2025 Impact Report: Building What Sustains Ukraine
In 2025, Ukraine did more than endure. Under relentless attacks on infrastructure, hospitals, and civilian life, Ukrainians continued to function, adapt, and build for the future. And because of your support, Razom strengthened the systems that make that possible — not just emergency relief, but durable capacity: the local leadership, infrastructure, and institutional strength that allow Ukraine to function under prolonged attack. Here is what that looked like.
Strengthening the Survival Chain
When seconds determine survival, systems matter. In 2025, Razom reinforced Ukraine’s full chain of survival — from frontline stabilization to hospital recovery. We trained tactical medics, delivered 56 Mobile Stabilization Points to bring care closer to the front line, strengthened EMS capacity across multiple regions, and delivered over $15 million in lifesaving medical supplies through 147 in-country distribution trips.
We also scaled our advanced trauma training and surgical exchange programs through the Co-Pilot Project, bringing international collaboration to elevate Ukraine’s surgical capabilities.
That is what your support creates: conditions where lives can be saved
Powering Local Leadership for Ukraine’s Future
Resilience is not imported. It is built locally. When international funding disruptions placed enormous strain on Ukraine’s civil society, Razom invested in strengthening Ukrainian organizations themselves. Through Razom Sylnishi (“Stronger Together”), NGOs received training, mentorship, and institutional grants to stabilize operations and build for long-term growth.
We supported 15 workforce and reskilling projects across more than 10 regions, helping over 3,300 Ukrainians rebuild livelihoods. Veterans found new pathways to leadership through adaptive sports and professional programs. Medical and military leaders completed tailored Mini-MBA programs designed specifically to equip them for crisis leadership.
Ella Petrenko, founder of the Bilozerka Center for Regional Development in Kherson Oblast, described the shift: “Doing good work is not enough — you have to do it efficiently and sustainably. These grants are about more than money. They give us time to reflect, to grow, and to build organizations that will be here for the long run.”
Through intentional investment in local leaders, recovery becomes durable — and your support allows us to infuse targeted capacity building where it will make the most difference, creating ripple effects in numerous communities.
Inspiring the World with Ukraine
Ukraine’s story is not only one of war — it is one of creativity, expertise, and leadership. In 2025, Razom’s Ukrainian Cultural Festival transformed October in New York into a month-long celebration of Ukrainian cinema, theater, literature, and visual arts. Ninety percent of attendees were non-Ukrainian — expanding Ukraine’s cultural presence far beyond the diaspora and into mainstream artistic spaces.
One Ukrainian Cultural Festival attendee captured the shift:
Through Ukraine on Campus, Razom supported students and scholars across major universities, creating space for Ukrainian research, literature, and lived experience to enter academic conversations on their own terms. Ukrainian medics led record-breaking workshops at international medical conferences. Journalists traveled to Ukraine to report firsthand, replacing abstraction with experience.
In 2025, Razom also launched ImpactUA, an immersive, in-country internship program that brought U.S.-based and Ukrainian students studying abroad to work alongside Ukrainian NGOs. For many, the experience transformed into long-term commitment — with several choosing to relocate, launch initiatives, or return to Ukraine in professional capacities.
Throughout 2025, Razom ensured that Ukraine’s lived reality was present where global policy decisions are made. Working closely with more than 70 congressional offices across 41 committees, Razom helped advance pro-Ukraine priorities in U.S. legislation, including $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. In Europe, Razom elevated the strategic use of frozen Russian sovereign assets as a viable pathway to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction — co-organizing high-level discussions with partners such as the Atlantic Council and the Center for American Studies at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome.
That showcases the deeper impact of Razom’s work in bringing Ukraine’s inspiration to audiences worldwide:
Ensuring Ukraine is understood not only through crisis, but
through contribution
Innovation Under Pressure
War accelerates innovation — and Razom helped Ukrainian professionals scale the interventions and inventions that prove to be most useful. From Ukrainian-engineered communication systems now achieving state certification, to nationwide Point-of-Care Ultrasound training influencing Ministry of Health standards, 2025 showed that some of Ukraine’s most consequential solutions are emerging directly from wartime necessity.
As Ukrainian ultrasound pioneer Dr. Oksana Popova explains:
Through Razom z Toboyu (Together with You), more than 11,000 individual counseling sessions were delivered in 2025 alone, expanding access to modern, evidence-based psychological care.
Tourniquet protocols were standardized nationally through the first-ever Tourniquet Forum.
Through Razom Cinema, we reimagined how Ukrainian films are distributed and experienced globally. We partnered for the first time with Metrograph in New York to present Soul & Soil: Ukrainian Poetic Cinema, a curated series of landmark Ukrainian films.
This is innovation that strengthens Ukraine today, enhances Ukraine’s capacity to rebuild, and informs global best practices for tomorrow. Razom is proud to act as a catalyst for developing Ukrainian-led innovation and invest in solutions produced by people who excel under the toughest conditions, often with no margin for error.
Investing in Ukraine’s Next Generation
Ukraine’s future is being built in classrooms, volunteer camps, robotics labs, and youth leadership programs. Razom supported 25+ STEM classrooms reaching 9,500 students, national education festivals engaging 2,500 teachers, and international Olympiad teams earning medals on global stages. Through entrepreneurship programs like Create HERE!, 783 young people developed business plans, with projects already implemented in frontline communities.
Razom also invests in global exposure that strengthens Ukraine from the inside out. In 2025, Ukrainian theater professionals completed internships at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, gaining hands-on experience in large-scale production, fundraising, and institutional management.
