Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future: Razom and the Holodomor90 Campaign

Published: November 13, 2023   

This year, as the global Ukrainian community marks the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor, Razom for Ukraine, has joined with Holodomor90, “an anti-genocide campaign dedicated to raising awareness and commemorating” the man-made famine that killed an untold number of Ukrainians from 1932-1933.

Holodomor is the Ukrainian word for “death by hunger”. Millions of Ukrainians are estimated to have perished this way as a result of Soviet forced, agricultural collectivization policies endorsed and executed by the dictator Josef Stalin, intended to slowly and systematically starve people and eradicate a nation. 

Alongside a host of other mission-aligned partners based in North America, we are working on the stated objectives of raising awareness about this historical trauma so as to never forget, paying tribute to the victims and calling for official designation of the Holodomor as a genocide. 

The Holodomor90 campaign culminates on Holodomor Memorial Day (the annual day of remembrance, every fourth Friday in November). This year, on November 25th, activists and allies alike are urged to light candles – an action known as запали свічку – in memory of the victims. 

Here is how you, dear Razom supporter, can participate:

Sign the Petition for U.S. Genocide Designation

A petition on Change.org has been launched urging U.S. President Biden to issue a proclamation declaring the Holodomor a genocide. The goal is to obtain at least 25,000 signatures by Holodomor Memorial Day 2023. It would be a historic first for a U.S. president to bestow such a designation. 

Mykola Murskyj, Razom’s Director of Advocacy said, “As Ukraine faces aggression from the Kremlin once again, it is paramount that the United States officially acknowledges that the Holodomor was a genocide. This historical recognition is an essential step in preventing such atrocities from happening in the future.”

Write a Blog

The Holodomor90 campaign invites writers of various disciplines and perspectives to contribute to the Holodomor literary space by submitting blog posts. Areas of expertise include: Survivor Stories, Historical Analysis, Research Insights, Artistic Expression, Holodomor Educational Resources, Reflections and Commentary.

#ShineALight

The #ShineALight campaign encourages individuals and groups to post “selfie” images or videos to their social media during the month of November. In these videos, participants can share their thoughts on why it is important to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide and express their solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Purchase a Holodomor Sunflower Candle

The Sunflower Holodomor candle, created by Razom’s generous corporate partner Door County Candle Co., is now available on its website  www.doorcountycandle.com.The candle comes in a 16 oz. jar and features a sunflower yellow wax with a vanilla scent. It  stands as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity with those who suffered and 100% of the profits from the candle will be donated to Razom for Ukraine

Hold or Join a Candlelight Vigil 

On Saturday, November 25, 2023, candlelight vigils will be held worldwide to honor the victims of the Holodomor. Joining a vigil near you is a meaningful way to pay tribute to those who perished and to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian community.

Inspire the Future!

By participating in the #ShineALight movement, attending candlelight vigils, and supporting other Holodomor awareness initiatives, we can collectively honor the memory of those lost during the Holodomor and ensure that their stories are not forgotten. Together, we can illuminate this dark chapter in history and inspire a brighter future for Ukraine.

Razom Supports the Publication of Olena Stiazhkina’s Novel and Forthcoming U.S. Book Tour

Published: November 3, 2023   

Razom has recently supported the publication of Olena Stiazhkina’s novel “Cecil The Lion Had to Die” by Harvard University Press’s HURI Books.

In this novel, Stiazhkina follows the fate of four families as the world around them undergoes radical transformations when the Soviet Union unexpectedly implodes, independent Ukraine emerges, and neo imperial Russia begins its war by occupying Ukraine’s Crimea and parts of the Donbas. Stiazhkina shows how new identities are forged based on distant and recent decisions people make when faced with the situation of a stark choice. Just as Stiazhkina’s own decision to transition to writing in Ukrainian as part of her civic stance—performed between the covers of this book that begins in Russian and ends in Ukrainian—the choices that the members of the four families make, take them in vastly different directions, presenting an image of the Donbas that is multifaceted and nuanced. A tour de force of stylistic registers and intertwining stories, ironic voices and sincere discoveries, this novel is a must read for those who seek to more deeply understand Ukrainians from the Donbas, and how history and local identity have shaped the current war with Russia.

A historian by training, Olena Stiazhkina is a prolific Ukrainian writer and journalist with numerous scholarly publications and eleven books of fiction. Until the occupation of the city of Donetsk, she taught Slavic history at Vasyl Stus National University in Donetsk (1993–2015) and then at Mariupol State University (2015–2016). Her scholarly interests focus on women’s history, life in the Soviet Union, and the history of the Donbas. Since 2016, she has served as the senior research fellow at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Her works of fiction comprise collections of short stories, novels, and detective stories (under the pen name Olena Iurska). Having written almost exclusively in Russian before, Stiazhkina has been transitioning to writing in Ukrainian following Russia’s 2014 aggression against Ukraine .  


