow of severely wounded patients from active combat zones.

Razom supports Mechnikov Hospital and the development of Co-Pilot to ensure Ukrainian medical professionals have access to modern tools, knowledge, and technologies needed to work under wartime conditions. This is support for a healthcare system that continues to save lives while strengthening the future of Ukrainian medicine.

In this system, the line between battlefield and hospital no longer exists. It runs through emergency departments, operating rooms, and daily clinical decisions. At Mechnikov Hospital, one of Ukraine’s leading referral centers for complex trauma, doctors are not only treating patients. They are building a model of care shaped by constant pressure, limited time, and high-risk injuries.

“We are now in Dnipro. This is my fourth trip here,” says American neurosurgeon Rocco Armonda. “We operate alongside Ukrainian doctors, manage intensive care, consult on complex cases, and work on scientific publications.”

This is not a typical professional exchange. It is sustained collaboration built around real-time needs. Razom supports this work by connecting specialists, helping with the logistics, delivering critical equipment, and enabling continuous knowledge exchange between Ukrainian and international doctors.

“Rocco was the first neurosurgeon who came to Dnipro in 2023,” says Andrii Sirko, head of neurosurgery at Mechnikov Hospital. “Since then, we have worked together every year, including on the most complex cases.”

This partnership reflects a broader shift. Wartime medical practice in Ukraine is contributing to new clinical standards that are now being observed internationally.

The First Trip: Suitcases, a Train, and the Unknown

Rocco’s first trip to Ukraine was defined by logistics and uncertainty.
“We flew to Kraków with four large containers of medical equipment,” Armonda recalls. “The vehicle we received was too small. We had to repack everything by hand.”
From there, the route continued to Lviv, across the border, and onward by overnight train to Dnipro. In Dnipro, the arrival was direct and personal.
“I was surprised. Senior doctors were waiting for us at the platform. That does not happen in the United States,” he says. Sirko remembers the same moment differently. “We first saw the suitcases. Only then we saw Rocco.”
This reflects the nature of the work. Action comes first.

The Operation That Changes the Understanding of War

The first day in the hospital required immediate engagement.
“It was a penetrating brain injury after a drone strike,” says Armonda. The injury involved both brain tissue and major vessels. Cases like this require rapid, multi-stage intervention. At Mechnikov Hospital, the team completed diagnosis and surgery without delay.
“I have not seen this done in one stage so close to an active combat zone,” Armonda notes. “In Iraq and Afghanistan, we focused on stabilization only.”
Ukrainian teams operate differently. They manage full clinical complexity under pressure. In another case, a patient presented with a gunshot wound to the base of the skull and intracerebral hematoma.
“I asked if observation was the plan,” Armonda recalls. Sirko’s response was direct. “No. We intervene.”
This approach prioritizes outcome and responsibility for survival. During the same period, the team introduced a pupillometer, a device used to assess neurological response and intracranial pressure. The equipment was delivered through international support and immediately integrated into clinical practice. The patient survived. This outcome reflects a consistent system, not an isolated case.

Philosophy of Survival and Work

War compresses time and changes decision-making.
“In the United States, we may observe for several days,” says Armonda. “Here, decisions must be immediate. The patient flow does not stop.”
Evacuation delays also affect treatment.
“Patients often arrive later than expected. This changes surgical planning, especially in the presence of infection. ”Adaptability defines the system. Ukrainian doctors adjust protocols in real time based on conditions on the ground. What stands out is not only clinical capability, but professional mindset. “People focus on what needs to be done today,” Armonda says.
“They go to work, treat patients, take care of their families.” Recognition is secondary. “When you call them heroes, they say they are doing their job. They point to those at the front.”
This reflects a clear professional ethic grounded in responsibility.

Why Advocacy Is a Continuation of Medicine

The discussion then moves beyond clinical work.
“People often ask me how they can help,” says Armonda.
“They contribute equipment, research, and funding. This supports patient care in a direct way.”
Every contribution is applied in practice, whether through equipment, medical missions, or research. In operational terms, this acts as a force multiplier. Support increases the capacity to treat more patients and manage more complex cases.

This is not only financial support. It is presence. People understand that they are not working in isolation. Razom maintains active operations in Ukraine, ensuring that support reaches hospitals where it is needed. This support is visible. It directly contributes to patient survival.
“We provide a platform so that the world can see what is happening here,” Armonda says. “People want to help.”
“We do not just work together. We begin to think in the same way,” adds Sirko.
“This matters beyond medicine. We share principles and apply them in daily work.” This includes not only treatment, but also sharing experience and making it visible to others. Without this exchange, the connection between teams would not exist. This work includes doctors, partners, and supporters across countries. It is coordinated and sustained.

