Razom for Ukraine Applauds Senate Passage of Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, Calls on House to Act Without Delay

Published: August 7, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Razom for Ukraine Applauds Senate Passage of Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, Calls on House to Act Without Delay

Washington, D.C., August 7, 2026 —Today, a bipartisan supermajority of Senators passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which targets Russia’s financial sector and puts a substantial pressure on Moscow and its enablers to end the brutal war against Ukraine. We are grateful to every Senator who supported this critical legislation.

“This marks the second piece of pro-Ukraine legislation to pass a chamber of Congress in just over two months,” said Daniel Balson, Director of Advocacy at Razom for Ukraine. “Ukraine’s battlefield successes have injected new urgency into Congress, while Putin’s relentless attacks on civilians have hardened its resolve. The House must now meet the moment by passing this bill and sending it to President Trump’s desk for signature.”

“The strong bipartisan support for this bill is a fitting tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham, who devoted years to supporting Ukraine as it bravely resisted Putin’s war machine. We are glad to see senators from both parties ready to take up the torch in the fight for freedom and democracy.”

Americans across the political spectrum have consistently supported stronger sanctions on Russia. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act answers that bipartisan demand by providing a comprehensive set of tools to weaken Russia’s economy while extending sanctions on Iran — a key military partner of the Kremlin that has also attacked U.S. troops in the Middle East.

“Putin should be under no illusion: the longer he continues his illegal war, the higher the cost he will face. We thank President Trump for publicly backing this legislation. Ukraine’s many supporters across the country now expect Congress to finish the job and make this bill law,” said Daniel Balson.

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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

Patriot Production License for Ukraine Will Save Lives and Help End the War

Published: July 8, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Razom for Ukraine: Patriot Production License for Ukraine Will Save Lives and Help End the War

Washington, D.C., July 8, 2026 — Today, President Trump announced that the United States will authorize licensed production of Patriot interceptors in Ukraine—a landmark decision that will save lives, strengthen U.S. interests, and help bring Russia’s war to an end.

“President Trump stands on the right side of history. He stands with the winners. And this is a win-win for both Ukraine and the United States,” said Melinda Haring, Senior Advisor at Razom for Ukraine. “Licensed production will allow Ukraine to better defend its people without drawing down existing U.S. stockpiles.”

“Russia is losing on the battlefield and sustaining increasingly humiliating deep strikes against the oil infrastructure that fuels its war machine. Putin’s remaining tool is terror: ballistic missile strikes on Ukrainian cities designed to kill civilians and break the country’s will.”

While producing Patriots would give Ukraine a strong shield for tomorrow, it also needs ammunition for tonight. A sustained, uninterrupted flow of interceptors through existing programs is crucial to fulfill an urgent need for air defense to protect civilians in Ukraine as Russia attacks their homes on a daily basis.

“Ukrainians are winners. They have repeatedly demonstrated their ingenuity and ability to rapidly master advanced technologies under wartime conditions. We urge President Trump and his administration to immediately implement the licensing agreement, and maintain the flow of existing Patriot interceptors to Ukraine while domestic production ramps up,” said Melinda Haring.

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Razom and partners launch the first-of-its-kind initiative in Ukraine to address drug-resistant infections in trauma care

Published: July 8, 2026

Razom for Ukraine, a leading U.S.-based nonprofit organization focusing on Ukraine, has officially launched Infection Prevention project TDAC (Trauma Decontamination and Antimicrobial Resistance Containment), also known as Operation Wallaby. The first-of-its-kind initiative in Ukraine focused on reducing the spread of drug-resistant bacteria that can no longer be treated with standard antibiotics (multidrug-resistant organisms, or MDROs). The goal is to improve outcomes for wounded patients and reduce severe, life-threatening infection complications.

The project is implemented in partnership with the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, with advocacy from frontline clinicians involved in pre-hospital care. It targets a critical gap in the route from the frontline to the hospital — preventing bacteria from spreading during handoffs between care teams before a patient ever reaches a hospital ward.

Why this matters for Ukraine and beyond

Wounded patients rarely go directly to a hospital. Along the way, they pass through multiple points of care — and each transfer can increase exposure to drug-resistant bacteria. These infections can severely complicate recovery and become life-threatening.

The scale of this risk is compounded by the length of Ukraine’s evacuation chains. Infection risk rises significantly at the end of a prolonged trauma evacuation pathway, with considerable regional variation, according to research by Hailie Uren published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2025). The longer a wounded patient remains in transit, the greater the opportunity for infection to take hold.

This is no longer solely a Ukrainian health challenge. As wounded patients are evacuated to hospitals across Europe for specialized care, drug-resistant bacteria travel with them — placing pressure on health systems far beyond the frontline. European hospitals are already encountering these infections among war-wounded patients, making early intervention an urgent international priority.

“Antimicrobial resistance could cost as many lives as cancer by 2050, according to the UK Government’s Review. Resistant bacteria do not stop at the Ukrainian border. It is an early warning for every health system worldwide. That is why launching the Infection Prevention Project is so important,” said Dan Solchanyk, Razom Health Program Director .