The novel will be published by Harvard University Press in their Havard Library of Ukrainian Literature in the beginning of 2024. Advance copies of “Cecil the Lion had to Die” and “Ukraine War/Love: A Donetsk Diary” will be available at the November  events listed below.

 

Razom is proud to be coordinating this book tour in partnership with other organizations.

  • NOVEMBER 8th BOSTON

Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, 6:00 pm

Pritsak Memorial Library at HURI, 34 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 9th DARTMOUTH 

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 10th YALE

Henry R. Luce Hall LUCE, 203 34 Hillhouse Avenue New Haven,  CT

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 11th NEW YORK

Ukrainian Institute of America, 7:00 pm

The Forest Surrounds Poets event by Yara Arts dedicated to Victoria Amelina

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 13th NEW YORK

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), 6:30 pm

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 14th MARYLAND

NAVAL ACADEMY

  • NOVEMBER 15th DC

Georgetown University

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 16TH DC

Ukraine House, 6:00 pm

Washington, 2134 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 17th NEW YORK

NYU Jordan Center, 5 pm

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 18th SEATTLE

Third Place Books, Ravenna, 7:00 pm

Olena Stiazhkina and Translator Dominique Hoffman

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 20th San Diego

UCSD, 10:00 am

Huerta Vera Cruz Room, Student Center

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 25th Philadelphia

Ukrainian League of Philadelphia, 800 N 23rd St at 7PM

  • NOVEMBER 27th Princeton 

144 Louis A. Simpson International Building, 12 pm

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 29th Penn State

157 Burrowers, Penn State, 4:00 pm

INFO HERE

  • NOVEMBER 30th Philadelphia

ASEEES Conference

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Floor: 5th Floor, Salon C

INFO HERE

Razom’s Ukraine on Campus Project Supports Student Activism Across the Country

Published: November 3, 2023   

(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.

(Uliana Storoshchuk / Ukraine Action Summit) Pictured, left to right: Solomiya Kovalenko (Iowa State University), Svitlana Kukharuk (Bard College), Pournima Narayanan (Stanford University), Oleksandra Nelson (University of Florida), Anastasiia Pereverten (University of Wyoming)

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.

30 Surgeries in 4 Days: Ivano-Frankivsk Welcomes Canadian and American Surgeons’ ‘Face the Future’ Mission

Published: October 27, 2023   

For the second time, Ukraine played host to the ‘Face the Future Ukraine’ mission, a collaborative effort involving Canadian and American reconstructive surgeons. This initiative brought global experts together with their Ukrainian colleagues to perform over 30 life-changing plastic surgeries on individuals who bore the scars of war. Among the patients were military personnel from various regions of Ukraine, all sharing a common experience of severe blast injuries to the face and neck.

Meet Andrii Smolenskyi, a 27-year-old who, after volunteering for the front lines at the onset of the war, eventually became the commander of a separate aerial reconnaissance unit. In late May 2023, during one of the missions, he suffered a grievous injury. Andrii lost both arms, his eyes, and partially his hearing.

Andrii Smolenskyi

Andrii has undergone nearly two dozen surgeries, and thanks to the heroic efforts of Ukrainian doctors, his life was miraculously saved. However, a significant scar painfully contracted his face. Surgeons from the ‘Face the Future’ mission took on the task of relieving his pain and enhancing the aesthetics of his face. In a complex, 6-hour surgery, they removed deformed tissue, placed a titanium implant under the eye, transplanted fat tissue and skin from his neck, and prepared his eye for cosmetic implants.

Dr. Peter Adamson, Founder and President of the Face the Future Foundation, described this as an exceptionally challenging case due to the patient’s multiple combined injuries, with most of the facial bones and muscles missing after the injury. He noted that this mission in Ukraine presented the most severe combined cases in their experience and expressed their commitment to returning every six months to assist Ukrainian defenders and train local colleagues.

Dr. Peter A. Adamson, MD (Canada) and Nataliya Komashko, MD ( UA)

To perform these unique surgeries, a team of 15 international specialists, including reconstructive surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, surgical oncologists, anesthesiologists, and nurses, arrived in Ukraine. They worked alongside and shared their expertise with Ukrainian specialists from Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

The preparation for this mission spanned five months, involving extensive online consultations for patient selection and surgical planning. For many patients, free individual implants were designed and 3D-printed by bioengineers from Materialize to restore the integrity of bones that were fragmented due to injury, said Nataliia Komashko, MD,  Head of Ukrainian Association of  Endoscopic Head  and Neck Surgeries, who led the clinical program from Ukrainian side. 