From Practice to Advocacy

In this context, advocacy is not based on statements. It is based on demonstrated capability. It does not begin in political offices. It is formed in hospitals, through clinical decisions and responsibility for patient outcomes. Doctors do not describe this work as advocacy. They operate, train, and share clinical experience. By doing so, they provide direct evidence of what is possible in wartime medicine. In modern war, outcomes matter. The ability to make decisions, manage complexity, and save lives under pressure builds trust and informs international understanding. Ukraine’s experience is not only about survival. It contributes to the development of medical practice. As this experience becomes visible through research, collaboration, and exchange, it becomes part of the global medical conversation. Advocacy ensures that this work is understood. Because their experience is not a position. It is evidence.

Where Displacement Turns Into Community

Published: April 27, 2026

How women from Razom grantee “We Are Brothers, We Are Ukrainians” support communities across Kharkiv region

Twenty-six kilometers from Kharkiv, in the town of Liubotyn, a dormitory has become a temporary home for dozens of people who lost their homes during the war. Here, life is gradually rebuilding after shelling, shaped by international support, local volunteer efforts, and the resilience of residents.

Restoration of the dormitory was supported by Razom, which funded the installation of a new entranceway and roof repairs. During our visit, we spoke with Kateryna Posokhova, Executive Director of the foundation “We Are Brothers, We Are Ukrainians,” which has been working across the Kharkiv region for years.

The foundation’s team works daily with dormitory residents and other displaced people in the region.

When Evacuation Reshapes Communities

The foundation expanded its work during mass evacuations from frontline areas of the Kharkiv region, particularly from Vovchansk district and communities near Lyptsi.

People moved in large numbers into dormitories and collective centers, which became emergency housing for internally displaced people.

“We started working as soon as large-scale evacuations began. Children were arriving in dormitories and collective centers, and we began working with them, as well as with adults,” Posokhova says.

Foundation psychologists organized group sessions for children and provided individual support for adults coping with displacement, loss, and the ongoing stress of war.

How Repairs Begin

While working in dormitories, the team collected requests from residents about their most urgent needs.

At first, those needs were basic.

“People initially asked for showers and toilets. Then they asked about repairing the basement, the entranceway, and eventually the roof,” Posokhova recalls.

Over time, these requests developed into larger restoration projects.

Together with partners, including international organizations, the foundation supported multiple repairs. In one case, workers removed more than five tons of debris from a roof before repairs could begin.

“We cleared the roof, insulated it, repaired the structure, and installed pumping equipment for the boiler system,” she explains.

Psychosocial Support

Psychosocial support is a core part of the foundation’s work.

The team works with children, teenagers, parents, and older residents.

In Liubotyn, activities for children are held inside a shelter.

“It is a reinforced shelter that allows us to safely conduct educational activities with children and teenagers,” Posokhova says.

The foundation also works with local social care centers that support elderly residents. These meetings create space for connection and routine.

“Our older residents sew, paint, and even organized what they call a ‘work brigade.’ They repainted benches near the playground together,” she says.

Some gatherings include cooking or singing. These simple activities help restore a sense of normal life.

Why Support Matters

According to Posokhova, supporting collective centers would not be possible without international partners and donors.

“For places like these, support from foundations and international organizations makes a significant difference,” she says.

Many residents have lost everything. Their homes are destroyed or located in occupied territories.

“People were left without housing. Every bit of support becomes a chance to start again.”

This is why cooperation between local initiatives and international partners is essential.

“When donors support repairs, psychological programs, or financial assistance, people feel that they are not alone,” Posokhova says.

When People Choose to Stay

Work in collective centers often reveals how meaningful even temporary housing becomes.

Many residents are already displaced. In these dormitories, they began rebuilding their lives, forming new connections and support systems.

One dormitory in Kharkiv was recently damaged by a nearby missile strike.

“Windows were blown out, doors damaged, and walls cracked. Residents were temporarily relocated,” Posokhova says.

But many returned.

“The windows were boarded up, and it was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit inside. They were offered safer accommodation during repairs, but they chose to stay.”

For them, it is no longer just a dormitory. It is a community.

“They found neighbors, support, and a sense of stability here. That is why they stay together,” she says.

A Foundation Led by Women

The foundation’s name emphasizes unity. In practice, most of the team are women.

“Our foundation is called ‘We Are Brothers, We Are Ukrainians,’ but about 95 percent of our team are women,” Posokhova says.

“Our partners often say ‘brothers.’ But when they meet the team, they see it is all sisters.”

The team coordinates humanitarian programs, travels to communities, and works directly with residents. Sometimes in basements. Sometimes in frontline villages.

Always alongside people rebuilding their lives.

“We do everything we can to help people return to some form of normal life,” Posokhova says.

Looking at the dormitory in Liubotyn, where residents are gradually rebuilding, it is clear that this work matters.

The Chornobyl Legacy: Honoring the 40th Anniversary of the Disaster

Published: April 26, 2026

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, a milestone recognized by the United Nations as International Chornobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. On April 26, 1986, the explosion at Reactor No. 4 in Soviet-controlled Ukraine became the world’s worst nuclear accident, unleashing a torrent of radiation that forever altered millions of lives and reshaped global consciousness.

