When the ‘Golden Hour’ Lasts for Days: Powering Life-Saving Relief

Published: November 4, 2026

In emergency medicine textbooks, the “golden hour” is still described as the timeframe within which an injured person must reach the operating room. However, the reality today is fundamentally different. Rescue and evacuation can take long hours or even several days, turning the route to safety into a grueling test of endurance.

In the first minutes following an injury, a person most often administers self-aid or receives help from those nearby – sometimes guided by a medic’s precise instructions over the radio or phone. What follows is a complex and dangerous transport via ground robotic systems or an evacuation on foot to a point accessible by emergency vehicles or where a mobile stabilization clinic is deployed.

Under these extreme conditions, off-grid power and communications cease to be mere logistical details. They become a single lifeline sustaining human life. To support the medical teams of the 3rd Army Corps in these harsh realities, Razom purchased and delivered 120 Ukrainian-made Burevii power stations. In total, Razom has already provided 5,613 various power stations. This systematic humanitarian support aims to meet the critical needs of evacuation teams as well as field and mobile stabilization clinics to save as many lives as possible.

Power for Communication and the Fight for Life After Prolonged Delays

When evacuations stretch over days, the role of technology changes radically. Rescue efforts begin right in the shelter or safe position, where an injured person receives first aid or guidance via telemedicine. The stable power provided by Burevii units for Starlink terminals and radios allows medics to maintain uninterrupted communication with the injured and coordinate the evacuation process.

Once an exhausted patient finally reaches a mobile stabilization clinic or an ambulance after hours or days of waiting, their condition is usually critical due to prolonged tourniquet application, severe hypothermia, and massive blood loss. At this moment, medical equipment must function flawlessly and instantly. Burevii power stations immediately integrate into the chain of survival: they power vital signs monitors, portable ventilators, and devices for storing and warming blood components – equipment that is decisive in the initial stabilization phase.

Furthermore, a reliable internet connection enables urgent remote medical consultations directly from inside an ambulance or stabilization clinic. A medic can present a critically injured patient to leading specialists to quickly determine the correct stabilization strategy for a body suffering from prolonged exhaustion.

Built to Perform in Extreme Field Conditions

Most portable power units fail during winter due to harsh freezing temperatures, moisture, rough logistics, and mud. The decision to use Burevii stems from it being a domestic development tailored to the extreme conditions of a Ukrainian winter and the direct needs of responders on the ground. These stations maintain functionality in sub-zero temperatures to power warming equipment, while their protected casing reliably guards internal electronics during movement through mud and snow.

Thanks to their impact resistance and durable electronics, these power stations are designed for intensive use during constant relocations. Their dimensions account for the most crucial detail: field mobility. The devices come equipped with a specialized backpack carrying case. In a reality where a responder needs to move quickly in total darkness while carrying a stretcher or a medical kit, being able to wear the power source on their back becomes a matter of safety and saved seconds.

In addition to directly assisting in life-saving efforts, this procurement creates an important dual impact for the community: Razom not only provides medical workers with critically needed equipment but also invests in Ukrainian engineers who continue refining their technology based on fresh real-world experience.

Protecting Not Only Life, But Quality of Life

Prolonged evacuation is almost always accompanied by severe complications: high risks of amputation, tourniquet-related complications, and severe medical shock. Comprehensive medical care initiated immediately upon first contact with the evacuation team minimizes these long-term consequences.

When power stations run without interruption, medics do not waste precious time searching for light or rebooting shut-down equipment. They can fully focus on the patient. It is a fight to ensure that after grueling days in the gray zone, an injured person does not merely survive, but retains maximum physical functionality with high chances for successful medical treatment, rehabilitation, and a return to a full life.

The Power of Trust and Support

The delivery of Burevii stations is the result of synergy between donors who believe in Razom’s mission and the medical personnel who achieve the impossible on the front lines every day.

Today, as freezing temperatures return, the region enters another exhausting winter season. In these severe conditions, the need for reliable off-grid power remains critical. Thanks to donor support, this equipment is already operating where the environment is most hostile and the price of failure is highest. But for medics to continue providing timely care and saving lives, we need your support once again.

Leadership in Action: A Mini MBA Graduate Coached Ukraine’s Team to Victory at Norway’s National Emergency Medical Services Championship

Published: September 14, 2026

This August, in Jessheim, Norway, top international medical teams gathered for the 10th Norwegian National EMS Championship (EMSNOR26). Among them, for the first time, was Ukraine’s emergency medical services team, which became the overall champion.

Ukraine was represented by team leader Olena Volovyk, along with Roman Huk and Vadym Koshlak.

During the championship, participants completed 13 complex scenarios designed to closely replicate real emergency calls. The Ukrainian team received the title of Best International Team and earned 1,107 points — the highest score of any team in the competition. Helse Stavanger HF, the highest-scoring Norwegian team, finished with 1,065 points.

The Ukrainian team was coached by Halyna Tsymbaliuk. In Norway, she also served on an international judging panel for the first time. Halyna is a graduate of the Mini MBA, a leadership program that develops management skills among medical unit leaders in UDF. Razom implements the program in partnership with Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, the Department of Health of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, and the Medical Forces Command.