At the same time, Ukraine’s Youth Delegates to the United Nations carried the lived realities of wartime Ukraine directly into global decision-making spaces, delivering more than 20 speeches and forming a cross-continental youth network spanning 20+ countries.
One participant reflected: “We are not just coordinating projects — we are coordinating hope.”
Investing in youth is not symbolic — it is a structural decision that ensures sustainability of workforce and talent as well as sustained involvement of youth in Ukraine’s recovery.
Building Forward — Together
The work documented in the 2025 Impact Report reflects more than response. It reflects long-term systems building. As CEO Dora Chomiak writes:
That is what Razom is building — a Ukraine that can defend itself, sustain its people, and shape its own democratic future. Your support makes this possible. If you believe in a secure, livable, and connected Ukraine — one led by its own people — we invite you to continue building with us.
Stand with Razom.
Invest in Ukraine’s long-term resilience
Razom Recommends March 2026
After another long and brutal winter, Ukraine is stepping into spring. War has not paused, but the return of longer days and warmer light brings a familiar rhythm — a reminder that renewal is part of life, even in the hardest seasons.
As the sun returns and communities begin to gather outdoors again, there is a quiet but steady sense of hope. This month’s Razom Recommends reflects that shift. Just as spring nourishes new growth, we’re sharing events that invite connection, creativity, and renewed inspiration — opportunities to stay engaged with Ukraine’s culture, resilience, and future.
5 Mar| 6:30-8:00 PM| NYC
Signals of Being: An Evening With Writer Volodymyr Rafeyenko
Please join the Ukrainian Studies Program at the Harriman Institute for an evening featuring Ukrainian writer Volodymyr Rafeyenko in discussion with Mark Andryczyk. On the occasion of the recent publication of Andryczyk’s English-language translation of Rafeyenko’s play “Signals of Being or Verbum Caro Factum Est” (2025), the two will read excerpts from the publication and discuss how Ukraine’s culture continues to respond to Russia’s enduring drive to eliminate Ukrainian identity.
5, 7, 14, 26-28 Mar|Washington, DC
Jewish Film x Music Festival: Segment on Ukraine
Jewish roots in Kyiv stretch back to the eight century, and it has served as fertile ground for Jewish art, philosophy, and culture. From the rise of the Hasidic movement to the flourishing of klezmer music, Jewish communities persisted and remained fully engaged in present-day Ukrainian society. This month we celebrate the Ukrainian spirit of resistance, a groundbreaking tradition of filmmaking, and the outpouring of creative energy that shines through ongoing conflict. The segment includes Second Wind (March 5), SHTTL (March 7), Man with a Movie Camera (March 14-15), and a suit of Ukrainian shorts (March 26-28).
6 Mar| 2:30-8:00 PM| NYC
Ukraine Tech: On the Battlefield and Beyond
The Ukrainian Institute of America will host a conference on Ukraine’s emergence as a key proving ground for advanced technology. Drawing on longstanding scientific and engineering expertise, Ukrainian innovations—from drones and AI to cyber capabilities—are reshaping modern warfare and global security far beyond the battlefield.
6 Mar| 3:00-5:00 PM| Princeton, NJ
Event with Volodymyr Rafeyenko: Signals of Being
In the early days of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine the residents of a small co-op community outside of Kyiv find themselves in increasingly desperate circumstances, surrounded by occupying Russian forces. Pinched between Bucha and Borodianka, cut off from aid, and unable to escape, their attempts at survival rely on connection: a cellphone signal in the forest, their bonds with each other, and, ultimately, new understandings of what it means to be Ukrainian. Weaving Shakespeare with both Ukrainian literary classics and contemporary works, “Signals of Being or Verbum Caro Factum Est” stages a captivating dramatic interpretation of a country at war.
7 Mar| 12:00-4:00 PM| Chicago, IL
L.A. Woman, Irene Antonovych
The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art proudly presents L.A. Woman, a memorial exhibition surveying the life’s work of model, actress, artist, curator, and documentary filmmaker, Irene Antonovych, née Zmurkevych.
The show also highlights her personal collection, which includes works by portraitist Julian Butsmaniuk; California artists Nick Brigante, Peter Max, Morgan Russell, and Volodymyr Balas.
9 Mar| 7:00 PM| NYC
Procrustean Bed Group Exhibition
On March 9, Mercury Art Center in collaboration with Rukh Art Hub and Fridman Gallery will present Procrustean Bed, a group exhibition that reflects on migration, conformity, and systemic pressure on the individual, featuring artists Taras Haida, Anna Luhovska, Yurii Syvyryn, and Nikita Tsoy.
10 Mar| 4:00-5:30 PM| NYC
Perspectives on the Hidden Cost of War
This talk will bring together three perspectives on the hidden cost of Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. As questions about a prospective peace plan continue to circulate, Olga Rudneva, Roksolana Yurchyshyn, and Mary Jordan bring firsthand accounts of soldiers on the frontlines, Ukrainians coping with trauma, and rescued children from the Temporarily Occupied Territories. Together, their work paints the sweeping cost of war beyond the headlines and centers a conversation on what a just peace really means for Ukraine.
15 Mar| 1:00 PM| Chicago, IL
Testimony of a dissident: 16 years of imprisonment
The Ukrainian community of Chicago is honored to welcome a true living legend — Mykola Horbal, poet, dissident, former political prisoner, and member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group. A lifelong advocate for human rights and Ukrainian independence, Horbal’s voice has endured imprisonment and repression. On Sunday, March 15, he will speak at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago, offering reflections shaped by decades of resistance and cultural leadership.