Dr. Nataliya Komashko (UA) (on the left)

This successful partnership between ‘Face the Future Foundation,’ ‘Razom for Ukraine,’ and ‘Still Strong’ has evolved into a long-term program, demonstrating remarkable results in training and supporting Ukrainian doctors in their professional development. It signifies an extraordinary achievement and outcome that will help Ukrainian doctors contribute to global medicine.

Dr. Cho, Dr. Kesarwani and Dr. Trites with a patient

During the two ‘Face the Future Ukraine’ missions, the team of experts successfully restored physical health and aesthetic beauty for over 70 Ukrainians. Importantly, all reconstructive surgeries were provided free of charge to the patients.

These missions also hosted international symposia for surgeons and nurses, allowing specialists from Canada, the U.S., and Ukraine to share their experiences in performing complex reconstructive interventions and the nuances of managing patients with combat injuries. More than 200 surgeons and nearly 300 nurses participated in the symposia.

Lileia Dzaliuk, Co-Pilot Coordinator in Ukraine

The Razom Co-Pilot Project has been facilitating the organization of highly qualified doctors’ visits to Ukraine since 2016. With the outbreak of war, medical organizations and teams from the U.S. and Canada approached Razom for support in helping Ukraine. Currently, the Razom Co-Pilot Project provides organizational and financial support to the largest teams in the U.S. and Canada, including ‘Face the Future,’ ‘Face to Face,’ ‘Global Leap Missions,’ and ‘Co-Pilot Neuro.’ Over 100 North American doctors have worked in Ukraine, performing 300 complex surgeries this year alone.

“We understand that it is impossible to help all patients during the short stay of the international team. Therefore, one of the leading goals of Co-Pilot is to train Ukrainian doctors and help them become leaders in their field and save thousands. Each international team conducts educational events: conferences, lectures and consults Ukrainian doctors online. Razom  supports the observership for Ukrainian doctors in the U.S.. Only this year, 10 UA doctors had such an opportunity”, said Yuliia Shama, U.S. Co-Pilot Project Lead.

We are immensely grateful to the team of Face the Future Ukraine:

Surgeons Team Peter A. Adamson, Nataliya Biskup, Matthew Brace, Raymond Cho, Jonathan Trites, Priya Kesarwani, Paul Slavchenko

OR Team Jackie Abbott, Bibi Yasin, Janae Weber, Emma Piehl, Khristie Morrell, Luci Heiman, Hanna Robinson 

Gail Kapsambelis (videographer)

Advisors Mark Levin, Anthony Brissett, Burke Bradley, Debbie Fritz, Maureen Merchant 

The ‘Face the Future Ukraine’ humanitarian program is a joint effort involving organizations such as Face The Future Foundation (Canada), Razom for Ukraine (USA), Still Strong (UA).

We are immensely grateful to all partners and donors:

CF Patients of Ukraine, and the project “Rehabilitation of War Injuries.” organized academic days.  The mission received support from Direct Relief, Materialize, STORZ Karl-Storz Ukraine, the Ukrainian Association of Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery, the Regional Clinical Hospital of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council, Metinvest, Yellow Blue Force Foundation, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration, Transmed, CF «Чисті Серця», and Razom.

 

Photographer: Andrii Sidletskyi 

 

Learn more about and support the Co-Pilot Project and Razom Health.

 

UKRAINIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Published: October 26, 2023   

The Ukrainian Cultural Festival is organized by Razom, Yara Arts, Ukrainian Institute of America, Shevchenko Scientific Society and Bowery Poetry Club and will take place November 7th through November 15th in New York.

Over ten days in November, you will have an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Ukrainian poetry and prose and check out the best in contemporary Ukrainian cinema. 

Meet writers Andriy Kurkov, Oksana Lutsyshyna, Olena Stiazhkina and poets Iya Kiva, Alex Averbuch and Lyudmyla and Boris Khersonskys. Watch “Pamfir” and other contemporary films.

Below is the schedule of events. Please check in often for changes and ticket information.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th

DOVBUSH

Presented by Razom

The most ambitious Ukrainian action movie to date, the drama, directed by Oles Sanin, tells the story of Oleksa Dovbush, one of the leaders of Ukrainian resistance known as ‘Opryshky’ which opposed Polish and Austrian administrations. The resistance movement had been active from 16th to 19th centuries. Released in Ukraine in August 2023 the movie became a box office sensation even when the movie showings are interrupted by air raids.

ANGELIKA FILM CENTER, 18 W. Houston St. New York, NY 10012

Time: 7:00 pm

Tickets: HERE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th ​

BOWERY POETRY CLUB, 308 Bowery, NYC, 7:00 pm

Tickets: $15 cash at the door

How Fire Descends: NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry

Presented by Bowery Poetry Club & Yara Arts Group

NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry featuring Ukrainian poet Iya Kiva. 