After Halyna returned from Norway, we spoke with her about preparing the team, the professional lessons she took away from the competition, and the role management skills played in this victory.

Halyna, you coached the Ukrainian team and, for the first time, served on an international judging panel during the championship. In your view, what was the key to the team’s victory and its first-place overall finish?

In my opinion, the key was teamwork. Before we began preparing, the team members had never worked together as a field crew under real-world conditions because they came from different cities. My main responsibility as their coach was to help four strong professionals begin working as one system.

We spent very little time reviewing theory. I knew each team member’s level of expertise: they all had strong prior training and had completed certified emergency medical care courses. We therefore focused primarily on teamwork, the distribution of roles, communication, and decision-making under pressure.

We deliberately built the team around each person’s strengths. Olena is very composed, analyzes situations well, and sees the full picture, which is why she became the team leader. Roman adapts to modern equipment extremely quickly. That proved especially important in Norway, where the team had to work with unfamiliar patient monitors, virtual simulators, and other technologies. Vadym is someone you can assign a task to and trust that it will be carried out precisely. Nargiz did much more than help the team overcome the language barrier. She is a very strong communicator and became an important part of the team’s overall coordination.

At the same time, the roles were not rigidly assigned. They could change depending on the task. We were not trying to make everyone equally strong in every area. Instead, we identified what each person did best and looked for ways to combine those capabilities so they reinforced one another.

This was essential to me because I have extensive experience with national championships. I have repeatedly seen teams composed of very strong professionals fail to achieve the expected result when working together. Conversely, I have seen teams excel even without obvious individual “stars” because they had clearly defined roles, mutual trust, strong communication, and a shared understanding of who needed to take responsibility at a particular moment.

After the championship, the team joked that I was a tough coach and that the training sessions had been more difficult than the championship itself. I choose to believe that was a compliment. (Laughs.)

Most importantly, our preparation strategy worked. For me, it confirmed once again that a strong team is not simply a collection of the strongest individuals. It is a team in which each person’s strengths are brought together effectively in pursuit of a shared result.

Which practices, approaches, or technological solutions that you saw in Norway should be adapted for Ukraine’s emergency medical services system?

What impressed me most was not any individual technology but the systematic organization of emergency medical services. The ambulances were equipped to a very high standard, the working environment was standardized and ergonomically designed, and there was a deeply embedded culture of safety.

I would especially highlight the way EMS professionals are treated as a critical resource within the system. Ambulance stations are organized so that after a difficult call, team members have an opportunity to recover both physically and psychologically. In a system where people work under intense stress, this is not simply a matter of comfort. It affects professional resilience, worker safety, and, ultimately, the quality of care patients receive.

Another area Ukraine should clearly strengthen is high-fidelity simulation training. The level of immersion at the championship was extraordinary. Professional makeup artists, actors, specially prepared locations – including a restricted-access facility and a construction site with a tower crane – and audiovisual effects created a complex and highly realistic environment. At a certain point, participants stopped experiencing it as a training scenario and began responding almost as if it were a real emergency.

This kind of simulation evaluates much more than whether a team knows the correct clinical algorithm. It shows how the team makes decisions under cognitive and emotional pressure, whether it maintains situational awareness and effective communication, and whether it can set the right priorities. I am convinced that this is a critical element in the effective preparation of EMS professionals in Ukraine.

What does this victory mean for Ukraine’s emergency medical services, and what does it demonstrate to the international professional community about the capabilities of Ukrainian specialists?

For me, this victory is first and foremost independent confirmation that the professional training of Ukraine’s emergency medical services is moving in the right direction. Our team worked in an unfamiliar professional environment, used equipment it had not encountered before, communicated across multiple languages, and was evaluated by independent judges. Despite all of that, it earned the highest overall score in the championship.

Serving on the international judging panel was also a particularly valuable experience for me. For the past three years, I have served as the head judge of Ukraine’s National EMS Team Championship, so I know the entire process from the inside: from developing scenarios and evaluation criteria to selecting and preparing the panel of judges. That made it especially interesting to see how the process is organized in Norway.

Their approach differs somewhat from ours. Judges do not participate in developing the scenarios. At each location, they essentially act as independent evaluators, while a separate team prepares and conducts the scenario itself. A great deal of attention is also devoted to preparing simulated patients. If a scenario involves a pregnant patient, she is portrayed by a pregnant woman. If a traumatic amputation is being simulated, the organizers involve a person who has actually undergone an amputation. Combined with professional makeup, trained actors, and carefully prepared environments, this creates an exceptionally high level of realism.

At the same time, I was pleased to see the other side of this professional exchange. The Norwegian specialists were also interested in Ukraine’s experience. While working at the different locations, we discussed the scenarios, evaluation criteria, and the teams’ actions in detail. Our colleagues asked how we recreate and evaluate similar situations during training exercises and championships in Ukraine, and they genuinely listened to our perspective. I even joked that we judge teams a little more strictly in Ukraine.

