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

Published: May 5, 2026   

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

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

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

Crimea: History and People (Online Course)

Explore HERE.

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

Crimea: History and People (Ukrainian Institute)

Explore HERE.

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

Qırım: Crimea Is Us (Prometheus Course)

Explore HERE.

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

“Ukrayinanıñ İçinden” by Ukraїner

Explore HERE.

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

“The Crimean Tatar Nation in Great Works of Art”

Explore HERE.

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

“There Is Land Beyond the Perekop”

Explore HERE.

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

Bulbul (Crimean Tatar Learning Platform)

Explore HERE.

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

Qırım Ailesi (YouTube Playlist)

Explore HERE.

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

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

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

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

Published: April 26, 2026   

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

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

Performing Arts

Archaeological Opera: Chornobyldorf

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

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

Watch

The Chornobyl Songs Project

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

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

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Music

Literature

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

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

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

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

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

Buy and read

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

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

Buy and read

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

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

Buy and read

Cinema

Chornobyl: Chronicle of Difficult Weeks, 1988
Volodymyr Shevchenko

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

Streaming

Ten Years of Alienation, 1997
Serhii Bukovskyi 

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

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

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

Trailer

The Gateway, 2017
Volodymyr Tykhyi 

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

Trailer

Special Operation, 2026
Oleksiy Radynskyi 

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

Trailer

 

Photography & Visual Arts

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

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

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

Untitled project from Chornobyl, Maksym Dondyuk

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

Painting and monumental art

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

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

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

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

Published: April 24, 2026   

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

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

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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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

Razom Recommends May 2026

Published: April 14, 2026   

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

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

1 May| 7:00 PM| NYC

Concert Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Catastrophe

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

🔗More HERE.

2 May | 6:00 PM | Chicago

7 May | 6:00 PM | Washington, DC

9 May | 6:00 PM | NYC

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

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

🔗More HERE. 

7–10 May | NYC

Ukrainian Drama Showcase

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

🔗More HERE. 

8 May | 7:00 PM | NYC

78th Anniversary Celebration

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

🔗More HERE. 

11 May | 7:00 PM | NYC

Enduring Voices: Rzewski and Sylvestrov

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

🔗More HERE. 

12–24 May | NYC

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

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

More HERE.

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

21 May | 6:30 PM | NYC

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

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

More HERE.

30 May | 6:30 PM | Chicago

The Enduring Legacy of Ukrainian Art

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

🔗More HERE. 

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

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

Published: April 13, 2026   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 13, 2026

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 ###

 

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

 

Ukrainian Drama Showcase

Published: April 1, 2026   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2026

Ukrainian Drama Showcase 

Brings Urgent Ukrainian Theater to New York City 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The program features:

 

Long Plays (translations by Nina Murray):

 

• A Harvest Truce by Serhiy Zhadan

Directed by Danilo Gambini


• The Blue Rose by Lesia Ukrainka

Directed by Rory Pelsue


• The Order of Neatly Made Beds by Lena Lagushonkova

Directed by Jillian Jetton

 

Short Plays:

 

• Balance by Alina Sarnatska (translated by the author)

Directed by Dylan Zwickel

 

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

Directed by Lita Lofton

 

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

Directed by Yibin Wang

 

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

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

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

 

Festival Details:
 

Dates: May 7–10, 2026 

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

Tickets: Ukrainian Drama Showcase

Streaming: Free global access via HowlRound Theatre Commons

 

About Razom for Ukraine: 

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

 

Press Contact:

Rachel Shuey 

rachel.shuey@razomforukraine.org

706-399-3333

Bring Kids Back | Teddy Bears Installation

Published: April 1, 2026   

Bring Kids Back

Date: April 23

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

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

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

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

Event Description

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

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

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

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


Purpose


The event aims to:

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

• Reinforce bipartisan Congressional support for holding Russia to account

• Generate national media attention around an ongoing war crime 

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


Core Messages:

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

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

• Ukraine’s children are not a bargaining chip.


Volunteer opportunities

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

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

Join Us

Razom Recommends April 2026

Published: April 1, 2026   

April is a month of action. As we mark Earth Month and Volunteer Month, we’re reminded that the health of our world and the strength of our communities depend on what we choose to do — and what we choose not to ignore.

This April, Razom Recommends highlights events that invite you to engage more deeply: to learn, to show up, and to take part in shaping what comes next. As Russia’s war continues to impact not only Ukraine but global security, the environment, and fundamental freedoms, staying informed and involved matters. Whether through culture, community, or advocacy, these events are an opportunity to turn awareness into action — and to stand with Ukraine in ways that are both meaningful and needed right now.

9 Apr| 6:00-8:00 PM| NYC

Reading Pidmohylnyi in a New Century. Politics, Urbanism, Gender

Valerian Pidmohylnyi’s 1928 novel has aged very well. It is still a wonderful exploration of the challenges facing a young Ukrainian village boy who comes to the city in the years immediately following the revolution that brought the communists to power in the former Russian empire. It is also a deeply philosophical exposition of the human condition that puts us all between the physical demands of the world around us and the cognitive imperative of reason. But a century later, the elements that make up Pidmohylnyi’s novel and argument are not universally perceived as they were then. This lecture will explore the then and now of understanding Stepan Radchenko.

🔗More HERE. 

12 Apr|5:00 PM| NYC

Ukrainian Music Initiative: Introductions

The Ukrainian Music Initiative invites you to Introductions, an evening dedicated to elevating Ukrainian classical music and its place in the Western canon. Featuring acclaimed musicians — cellist Valeriya Sholokhova, pianists Pavlo Gintov and Margarita Rovenskaya, and contralto Vira Slywotzky — this concert brings together exceptional talent for a powerful and refined performance. Join us at All Souls NYC for a program that celebrates the richness and depth of Ukraine’s musical heritage. 