19-21 Mar| NYC
Mosaics: Discover Ukrainian Composition
Opening our seventh season, UCMF teams up with International Contemporary Ensemble to showcase the diverse places that constitute Ukraine. The festival launches with Places on March 19, 2026, presented in collaboration with the International Contemporary Ensemble. This opening program explores the relationship between geography and imagination, portraying how Ukraine’s vast and varied landscapes — from the Carpathian Mountains to post-industrial mining towns — shape the sonic imagination of its composers. Featured works include Vela Invecti by Alla Zahaykevych, Branching by Ostap Manulyak, Voice of the Mountains by Victor Kaminsky, Terricone by Anna Korsun (new arrangement co-commissioned by International Contemporary Ensemble and UCMF), and Five Minutes After Leaving the Bomb Shelter by Ivan Nebesnyy.
26-27 Mar|NYC
Conference. 1990s Ukraine: Undertaken Initiatives & Squandered Opportunities
Please join the Ukrainian Studies Program at the Harriman Institute for the conference 1990s Ukraine: Undertaken Initiatives & Squandered Opportunities. Of late, several important scholarly publications have appeared that focus on the years leading to the Revolution of Dignity and Russia’s invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 in search of roots for the dramatic changes in identity and civil society that Ukraine has undergone in the recent past. These volumes are very insightful and informative in tracing the trajectory of developments on those fronts in Ukraine since 2000, but they largely ignore the first ten years of Ukrainian independence—roughly the 1990s. However, that decade, in fact, featured many of the key initiatives and strategies that would be further developed in the country in the decades to come. 1990s Ukraine will look back at the 1990s and identify crucial areas that can be linked with more recent experiences in Ukraine.
28 Mar|3:30PM|Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Film Festival: Films in Competition from Ukraine
This special focus on Ukrainian films includes a poetic film essay set in purgatory; a story of survival; a search for a roommate in Budapest; a jovial rumination on love and the passage of time; the toxic legacy of a Khimprom chemical plant; and a surreal night in the wilderness. The organizers acknowledge the generous support of the U-M Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, which covered the submission fees for all Ukrainian films this season.
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.
Razom Recommends February 2026
February marks four years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As communities gather to remember and show solidarity, this anniversary comes during an unusually harsh winter marked by escalating attacks on civilian infrastructure. Millions of Ukrainians are facing outages of heat and power never experienced before – challenges that directly affect daily life and survival itself.
This month’s Razom Recommends highlights events held in February that help bring clarity and renew resolve. Alongside these gatherings, Razom continues to respond on the ground, providing urgent winter and energy assistance to communities impacted by ongoing strikes. You can learn more about Razom’s response to the winter emergency here.
2 Feb| 4:15-5:45 PM| NYC
Crimea and the Crimean Tatars after 12 Years of Temporary Occupation
Please join the Ukrainian Studies Program at the Harriman Institute and the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies (GCUS) for a lecture by Alim Aliev. Moderated by Yuri Shevchuk.
This public discussion will examine the profound changes that have taken place in Crimea over the 12 years of its temporary occupation by the Russian Federation. The conversation will focus on how local residents continue to resist the occupation, how Crimean Tatars preserve and develop their identity under conditions of repression, and how they envision their future.
2-7 Feb| Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Week in D.C.
Ukrainian Week has been held every February since 2022 in the U.S. capital, hosted at the city’s premier venues. Over the years, thousands of delegates from the United States, Europe, Ukraine, Israel, South Korea, and other countries have participated in Ukrainian Week. In 2026, the jubilee fifth Ukrainian Week will take place as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Independence Day, and close to 2,000 delegates are expected to attend.
3 Feb| 4:00-5:30 PM |NYC
Book Talk. “Maidan: Ukraine’s Democratic Revolution”
Please join the Ukrainian Studies Program at the Harriman Institute for a book talk by Sophia Wilson. Moderated by Mark Andryczyk. Sophia Wilson will discuss her book, “Maidan: Ukraine’s Democratic Revolution” – a carefully researched account of the underbelly of the Ukrainian revolutionary process in the winter of 2013-14. The book investigates how participants self-organized to create the resistance, why the peaceful movement eventually turned to violence, and how the revolutionary process changed those who came to change the country.
10 Feb| 6:00 PM | NYC
Special Screening of THE EUKRAINIAN hosted by Razom
THE EUKRAINIAN follows Olha Stefanishyna—recently appointed Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States—during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Filmed from within the corridors of power and moments of profound personal strain, the film offers an urgent, human portrait of leadership, resistance, and democratic values under existential threat. Trailer
The evening will open with remarks by Erik Ullenhag, Consul General of Sweden in New York. The screening will be followed by a moderated conversation with director Viktor Nordenskiöld and Razom CEO Dora Chomiak, addressing the realities of war, diplomacy, and the responsibility of the international community. Free admission. RSVP required.
10 Feb| 6:00-9:00 PM | NYC
The World of Fake Values: Ukraine and the Global Fight for Freedom
The Ukrainian Institute of America and Renew Democracy Initiative invite you to The World of Fake Values: Ukraine and the Global Fight for Freedom, a conversation with RDI’s Founder and Chairman, Garry Kasparov and CEO, Uriel Epshtein, moderated by CNN’s Bianna Golodryga. Includes reception after the program. Gary’s new book will be available for purchase and signing.