One of my main conclusions after this trip is very simple: we already have valuable expertise to exchange. There are aspects of training organization that I would gladly adapt from Norway. At the same time, we saw that Ukrainian approaches and our practical experience are also of real interest to the international professional community.

We would therefore be very glad to see this exchange continue and to welcome our Norwegian colleagues to the next National EMS Team Championship in Ukraine—both as a participating team and as members of the international judging panel.

Did the knowledge and management tools you gained through the Mini MBA — a leadership development program for medical unit leaders in UDF — help you prepare the team and organize its work? If so, which tools were most useful?

Yes. I recognized their value especially clearly after the championship, when I began analyzing why our preparation strategy had worked.

I had a group of strong professionals with different areas of expertise who had never worked together before. My task was not to make them all the same. It was to recognize each person’s strengths, distribute roles effectively, build trust, and unite them around a common goal.

This is where the management approaches we studied during the Mini MBA proved genuinely useful: situational leadership, team building, delegation, the distribution of roles and responsibilities, priority setting, and team communication.

It was especially important for me to understand that leadership does not mean one person must be the best at everything or control every action. Depending on the situation, a leader must create space for the team member whose expertise is strongest at that particular moment. That is why some of our roles could change from one scenario to another.

Perhaps the main management lesson connecting my Mini MBA experience with this championship is that a leader’s role is not to be the strongest person in every area. It is to recognize people’s strengths, bring them together effectively, and create the conditions in which the team performs better together than any individual could perform alone.

That is why I devoted much more attention during our preparation to how the team worked together than to what its members already knew. The championship results showed that this approach worked.

The Ukrainian team’s victory was made possible by the participants’ professionalism, clinical experience, intensive preparation, and ability to adapt quickly. At the same time, their story demonstrates the importance of management skills in medicine.

The Mini MBA is designed to help medical unit leaders strengthen more than their individual expertise. It equips them to lead their teams more effectively — to distribute responsibility, build trust, make decisions under pressure, and implement meaningful changes within their units.

For Razom, stories like this demonstrate the long-term impact of supporting leadership development. An investment in the education of one medical leader does not end at graduation. The knowledge gained becomes part of daily practice, influences entire teams, and helps strengthen Ukraine’s medical system as a whole.

Halyna Tsymbaliuk’s experience and the Ukrainian team’s victory at EMSNOR26 offer a concrete example of that impact: the management tools she gained through the program were put into practice and helped unite professionals with different strengths around a shared goal.

“Between Minutes and Eternity”: How a Stabilization Point Functions in War

Published: July 9, 2026

Our team visited a stabilization point near the front line — less than 20 kilometers from active combat zones. This is where wounded soldiers are brought after evacuation, and where medics work in a reality where only minutes often stand between life and death. We spoke with a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and the medical team working there every day about what a stabilization point really looks like from the inside, why time remains the greatest challenge of this war, how telemedicine is saving lives under fire, and what the phrase “the golden hour” truly means on the modern battlefield.

Time That Does Not Exist: Evacuation and the Limits of Medicine

A stabilization point in war is not a hospital in the usual sense, nor simply an intermediate link between the battlefield and a hospital. It is a place where medicine functions under conditions in which time has already been lost — or nearly lost — and decisions must be made faster than normal human psychology allows. It is here that a wounded soldier who has been evacuated from the battlefield first reaches a team capable not only of stopping critical bleeding or relieving pain, but of stabilizing the patient enough to survive the next stage — transport, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation.

Anesthesiologist Dmytro, who works at a stabilization point, speaks about his work without romanticizing it. There is no pathos in his words, although the reality he describes is stronger than any pathos. What troubles him most is not the complexity of injuries or the exhaustion of the team, but the fact that sometimes wounded soldiers cannot be evacuated from the battlefield in time. “The thing that upsets me the most is the inability to evacuate a wounded person from the battlefield in time,” he explains. “We know the person is wounded, we are ready, we have the conditions necessary to provide care, but sometimes evacuation from the battlefield either takes a very long time or does not happen at all.”

Military medicine often speaks about the “golden hour” — the critical period after injury during which the chance of survival is highest. But in this war, especially on certain sections of the front line, that formula does not always work. The doctor describes it almost bitterly: “As they say — the golden hour. For us, it’s a golden week.” There were cases when wounded soldiers remained in positions for too long, while medics could support them only remotely: dropping antibiotics by drone, consulting on what medications to administer, how to dilute them, what to do until evacuation became possible.

This is where one of the key realities of modern frontline medicine becomes visible: the problem is not always the absence of specialists, medications, or skills. Very often, the problem is that between the wounded soldier and the doctor lies the battlefield itself — drones, artillery, destroyed roads, weather, the absence of safe evacuation routes, and constant danger for evacuation teams. That is why a stabilization point works not only with the wounded body, but also with the consequences of delays that medicine itself cannot control.