Four decades later, history does not remain in the past. The Razom team has curated a selection of essential cultural works that have helped the world process this trauma. Through the lens of cinema, art, and literature, these creators ensure that Chornobyl is never forgotten. They remind us that while the Zone may be silent, its story is still being written.

Performing Arts

Archaeological Opera: Chornobyldorf

Created in 2020 by composers Roman Grygoriv and Illia Razumeiko, Chornobyldorf stands as arguably the most internationally acclaimed contemporary Ukrainian performing arts work on the subject of nuclear catastrophe.

Framed as an “archaeological opera,” it depicts the descendants of humanity navigating a post-apocalyptic world. Wandering among the ruins of nuclear power plants, abandoned churches, and decaying galleries, these survivors attempt to piece together the fragments of a lost civilization through surreal performance rituals.

Watch

The Chornobyl Songs Project

Released via Smithsonian Folkways, the project – titled Living Culture from a Lost World – is a monumental effort to recreate centuries-old Polissian village traditions. The collection features harvest songs, wedding melodies, and ancient church carols, all reconstructed from field recordings made just before the 1986 disaster forced these ancient communities to abandon their ancestral lands.

By breathing new life into these “captured” sounds, Ensemble Hilka ensures that the cultural identity of the Polissia region survives, even as the villages themselves remain empty.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Music

Literature

In “Chornobyl: The History of a Nuclear Catastrophe,”Plokhy draws on recently declassified sources to chronicle the 1986 explosion. He “mercilessly chronicles the absurdities of the Soviet system” (Wall Street Journal), tracing the disaster to the flaws of authoritarian rule and a regime that prioritized economic goals over human safety. It remains a vivid, empathetic tribute to the firefighters and scientists who extinguished the nuclear inferno.

Plokhy continues this narrative in his latest book, “Chernobyl Roulette.” He recounts the harrowing 35-day Russian occupation of the plant during the 2022 full-scale invasion. This “real-life thriller” follows the Ukrainian staff held hostage who worked grueling, weeks-long shifts to prevent a new catastrophe. From the veteran foreman Valentyn Heiko to the workers who maintained safety under the shadow of Russian tanks, Plokhy sounds an urgent alarm about the unprecedented dangers facing nuclear sites in wartime.

Stalking the Atomic City: Life Among the Decadent and the Depraved of Chornobyl by Markiyan Kamysh
Translated by Hanna Leliv & Reilly Costigan-Humes

Since the 1986 disaster, Chornobyl has remained a forbidden wasteland that exerts a magnetic pull on “stalkers” – illegal adventurers who treat the barbed wire as a pilgrimage. Markiyan Kamysh offers a “gonzo” guide to this dystopian reality, introducing readers to the thieves, police, and romantic utopists who inhabit the Zone despite its toxic legacy.

Featuring photographs that may be the last images of the site’s desolate beauty before the 2022 Russian occupation, Kamysh’s brash and bold prose captures Chornobyl’s timeless, alien elegance.

Buy and read

Chornobyl, Life, and Other Disasters: A Graphic Memoir
By Yevgenia Nayberg

In this salient and slyly funny graphic memoir, Yevgenia “Genya” Nayberg recounts her childhood in 1980s Ukraine. As Genya dreams of attending a prestigious art school, she navigates the absurdities of Soviet control, the paranoia of the Cold War, and systemic antisemitism. Her world shifts forever on April 26, 1986, when a neighbor is called to a town she’s never heard of: Chornobyl. It is a deeply personal story of artistic perseverance and a rare glimpse into the life of the Soviet intelligentsia during a national catastrophe.

Buy and read

The Post-Chornobyl Library
By Tamara Hundorova
Translated by Hanna Leliv & Reilly Costigan-Humes

Tamara Hundorova explores how the Chornobyl disaster not only marked the end of the Soviet Union but also birthed a new era of Ukrainian literature. Using the “Post-Chornobyl Library” as a metaphor, Hundorova analyzes how the 1990s generation used postmodernism, irony, and “apocalyptic carnival” to process nuclear trauma. This scholarly work tracks the decolonization of Ukrainian culture as writers broke totalitarian taboos, filled historical gaps, and liberated themselves from a fractured past to enter a new, globalized landscape.

Buy and read

Cinema

Chornobyl: Chronicle of Difficult Weeks, 1988
Volodymyr Shevchenko

On April 26, 1986, reactor four at the Chornobyl nuclear power station exploded, releasing a massive radioactive cloud over Northern Ukraine and Belarus. The danger was kept secret from the public. Only two film crews, including one from the Ukrainian studio of chronicle and documentary films (Ukrkinokhronika) led by director Volodymyr Shevchenko, managed to get access. They arrived on May 14, 1986, and spent the next hundred days documenting the efforts of firefighters, engineers, military personnel, and dosimetrists dealing with the aftermath of the explosion.

