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.

Hosting Russian Duma Officials in Washington Will Not Lead to Peace

Published: March 25, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 25, 2026

Hosting Russian Duma Officials in Washington Will Not Lead to Peace

Washington, D.C. — “Supporters of Ukraine unequivocally condemn the decision to invite Russian war criminals to Washington for meetings with American government officials,” said Razom’s Advocacy Director Mykola Murskyj, responding to news that a delegation of Russian State Duma representatives will travel to the United States to meet with members of Congress and the Executive branch.

“President Trump has said that he wants to stop the war and Ukrainians share that goal. But Russia’s invasion will end when one man – Vladimir Putin – decides it must. Poll after poll has shown that majorities of Americans support continued assistance to Ukraine. The White House should heed their view rather than host Kremlin functionaries for talks unlikely to yield results.”

“Ukrainians had a good look at Russia’s negotiating position earlier this week, when Russian Shahed drones slammed into a historic city center in Lviv, battering a Catholic church and maiming scores of civilians.”

“Russia’s legislature has no genuine opposition parties. It serves chiefly to ratify Putin’s wars and human rights abuses. In the lead-up to Russia’s full scale invasion, the Duma voted 351 to 16 to recognize sovereign Ukrainian territory as part of the Russian Federation.”

“The members of this delegation are currently prosecuting a war of aggression against a neighboring country and the stakes are clear: If they achieve their goals – on the battlefield or in the negotiating room – Ukrainians will lose their lives, their freedoms, and their sovereignty. If Russia’s ambitions are thwarted, Ukrainians will consolidate their democracy and continue their movement towards the West.”

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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

Razom and UCFP announce first Congressional Ukraine Policy Fellows

Published: March 23, 2026

RAZOM AND UCFP ANNOUNCE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL UKRAINE POLICY FELLOWS

Release Date: March 23, 2026

Location: Washington, D.C.

Razom and the Ukrainian Community Foundation of Philadelphia (UCFP) are proud to announce the inaugural cohort of the Congressional Ukraine Policy Fellowship, a first-of-its-kind, year-long professional development program for mid-career professionals with deep expertise on Ukraine.

The Fellowship was created to give American professionals and academics with substantial knowledge of Ukraine a unique opportunity to develop as policy professionals through full-time work on Capitol Hill. Over the course of 12 months, fellows work in congressional offices, gaining experience in policy development, legislative drafting, oversight, and stakeholder engagement on issues related to Ukraine’s security, democratic resilience, and long-term recovery.

The inaugural fellows, Myroslava Gongadze and Michael Corcoran, were selected to serve in the offices of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), two of the four co-chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and long-standing champions of Ukraine. These placements offer fellows the opportunity to learn within two of the strongest congressional offices working on Ukraine policy today while supporting bipartisan legislative engagement on issues central to the U.S.-Ukraine relationship.

“The Ukrainian Community Foundation of Philadelphia is proud to support a program that gives Ukraine experts in the United States an exceptional opportunity to grow professionally through direct service in Congress,” said Roman Petyk, Board Chair of the Ukrainian Community Foundation of Philadelphia. “Myroslava and Michael bring outstanding experience, judgment, and commitment to this work, and we are honored to invest in their development at such an important moment for both Ukraine and the United States.”

“This fellowship offers something rare: the chance for deeply knowledgeable Ukraine experts to gain first-hand experience in the legislative process at the highest level,” said Dora Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine. “By placing fellows in both Republican and Democratic offices led by two of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus’s co-chairs, we are helping build a stronger long-term bench of policy professionals.”

The Congressional Ukraine Policy Fellowship is designed not only to support the fellows during their year on Capitol Hill but also to cultivate a durable community of professionals with serious expertise in Ukraine and practical experience in American policymaking.

2025–2026 Congressional Ukraine Policy Fellows

Myroslava Gongadze – Office of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R‑PA)

Myroslava Gongadze is a journalist and foreign policy expert specializing in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and European Security. With more than two decades of experience reporting on democratic movements, Russian aggression, and regional security dynamics, she has contributed analysis and insight on Russia’s war against Ukraine and its implications for the transatlantic alliance. Most recently, she served as Voice of America’s Eastern Europe Chief. Gongadze has worked with policymakers, experts, and civil society leaders across Europe and the United States to advance discussions on democratic resilience, security cooperation, and Ukraine’s integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions. In Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office, she contributes her regional expertise while gaining direct experience with the legislative process shaping U.S. policy toward Ukraine and European security.