Under these conditions, telemedicine stops being a modern buzzword from presentations and becomes a practical survival tool. Doctors consult combat medics and soldiers remotely, sometimes effectively directing care in real time. “We called and explained what to do: how to bandage, where to apply pressure, where to pack the wound,” recalls surgeon Yevhen. In one case, according to him, remote guidance made it possible to remove tourniquets, control bleeding, and save a limb. This does not replace evacuation and does not eliminate the need for surgery, but sometimes such remote support gives a person a chance to survive until help arrives.

Working at the Edge: Stabilization, Decisions, and Responsibility

When the wounded finally arrive at the stabilization point, the team must act quickly, but not mechanically. Stabilization is not a chaotic set of actions, nor an automatic process of “stitching someone up and sending them onward.” It is a complex process in which every step depends on the patient’s condition: whether the person is in shock, hypothermic, suffering from massive blood loss, whether blood pressure is stable, whether the body can tolerate intervention. “A soldier arrives soaked, cold, without pain management. He has to be undressed, laid down, dried off, warmed up, provided with anesthesiology support, stabilized in terms of blood pressure and other indicators. Only then can the surgical team work safely,” explains surgeon Yevhen.

That is why the amount of time spent at a stabilization point cannot fit into a single chart. If the patient is relatively stable, treatment may take 15–20 minutes. If the condition is severe, doctors may work for two or three hours. To civilians, that may sound like a long time, but for frontline medicine it is sometimes the only opportunity not to lose the patient before reaching the hospital. “Medicine is not always two plus two,” says the surgeon. “Everything depends on the patient’s condition, the extent of the injury, the amount of care required, and the stabilization measures needed.”

A particularly difficult topic is amputations and severe limb injuries. According to the doctor, stabilization points are not places for “planned” amputations in the hospital sense. If a limb is nonviable, the team does not attempt to make a final decision in conditions where not all capabilities are available. Their task is to stabilize the patient, avoid worsening the condition, preserve whatever may matter for future surgical work and prosthetics, and transfer the patient to the next level of care. “The hospital shapes the residual limb in a way that is more adapted for prosthetics,” explains Yevhen. “If we see that the limb is nonviable, we do not remove the tourniquet, we perform surgical debridement, stabilize the patient, and prepare them for transport.”

This is important to understand: a stabilization point is not a place of “final treatment.” It is a place where a wounded person must be moved from a state of catastrophe into a condition in which transport becomes possible. The patient’s story is not completed there — they are given a chance for it to continue. In this sense, the anesthesiologist’s role is one of the central ones: not simply “administering anesthesia,” but guiding the patient through the most dangerous interval — between uncontrolled post-traumatic condition and the possibility of surgical intervention.

War constantly destroys any sterile image of medicine. Patients may arrive on ATVs, improvised stretchers, covered in mud, soaked, freezing, after prolonged periods in frontline positions. The doctor recalls cases when a wounded soldier essentially “flew into” the stabilization point in a condition where only the eyes were visible, while everything else — mud, clothing, blood, exhaustion — blended together. The team cuts away clothing, pulls the person out, evaluates the condition, and starts working. This is the daily reality in which stabilization points exist: not under ideal protocols, but under the conditions of war, where every case brings a different scenario.

Impact and Systemic Change: From Experience to Standards

Despite this, medics speak not only about survival, but also about development. One of the recurring requests in these conversations is for more opportunities for training, professional exchange, conferences, workshops, and courses. This is not a “bonus” or abstract self-education. For people who work every day with the harshest consequences of war, development means better decisions, fewer mistakes, faster responses, and a greater chance of survival for patients. The conversation directly mentions the need for funding conferences, courses, visiting workshops, and exchanges with specialists.

Already in Ukraine, several educational initiatives are being launched or discussed: the ASET course, the future implementation of ATLS, work related to infection control, and educational initiatives connected to Razom Health. It is separately emphasized that infections in hospitals have become such a serious problem that they require an entire direction of work on their own. This is another indication that frontline medicine does not end at stabilization. A wounded person moves through a long chain, and the quality of every stage affects the outcome: from first aid at the position to evacuation, stabilization points, hospitals, infection control, rehabilitation, and return to life.

In this context, the Razom Heroes program plays a key role, working not with isolated cases but with the system as a whole. This includes the training of combat medics and instructors, equipping units, developing educational programs, and creating conditions in which frontline experience does not remain at the level of isolated stories, but is transformed into standards. It is through programs like these that a connection is formed between the reality of stabilization points and long-term systemic change: implementation of training courses, development of telemedicine, support for instructor programs, systematization of knowledge, and transfer of that knowledge to other units.

A stabilization point is a place where medicine looks least like a beautiful story and most like a struggle against time. Not everyone can always be saved there. It is not always possible to do what the doctor knows and is capable of doing, because sometimes the patient simply cannot arrive in time. Here, the “golden hour” can turn into days of waiting, while telemedicine becomes a temporary bridge between the battlefield and the physician. But it is here that the most important thing becomes visible: Ukrainian military medicine is not simply reacting to war — it is learning, adapting, creating new practices, and trying to turn the experience of every injury into knowledge that will help save the next patient.