Streaming

Ten Years of Alienation, 1997
Serhii Bukovskyi

Originally filmed as a series of daily dispatches for the 10th anniversary of the disaster, this documentary explores the physical and emotional state of the Zone. Bukovskyi captures the life of the “settlers” – those who refused to leave their homes despite the radiation – showcasing a deep-rooted Ukrainian connection to one’s birthplace.

Heavy Water: A Film for Chornobyl, 2007
David Bickerstaff & Phil Grabsky

Based on Mario Petrucci’s award-winning poetry, this moving film bypasses technical details to focus on the human cost. Unflinching archival footage of the ghost-town Pripyat is woven with location shots from inside the destroyed reactor, giving voice to the liquidators and families who dealt with the disaster at ground level.

Trailer

The Gateway, 2017
Volodymyr Tykhyi

Blending horror with magical realism, this film follows a family living illegally in the Exclusion Zone. Led by the mystic grandma Prisya, who claims to befriend mythological creatures, a supernatural warning of an impending catastrophe disrupts the family’s quiet, dystopian life.

Trailer

Special Operation, 2026
Oleksiy Radynskyi

An “almost disembodied” examination of military logic, this film uses CCTV footage from the 2022 Russian occupation of the Chornobyl plant. By documenting the reckless military base established at the radioactive site, Radynskyi presents each shot as forensic evidence of a modern war crime and nuclear terror.

Trailer

Photography & Visual Arts

Ukrainian photojournalist Igor Kostin created the photo story “Chornobyl” in the wake of the accident at the power plant on April 26, 1986. Over the course of a year, he documented the aftermath of the disaster, enduring radiation exposure that was five times above the permissible limit. His work received recognition at the World Press Photo competition in 1987.

Ukrainian photojournalist Viktor Marushchenko was among the first to break through bureaucratic barriers to document the Chornobyl tragedy. Over the decade, he persistently returned to the exclusion zone, recording life there despite the unimaginable circumstances. In 2001, his extensive Chornobyl archive was included in the central exhibit of the 49th Venice Biennale, curated by Harald Szeemann.

Maria Prymachenko was a Ukrainian folk artist known for her naïve art. A self-taught painter from the village of Bolotnia, near Chornobyl, she began her career with embroidery and gained international recognition later on. Friends recalled that Maria had nightmares about the impending disaster before the fourth reactor explosion. The tragedy deeply influenced her art, particularly in her magical beasts. Furthermore, her family suffered personally as her nephew, Valerii Khodymchyk, a station worker, was killed during the accident, and she dedicated several paintings to his memory.

Untitled project from Chornobyl, Maksym Dondyuk

Since 2016, Maksym Dondiuk has been working on “Untitled Project from Chernobyl,” a photographic research project that combines his images with archival materials found in the Chornobyl restricted areas. This series explores memory, territory, atomic energy, and nature. Initially reflecting on the emptiness of abandoned land, Dondiuk’s work evolved into a deeper investigation of the past, revealing fragments of life in the Chornobyl area before the nuclear disaster, including old films, photographs, postcards, and letters exposed to nature and radiation.

Painting and monumental art

The Chornobyl disaster significantly influenced a generation of Ukrainian painters from the late 1980s to the 2000s, leading to the emergence of dystopian art reflecting nuclear pollution. Notable artists include Heorhii Senchenko, Yurii Nikitin, Oleksandr Roitburd, and Khrystyna Katrakis, who used various techniques from iconography to postmodern collage.

One remarkable piece is Aleliaksandr Kishchanka’s tapestry “Chornobyl,” gifted to the United Nations to commemorate international cooperation after the explosion. The exclusion zone has also become a canvas for street artists, with abandoned buildings in Prypiat attracting both anonymous graffiti and renowned muralists.

Notable works include Guido van Helten’s mural inspired by Ihor Kostin’s photograph of a liquidator and Pantonio’s mural of blue rabbits.

“Bring Kids Back”: 20,000 Teddy Bears Installed on National Mall to Highlight Russia’s Abduction of Ukrainian Children

Published: April 24, 2026

“Bring Kids Back”: 20,000 Teddy Bears Installed on National Mall to Highlight Russia’s Abduction of Ukrainian Children

Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, April 23, Razom for Ukraine installed a 230-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall fence on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., covered with 20,000 teddy bears. Each plush toy represents a Ukrainian child abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The installation, titled “Bring Kids Back,” was created over five days (Friday through Tuesday) by more than 50 volunteers, with over 120 volunteers involved in total. The display featured white, brown, maroon, and red teddy bears. Maroon and red bears formed a message reading: “Putin abducted 20,000 Ukrainian children. Bring Kids Back.”