How it works

Ukrainian scientists and clinicians, led by Hailie Uren, are working alongside clinical partners to investigate where and how drug-resistant bacteria enter the evacuation chain. Based on this work, Ukraine will introduce standardized practices focused on early decontamination and stopping bacteria from spreading between handoffs.

The project unfolds in three stages. The team is currently screening war-wounded patients across the evacuation chain — from casualty collection points through forward surgical units (Role 2) and hospitals (Role 3) — mapping where bacterial contamination occurs. Later in 2026, those findings will guide the creation of dedicated decontamination units to stop bacteria from entering clinical environments. By 2027, the full programme will be rolled out based on the evidence gathered.

“With a high proportion of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) not responsive to last-line antibiotics among war-wounded patients, early intervention through this project is critical to preventing infection before patients reach a hospital,” said Hailie Uren, Project Lead and Principal Investigator from Razom and UPHC.

The approach is grounded in U.S. military medicine and informed by expert consultation, adapted to prolonged evacuation chains and wartime conditions in Ukraine.

Stopping infections early reduces the need to prescribe antibiotics without knowing which bacteria are present (broad-spectrum empirical use) — helping slow the development of antimicrobial resistance and protecting the wider health system.

For more information, please contact anna.hryniv@razomforukraine.org

Razom for Ukraine Launches Inaugural I’mmortal / Безсмертні Fellowship

Published: July 1, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2026
Razom for Ukraine Launches Inaugural I’mmortal / Безсмертні Fellowship
Five Transatlantic Arts-in-Health Partnerships to Gather at Wesleyan University This Fall

New York, NY – Today Razom for Ukraine announced the inaugural cohort of the I’mmortal / Безсмертні Fellowship, Razom’s first Arts-in-Health program, developed in partnership with Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts. Drawing from 35 applications submitted by NGOs, cultural collectives, artists, clinicians, and institutional partners across Ukraine and the United States, a selection committee of field experts chose five cross-border partnerships to co-develop projects using creative practice to transform mental health, physical rehabilitation, and community reintegration. Each partnership receives an implementation grant of up to $10,000 and full residency support for a week-long in-person gathering at Wesleyan University, November 2–7, 2026, culminating in a public Capstone Showcase on November 7th in Middletown, Connecticut.

The fellowship is built on a foundational recognition: Ukraine is currently a vital frontier for innovations in trauma recovery. The I’mmortal program matches artists and healers with institutional partners, including hospitals, universities, veterans’ centers, and NGOs, to develop collaborative projects that neither partner could conceive or execute alone. The long-term goal is that projects piloted in 2026 will move into full implementation in Ukraine in 2027.

“Art has always been how people make meaning and take care of communities in the hardest moments,” said Theodora Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine. “The I’mmortal Fellowship exists to put that idea into practice, across borders, and at the highest level of attention.”

“Where science maps the trauma, the arts map our humanity, providing the truth and wisdom needed to heal,” said Katja Kolcio, Chair of the Dance Department and Professor of Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University. “By bringing these extraordinary Ukrainian and American partners to Wesleyan, we are moving creative practice from the margins of healthcare straight to the center, proving that cultural expression is a critical, rigorous pillar of health, community resilience, and our collective capacity to build a better world.”

THE 2026 COHORT

GATHERING AROUND THE FIRE: ARTS, HEALING, AND RESILIENCE

Jessica Hecht / Alexandra Zaslav / The Campfire Project (New York, NY) x Mariana Ivanovych / Marcin Piotrowski / Folkowisko Ukraine (Nahachiv, Lviv region)

Therapeutic arts programming for children and youth in Western Ukraine, bringing together local and displaced populations to process war trauma, build resilience, and strengthen community through daily creative practice in dance, visual art, theater, and music, delivered through a trauma-informed, culturally adaptive framework. A parallel practitioner training strand, drawing on resources from the WHO and Jameel Arts and Health Lab, equips local educators and aid workers with tools they can sustain independently.

ARTSCAPES OF CARE: COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS & TOOLKIT

Nathalie Robelot-Timtchenko / Oleksandra Kliushnova / Joanna Wroblewska / First Aid of the Soul (Kyiv / Washington, D.C.) x Kerry Kincy (Middletown, CT) x Dr. Midori Samson (Lawrence, KS)

Trauma-informed, arts-based workshops for artists, community healers, educators, and mental health practitioners in the Lviv region, integrating soundscapes and deep listening, movement, visual storytelling, and embodied creative practice. The project will produce a replicable toolkit for Ukrainian organizations to continue and adapt the work independently.

RHYTHM AS REGULATION

Yekaterina Chizayeva (New Orleans, LA) x Kateryna Taranova (Kyiv/Lviv/Slavsko)

A transnational methodology exchange investigating how rhythm, through music, dance, voice, and body-based practice, can support nervous system regulation, reduce anxiety symptoms, and aid recovery from sensory disorientation caused by war-related sonic exposure. Two intensive methodology labs, one in Slavsko, Ukraine and one in New Orleans, bring together U.S. and Ukrainian artists to develop and prototype shared, cross-cultural protocols.