And perhaps the most accurate way to describe the work of a stabilization point is not through heroic language, but in very practical terms: it is a place where people are given a chance to reach the next opportunity. To the hospital. To surgery. To a prosthetic. To rehabilitation. To life after injury.

That is why the main question for this system is not only how many medics work at stabilization points or what equipment they have. The main question is how to ensure that wounded soldiers reach them sooner, how to give doctors more time, how to make telemedicine systematic, how to make training continuous, and how to ensure that frontline experience is not lost in isolated stories, but transformed into standards.

Because in war, medicine often begins not when the patient reaches the operating table. It begins much earlier — at the moment when someone manages to bring them out alive.

Colonel (Ret.) Warren C. Dorlac: Why One of America’s Leading Trauma Surgeons Keeps Coming Back to Ukraine

Published: May 28, 2026

Colonel (Ret.) Warren C. Dorlac first came to Ukraine in 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

A retired U.S. Air Force trauma surgeon, Warren spent more than two decades helping shape trauma systems that changed how lives are saved on and off the battlefield. Over the course of his career, he served as Chief of Trauma at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, led Critical Care Air Transport teams, advised the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, and became one of the leading voices in combat casualty care and military trauma systems in the United States.

When the war in Ukraine escalated, Warren saw an opportunity to help share lessons learned from previous wars and support Ukrainian medical professionals facing challenges few healthcare systems in the world have experienced in recent history.

“Freedom is not free,” Warren said during our conversation in Kyiv. “I really do feel like this is an international effort, and we all need to be in and doing something.”

Over the last several years, that commitment has brought him back to Ukraine multiple times through partnerships and medical education initiatives supported by Razom.

From SOMA to Kyiv

Earlier this year, Warren was recognized at SOMA 2026 for his contributions to military medicine and combat casualty care. During his remarks, he spoke about Ukraine and Ukrainian defenders — something that felt natural for those who know how closely he has worked with Ukrainian teams over the last several years.

Through Razom partnerships and medical education initiatives, Warren worked alongside Ukrainian surgeons, combat medics, defenders, and trainers both in the United States and in Ukraine. He joined Ukrainian teams at SOMA, spent time with defenders connected to Razom, and continued building relationships with medical professionals working under extraordinary circumstances.

“The Ukrainians keep getting hit, and they keep bouncing back,” Warren said. “They’ve shown the ability to adapt, and I think the ability to adapt under any situation is greatly impressive.”

This summer marked Warren’s second ASSET training in Kyiv with Razom and Ukrainian medical professionals. ASSET+ is an advanced surgical trauma training program required for U.S. Army military surgeons before deployment to forward surgical teams. Through Razom Health’s Co-Pilot Project and partnerships with Ukrainian medical professionals, Ukraine became the 33rd country to implement the program.

But what stood out during our conversation was that Warren never spoke about the work as a one-way exchange.

“We learn from just about everybody that is in the course with us,” he said. “We learn things they’re doing that we may not have thought of. Hopefully it’s a two-way exchange.”

What Ukraine Is Teaching the World

Throughout his career, Warren helped build trauma systems based on lessons learned from previous wars. Today, he believes many of the experiences Ukrainian medical professionals and combat medics are facing will shape the future of battlefield medicine far beyond Ukraine itself.

“The battlefield is changing every four months,” he said. “What worked four months ago will not work today.”

According to Warren, Ukrainian experiences with prolonged evacuations, prolonged field care, medical logistics, underground medicine, and battlefield drone threats are already changing how many medical professionals think about trauma care and survival in modern war.

“I think this war is going to be one of those wars that shapes future care for years to come,” he said.

Those lessons are already influencing conversations around Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and military trauma systems internationally. Warren described how experiences from Ukraine are helping shape updated recommendations and discussions inside the American military medical community.

“I think the people, number one,” he said when asked what stands out most about Ukraine. “Everybody that we’ve worked with over the last four years has just been so kind.”

More Than a Project

For Warren, some of the most meaningful moments happen after trainings end.

After courses, Ukrainian surgeons often stay in contact, sharing updates, case reports, and stories from the field. Sometimes they describe using techniques from the training for the first time during real surgical situations.

“For the surgeon, it’s kind of the ultimate thing,” Warren said. “You worked with somebody on learning a new skill and then they’re able to go out and do it and be successful.”

Many of the younger Ukrainian surgeons he works with entered wartime medicine very early in their careers, often without the years of experience surgeons would normally have before facing such complex trauma cases.

“These young surgeons have gone right to the battlefield and now they’re doing some of the hardest work that’s out there,” he said.

That reality makes long-term partnerships especially important — not only for sharing knowledge, but for supporting Ukrainian medical professionals as they continue building and adapting systems during war.

“One of the motivations for us being here is just the camaraderie that we all feel working with everyone,” Warren said. “The Razom team has been wonderful… everybody feels like family.”

“Everybody Can Do Something”

Warren understands that not everybody can travel to Ukraine or work directly in medicine. But during our conversation, he repeatedly returned to the idea that support still matters.

“You don’t have to do a lot,” he said. “You don’t have to get on a plane and fly over to the country, but you can help with donations, supplies, equipment… every little bit helps.”