Translators Amelia Glaser, Olena Jennings, Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps; and poets: Pichchenda Bao, Bob Holman; Yara Arts Group and Bushwick Book Club react to Serhiy Zhadan’s new book “How Fire Descends”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th

Shevchenko Scientific Society, 63 4th Ave, 7:00 pm

Registration: HERE

Of Rage and Longing: poetry by Alex Averbuch

Presented by Shevchenko Scientific Society

Poetry in Ukrainian with English translation. Moderation by Oleh Kotsyuba

Translations read by Sashko Krapivkin.

Alex Averbuch will read from his latest book Zhydivsky korol (The Jewish King, a 2023 finalist for the Shevchenko National Prize), as well as from his upcoming collection, Of Rage and Longing, and answer questions from the audience. Averbuch’s poetry deals with intertwoven Jewish-Ukrainian relations through the prism of his family history and Ukraine’s multiethnic past and present. The book features poeticized documentary materials related to the Second World War: letters by Ukrainian Ostarbeiters sent to their relatives in Ukraine, intertwined with letters by Jewish Holocaust survivors who returned to devastated villages in Ukraine in search of their murdered relatives, as well as poems about the Russo-Ukrainian war currently taking place in his home region of Luhans’k. Unsettling but ultimately liberatory de-specifications of ethnos, language, and sexuality relieve trigger-points in Ukraine’s history through the confessional intimacy of family, shame, pleasure, and the reconciliation of self and other.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th

6:30PM in The Frederick P. Rose Auditorium at Cooper Union

Tickets: HERE

A BIT OF BRAVERY: shorts program

Presented by Cooper Union and Razom

The screening, which is 82 minutes long, will present the following movies:

Event will be introduced with a performance of Lesya Verba (bandura musician)

 

Screening is followed by Q&A with creators.

The screening is co-hosted by Razom for Ukraine and Cooper Union and co-presented with Takflix.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11th

UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICA, 2 E 79th St, NYC, 7 pm

Tickets: HERE

A FOREST SURROUNDS POETS: UKRAINIAN POETRY IN PERFORMANCE 

In English with some Ukrainian

Come to hear Ukrainian Poetry in Performance by Yara Arts Group, a resident company at La MaMa Experimental Theatre. Reception sponsored by Razom for Ukraine immediately following the event.The event is dedicated to Victoria Amelina, who was killed last summer. Tern Kuzma will perform her poetry, while Olena Stiazhkina will speak about Victoria Amelina and the New York Literary Festival she founded in Ukraine.The event is inspired by a recent poem by Serhiy Zhadan:
“It feels like every year in November
a forest surrounds poets – a forest of the condemned…”In “A Forest Surround Poets” Yara artists perform in English the poetry by such cultural giants of the 1920s as Les Kurbas, Pavlo Tychyna, Volodymyr Svidzinsky, Mikhail lohansen, and Hat Khotkevych, accompanied by master-bandura player Julian Kytasty, as well as the wild verse of Futurists Mykhail Semeneko and Oleksa Vlyzko. Then, Yara’s George Drance, Silvana Gonzalez, Susan Hwang, Petro Ninovskyi and Lesia Verba perform a concert version of the third act of “Radio 477!” by Serhiy Zhadan, accompanied by composer Anthony Coleman. The act opens with a scene that draws a connection between the destruction of Ukrainian culture in the purges and the assault on Kharkiv in the first days of the russian invasion and then plunges into Serhiy Zhadan’s newest poetry.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12th

THE QUAD CINEMA, 34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Time: 6:30 pm

Tickets: HERE

PAMFIR 

Presented by Razom

Pamfir is a 2022 Ukrainian fictional feature film directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, which premiered on May 22, 2022, at the 75th Festival de Cannes.

“Savagely cinematic, charged with feral energy and exploring a story that dances between muddy realism and a mythic, quasi-magical abandon, Pamfir would be impressive even if it hadn’t been made in Ukraine on the cusp of conflict.” – The Guardian

MONDAY NOVEMBER 13th

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), 455 Fifth Avenue, NY 6:30 PM

Registration: HERE

The New Ukrainian Novel: Kurkov, Lutsyshyna, Stiazkina 

Presented by New York Public Library and Razom

Join some of Ukraine’s most prolific and distinguished writers – Olena Stiazhkina, Oksana Lutsyshyna and Andrey Kurkov – for this evening celebrating the rich literary culture of Ukraine. The authors will discuss their latest works, which illuminate Ukraine’s diverse society and deal with the legacy of Soviet and post-Soviet rule, as well as the present situation in the country.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18th

Bortkiewicz piano works

presented by #PlayUkrainianMusic

Faust Harrison Pianos, 207 W 58th st, 7:00 pm

 

Tickets: HERE

Please join us for an evening celebrating Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952), a brilliant Ukrainian composer and pianist, whose deeply lyrical and expressive piano music will take center stage.