🔗More HERE. 

12-13 Apr|Cleveland, OH

Screening of We’re Fine at CIFF

Two and a half years after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a group of Ukrainian artists and volunteers converge at Burning Man to create a larger-than-life art installation. Responding to a Facebook post, this group of mostly strangers soon becomes a family as they work together to build this massive sculpture in the empty plateau of the Black Rock Desert. Composed entirely of real road signs collected from de-occcupied Ukrainian territories – each one bearing the scars of war –  the sign spells out the phrase “I’M FINE” in giant letters, a raw symbol of how people hide their pain behind words as life continues. 

🔗More HERE.

13 Apr| 7:00 PM| NYC

Book Launch: Mrs. Orwell by Andrea Chalupa in conversation with Nomiki Konst

Mrs. Orwell follows poet Eileen Blair and her husband, George Orwell, as they forge the professional and romantic partnership that will eventually bring us Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. From a honeymoon fighting in the Spanish Civil War to narrow escapes from Stalin’s agents and the London Blitz, the Blairs’ campaign against fascism brings them face-to-face with some of the greatest threats of the 1930s. But while George struggles to make his voice heard despite political censorship, Eileen must fight to preserve her own voice within a marriage that threatens to consume her.

🔗More HERE.

16 Apr| 6:30-8:30 PM | NYC

Ukrainian Institute Young Member Event

The Institute invites young members of the community for an evening of wine, conversation, and connection. The evening will begin with an interactive tasting of four wines from Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, New York’s most award-winning winery. Afterward, guests can stay for a relaxed opportunity to meet and connect. This event is open to UIA Members, Annual Friends, and guests ages 21–40. Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

🔗More HERE. 

19-22 Apr| Washington, DC

Ukraine Action Summit

The Ukraine Action Summit (UAS) is your opportunity to take part in one of the largest gatherings of Ukraine’s supporters in the United States. From expert-led panels to coordinated high-impact advocacy on Capitol Hill, the Summit provides powerful ways to engage, learn, and inspire action. Over the course of these transformative days, you’ll learn best practices for civic advocacy, connect with a nationwide community of Ukraine supporters, and ensure that when you speak out for Ukraine—your voice is heard in Washington, DC.

23 Apr| Washington, DC

UAS Companion Event: Abducted Ukrainian Children

Razom and American Coalition for Ukraine are partnering to raise awareness about the abducted children of Ukraine at this UAS, Spring 2026. The issue of abducted children has always been on our agenda, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep it relevant in the current news cycle. We are determined to get the abducted children of Ukraine the public attention they truly deserve. On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Razom and ACU plan to display 20,000 stuffed teddy bears – a symbol of children – at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This way, we aim to communicate the scale and seriousness of the crime to the media and decision-makers. This is an ambitious project, and we need your support to execute it: volunteers to help with the set-up, and participants to rally once the installation is done.

🔗More HERE. 

23 & 24 Apr| 7:00 PM| NYC

TAPESTRIES: Directed and Choreographed by Suzzanne Ponomarenko

Tapestries is an evening-length dance theatre piece told through the curious narrative of the Unicorn Tapestries (1495–1505) and a queer reimagining of Ukrainian folklore. It consists of eight vignettes, each representing a different tapestry and folklore, threaded together to tell the tale of the Magical Unicorn. This hour-length performance unfolds through rigorous and quirky dance vocabulary abstracted from Ukrainian folk dance, ballet, post-modernism, and modern dance, alongside projections of newly imagined tapestries illustrated in a surrealist, dreamlike form by Emmy Castellani, a meticulously crafted, eclectic score by Katie-James Rushin, and costumed by visionary designer David Quinn. This piece was developed in part during a Baryshnikov Arts Residency.

🔗More HERE.  

25 Apr| 6:00 PM| NYC

Screening of VIKTOR at ReelAbilities Festival

A Razom Cinema grantee, VIKTOR, is being featured at the ReelAbilities Film Festival in New York — the leading festival spotlighting stories by and about people with disabilities. This powerful film follows Viktor, a Deaf man in Kharkiv, as he searches for purpose in the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion — navigating a war he cannot hear. 

Also listen to our Razom Talks with Viktor Korostovskyi and Olivier Sarbil. 

🔗More HERE. 

26 Apr| 2:00 PM| Chicago, IL

Exploring Ukrainian Literature & History

The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art invites you to an afternoon of learning and discussion as part of the UIUC Talk Series: Exploring Ukrainian Literature & History. This event features presentations by graduate student Joseph Mosse, who will share research on Ukrainian writer Natalena Koroleva, and Professor Valeria Sobol, introducing her course Kyiv: The Biography of the City. Together, these talks offer insight into Ukraine’s literary heritage and the historical and cultural evolution of Kyiv, from the medieval period to today.

🔗More HERE. 

29-30 Apr| Toronto, CA

Silent Flood at Hot Docs Film Festival

The serene banks of the Dniester River, which flows through Ukraine and Moldova to the Black Sea, serve as a timeless sanctuary for a pacifist community living by candlelight and horse-drawn labour. This atmospheric documentary captures the archaic beauty of a life governed by nature rather than the clock, until the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine shatters its isolation. A profound spiritual friction occurs when centuries of pacifist faith meet the existential demands of a nation under fire. By juxtaposing the stillness of the farm with the heavy longing of soldiers at the front, Silent Flood shows that resistance takes many forms, some as quiet as a shared meal.

🔗More HERE.

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

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.