He also acknowledged how difficult it can be for people outside Ukraine to fully understand the reality of this war.

“I think it’s hard for most Americans to really comprehend what it’s like to have your own country invaded,” he said. “The total war that is currently going on — medical personnel, hospitals being targeted — it’s just not something that we can really comprehend.”

Still, he believes people can choose to stay engaged and continue supporting Ukraine in different ways.

“Education is a great way to help,” Warren said. “There’s a lot of places helping… but I think we could always do more.”

Watch the full interview with Warren Dorlac below.

Khartiia x Razom Workshop: How Synchronization Saves Lives

Published: May 26, 2026

At Razom we firsthandedly know that lifesaving systems require more than equipment. That’s why, joined by partners, we support medical training, leadership development, supply initiatives, and spaces where professionals can exchange frontline experience and strengthen systems of care under wartime conditions.

Together with the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartiia” and partners, Razom organized a workshop designed around direct field experience and honest conversation. More than 50 medical leaders and combat medics examined a difficult question: how does the medical system actually function when decisions must be made in seconds, and mistakes can cost lives? Participants focused on what works practically in the field, what does not, and what must change to save more lives.

Throughout the discussion the groups quickly saw the pattern – the systems struggle to keep pace with the realities of modern warfare and often rely heavily on individual initiative.The issue becomes especially visible during evacuation. Participants repeatedly described prolonged transport times as one of the greatest barriers to survival. Six hours or more is not unusual. During that time, risks multiply. Information gets lost, resources become limited, and a patient’s condition can deteriorate.

Communication during handoffs remains another major concern. Even where protocols exist, documentation and information transfer often vary from team to team. As a result, receiving teams may work with incomplete information while making critical decisions under pressure.

Participants also discussed the challenges of infusion therapy in combat conditions. Protocols may look straightforward on paper, but battlefield conditions introduce obstacles that cannot be ignored: limited supplies, weather conditions, delayed evacuation, and shortages of blood products. Several medics noted that approaches designed for ideal conditions often become difficult to apply in practice.

Tourniquet conversion surfaced as another area where knowledge alone is not enough. Participants described situations where medics hesitated even when clinical conditions supported action. The challenge was not only technical skill. It was confidence. Delays can cost not only limbs, but lives.

One conclusion surfaced repeatedly throughout the workshop: improvement begins with training. Tourniquet conversion cannot remain a complex or rarely practiced procedure. It must become a practical skill reinforced through repetition and integrated into care during the earliest and most critical moments after injury.

Participants returned to a common theme throughout the day: the issue is rarely a lack of knowledge. More often, barriers include limited training time, equipment shortages, outdated regulations, and staffing gaps that make applying knowledge consistently more difficult.

“This is not just another conference. It is about forming a new approach to medical support in modern war and building a system that reflects the real challenges of the frontline. The main result is not only the exchange of experience, but the creation of a permanent platform for cooperation and solutions that directly affect survival and operational effectiveness.”

Bohdan Korylchuk, Chief of Medical Service, 2nd Corps “Khartiia”

There was also a clear positive takeaway. Participants emphasized that conversations with colleagues from other units created new understanding and practical solutions. Teams working in different environments recognized shared challenges and identified opportunities to align their approaches.

This workshop is one of many steps we take to support medics in Ukraine, an example of how we can achieve better coordination and strengthen systems from within by creating spaces where professionals can speak openly, share experiences, and work on common solutions.

2025 Impact Report: Building What Sustains Ukraine

Published: March 9, 2026

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

Mini-MBA program on the development of management competencies for medical units: how management skills change the system in wartime

Published: August 6, 2025

In the conditions of a full-scale invasion, when Ukrainian military medicine faces extraordinary challenges, it is the leaders on the ground who keep things together. But is it possible to effectively manage a team, processes, and resources if you have never been taught this? It was this question that began the story of the Mini-MBA – a unique educational program for leaders of medical units of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, created by the Razom for Ukraine Foundation together with kmbs (Kyiv-Mohyla Business School), in partnership with the Department of Health of the Ministry of Defense and the Medical Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Mini-MBA emerged not in a “reform laboratory”, but in the reality of the full-scale invasion, where the medical service members work on the edge every day. The reform of military medicine is happening in real time – in the field, amid a shortage of people and resources. Often, the heads of medical services are the people who have no prior management experience, but only sincere motivation.

“Being a doctor, manager, and coordinator is something that no one teaches you anywhere. Especially when every decision matters today,” says Serhiy Savchenko, head of a medical station.

To identify real needs, the Razom for Ukraine team, together with the Medical Forces Command, conducted a survey of over 100 medical unit leaders. It turned out that over 80% of them had never received management training, and 90% felt they were in dire need of such training.

These answers became the basis of the program. The teachers at kmbs relied on them, forming training modules — practical, compact, and focused on a specific result. The competition was high: from more than 150 applications submitted for the first program, 40 of the most motivated participants were selected — those who have influence and are ready to transform their departments.