Program: 

Crimean Sketches op. 8

Three Pieces op. 24.

1001 Nights op. 37.

Performers: Alexander Chaplinskiy, Pavlo Gintov and Anna Shelest.

Sergei Bortkiewicz was born and grew up in Kharkiv, a birthplace of Ukrainian Romanticism and one of the country’s most significant cultural centers. A true romantic, he often drew inspiration from literature and nature, and in spite of him facing incredible hardships, his music never wavered in its pursuit of beauty.

We are dedicating this program to the people of Kharkiv and their courageous stand in the face of the blatant russian aggression. All funds raised from this concert will go to Razom for Ukraine toward their relief work in the Kharkiv region.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19th

Location: TBD

Time: 2 pm

Tickets: HERE

Today is a Different War: Poetry of Boris and Lyudmyla Khersonsky

Presented by Shevchenko Scientific Society and Razom

Poetry in Russian and in Ukrainian with English translation. Conversation is in English. Moderated by Marie Howe, the State Poet for f NY.

Boris Khersonsky and Lyudmyla Khersonska write poetry that speaks to the crisis of our times. Widely regarded as one of Ukraine’s most prominent rusophone poets, Boris Khersonsky was born in Chernivtsi and spent most of his time in Odesa, where he practices psychiatry. Born in Tiraspol, Moldova, Lyudmyla Khersonska is an award winning poet. Her first collection in English came out recently in Arrowsmith. Boris and Lyudmila’s joint collection “The Country Where Everyone’s Name is Fear” came out in Lost Horse Press in 2022.

Razom Health’s Co-Pilot Project Empowers Thousands of Ukrainian Doctors

Published: October 18, 2023   

In the latest chapter of Co-Pilot NEURO’s longtime work, Ukrainian and American specialists continue to evolve the neurosurgery sector in Ukraine. 

Since 2016, Razom’s Co-Pilot project has been transforming the field of neurosurgery in Ukraine. The initiative employs a tried and true “train the trainer” model, providing experiential education to top-tier professionals and sharing global medical expertise to be shared further with Ukrainian colleagues and students.

Within this vast portfolio of education and training, two endovascular neurosurgeons from New York University (NYU) Langone Health and Bellevue HHC, Dr. Maksim Shapiro and Dr. Peter Kim Nelson, ventured to Ukraine recently, aiming to provide cutting-edge surgical care. 

During their intensives across three key neurosurgery centers, a total of 21 surgeries were performed. Many of these procedures were broadcast in real-time, facilitating knowledge sharing among Ukrainian neurosurgeons.

The educational component was also a pivotal aspect of their trip. An international endovascular online conference, BANANAZ, featured lectures by experts like by Dr. Yuriy Cherednichenko, MD, PHD on the management of traumatic war injuries. Over 80 neurosurgeons benefited from these educational activities, including those attending the Annual Ukrainian Neurosurgical Association conference. 

In addition to their expertise, Dr. Shapiro and Dr. Nelson also brought invaluable medical equipment and supplies worth over $1.2 million.

Looking ahead, they plan to create an observership at NYU for Ukrainian endovascular neurosurgeons. The next mission, set for Spring 2024, will focus on Dnipro, Lviv, and Kyiv, with a strong emphasis on live surgeries and educational outreach.

The work of the Co-Pilot NEURO program showcases not only the progress in neurosurgery but also the unwavering commitment of the American and Ukrainian medical communities to support the development of Ukraine’s healthcare system.  

The partnership is a beacon of hope for the future of neurosurgery in Ukraine. Thank you to all participants for their unwavering support in making this mission a success!

Razom Co-Pilot Project’s medical missions/medical training in Ukraine) was started  with the idea to bring the best neurosurgery practices to Ukraine and form a new generation of neurosurgery leaders among Ukrainian doctors. This program has since successfully expanded to more specialties:

  • “Face to Face Ukraine” programs together with the American Academy of Facial Plastic Reconstructive Surgeons and INgenious providing  reconstructive facial surgery with orthopedic and speech therapy components.
  • “Face the Future Ukraine” program with Face the Future Foundation (Canada) and Still Strong (Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital) performing reconstructive facial surgeries, academic days for surgeons and nurses.
  • “Leap Global Mission Ukraine” focusing mostly on  facial reconstructive surgeries for children.
  • The Co-Pilot NEURO Program withs four subspecialties: endovascular neurosurgery, epilepsy surgical treatments, spinal neurosurgery, and open neurosurgery.
  • The Co-Pilot Ortho Program (Kyiv, Dnipro hospitals).