13 Feb|6:00-9:00 PM| Chicago, IL
It Will Destroy You at UIMA: Opening Reception
It Will Destroy You brings together works by contemporary artists who interrogate the deconstruction of systems and structures that have long governed our lives. Through painting, sculpture, installation, and video, the exhibition reflects on themes of self-preservation and reconciliation as we navigate what the curators describe as a “crumbling socio-political landscape built on violence, greed, corruption, and brutality.”
21 Feb|1:00-3:00 PM| Madison, WI
Ukrainian Rally
Friends of Ukraine – Madison, Inc. invites everyone to join the rally and to honor the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people and to remember the sacrifices they have made since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began four years ago. During the Capitol gathering, the audience will hear from invited speakers including members of the local Ukrainian community.
Afterwards, the fellowship hour at The Guild Hall of Episcopal Church will offer an opportunity to connect with others, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversations over light refreshments.
21 Feb|1:30-3:30 PM| Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Rally
On Saturday, February 21, the Ukrainian diaspora, together with the Ukrainian Embassy, supporters of Ukraine from the U.S. and around the world, will gather at the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. for a mass rally, marking four years of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine. The gathering will take place from 1:30-2:00pm, with the program running 2:00-3:30pm.
22 Feb|2:00-4:00 PM| San Francisco, CA
Unite & Empower Ukraine Rally & March
The Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, the Ukrainian Community and its friends invite you, your family and friends to join us as we continue to support Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion. The event will start with a gathering with flags at Harry Bridges Plaza, feature addresses by dignitaries, and conclude with a march towards Pier 39.
22-25 Feb|Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Days
Sponsored by the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), the Washington, DC public affairs bureau of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the advocacy event is in conjunction with the observance of the 4th anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The advocacy event is an important opportunity to meet with your elected officials, especially as peace negotiations to end Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine have begun. In addition, a special Ukraine Security Dialogue conference will also be held on Wednesday, February 25th.
February|Nationwide
Screenings of 2,000 Meters to Andriivka
Throughout February we are helping college communities host screenings of 2,000 Meters to Andriivka, a powerful documentary by Oscar-winning director Mstyslav Chernov. The film follows Ukrainian soldiers during the liberation of a village near Bakhmut, offering an unfiltered look at modern warfare and the human cost behind each meter reclaimed. These screenings invite reflection and conversation on what four years of full-scale war have meant on the ground in Ukraine. To request a screening kit, please fill out a request form here.
Current 2,000 Meters to Andriivka screenings:
- Feb 17: Miami University (Oxford, OH)
- Feb 24: University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS)
- Feb 24 Stetson University (Deland, FL)
Razom Recommends January 2026
January brings a renewed sense of momentum – a chance to look ahead with clarity, purpose, and resolve. As we step into a new year, we’re excited to continue sharing Ukrainian culture in all its depth, creativity, and defiance. From film and literature to music, exhibitions, and conversations that challenge and inspire, this year’s recommendations invite you to engage with Ukraine not just as it endures, but as it creates, imagines, and leads.
5 Jan|NYC & Online
Ukrainian Language & Culture Online Courses
Join the UIA learning community this winter. Immerse yourself in the Ukrainian language and culture through engaging online courses. Guided by expert instructors, the interactive curriculum and small class sizes provide personalized attention at every stage of your learning journey. Continue building your skills and connect with Ukrainian culture in a meaningful way. The winter semester begins on January 5, 2026, offering three levels — Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced — each with multiple sublevels designed to support steady progress.
8 Jan| 6:30-9:00 PM | NYC
Ukrainian Institute of America Winter Social
The Young Members Committee of the Ukrainian Institute of America invites guests 35 and under — members and non-members alike — for a Winter Social! Join this lively group for a bustling evening of food, drinks, and conversation. Enjoy wintery views of Central Park from the UIA’s beautiful home while connecting with fellow young members and friends in a relaxed social setting.
9 Jan| 7:00 PM | Chicago, IL
“My Tribute to the Creator” Exhibit
In this exhibit by Eleonora Bilinska, each painting carries not only an artistic title but also a dedication to a specific person, community, or meaningful theme in human existence. It is an artistic message to the viewer – warm, bright, and at the same time deeply philosophical – evoking feelings of joy, hope, love, and faith. The centerpiece of the exhibition is the painting “You Know, and the Stars Also Sing”, which the artist dedicated to Ukrainians of Chicago – offering a symbol of light and unity within the Ukrainian diaspora.
10 Jan| 2:00 PM | NYC
Between the Bowery and the East River: Germans, Jews, and Ukrainians
The Ukrainian Museum seeks to bring communities together by highlighting the shared multi-cultural history of the neighborhood. Join for a seminar presentation by author, artist, and professor of political science, Alexander J. Motyl, who will discuss how waves of German, Jewish, and Ukrainian immigrants interacted with New York City’s geography, economy, politics, and culture to shape the Lower East Side and its gentrified progeny, the East Village. Prof. Motyl’s visual presentation will be followed by a Q&A and light refreshments.
10 Jan| 6:00 PM | Chicago, IL
Peace for Ukraine Fundraising Concert
Come hear two outstanding musicians — Julia on violin and Myroslav on piano — as they come together in a beautifully expressive duo. The interplay between violin and piano creates a rich, intimate sound that brings both warmth and depth to the performance. All proceeds from this concert will support the orphanage in Zinkiv, helping provide care and essential resources for Ukrainian children with disabilities.
18 Jan| 2:00 PM | Chicago, IL
Caroling Together
Caroling Together event invites the community to gather in the Ukrainian Village and share in the joyful tradition of caroling. Rooted in centuries of Ukrainian culture, caroling is a way of bringing people together through song, celebration, and shared spirit. Join neighbors and friends of all ages as we fill the streets with music and mark the season together.