Michael R. Corcoran – Office of Rep. Mike Quigley (D‑IL)

Michael Corcoran is a national security professional with more than a decade of experience shaping U.S. foreign policy and international development. He has served across multiple federal agencies—including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State—advancing foreign policy and assistance initiatives throughout Eastern Europe and Africa. Most recently, he was Ukraine Deputy Team Lead at USAID, advising senior officials on U.S.-Ukraine cooperation and assistance during Russia’s full-scale invasion. In Rep. Quigley’s office, he applies his policy expertise to support congressional engagement on Ukraine and national security, while gaining deeper insight into the legislative process.

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Razom (“Together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a leading advocate for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Community Foundation of Philadelphia (UCFP) is a community-based 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization that strengthens Ukrainian civic, cultural, and educational life by investing in diaspora-driven initiatives that support a resilient, secure, and democratic Ukraine.

Lifting Sanctions Against Russia Would Prolong the War

Published: March 10, 2026

Lifting Sanctions Against Russia Would Prolong the War

Washington, D.C. — Reacting to news that the Trump Administration is considering lifting sanctions against designated Russian entities, Razom for Ukraine’s Director of Advocacy Mykola Murskyj said,

“President Trump said that Russia’s war against Ukraine has gone on too long. Lifting oil-related sanctions against Russia would make the war continue for far longer. Any move to welcome the architects of Russia’s war back into the global economy would leave more Ukrainians dead, infrastructure destroyed, and peace further out of reach.”

“Today, Russia is helping Iran kill Americans: Ukraine is helping defend them. Russia is helping Iran target American servicemen and servicewomen, military bases, and allies in the Middle East. Ukraine is helping protect them with its drone defense technologies. That’s why polling shows that most of President Trump’s own voters see Russia as a threat, back further sanctions against Russia, and want America to stand with its European allies, including Ukraine.”

“The sanctions are working: if Trump wants the killing to stop, he must keep the sanctions in place. Russia’s budget is plagued by perpetual shortfalls, its companies are uninvestable, its currency sags from inflation, and its industry is in decline. Lifting sanctions on Russia’s only export of value would undo these hard-won victories and help Russia pay for the missiles that slaughter Ukrainian civilians every day.”

“President Trump has previously criticized European allies for purchasing Russian oil even as they call for more support for Ukraine. He should continue to call them out, instead of emulating these failed policies.”

“If you want the war to end sooner, don’t refill the Kremlin’s war chest.”

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RAZOM FOR UKRAINE SUPPORTS PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH AGAINST RUSSIA ACT OF 2025

Published: December 22, 2025

RAZOM FOR UKRAINE SUPPORTS PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH AGAINST RUSSIA ACT OF 2025

December 19, 2025

Washington, D.C. — Razom for Ukraine supports the bipartisan Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025 and urges House action when Congress returns in January.

Russia has shown it will continue its war against Ukraine as long as it can afford to do so. Congress must raise the cost for the Kremlin and cut off the channels that keep Russia’s war machine running. This bill does that by tightening and expanding sanctions, targeting the sectors and actors that finance Russia’s war, and limiting Russia’s access to the financial systems it uses to keep the war going.

At a pivotal moment, this bipartisan bill signals that Congress is prepared to respond with strength in January. “Russia must face sustained pressure until it stops its brutal attack on Ukraine,” said Diana Godlevskaya, Director of Government Affairs, Razom for Ukraine. “Stopping Russia in Ukraine strengthens our partners and protects U.S. national security by making clear to America’s adversaries that aggression carries real cost. We thank Congressmen Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Meeks (D-NY) for leading this vital effort.”

As Congress reconvenes in January, Razom for Ukraine urges prompt floor consideration of this legislation.

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Razom (“Together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S. nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a leading advocate for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

RAZOM FOR UKRAINE APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF FY26 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

Published: December 17, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 17, 2025

RAZOM FOR UKRAINE APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF FY26 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes important provisions to bolster support for Ukraine and expedite an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. We look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law.

In the NDAA, Congress reaffirmed that the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) is a key tool to expand U.S. weapons and ammunition production and deliver life-saving arms to Ukraine, alongside allied procurement and arms sales to European partners. Revitalizing America’s defense industrial base, while giving Ukrainians the tools they need to defend themselves, is an America First approach. We urge the Trump administration to act swiftly to issue new contracts under USAI.

We also applaud Congress for creating important new oversight mechanisms for U.S. arms sales to Ukraine, helping ensure that intelligence support continues so Ukrainians can defend against Russia’s air attacks. Critically, this legislation includes the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, which authorizes new support to locate, return, and care for Ukrainian children stolen by Russia. Saving abducted Ukrainian children is a key priority of First Lady Melania Trump, and this legislation delivers tools to help accomplish that mission — no deal to end the war should be finalized until every Ukrainian child is safely returned home.