In addition to organizers Razom for Ukraine and its partner American Coalition for Ukraine, the installation was attended by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Olha Stefanishyna, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC-2), and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

Because the return of abducted children is a sensitive issue and publicizing details may endanger ongoing rescue efforts, organizers used a symbolic approach to tell their stories.

“Because the return of stolen children is such a sensitive matter, and because publicizing details about children who remain missing can endanger rescue efforts, we searched for a symbolic way to tell their stories. That’s why we chose a teddy bear, a universal symbol of childhood. Each teddy bear represents one child abducted by Russia, and there are 20,000 of them behind me. These are the children that we know were stolen. But how many others are there? The real number of abducted children could be as high as 200,000 kids. And in that case, the installation would span from the Lincoln Memorial all the way to the Washington Monument,”
— Katya Pavlevych, Advisor on Children’s Issues, Razom for Ukraine

“Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has already returned more than 2,000 kids. These 2,000 are living witnesses who say they were forced to forget their identity, their names, where they come from, and that they had families. They were forced to build a new identity. But I am absolutely confident that all Ukrainian children will come back.”
— Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S.

“I met four teenagers who had been in captivity, taken from battlefields and towns that had been destroyed—kids who lost both parents. Somehow, they were able to get cell phones and call their grandmothers from inside Russia. People would cross enemy lines to bring those kids back. I will always go back to President Zelensky’s words on the first day of the invasion: ‘We are here.’ With this installation of 20,000 teddy bears, we say again: we are here.”
— Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

“What Putin is doing to tens of thousands of children—more than 20,000—is a war crime. That is why I am working on a bipartisan bill in Congress to declare Vladimir Putin a war criminal if he does not return those children. I will take this teddy bear with me when I return to Ukraine in May for my 11th trip.

We need sanctions. We need military aid. We need economic assistance. America must do its part. And I call on the president: do your job. Stand for democracy. Stand with Ukraine.”
— Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

“As a father of five, I cannot imagine my children being subjected to this kind of evil. This is why I introduced a resolution calling for any ceasefire agreement to include the return of abducted children. I also introduced bipartisan legislation calling for targeted sanctions on anyone dealing in Russian oil. We must make Russia pay for its crimes.”

“Putin’s plan goes far beyond Ukraine. They are preparing children for a war with NATO itself.”
— Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX-10)

“To kidnap children in the middle of a military conflict is a blatant violation of human rights law and international humanitarian law. It is a war crime, and if done intentionally to destroy a people, it is evidence of genocide. We are calling on everyone of conscience across America and in the administration to take action today to bring Ukraine’s children home.”
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8)

“The kidnapping of Ukrainian children by war criminal Putin is the same as the kidnapping of Polish children by Hitler. We must all work together to put an end to it.”
— Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC-2)

“This is not a side effect of war. It is a deliberate strategy of cultural annihilation. The International Criminal Court has recognized it, the world has recognized it, and yet these children are still not home. Their return is non-negotiable.”
— Marianna Tretiak, Chair, American Coalition for Ukraine

The installation is intended to travel to other U.S. cities and events, with additional requests already received from partner organizations.

Razom for Ukraine is a U.S. nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and serving as a leading advocate for continued U.S. support for Ukraine. For additional information, please contact our media advisors: Kateryna Lisunova at kateryna.lisunova@razomforukraine.org or +1 (347) 421-1755, or Ostap Yarysh at ostap.yarysh@razom.org or +1 (202) 560-2282.

“Everyone can do something”: restoring faces — and lives — during war in Ukraine

Published: April 20, 2026

This spring, Lviv hosted the sixth Face to Face mission — a surgical program of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), implemented by Razom as part of the Co-Pilot project.

Over the course of seven days, a team of seven surgeons — Parag Gandhi, Grigoriy Mashkevich, Augustine Moscatello, John Frodel, Ryan Daniel Winters, Ivanna Nebor, Boris Chernobilsky — alongside ten nurses, including Susan Ketigian, Viktoriya Ygreen, Yurij Tsuvanyk, Jamie Harold Orange, Emmett Joseph Harty Jr, Maribel Caraballo, Andrew Kostyaniuk and Tashina Morgenstern, worked at the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Western Region together with their Ukrainian colleagues. They operated on patients with some of the most complex facial injuries caused by the war.

The work began with consultations: in just one day, doctors examined 55 patients and selected 40 for surgery. Starting the next morning, operating rooms ran at full capacity from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For four consecutive days, the team carried out reconstructive procedures across three specialties — ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and maxillofacial surgery. These injuries affect not only physical function but also how patients see themselves — their identity, confidence, and place in the world.

Among the patients were both military personnel and civilians affected by the war. For many, this was not the first stage of treatment, but part of a long recovery process that can last months or even years.

One of the defining features of this mission was the integration of surgical care with on-site prosthetics. Two anaplastologists — Eduardo Arias and Benjamin Rosenberg, specialists in ocular and facial prosthetics — joined the team. Together, they set up a temporary laboratory to create custom ocular prostheses for patients undergoing surgery.