30-31 Jan| Cambridge, MA
2026 TCUP Conference
The 2026 Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program Conference welcomes registrations for in-person and online attendance. Titled “Solidarity Within and Beyond Ukraine”, the conference will explore the shifting dynamics of global solidarity with Ukraine (and the forces that undermine this solidarity) as well as the evolving forms of political engagement that are giving renewed meaning to the idea of Solidarity within Ukraine itself. The keynote speaker is Maksym Butkevych, human rights activist, journalist, and winner of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize (2025). Razom’s Ukraine on Campus offers stipends for in-person attendance.
29 Jan| 6:00-8:30 PM |Cambridge, MA
Additionally, don’t miss the film screening of “2000 Meters to Andriivka”, a documentary by Mstyslav Chernov, Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist.
This event is organized by Harvard students in collaboration with Razom for Ukraine and it is presented as part of the 2026 Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program Conference: Solidarity Within and Beyond Ukraine.
31 Jan Deadline| Alberta, CA
Virtual DUSS Scholars Program
The University of Alberta’s Disrupted Ukrainian Scholars and Students Initiative is launching the fourth stream of its virtual residency program and welcomes applications from eligible Ukrainian scholars. The program is meant to support up to five Ukrainian scholars currently based in Ukraine or in Canada. The DUSS Initiative will provide successful applicants with $2,000 CDN honoraria to support their work and assist them in establishing scholarly connections with the UAlberta community. Where possible, successful applicants will be paired up with UAlberta mentors working in the same or adjacent fields of research for the purpose of collaboration during their virtual residency. Application Deadline is January 31, 2026.
A Ukrainian masterpiece on the walls of Carnegie Hall
The original musical notes of the legendary Ukrainian song ‘Carol of the Bells’ are now displayed on the wall of Carnegie Hall!
This month, a new piece was officially opened in Carnegie Hall’s prestigious Composers Gallery: a high-quality facsimile of the original notes for ‘Shchedryk’, the iconic Ukrainian song known worldwide as ‘Carol of the Bells’.
Its original manuscript is preserved at the Institute of Manuscripts of the V. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine. The facsimile at Carnegie Hall offers an opportunity to recognize the Ukrainian origins of one of the world’s most renowned musical works.
Printed by Razom and delivered to Carnegie Hall’s archives, these notes are now on display, quickly becoming a favorite stop for guided tours of the historic venue.
It is significant that the cultural artifact is clearly identified as being composed by a Ukrainian artist, a fact that, until recently, was mainly unknown outside of the tight-knit Ukrainian diaspora. Now, they sit alongside notes by legends like Pete Seeger and just a step away from Beethoven.
Shchedryk first premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1922, when Ukrainians were fighting for freedom. Today, a century later, it has become a hallmark of the holiday season in the United States and stands as a testament to Ukrainian culture and resilience.
The 100th-anniversary concert, Notes from Ukraine, organized by Razom together with the Ukrainian Institute and the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival (UCMF) on December 4, 2022, brought this history full circle.
Dozens of volunteers helped make the concert possible, and its success has become a model for Carnegie Hall staff: ‘Make it like the Carol of the Bells concert’ is now a phrase used when planning other events.
A century after its premiere on this very stage, these notes celebrate not just a song, but a story of resilience, identity, and the enduring spirit of Ukraine.
This historic moment is now documented in the book Shchedryk. We look forward to seeing its publication in English, so it will allow the story to connect with and touch the hearts of an audience around the world.
The Composers Gallery ensures that the Ukrainian story behind Carol of the Bells will be remembered, celebrated, and shared for generations to come.
The initiative became possible in tight collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, the Institute of Manuscripts of the V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine, the Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine, and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations.
This is one example of how Ukrainian culture is being reclaimed and properly recognized worldwide. Join us in ensuring Ukraine’s story is told truthfully!
Razom Congratulates Ukrainian Films in the Running for the 98th Academy Awards
On December 16, 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the official shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards, marking one of the major milestones in the 2026 Oscar season. Razom Cinema celebrates the achievements of all filmmakers whose works were part of this season, with particular recognition for films that amplify Ukrainian voices and stories connected to Ukraine.
This year’s shortlists reflect a wide range of timely, socially resonant, and artistically accomplished works, underscoring the continued global relevance of cinema rooted in lived experience and cultural truth. Over the years, Razom Cinema has supported films that center Ukrainian perspectives and bring stories from Ukraine to international audiences.
As the 2026 Oscar race moves forward, we want to congratulate all filmmakers whose work has been recognized by the Academy, acknowledging not only the honor of being shortlisted, but the dedication, creative excellence, and impact that led to this moment.
Final Oscar nominations will be announced in January 2026, with the Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for March 2026. Our team collected the list of this year’s contenders to give you a deeper insight into the top films from and about Ukraine that made it to the Academy nomination, take a look below!
Animated shorts: I Died in Irpin (dir. Anastasiia Falileieva)
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, 2024
At the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Falileieva and her boyfriend leave Kyiv to visit his parents in Irpin. The city becomes a battleground, but the danger is not only outside the house.
‘On February 24th in the morning, my boyfriend and I decided to go from Kyiv to Irpin to see his parents. It is hard for me to recall the chronology of those days. My mind blocks and minimises all the memories, erases them, but the only thing I know for sure is that every day, everything rapidly becomes worse.’
Animated shorts: Bound (dir. Masha Ellsworth)
USA, Ukraine, Germany, 2024
Against a backdrop of pastoral beauty, Ivanko and Galya must navigate a maze of miscommunications and pride, leaving them to question whether their love can truly blossom.