While the FY26 NDAA delivers on key issues to support Ukraine and advance peace, Congress’s work is not done. It’s time to levy new mandatory sanctions on Russia and deliver strong, legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine that protect Ukraine’s long-term freedom, safeguard U.S. security, and end Russia’s war.

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Razom (“Together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S. nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a leading advocate for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

RAZOM FOR UKRAINE: PEACE REQUIRES A STRONG UKRAINE

Published: November 21, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2025

RAZOM FOR UKRAINE: PEACE REQUIRES A STRONG UKRAINE

Washington, D.C. — “The Trump administration’s proposed deal would weaken Ukraine and set a dangerous precedent that threatens democracies around the world. No one wants peace more than Ukrainians, who have suffered under the boot of Putin’s cruel invasion,” said Dora
Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine.

“We are troubled that the Trump administration is pressuring Ukraine to accept a punishing deal under duress. If the Trump administration follows through on its threat to withhold weapons purchased by Europe and end intelligence support, the White House will embolden
Putin, endanger the rest of the free world, and prolong the war, not end it. The White House’s current strategy undermines President Trump’s goal of peace.”

“We call on friends of peace in Congress to urge publicly and privately that any deal to end the war must include ironclad guarantees for Ukraine, guarantees that ensure that Russia cannot use a pause in the fighting to simply rearm and reinvade. A guarantee that lasts only as long as one administration is no guarantee at all.”

“We urge Members of Congress and leaders across the United States to insist that the White House take into account the will of Ukraine’s democratic society. America will be stronger by working together with Ukraine today and in the future, not by pressuring it to accept many of
the terms that Putin has been calling for since day one. Ukraine has proven itself a valuable ally of the United States. The Trump administration must ensure Ukrainians have the tools they need to defend themselves and work together with Ukraine to craft a deal for a just and durable
peace. After nearly four years of fighting for survival, and over a decade since Russia’s first invasion, Ukraine cannot afford a rushed deal.”

“The United States successfully enabled Ukrainians to defend their freedom, weaken Russia’s malicious fighting force, and send a warning to other would-be invaders like Xi Jinping that there is a cost for trying to conquer free people. Now is not the time to give in. We will continue to work with this administration and Congress to secure a just peace that leaves both Ukraine and America safer and stronger.”

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Razom (“Together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S. nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a leading advocate for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Razom: Durable peace requires a strong Ukraine and guarantees that Russia won’t reignite its war

Published: November 19, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2025

Washington, D.C. — “Any durable peace requires a militarily strong Ukraine and firm guarantees that Russia will be unable to reignite its war in the future,” said Mykola Murskyj, director of the Razom advocacy team.

“We know that Vladimir Putin’s goal of subjugating Ukraine hasn’t changed, and that he’s trying to accomplish through political pressure what Russia’s soldiers cannot win on the battlefield. Achieving real peace in Ukraine means guaranteeing Ukrainians can defend themselves — just as they’ve successfully done for almost twelve years — not leaving them vulnerable to Russia’s next attack.

President Trump said Sunday that it’s time for Congress to pass sanctions on Russia, and Razom urges congressional leadership to swiftly pass the bipartisan Sanctioning Russia Act. Americans around the country want to see Russia forced to end its war and return the Ukrainians it holds hostage, including tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. Nothing about Ukraine can be decided without Ukraine and its people.”

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Razom (“Together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S. nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a leading advocate for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Razom for Ukraine applauds new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil

Published: October 23, 2025

October 23, 2025

RAZOM FOR UKRAINE APPLAUDS NEW U.S. SANCTIONS ON RUSSIAN OIL

Washington, D.C. — We applaud the Trump administration’s decisive action to impose new sanctions on Russian oil. This is a strong move that hits Russia exactly where it hurts and makes every day of Putin’s war even more expensive and less sustainable.

As Secretary Scott Bessent said, now is the time for Russia to stop the killing and agree to a ceasefire. By targeting two of Russia’s largest oil companies, the United States is putting a major dent in the Kremlin’s war chest. Sanctioning Russian oil just as Ukraine is battering Russian oil production with drones is a winning formula for forcing Russia to end its war.

It’s essential to keep up the pressure — sanctions must be enforced and updated, and Ukraine must get every weapon it needs to fight back and win. Putin still believes he can outlast the West. We thank the Trump administration for this important step towards proving him wrong.

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Razom (“Together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S. nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a leading advocate for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.