This approach fundamentally changed the care pathway: patients were able to receive their prosthesis immediately after surgery, without waiting for a separate stage of treatment. In cases of eye loss, this has not only medical but also profound psychological significance — allowing individuals to return more quickly to a familiar appearance and to social life.

Alongside surgical care, the team also addressed other dimensions of recovery. Pain management specialist Timothy Canty, who works with PTSD, joined the mission. He delivered lectures at the Superhumans Center, Lviv Psychiatric Hospital, and St. Panteleimon Hospital, as well as practical trainings for anesthesiologists, psychologists, and pain management specialists at the Lviv Military Hospital. This work is aimed not only at supporting patients but also at strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian medical teams to address the long-term consequences of trauma.

Knowledge transfer was another key component of the mission. Ukrainian doctors who had previously participated in missions, surgical trainings, conferences, and observerships in U.S. hospitals organized by Razom — as well as specialists from other Lviv hospitals — joined the procedures. They worked side by side with the international team in operating rooms, observing, assisting, and gaining experience they will continue to apply in their practice.

Dr. Parag Gandhi, an oculofacial plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience and a third-time participant in the mission, emphasized the importance of this collaboration:

“It is a great honor for me to work alongside Ukrainian colleagues, helping injured soldiers and civilians who have sacrificed so much for their families and their country. I truly believe that while one person cannot do everything, everyone can do something. And it is through knowledge exchange and collaboration that we make that contribution.”

The mission was made possible through the partnership between Razom for Ukraine and the AAFPRS Face to Face program, as well as collaboration with the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Western Region, the INgenius platform, and Healing the Children North East.

These missions are gradually reshaping the approach to treating complex facial injuries in Ukraine. It is not only about individual surgeries, but about building a comprehensive model in which surgery, prosthetics, pain management, and physician training are integrated into a single, continuous process of recovery.

The mission was made possible by the support of Razom for Ukraine’s donors, whose contributions enable the deployment of international medical teams, procurement of critical equipment, and on-the-ground coordination. This support makes it possible not only to carry out complex surgeries, but also to facilitate the exchange of expertise between Ukrainian and international physicians and expand access to advanced approaches in treating war-related injuries.

Razom Recommends May 2026

Published: April 14, 2026

May carries a sense of forward motion — longer days, new energy, and a natural pull toward what lies ahead. It’s a time to gather, to create, and to stay connected.

This month’s Razom Recommends highlights events that reflect that spirit, offering ways to engage with Ukrainian culture while looking toward the future with intention and hope.

1 May| 7:00 PM| NYC

Concert Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Catastrophe

The Young Performers Foundation, under the patronage of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, presents a musical tribute commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl catastrophe. Violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv and pianists Steven Beck and Pavlo Gintov perform a deeply expressive program. Through evocative melodies and dynamic arrangements, this concert honors the 1986 tragedy while celebrating the vibrant and enduring legacy of Ukraine’s musical heritage. All proceeds go directly toward supporting Ukrainian culture.

🔗More HERE.

2 May | 6:00 PM | Chicago

7 May | 6:00 PM | Washington, DC

9 May | 6:00 PM | NYC

Across the Ocean: United in Support of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

The Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America invites you to a special benefit celebration in support of the next generation of Ukrainian students at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Taking place across three cities, this event brings communities together in a shared commitment to education, resilience, and Ukraine’s future. Join an evening of connection and purpose as we stand united in supporting young scholars shaping the country’s tomorrow.

🔗More HERE.

7–10 May | NYC

Ukrainian Drama Showcase

Presented by Razom for Ukraine, the Ukrainian Drama Showcase is a four-day festival of staged readings highlighting classic and contemporary Ukrainian plays. Featuring six works performed multiple times throughout the weekend, the festival invites audiences to engage with Ukrainian theater in a dynamic, accessible format. Join for a single reading or immerse yourself in the full experience as these powerful texts come to life on stage.

🔗More HERE.

8 May | 7:00 PM | NYC

78th Anniversary Celebration

The Ukrainian Institute of America invites you to its 78th Anniversary Celebration — an elegant evening honoring the organization’s longstanding commitment to Ukrainian culture and community. Join for a special gathering that brings together supporters, artists, and friends to celebrate legacy, continuity, and the enduring presence of Ukraine in the cultural life of New York.

🔗More HERE.

11 May | 7:00 PM | NYC

Enduring Voices: Rzewski and Sylvestrov

Music at the Institute presents an evening with Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko and violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv, featuring works by Frederic Rzewski and Valentyn Sylvestrov. This powerful program brings together two distinctive musical voices, reflecting on history, memory, and expression through contemporary composition. The concert will be preceded by a talk from musicologist Peter J. Schmelz, offering deeper insight into Soviet-era music and its legacy.

🔗More HERE.