Results of the program’s work from 2016 to 2023: 

  • Over 100 doctors and medical personnel visited Ukraine. 
  • More than 245 complex surgeries were performed. 
  • Over 1500 patients were consulted. 
  • Over 120 Ukrainian surgeons participated in the missions and improved their qualifications. 
  • Over 2000 Ukrainian surgeons watched live streams of surgeries. 
  • More than 10 doctors underwent internships at U.S. universities. 
  • Nearly 20 Ukrainian hospitals were involved in the program.

3rd Annual Ukraine Action Summit – October 22-24 in Washington, D.C.

Published: October 17, 2023   

Community advocacy event organized by the American Coalition for Ukraine to bring together over 500 participants to meet legislators and attend advocacy trainings

Media event on Tuesday, October 24th at 8:30 am featuring Representatives Doug Lamborn, Mike Quigley and Daniel Goldman

About the Summit

Razom, as a member of the American Coalition for Ukraine, will take part in the Fall 2023 Ukraine Action Summit on October 22-24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. The second event of its kind this year, the Ukraine Action Summit consists of Congressional meetings, advocacy workshops, and panel discussion for constituents and organizations from the Ukrainian American community and beyond. At Congressional meetings, advocates will urge elected officials to provide critical continued support for Ukraine in response to the Russian full-scale invasion. Razom is a founding member of the Coalition, which was formed in August 2022.

An all-participant kick off, featuring remarks from Representatives Doug Lamborn and Mike Quigley, will take place on Tuesday, October 24th 8:30am, at the South Panel of the West Front Grassy Area in front of the US Congress building, north of the United States Botanical Gardens. 

This year’s Summit will feature over 500 participants from across the country in attendance, from 36 states, representing 97 partner organizations in the American Coalition for Ukraine. Advocates will join 150+ meetings with members of the U.S. House and Senate; a powerful show of pro-Ukrainian unity across the country. This fall’s Summit will include over 100 additional advocates compared to the April 2023 Summit, demonstrating the growth of pro-Ukraine advocacy as the war continues. 

Summit participants will be advocating for measures and resolutions to help Ukraine continue to prevail against Russian aggression, including for urgent supplemental funding for Ukraine, expedited long-range weapons deliveries, and for bills to transfer Russian state assets held in the U.S. to Ukraine (REPO Act) and resolutions recognizing Ukraine’s invasion as a genocide (H.Res. 154/S.Res. 72) and condeming Russia’s illegal deportation of Ukraine’s children (H.Res. 149/S. Res.158). Congressional meetings will take place on Monday, October 23rd and Tuesday, October 24th.

Statement from Razom

Published: October 13, 2023   

Razom extends our deepest sympathies to the victims of the recent attacks in Israel and all Palestinians suffering in its wake.  As an organization that has been working intensely with victims of war, terrorism and violence since February of 2022, Razom condemns the deliberate targeting of civilians and stands in solidarity with all who suffer at the hands of terrorists. We stand on the side of humanity.

We urge the global community to come together and combat unlawful violence and ensure that those who are responsible for such heinous acts are held accountable.

We also call on the global community to continue supporting a free and prosperous Ukraine and recognize that Russia’s actions against Ukraine and its people violate international law and human rights. We call on the international community to take necessary actions to hold those responsible accountable.

UKRAINIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Published: October 13, 2023   

The Ukrainian Cultural Festival is organized by Razom, Yara Arts, Ukrainian Institute of America, Shevchenko Scientific Society and Bowery Poetry Club and will take place November 7th through November 15th in New York.

Over ten days in November, you will have an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Ukrainian poetry and prose and check out the best in contemporary Ukrainian cinema. 

Meet writers Andriy Kurkov, Oksana Lutsyshyna, Olena Stiazhkina and poets Iya Kiva, Alex Averbuch and Lyudmyla and Boris Khersonskys. Watch “Pamfir” and other contemporary films.

Below is the schedule of events. Please check in often for changes and ticket information.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th

DOVBUSH

Presented by Razom

The most ambitious Ukrainian action movie to date, the drama, directed by Oles Sanin, tells the story of Oleksa Dovbush, one of the leaders of Ukrainian resistance known as ‘Opryshky’ which opposed Polish and Austrian administrations. The resistance movement had been active from 16th to 19th centuries. Released in Ukraine in August 2023 the movie became a box office sensation even when the movie showings are interrupted by air raids.

DOVBUSH

Presented by Razom

ANGELIKA FILM CENTER, 18 W. Houston St. New York, NY 10012

Time: 7:00 pm

Tickets: HERE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th ​

BOWERY POETRY CLUB, 308 Bowery, NYC, 7:00 pm

Tickets: $15 cash at the door

How Fire Descends: NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry

Presented by Bowery Poetry Club & Yara Arts Group

Presented by Bowery Poetry Club & Yara Arts Group

NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry featuring Ukrainian poet Iya Kiva. 