‘Bound’ was screened as a part of the Ukrainian Cultural Festival cinema program in October 2025 in NYC.
For more information: masha-makes-movies.com/bound
Documentary feature: 2000 Meters to Andriivka (dir. Mstyslav Chernov)
Ukraine, United States, 2025
Amid the failing counteroffensive, a journalist follows a Ukrainian platoon on their mission to traverse one mile of heavily fortified forest and liberate a strategic village from Russian occupation. But the farther they advance through their destroyed homeland, the more they realize that this war may never end.
‘2000 Meters to Andrrivka’ was screened as a part of the Ukrainian Cultural Festival cinema program in October 2025 in NYC. Razom Cinema partners with Mstyslav Chernov and the PBS producing team supporting their ongoing distribution for educational purposes through our Ukraine on Campus program.
Streaming: Youtube or PBS website starting Nov. 25th
Follow for more updates: 2000meterstoandriivka.com
Documentary feature: Sanatorium (Dir. Gar O’Rourke)
Ireland, Ukraine, France, 2025
Despite a war close by, mud treatments and electro-therapies continue at Kuyalnik Sanatorium near Odesa in southern Ukraine, where a small group searches for love, healing & happiness.
Streaming: BBC Storyville & MUBI
For more information: garorourke.com/portfolio/sanatorium
Documentary feature: Viktor (dir. Olivier Sabril)
Viktor, a young Deaf man in Kharkiv, watches warily during the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A fan of samurai films and raised on stories of war, he dreams of becoming a warrior but is repeatedly denied when he tries to enlist. Eager to find purpose, Viktor embarks on a quest to find his place in the midst of a war he cannot hear.
“Viktor” was screened as a part of the Ukrainian Cultural Festival cinema program in October 2025 in NYC.
For more information: viktorfilm.com
Documentary feature: Checkpoint Zoo (dir. Josh Zeman)
United States, United Kingdom, Ukraine, 2024
When Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the world watched in horror as cities came under relentless fire. But few knew of the quiet heroism unfolding just outside Kharkiv, where the Feldman Ecopark Zoo sat between advancing Russian forces and the Ukrainian defenders.
More than 5,000 animals were trapped in the crossfire – helpless, frightened, and in desperate need of rescue. Against impossible odds, a small team of zookeepers and volunteers risked their lives day after day to save these creatures.
This is not just a story about animals. It is about humanity, resilience, and the Ukrainian spirit of defying destruction with compassion and courage.
Razom Cinema was able to host a special screening of Checkpoint Zoo at the Ukrainian Action Summit in DC before the theatrical release in the U.S. – connecting advocates to the story so that they can bring it to their communities and support the film in the theaters.
For more information: checkpointzoo.com
Narrative short: Rock, Paper, Scissors (dir. Franz Böhm)
Ivan and his father, operating a small hospital at the frontline, are tested when a platoon of Russian soldiers approach their building, forcing them to make a difficult decision in order to protect their patients and their own lives.
The film features Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Rudyndkyi and won the 2025 BAFTA for Best British Short Film.
For more information:
Make sure to follow our newsletter and social media for announcements on how to catch these films and more! In the meantime, we urge you to connect with your local theaters, art institutions, and other locations where you could potentially host a screening of one of these films (or reach out if you’re looking for more). Watch the films, bring your friends, and take it to social media to make noise around them!
Join the Effort to Power Ukraine Through Winter
The situation in Ukraine is growing darker, literally.
For the fourth fall in a row, Russia is targeting Ukraine’s energy system. These assaults cause widespread blackouts, sometimes for days, disrupting heating, water supply, medical care, and basic communications.
Blackouts as a Weapon of War
At Razom, we see these attacks for what they are: a deliberate tool of war meant to hurt the civilian population and exhaust the will of the nation.
When the lights go out, everything becomes harder and more dangerous. The absence of reliable autonomous power critically reduces communication efficiency and response time to threats, including missile attacks and the mass use of Shahed-type kamikaze drones, whose numbers in a single strike are now counted not in dozens, but in hundreds.
Without power, hospitals struggle to keep life-saving equipment running. First responders lose critical tools and reliable communication. Communities are left in the dark, literally and figuratively, just when they need information and connection most.
How Razom Is Powering Ukraine Through Winter
That’s why part of Razom’s ongoing winter preparedness plan is to procure Ukraine-made equipment that helps communities and service members endure when the lights go out.
Our teams on the ground in Ukraine are sourcing and delivering:
- Generators to keep hospitals, clinics, and critical infrastructure powered.
- Portable power stations to help medics, volunteers, and local communities stay connected and operational under blackout conditions.
- Essential communications gear, such as radios, to help hospitals, first responders, and service members stay coordinated and mobile under fire.
Because Razom runs an in-house logistics fleet in Ukraine, every donation that goes towards procuring tech-enabled aid gets translated into real deliveries that reach the right hands – quickly and efficiently.
From the Frontlines: “Every Minute Matters”
The impact of this work is measured in lives saved.
“When several severely wounded arrive at once, every minute matters. Without power stations or generators, the equipment fails, and we can’t keep saving lives.”
— Oleksii, National Guard of Ukraine
Emergency medics at mobile stabilization points near the frontlines often work under generator and flashlight light. Their ability to stabilize and evacuate the wounded depends on having a steady power supply and reliable communications.
When power equipment fails, care fails. When equipment works, people get a second chance.