12–24 May | NYC

Distortion / Memory / Resilience — Giles Duley: A New Perspective

Photographer and Legacy of War Foundation founder Giles Duley presents a powerful new exhibition reflecting on two decades of documenting conflict and its human impact. Blending photography, memory, and immersive installations — including a recreated Ukrainian child’s room — the show explores how war shapes lives across time and place. On view at Sutton Tower, this deeply personal exhibition invites viewers to reflect on resilience, connection, and the shared human stories at the heart of conflict.

More HERE.

13 May – 6 June | NYC
Through Her Eyes: War Photography Exhibition
Through Her Eyes is a powerful photography exhibition featuring six Ukrainian women documenting Russia’s war from the front lines since the earliest days of the full-scale invasion. Presented by the American Ukraine Committee, the exhibition offers a deeply personal and unfiltered perspective on war, resilience, and lived experience. On view at the Isabel Sullivan Gallery, the exhibition is free and open to the public.

21 May | 6:30 PM | NYC

Books at the Institute: James Verini in Conversation with Sebastian Junger

Books at the Institute hosts an evening with award-winning journalist James Verini for the New York launch of The Theater: Courage and Survival in the Defining Atrocity of the Ukraine War. In conversation with Sebastian Junger, Verini will discuss reporting from the front lines and the human stories behind one of the war’s most defining moments. The event will be followed by a book signing and light reception.

More HERE.

30 May | 6:30 PM | Chicago

The Enduring Legacy of Ukrainian Art

The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art invites you to its annual Benefit Gala, The Enduring Legacy of Ukrainian Art: Honoring the past. Inspiring the future. This special evening brings together community, culture, and philanthropy to celebrate Ukraine’s artistic heritage while supporting the next chapter of its creative expression. Join for cocktails, dinner, and an inspiring program dedicated to preserving and advancing Ukrainian art.

🔗More HERE.

As the seasons change, our commitment cannot. We invite you to stay engaged, stay informed, and keep your attention on Ukraine — not only in moments of crisis, but in the ongoing work of resilience, culture, and rebuilding. Your continued interest, presence, and support matter more than ever.

Pro-Ukraine Organization Puts Up Billboard in Brownsville Calling Out Rep. Gonzalez for Meeting with Russian War Criminals

Published: April 13, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 13, 2026

Pro-Ukraine Organization Puts Up Billboard in Brownsville Calling Out Rep. Gonzalez for Meeting with Russian War Criminals

Washington, D.C. — Razom for Ukraine, a U.S. non-profit organization that advocates for greater U.S. support for Ukraine, placed a Spanish-language billboard on the intersection of International Blvd and Van Buren Street in Brownsville, TX to call on Rep. Vicente Gonzalez to publicly explain his decision to meet Russian legislators on March 26. As the only member of the Democratic party present, he gave the illusion of bipartisan legitimacy to a meeting with members of Russia’s parliament who have championed the Kremlin’s war of aggression and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

“We expect this from fringe radicals,” said Mykola Murskyj, Director of Advocacy at Razom for Ukraine, “but Representative Gonzalez’s presence did severe damage to Democratic solidarity for Ukraine and could be seen to legitimize a regime that has helped Iran kill U.S. soldiers in the Middle East. Fellow Democrats should be demanding answers from his office about his decision to shake hands with these war criminals.” With 77% of Americans supporting stronger sanctions on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, not détente, Rep. Gonzalez and the other representatives present have proven themselves to be out of step with U.S. public opinion.

“Anyone who says that it’s always appropriate to have a conversation with an adversary doesn’t understand Russia’s propaganda machine,” continued Murskyj. “This decision handed Russian operatives a propaganda victory by lending a veneer of bipartisanship to a meeting with officials tied to the war. The Russian legislators came to advance the Kremlin’s aims, including gathering intelligence. They did not come to engage in dialogue or pursue peace. Russia uses meetings like this to divide allies, weaken sanctions, and advance its war effort.”

Tens of millions of Americans who support Ukraine will continue to use all resources available to demand answers from Rep. Gonzalez and any other U.S. officials who legitimize Russia’s campaign of violence against Ukraine.

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Razom for Ukraine is a U.S. nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a leading advocate for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine. For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Ostap Yarysh, Media Advisor at Razom for Ukraine ostap.yarysh@razom.org

Ukrainian Drama Showcase

Published: April 1, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2026

Ukrainian Drama Showcase

Brings Urgent Ukrainian Theater to New York City

Razom for Ukraine Presents Six Plays in English Translation, May 7–10

New York, NY — This May, New York City audiences will experience contemporary and classic Ukrainian theater through the first-ever Ukrainian Drama Showcase, presented by Razom for Ukraine. Taking place May 7–10, 2026 at Flamboyan Theater in the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the festival features six Ukrainian plays in English translation through dynamic staged readings. For those outside New York, the festival will be streamed live via HowlRound Theatre Commons for audiences around the world.