Translators Amelia Glazer, Olena Jennings, Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps; and poets: Pichchenda Bao, Bob Holman; Yara Arts Group and Bushwick Book Club react to Serhiy Zhadan’s new book “How Fire Descends”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th

Shevchenko Scientific Society, 63 4th Ave, 7:00 pm

Registration: HERE

Of Rage and Longing: poetry by Alex Averbuch

Presented by Shevchenko Scientific Society

Poetry in Ukrainian with English translation. Moderation by Oleh Kotsyuba

Translations read by Sashko Krapivkin.

Alex Averbuch will read from his latest book Zhydivsky korol (The Jewish King, a 2023 finalist for the Shevchenko National Prize), as well as from his upcoming collection, Of Rage and Longing, and answer questions from the audience. Averbuch’s poetry deals with interwoven Jewish-Ukrainian relations through the prism of his family history and Ukraine’s multiethnic past and present. The book features poeticized documentary materials related to the Second World War: letters by Ukrainian Ostarbeiters sent to their relatives in Ukraine, interwoven with letters by Jewish Holocaust survivors who returned to devastated villages in Ukraine in search of their murdered relatives, as well as poems about the Russo-Ukrainian war currently taking place in his home region of Luhans’k. Unsettling but ultimately liberatory de-specifications of ethnos, language, and sexuality relieve trigger-points in Ukraine’s history through the confessional intimacy of family, shame, pleasure, and the reconciliation of self and other.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th

6:30PM in The Frederick P. Rose Auditorium at Cooper Union

Tickets: HERE

A BIT OF BRAVERY: shorts program

Presented by Cooper Union and Razom

The screening, which is 82 minutes long, will present the following movies: 

 

Call me anytime, I’m not leaving home (documentary), Liturgy of Antitank Obstacles (documentary),  Sunflower Field (animation), Golden Leggings / ГКЧП (narrative),  I Didn’t Want to Make a War Film (documentary), – Diaper Cake (narrative)

 

Event will be introduced with a performance of Lesya Verba (bandura musician)

Screening is followed by Q&A with creators. 

 

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11th

UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICA, 2 E 79th St, NYC, 7 pm

Tickets: HERE

A FOREST SURROUNDS POETS: UKRAINIAN POETRY IN PERFORMANCE 

In English

Presented by Ukrainian Institute of America, Razom & Yara Arts Group

Memorial reading of poetry by Victoria Amelina and other destroyed poets 1923-2023

Yara Arts Group performs the third act of “Radio 477”! by Serhiy Zhadan, accompanied by composer Anthony Coleman

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12th

THE QUAD CINEMA, 34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Time: 6:30 pm

Tickets: HERE

PAMFIR 

Presented by Razom

Pamfir is a 2022 Ukrainian fictional feature film directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, which premiered on May 22, 2022, at the 75th Festival de Cannes.

“Savagely cinematic, charged with feral energy and exploring a story that dances between muddy realism and a mythic, quasi-magical abandon, Pamfir would be impressive even if it hadn’t been made in Ukraine on the cusp of conflict.” Guardian

MONDAY NOVEMBER 13th

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), 455 Fifth Avenue, NY 6:30 PM

Registration: HERE

The New Ukrainian Novel: Kurkov, Lutsyshyna, Stiazkina 

Presented by New York Public Library and Razom

Join some of Ukraine’s most prolific and distinguished writers – Olena Stiazhkina, Oksana Lutsyshyna and Andrey Kurkov – for this evening celebrating the riJch literary culture of Ukraine. The authors will discuss their latest works, which illuminate Ukraine’s diverse society and deal with the legacy of Soviet and Post-Soviet rule, as well as the present situation in the country.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15th

Shevchenko Scientific Society,  63 4th Ave, 7:00 pm

Tickets: HERE

Today is a Different War: Poetry of Boris and Lyudmyla Khersonsky

Presented by Shevchenko Scientific Society and Razom

Poetry in Russian and in Ukrainian with English translation. Conversation is in English. Moderated by Marie Howe, the State Poet for f NY.

Boris Khersonsky and Lyudmyla Khersonsky write poetry that speaks to the crisis of our times. Widely regarded as one of Ukraine’s most prominent rusophone poets, Boris Khersonsky was born in Chernivtsi and spent most of his time in Odesa, where he practices psychiatry. Born in Tiraspol, Moldova, Lyudmyla Khersonska is an award winning poet. Her first collection in English came out recently in Arrowsmith. Boris and Lyudmila’s joint collection “The Country Where Everyone’s Name is Fear” came out in Lost Horse Press in 2022.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18th

Bortkiewicz piano works

presented by #PlayUkrainianMusic

Faust Harrison Pianos, 207 W 58th st, 7:00 pm

 

Tickets: HERE

Please join us for an evening celebrating Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952), a brilliant Ukrainian composer and pianist, whose deeply lyrical and expressive piano music will take center stage.