How Your Gift Helps
The need for generators, power stations, and communications gear continues to grow as attacks escalate and Russia again targets Ukraine’s energy system.
Your gift today helps us procure, deliver, and maintain the tools that keep communities and service members safe under constant threat. In practical terms, your support:
✅ Keeps frontline hospitals and clinics powered.
✅ Supports secure communications for first responders and service members.
✅ Maintains connectivity in isolated or frontline areas.
For Ukraine to survive this winter and push back against escalating attacks, we must anticipate, prepare, and act now. Every dollar helps us procure more units, scale faster, and put them where they matter most.
Together, We Help Ukraine Shine Through the Dark
Russia’s strategy is to plunge Ukraine into darkness and cold. Our response is to bring light, power, and connection wherever we can.
When you give to Razom, you help ensure that hospitals can keep operating, medics can keep working, and communities can keep going, even when the grid goes down.
Donate now to help power Ukraine through winter:
Razom Recommends December 2025
As we wrap up another extraordinary year, this season reminds us of the power of togetherness – razom. December brings a rich tapestry of Ukrainian cultural offerings that uplift, educate, and remind us why the world continues to stand with Ukraine. We hope these #RazomRecommends highlights will add light and inspiration to your holidays.
2 Dec| San Francisco, CA
‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’: Screening with Director Mstyslav Chernov
Join the Commonwealth World Affairs Club for a special screening of the new documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka, followed by a conversation with acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker and war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov. Following his historic account of the civilian toll in Mariupol, Chernov turns his lens toward Ukrainian soldiers—who they are, where they came from, and the impossible decisions they face in the trenches as they fight for every inch of their land.
🔗 Tickets HERE.
3 Dec| 6:30 – 9:30 PM| NYC
‘Facing War’: Film Screening
The Ukrainian Institute of America, in partnership with the Dox Division and Think-Film Impact Production, is pleased to present the award-winning documentary Facing War. The documentary offers a gripping, behind-the-scenes look at Jens Stoltenberg‘s final year as NATO Secretary General. With unprecedented access to the inner sanctums of global power, the film chronicles Stoltenberg’s relentless diplomatic efforts to maintain alliance unity in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.There is no charge for the screening, but advance registration is requested. The screening will be followed by a Q&A and a ticketed wine reception.
5 -6 Dec| 12 – 7 PM| NYC
International Holiday market
Step into the holiday spirit at the Ukrainian Institute of America’s International Holiday Market, a festive celebration of culture, community, and craftsmanship. Experience cherished holiday traditions from across Europe, savor seasonal treats, and shop for distinctive, handcrafted gifts and décor in the elegant setting of our historic Fifth Avenue mansion.
8 Dec| 7 PM| Chicago, IL
Porcelain War Screening + Q&A with filmmakers & reception (in partnership with Razom)
A screening of Porcelain War co-presented by: American Documentary | POV, Polsky Foundation, Razom for Ukraine, Ukrainian Institute for Modern Art, Chicago Grand Gallery, and Kartemquin Films. Post-Screening Q&A panel moderated by AmDoc Board member & former Chicago Times journalist Jane Hirt and will feature Porcelain War filmmakers Olivia Ahneman (producer), Brendan Bellomo (director), Camilla Mazzaferro (producer), and Olya Glantsman (Faculty/Staff Advisor, Ukrainian-American Cultural Association at DePaul University).
10 Dec| 7 PM| NYC
Viktor: Screening & Film Talk
Scandinavia House presents a special screening and film talk of Denmark’s official entry for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards: the bold war documentary Viktor, followed by a Q&A with director Olivier Sarbil. Fusing rigorous reportage with innovative cinematic subjectivity, this bold documentary from veteran war photographer Olivier Sarbil is a uniquely intimate portrait of a Deaf person’s experience of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
13 Dec| 8 PM| NYC
Yalynka: Holiday Event
As the holidays draw near, the Ukrainian Institute of America warmly invites you to Yalynka, our cherished celebration of the season. We look forward to gathering with friends for an evening of community and warmth. Enjoy a buffet dinner, full premium open bar, the vibrant sounds of Orchestra Hrim, and our lively raffle, all in the uniquely welcoming atmosphere of the Institute’s landmark home. Festive Ukrainian attire is encouraged. Guests are welcome to join for the entire evening or arrive after dinner from 10 PM.
13-14 Dec| California
Ukrainian Christmas Carols
Esteemed choral director Marika Kuzma and her acclaimed Ensemble Cherubim invite you to enjoy the sounds of Ukrainian carols in California – with one concert in Los Angeles and one in Berkeley. Performed in Ukrainian interwoven with several other languages, the stirring program of songs, hymns, carols, and spoken word captures the intimacy of music traditionally sung in Ukrainian homes, churches, and town squares during the holiday season, including Mykola Leontovych’s renowned “Shchedryk” (“Carol of the Bells” and a host of musical treasures from ancient times to the present day.
19 Dec| 7 PM| NYC
A Christmas Concert
A special holiday concert featuring acclaimed Ukrainian artists Valeriia Vovk and Fima Chupakhin. Their collaboration brings together Valeriia’s expressive, crystal-clear vocals and Fima’s nuanced, imaginative musicianship, creating a program that ranges from quietly introspective to boldly virtuosic. Drawing on the depth of Ukrainian musical tradition while adding their own contemporary sensibilities, they offer a concert that feels both fresh and deeply rooted. The concert will be followed by a reception. Advance registration is requested.
🔗 Tickets HERE.