While Ukrainian literature and cinema have gained international recognition in recent years, Ukrainian theater remains largely absent from U.S. stages. The Showcase addresses that gap directly—bringing both canonical and contemporary Ukrainian playwrights to new audiences and inviting the U.S. theater community to engage with work that reflects the breadth of Ukrainian experience.

The program spans genres and eras: a dark comedy set in eastern Ukraine; a poetic monologue by the soldier “Raccoon,” accompanied by a relentless chorus; a 19th-century proto-feminist salon debating “pure love”; and a documentary-style theatrical collage exposing the gap between official narratives and lived reality.

The program features:

Long Plays (translations by Nina Murray):

• A Harvest Truce by Serhiy Zhadan

Directed by Danilo Gambini

• The Blue Rose by Lesia Ukrainka

Directed by Rory Pelsue

• The Order of Neatly Made Beds by Lena Lagushonkova

Directed by Jillian Jetton

Short Plays:

• Balance by Alina Sarnatska (translated by the author)

Directed by Dylan Zwickel

• The Chronicles of the Lost Soul by Anna Halas (translated by the author)

Directed by Lita Lofton

• New York, Donetsk, Ukraine: 100° F by Oleksandr Zhuhan (translated by John Freedman with Nataliia Bratus)

Directed by Yibin Wang

Poet and translator Murray has played a key role in bringing Ukrainian literature and drama into English. “The work of a translator can often be lonely,” Murray reflects. “To have these plays in the hands of directors and actors is a thrill and a privilege.”

One of the playwrights, Alina Sarnatska, will travel from Ukraine to attend the Showcase. Her play Balance brings her firsthand experience as a war medic directly to the New York City stage.

The Showcase’s directors include devised theater artist Jillian Jetton and Obie winners Rory Pelsue and Danilo Gambini. Each will bring a distinct directorial approach, activating the performance space while keeping the text at the center, bringing imaginative staging to these stories.

Festival Details:

Dates: May 7–10, 2026

Location: Flamboyan Theater, The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, 107 Suffolk St, New York, NY

Tickets: Ukrainian Drama Showcase

Streaming: Free global access via HowlRound Theatre Commons

About Razom for Ukraine:

Razom for Ukraine (which means “together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S.-based nonprofit founded in 2014 that works to build a secure, prosperous, and democratic Ukraine. The organization operates across program areas — including humanitarian aid, health, advocacy, and cultural initiatives — addressing both immediate needs and long-term recovery. Through Razom Connect, Razom for Ukraine positions culture as a vital part of its mission, alongside humanitarian aid and advocacy, demonstrating that cultural visibility is essential to global understanding and solidarity.

Press Contact:

Rachel Shuey

rachel.shuey@razomforukraine.org

706-399-3333

Bring Kids Back | Teddy Bears Installation

Published: April 1, 2026

Bring Kids Back

Date: April 23

Time: 1-2 pm – rally and press conference | 12 pm – 4 pm – installation will be displayed

Location: National Mall (between 3rd & 4th Streets), Washington, DC

Organized by Razom for Ukraine in partnership with American Coalition for Ukraine.

Volunteer opportunities will be available April 18-23 throughout the day

Event Description

On April 23, 20,000 stuffed teddy bears will take over the National Mall — each one representing a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The identities and faces of abducted children cannot be publicly displayed due to ongoing efforts to secure their return. The horrors of the crime, however, cannot remain invisible. This installation uses a universal symbol of childhood — the teddy bear — to illustrate the scale of the abductions in a powerful, visual way. It transforms that abstract number into something Americans can see, feel, and confront.

As diplomatic negotiations continue and global attention shifts elsewhere, the fate of Ukraine’s children must not be sidelined. The return of every child is non-negotiable. And the war is not over until Ukrainian children come back home.

The installation will be accompanied by a rally and press conference from 1–2 PM featuring lawmakers, faith leaders, advocates, and members of the Ukrainian American community. The display will remain in place until 4 PM for public viewing and media coverage.

Purpose

The event aims to:

• Urge the U.S. administration to prioritize the return of abducted Ukrainian children in all diplomatic engagements

• Reinforce bipartisan Congressional support for holding Russia to account

• Generate national media attention around an ongoing war crime

• Provide a visible, peaceful, and nonpartisan call to action

Core Messages:

• The war is not over until every Ukrainian child comes home.

• The United States must help bring Ukraine’s abducted children home.

• Ukraine’s children are not a bargaining chip.

Volunteer opportunities

It takes a village to raise a child – and the world to save one. To execute this ambitious project, we need the help of the community. Volunteer opportunities will be available throughout the week, including on the day of the event.

We need volunteers to put an installation together, load and unload pieces of the installation from the trucks, help with the installation on the site, drive the U-Hauls, marshal the rally, help clean up after the event and join the rally as a participant. If you are available on the day of the event – or before – sign up via the form and let us know your availability.