“ME – THE OTHER”: INCLUSIVE THEATRE & NARRATIVE RESTORATION INITIATIVE

Deb Gottesman / The Theatre Lab – Life Stories Institute (Washington, D.C.) x Yuliia Vintoniv / Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv)

An inclusive theatre initiative bringing together people with congenital and acquired disabilities, including those with war-related injuries, alongside students and community members to create original dramatic work from lived experience. The Theatre Lab’s over twenty years of autobiographical theatre practice meets Yuliia Vintoniv’s expertise in disability-inclusive education at Ukrainian Catholic University, with a pilot university course launching in 2027.

MOVING, IMAGINING, AND UNBROKEN

Román Baca / Exit12 Dance Company (New York, NY) x Alina Spas / Dr. Brendan Bo O’Connor / Imagination Lab (Albany, NY) x Dr. Yuliia Rozmyrska / Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (Lutsk)

A co-authored dance and movement program designed specifically for Ukrainian combat veterans, wounded and non-wounded alike, that integrates Exit12’s proven trauma-informed methodology with surrealism-based visual arts practice. The program is not an export of an American model but a genuine co-authorship, adapted entirely for Ukraine’s cultural moment and the realities of its combatants. Pilot workshops will be conducted in the New York area before full implementation in Ukraine in 2027.

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 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.

ABOUT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts integrates world-class venues with a dedicated team of curators, producers, and technicians to advance creative practice as foundational to a liberal arts education. By bringing global artists into a dynamic relationship with the campus, the Center for the Arts supports critical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experimentation. At Wesleyan, the arts serve as an essential form of inquiry, teaching, and public engagement, cultivating bold thinkers who value embodied experience and community connection.

PRESS CONTACT

Rachel Shuey

rachel.shuey@razomforukraine.org

706-399-3333

razomforukraine.org

Razom, Esper Bionics, and Ukrainian clinical partners launch a new initiative to expand access to advanced prosthetic care in Ukraine

Published: May 27, 2026

Razom, Esper Bionics, and Ukrainian clinical partners
launch a new initiative to expand access to advanced prosthetic care in Ukraine

Razom for Ukraine, Esper Bionics, and Ukrainian clinical partners are launching a new initiative to expand access to advanced prosthetic care for people living with limb loss in Ukraine.

This project is about helping people regain independence, dignity, confidence, and a path back to daily life — while also strengthening Ukraine’s prosthetics ecosystem for the future.

At the center of the initiative are the patients themselves: Ukrainians whose lives have been changed by injury and who are rebuilding their futures as they return to work, family life, and community participation. “The program is designed to support people through a full pathway of care, from assessment and fitting to adaptation and follow-up, so that the prosthesis becomes part of long-term recovery rather than a one-time intervention.” said Dmytro Gazda, CEO of Esper Bionics.

The initiative also reflects the strength and ingenuity already present in Ukraine. Esper Bionics, a Ukrainian company developing advanced bionic prosthetics, brings technical innovation to the project. Ukrainian clinical partners bring the medical expertise and rehabilitation support needed to help patients integrate these devices into everyday life.

Razom’s role, as public health implementation expert, is to connect donor resources, clinical providers, and patients into coherent projects that work inside Ukraine’s public health system. We standardize how partners coordinate, stay compliant with national health regulations, and report results, ensuring each project strengthens the system rather than running parallel to it.

“This project is about helping people get back to their lives, while also showing that Ukraine is building modern recovery pathways under extraordinary conditions,” said Dora Chomiak, CEO of Razom. “It is a bridge between the US and Ukraine, connecting resources, expertise, and legitimacy with Ukrainian innovation, talent, and resilience.”

The project is also being built with sustainability in mind. Razom is working to ensure that the initiative complements, not replaces, Ukraine’s existing government support system, with careful attention to patient eligibility, continuity of care, and long-term access to state assistance.

Through this partnership, the initiative aims to show what is possible when patient needs, public health implementation expertise, and Ukrainian innovation come together. It is a story of recovery, systems-building, and partnership — and a reminder that what is being created in Ukraine today can help shape recovery and rehabilitation far beyond Ukraine’s borders.

About Razom

Razom is a leading U.S.-based nonprofit organization working to build a secure, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine. Founded in 2014, Razom (“together” in Ukrainian) supports urgent needs in Ukraine while investing in long-term solutions across health, civil society, advocacy, and culture. As Ukraine’s future has global implications, Razom strengthens trauma care systems, supports local leaders and communities, and connects Ukraine to the world.

About Esper Bionics

Esper Bionics is a Ukrainian company developing advanced bionic prosthetic solutions designed to restore function, independence, and quality of life for people living with limb loss.

About the clinical partners

Ukrainian clinical partners are helping make this initiative possible by providing the medical expertise, rehabilitation support, and patient care needed for successful prosthetic fitting and adaptation.

Press Contact:Iryna Gudyma
iryna.gudyma@razom.org

“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.

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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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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