The Mini-MBA covers four strategic areas:

Leadership and Performance Management – how to build effective teams and think strategically.
Communication, Trust, and Change – how to build resilience and fairness in a team.
LEAN Processes – how to eliminate waste in logistics and medical processes.
Modern Management Skills – from delegation to crisis management.

“After the first few days, for the first time in many years, I drew ‘spaghetti’ – process diagrams – on the walls of my office. The team didn’t understand at first, but they quickly picked up on it,” says Pavlo, head of a medical department. “At home, the children laughed that I had taken all their crayons. And I wanted to work – again.”

Participants analyze real-life cases – from combat units to adapted international experience. All through the prism of management, leadership, and trust.

The program included those who make dozens of decisions every day, lead teams, and those who are responsible not only for the process, but also for human dignity and life. Many of them, for the first time in their years of service, had the opportunity not only to relax emotionally, but also to look at their work strategically.

“A breath of fresh air is a feeling that accompanied me all the days of training.

The feeling of oxygen, which was so lacking during these more than three years of service. And this increased oxygenation fills the brain with new meanings and a desire for changes that bring us closer to Victory,” shares Igor Artyushenko, head of a brigade’s medical service.

The program included not only classic management modules, but also unique meetings with practitioners who directly shape the culture of medical management at the front. The training involved heads of medical services of forward companies and corps, as well as specialists with experience in real management in combat conditions.

A special highlight was a lecture within the framework of inter-program collaboration with Razom Health, dedicated to planning medical operations in the military sphere. It was given by Michael R. Hetzler – a paramedic, a veteran of the U.S. Special Operations Forces, an expert in military medicine, and a defense strategist who currently heads the NATO initiative for the development of allied medical training. He conducts courses on special operations surgery and modern concepts of combat medicine.

The program also featured a separate lecture dedicated to Lessons Learned approaches in the medical unit system as a tool for analyzing, adapting, and implementing changes based on field experience.

The training did not end with a certificate. Each participant became part of a community that is being formed. They will be able to communicate with each other and continue learning – for this we are also preparing a resource base of lectures that will be available in online format.

“Mini-MBA is an example of how civil society can change systems. We don’t just teach, we create an environment where a new type of leader is born – resilient, thoughtful, open to change,” emphasizes Taras Hatalyak, director of the Razom Heroes program.

This is the first program in Ukraine where management is adapted to the real challenges of the medical system in crisis conditions. The format combines offline modules, online blocks, mentoring, and practice. Training runs parallel to the service – supporting, not distracting.

“I started the course as the commander of the battalion medical service, and I am leaving the course as the commander of the brigade medical service. The topic of leadership is very important to me. I see an example of how management works, both in civilian life and in the army. You work with people and you must have a certain knowledge base and skills. Especially when you hold a certain position. To know how to cooperate with these people, how to make management decisions and most importantly how to motivate people so that they want to work with you. This is a very cool, full-fledged program, and all this time everything I did on intuition has been replaced by real knowledge and actions that I am already implementing in my work,” Alina Mikhailova, commander of the brigade medical service, shares after the course.

Mini-MBA is more than an educational project. It is an investment in the people who maintain the system every day. They do not wait for reforms – they become them themselves.

Delivering Essential Disaster Relief to Ukrainian Heroes

Published: January 22, 2025

Razom has started 2025 with a strong commitment to our mission of supporting those who protect Ukraine and serve as first responders near the front. This month, we delivered essential equipment to the individuals serving in the First Presidential Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard, known as “Burevii.”

Provisions of disaster relief included generators, floodlights, power stations, tablets, life-saving communications equipment, and a mobile shower and laundry complex. These complexes, which cost $20,000 each, are equipped with water filtration systems, washers, dryers, and showers, offering much-needed hygiene solutions for hundreds of people. Compact and easily camouflaged to avoid drone detection, they provide a lifeline for those actively defending Ukraine’s freedom.

This initiative is part of Razom’s ongoing efforts to enhance the safety, health, and well-being of those tirelessly working to protect Ukrainians from Russian attacks.

Colonel Valentyn Ostrizhnyi expressed his gratitude, stating:
“We deeply appreciate your continued support. Your commitment makes a difference for those serving on the front lines, helping them remain focused on their mission to protect Ukraine and its people.”

Evelina Kurilets, Razom’s Executive Director in Ukraine, emphasized the significance of the delivery:
“This marks the beginning of a broader initiative to provide critical resources to our partners in Ukraine. We’re delivering life-saving equipment to the First Presidential Brigade, and in the coming weeks, we’ll extend support to additional units across Ukraine.”

Razom remains committed to its work of educating, activating and delivering to help those who need it most. Together, we are building a brighter future for Ukraine.

How Razom’s Armored Vehicles Protect Ukraine’s Heroes

Published: October 28, 2024

In the ongoing fight for Ukraine’s freedom, humanitarian civilian efforts are safeguarding lives every day. Razom helps to make a real difference through the delivery of essential equipment to protect Ukraine’s heroes. One of their most notable contributions is the provision of armored Toyota vehicles, specially equipped to offer protection and hope in times of violence and trauma.