A Language of Resilience and Freedom: Why Students Across America Choose Ukrainian
Language is never just words. It carries memory, identity, and resilience. For Ukrainians, every phrase holds centuries of struggle against erasure and the power of survival. That is why Russian imperial projects, past and present, have always attacked the Ukrainian language first.
Today, students across the United States are embracing Ukrainian – not only to study grammar and vocabulary, but to step into a community, to stand with a nation fighting for its future, and to learn the language of freedom.
Yet, many people with a personal or professional interest in Ukraine may still hesitate to commit to taking Ukrainian language classes or may not realize they can advocate for their institutions to offer them. Razom’s Ukraine on Campus initiative spoke with some Ukrainian language instructors and students across the United States and left these conversations with more reasons than ever to study the language and to push for its place in academic curricula.
One of the interviewees, Dr. Nataliya Shpylova Saeed, a preceptor in Slavic Languages and Literature at Harvard, shared that students in her class come from various backgrounds and academic or career interests. They know that Ukrainian will help them excel in fields ranging from policy and war crimes investigation to history and regional studies, to name a few. “Learning language”, as Nataliya remarked, “gives a student access to the Ukrainian context.”
Nonetheless, one student’s motivations stood out to her the most. “I have students who started with Russian and, after 2022, chose not to invest in it because that’s their political statement [of solidarity with Ukraine]… And these students have no personal or family connection with Ukraine”. Taking Ukrainian is an act of resistance to the centuries-long attempts of russification, oppression of literature figures, artists, and discrimination against native speakers of the Ukrainian language.
It is a way to announce that Ukraine, its culture, and its people have the right to exist and to remain sovereign. Similarly, William Debnam, a former Ukraine on Campus stipend recipient and a fourth-year PhD candidate at Columbia University now, began learning Ukrainian by chance during his bachelor’s degree at Cambridge.
His curiosity, however, quickly grew into a strong and enduring interest leading to him being an elementary Ukrainian instructor. William believes that taking Ukrainian class puts you “in a select but growing group”. He even calls it a community, where “everyone is trying to support your growth and help each other”. William shared that, while Ukraine is often little-known abroad, this region has long been at the center of world history; this struggle of a stateless nation has made its literature and cinema very distinct and interesting. Studying Ukrainian, he says, opens many niches and opportunities and “gives a very interesting perspective on the world that you don’t get by studying more hegemonic cultures”. For those starting out, William recommends in-person classes and well-structured resources, such as Beginner’s Ukrainian, a textbook by Yuri Shevchuk, a Columbia professor.
Professor Oleksandra Wallo started her work at the University of Kansas 10 years ago. She emphasized the importance of high-quality instruction and finding a personal approach towards each student. At the University of Kansas, there’s a focus on Ukrainian programming and engagement with student groups and cultural activities. Many students become inspired by Ukraine’s versatile and authentic traditions. She explains that the students, who do decide to take Ukrainian, always find ways to put their knowledge to use in the future, whether they become translators, write dissertations about Ukraine and the region, or work at the organizations that support and help Ukraine. It makes her proud to see this knowledge being put to use immediately.
“This is the most rewarding thing that a professor can see. I’m glad that I can help them grow in their knowledge and I can provide the tools, the skills that will help them meet their goals, professional goals, and kind of these broader human goals, right? In understanding what it is to be standing up for justice in this world right now and how every one of us can have a part in that.”
While the above-mentioned Ukrainian language courses have been established at some universities for years or decades now, new offerings continue to grow. This year, the University of North Carolina launched an online course led by Dr. Serhii Tereshchenko. Another remarkable program created after the full-scale invasion is Dr. Olha Tytarenko’s course at Yale University. Dr. Tytarenko approaches her work with dedication and a strong mission in mind, reminding colleagues and university departments that introducing or expanding Ukrainian today “is both a matter of intellectual integrity and moral clarity.” She emphasized, “Slavic studies cannot remain dominated by the narratives of the colonizer. Supporting Ukrainian programming highlights the diversity and richness of Slavic cultures while countering a history of enforced marginalization. Enrollment numbers alone cannot measure the value of this work. At this moment, investing in Ukrainian is investing in the language of democracy, in cultural survival, and in the future of Slavic studies as a field.”
A Ukrainian language course today is more than an academic elective. It is an act of resistance against erasure, a statement of solidarity with Ukraine, and a way of joining a growing movement that places justice, democracy, and cultural survival at its heart.
We could not agree more that, “Investing in Ukrainian is investing in the language of democracy, in cultural survival, and in the future.”
When students choose Ukrainian, they choose to stand with freedom. The question is – will your campus give them that choice? Let us know about it – or reach out for help finding resources and advocating for the interdisciplinary study of Ukraine at your university or college. At Razom’s Ukraine on Campus initiative, we are dedicated to working together to bring more Ukrainian language and studies to campuses across the US.
Expanding the Movement Beyond the Classroom
The growing presence of Ukrainian language courses in U.S. universities is just the beginning. Strengthening this field also means building networks of students, scholars, and educators who carry the study of Ukraine into broader academic and cultural spaces. Conferences and convenings are one way this momentum takes root and flourishes. This year, students and instructors will have multiple opportunities to share their work, connect with peers, and deepen their engagement with Ukrainian studies:
- ASEEES Convention 2025 – November 20-23, Washington, DC
- ALTA Convention 2025 – November 5-8, Tucson, AZ
- AATSEEL Conference 2026 – February 19–22 (2026), New Orleans, LA
To make participation more accessible, Ukraine on Campus will offer a number of travel stipends for students and presenters attending the these conferences. Click on the respective conference to access the application.
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