 

Program: 

Crimean Sketches op. 8

Three Pieces op. 24.

1001 Nights op. 37.

Performers: Alexander Chaplinskiy, Pavlo Gintov and Anna Shelest

 

Sergei Bortkiewicz was born and grew up in Kharkiv, a birthplace of Ukrainian Romanticism and one of the country’s most significant cultural centers. A true romantic, he often drew inspiration from literature and nature, and in spite of him facing incredible hardships, his music never wavered in its pursuit of beauty.

We are dedicating this program to the people of Kharkiv and their courageous stand in the face of the blatant russian aggression. All funds raised from this concert will go to Razom for Ukraine toward their relief work in the Kharkiv region.

 

 

Butterfly Network and Razom Expand Global Health Partnership To Bring Additional 200Butterfly iQ+ Ultrasound Systems to Ukraine

Published: October 5, 2023   

Nearly 900 Butterfly devices have been distributed throughout Ukraine via global health
partnerships, with Razom alone contributing more than 400 units.

BURLINGTON, MA, October 4, 2023 – Butterfly Network, Inc. a digital health company transforming care through the power of portable, semiconductor-based ultrasound technology and intuitive software, and Razom, a US-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting a democratic and prosperous Ukraine, today announced that they have expanded their global health partnership to bring an additional 200 Butterfly iQ+ devices to the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. Razom has now alone deployed over 400 Butterfly iQ+ devices to Ukraine, and has been a leader in driving Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training and utilization in the country.

“We feel immensely grateful to strengthen our cooperation with Butterfly Network, working together to empower numerous Ukrainian healthcare providers with POCUS technology. The Butterfly iQ+ probe, renowned for its comprehensive whole-body assessment capabilities, is incredibly compact and lightweight, making it the perfect tool for medics and first responders to carry into the field. Moreover, it’s invaluable for performing routine prenatal and primary care services within survival shelters. This partnership symbolizes our commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality in Ukraine, even under the most challenging circumstances,” said Dan Solchanyk, Program Director, Razom Health.

“At Butterfly, improving access to ultrasound technology in austere, under-resourced or emergency settings is core to our mission. We are proud to work with partners like Razom who share our commitment to not only deploying technology, but driving adoption and usage of POCUS through education and training. Through these partnerships, our advanced imaging technology and ultrasound education materials reach the places that need it most worldwide,” said Joseph DeVivo, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of Butterfly Network.   

Since February 2022 when Butterfly initiated its rapid response outreach to humanitarian and veterinary nonprofits responding in Ukraine, the company has deployed nearly 900 Butterfly devices into the country through over 40 global health partnerships.

To learn more about the impact of Butterfly’s cross-sector partnership for supporting the Ukrainian crisis, visit: read the case study here.

To inquire about global health partnership opportunities with Butterfly, visit:  https://www.butterflynetwork.com/global-health.

About Butterfly Network

Founded by Dr. Jonathan Rothberg in 2011 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange through a business combination with Longview Acquisition Corp., Butterfly created the world’s first handheld, single probe whole-body ultrasound system using semiconductor technology, the Butterfly iQ+. Butterfly’s mission is to democratize medical imaging and contribute to the aspiration of global health equity, making high-quality ultrasound affordable, easy-to-use, globally accessible, and intelligently connected, including for the 4.7 billion people around the world lacking access to ultrasound. Through its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip™ technology, Butterfly is paving the way for earlier detection and remote management of health conditions around the world. The Butterfly iQ+ can be purchased today by trained healthcare practitioners in areas including, but not limited to, parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America; to learn more about available countries, visit: www.butterflynetwork.com/choose-your-country.

About Razom

Razom for Ukraine (Razom) was founded in 2014 and is one of the leading US-based nonprofits dedicated to the mission of supporting a democratic and prosperous Ukraine. With a robust international network of volunteers and partners, Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, provides humanitarian aid, and administers programs and services focused on health, advocacy, civil society and culture. Razom advances its mission by creating spaces where people meet, partner and do, while maintaining a relentless focus on the needs on the ground in Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Razom for Ukraine has grown to include over 200,000 donors and volunteers. Website: www.razomforukraine.org

Butterfly Media

Liz Learned, Head of Corporate Communications

media@butterflynetwork.com

Butterfly Investors

Heather Getz, Chief Financial and Operations Officers

investors@butterflynetwork.com

Butterfly Global Health Inquiries

Sachita Shah, Sr. Director Global Health

sshah@butterflynetinc.com

Razom Inquiries

Xenia Ferencevych, Director of Development and Engagement

xenia@razomforukraine.org