Protection During Evacuation

Near Avdiivka, one of the hardest-hit areas in the war, an armored Toyota provided by Razom played a critical role in saving a life. During intense shelling, a Ukrainian defender was injured when a 152 millimeter shell struck their position. Amid the chaos, medics from a nearby unit acted quickly, using the armored Toyota to evacuate the wounded soldier. The vehicle’s design, built for comfort and safety, allowed rescuers to perform emergency care while en route to the hospital.

The soldier later recalled the experience:

“I remember everything vaguely, but those events will forever be etched in my memory. The explosion was so strong that I lost consciousness for a moment. When I came to, pain engulfed my entire body, and chaos reigned around me,” he said. “As soon as I was inside the Toyota, I felt relieved. The vehicle was surprisingly comfortable, allowing medics to give me first aid even while we were moving. The armor and reliability of the Toyota gave me a sense of safety—something I hadn’t felt on the battlefield. It became more than just transport, it was my hope that I could return home.”

Fortitude Under Attack

In another case, an armored Toyota provided to a Ukrainian unit showcased its strength and reliability during an attack. While on a mission, an FPV (first-person view) drone targeted the vehicle, delivering a powerful strike. However, the Toyota’s armored body and windows withstood the impact, shielding the crew inside from harm. Thanks to its strength and density, the vehicle averted a potential tragedy. The Toyota is now undergoing repairs and will return to the frontline areas to continue its vital mission.

“This vehicle became a hero in battle, withstanding a direct hit from an FPV drone,” the soldier noted. “The strike was powerful, but the armored capsule and windows remained intact. This allowed the crew to avoid serious injuries and successfully leave the scene.”

Your Support Makes a Difference

These stories illustrate the life-saving role played by Razom’s teams on the ground.. By delivering armored vehicles like these Toyotas, we are able to offer physical protection and a meaningful sense of hope for those risking their lives daily. These vehicles are not just machines; they are crucial resources that safeguard lives in the most challenging situations.

Your continued support and donations make it possible for Razom for Ukraine to do this work. With each contribution, you help ensure that Ukraine’s first responders have the tools they need to help defenders continue their fight. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

Join Us in Saving Lives

Razom remains committed to providing life-saving resources for Ukrainians, ensuring they have the protection they need in the most challenging conditions. Every armored vehicle, every piece of essential equipment, gives these brave men and women the best chance to survive and continue their mission. Your support makes this possible.

Donate Your Vehicle
We are excited to offer yet another way for you to contribute to our mission—by donating your vehicle. Through our partnership with NCS, you can easily and securely donate your car, RV, boat, motorcycle, or another vehicle. It’s a tax-deductible way to make a real difference in supporting Ukraine today and into the future. Vehicle donations are not only generous, but they also promote sustainability, ensuring that your contribution helps in more ways than one.

*Please note: your donated vehicle does not go to the front lines in Ukraine, but its value goes to support Razom’s mission delivery.

Your support, whether through a donation or a vehicle, directly saves lives. Together, we are stronger. Together, we can save lives.

Donate today and make a lasting impact.

Razom and Stabnet Continue to Deliver Vital Mobile Stabilization Units

Published: October 16, 2024

In today’s modern warfare, the need for rapid, life-saving medical care is more urgent than ever. Stabnet’s mobile stabilization units provide an innovative solution, delivering emergency medical care even in the most difficult and dangerous conditions. Razom was among the first to support this project, and 14 of these mobile medical units have now been deployed to Ukraine’s front lines, safeguarding lives where they are needed most.

Recently, another Stabnet unit was successfully handed over to the medical team of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in Kyiv. This significant milestone was made possible through the generous contributions of donors from around the globe. The handover ceremony brought together representatives from Razom, Stabnet, and the distinguished French military expert and blogger, Xavier Tytelman. Thanks to the support of Agir Ensemble Pour l’Ukraine, AFUCA, and Unis pour l’Ukraine, this delivery marks yet another vital step in enhancing emergency medical capacity on the front lines.

Stabnet is a fully equipped mobile operating room, designed to provide immediate life-saving interventions without the delay of transporting patients. At just two tons, the lightweight unit can be transported by a pickup truck or SUV, allowing it to reach the most remote and hard-to-access areas.

Ihor Dobrovolsky, head of Stabnet, expressed his gratitude: “We are incredibly thankful to Razom for Ukraine for their continued belief in and support of this project. Without their help, Stabnet might not have become a reality.”

The results are impressive as one stabilization point can save up to 100 lives each month. As Razom Heroes project manager, Hennadiy Zabolotnyishared, “This project is critical in times of war because it saves lives. There was one instance where 17 people were treated in a single day, giving them a chance at survival.”

Stabnet mobile stabilization points showcase how innovative solutions can be used to safeguard lives, even in the most extreme conditions. Thanks to the unwavering support of compassionate individuals and organizations, life-saving medical care reaches those in need on the front lines.

Razom for Ukraine is dedicated to working with Stabnet to further develop and enhance this critical system. Each deployed stabilization unit plays a vital role in saving lives on the front lines.

Together, we are making a real difference!