“I’ll Take It On and Get It Done”: The Story of a PromTech Welding Course Graduate

Published: November 9, 2026

At the graduation ceremony, students bring out… a barbecue grill. They joke that it’s their final exam, fitting for a group that has just completed a welding course.

In welding, every joint needs to hold strong. The same is true of a country’s economy. Ukraine has plenty of work to do, but not enough workers to do it. Some Ukrainians have left the country, while others have left their jobs to defend Ukraine.

That’s why Razom supports the Prymprylad Charitable Foundation’s PromTech educational initiative, which offers short-term training programs to prepare skilled workers for today’s manufacturing industries.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has forced many industrial businesses to relocate to the country’s western regions. At the same time, the defense industry is expanding and construction is picking up. All of these sectors need skilled workers.

Ten participants completed 80 hours of welding training at the Ivano-Frankivsk Construction Vocational School. The program covered three main welding techniques: manual metal arc welding (MMA), gas metal arc welding (MIG/MAG), and gas tungsten arc welding (TIG). Students began with safety procedures, materials, and welding technology. Then they moved on to hands-on practice, learning to strike and maintain an arc, create even welds, and make butt and fillet joints in different positions.

At the welding course graduation ceremony, we met Oleh Kovalskyi. He spoke candidly about whether four weeks of training can really provide the skills needed to find work.

When Experience Isn’t Enough

Oleh smiles as he says he has never been afraid of hard work. Over the years, he has worked as a physical education teacher, a civil servant, and the CEO of a football club. There has always been plenty to do at home, too. He has renovated his own apartment, installed drywall, and feels confident handling electrical wiring.

“I once needed to build a brick wall. I had watched other people do it, so I went ahead and built one myself. It wasn’t perfectly straight, but I got it done. That wall is still standing in the village today. It does its job,” he says.

Oleh had also been familiar with welding equipment for years, dating back to his service in the Soviet Army. But knowing how to operate a welding machine and having the skills to work as a welder were two different things.

“I knew what a welding machine was. I knew where to connect everything. But I didn’t understand why the electrode kept sticking or why I couldn’t get a proper weld. I simply couldn’t get the job done,” Oleh recalls.

He found out about PromTech’s courses through social media while searching for job openings. An advertisement caught his attention.

“I was surprised that the courses were free. But when I read about how they were funded, I understood the idea behind them: they were designed for internally displaced people, veterans, and anyone who wanted to learn a new trade. I also understood what a meaningful goal the donors were supporting,” Oleh says.

Training That Meets Real-World Needs

After an interview, Oleh spent four weeks learning the theory and practicing different welding techniques. Things didn’t always go smoothly at first, but the instructors’ support made a difference.

“When you start welding using one method or another and things aren’t working out, the instructors come over and say, ‘All right, all right, keep going.’ Even when things are clearly not all right,” he says with a laugh.

Oleh realized just how valuable the theoretical knowledge he had gained was when he applied for a welding job abroad.

“They don’t ask how much welding experience you have or ask you to show them your work. They ask, ‘What about 111?’ And I know what that means. It refers to manual metal arc welding with a covered electrode. Or they ask about semi-automatic welding. After the course, I know what they’re talking about and where to look for the information I need.”

While still taking the course, Oleh found a new job. It wasn’t a welding position, but his newly acquired skills soon came in handy. Within a month, he had a chance to put them to the test.

“We needed to build a metal stand. I looked at it and said it wasn’t strong enough. The welds were poor and wouldn’t hold. Rather than spend money on replacing it, I went to my instructors and asked if I could use their workshop ahead of time.

It’s great to have a properly equipped space like that. There are angle grinders, versatile welding machines, and, importantly, worktables where you can secure the metal pieces.

And there I was, doing the work — and it was actually turning out well! Maybe 50% of it even looked good. I felt this surge of pride. It meant those four weeks hadn’t been wasted,” he says, smiling.

An Idea for a Business

At the graduation ceremony, the director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Construction Vocational School invites graduates to return to the workshop whenever they need it. Oleh shares his experience of working with the instructors and says he would be happy not only to come back but also to pay for access.

In fact, he encourages the instructors to consider turning the workshop into a social enterprise. He is even willing to help brainstorm ideas and develop a business plan.

“Set an hourly rate for using the workshop — say, 500 hryvnias an hour. I’d be the first to show up and pay those 500 hryvnias, knowing the money would go back into the school. A quality workshop costs money to maintain. If the school has already equipped one with grant funding, and you can also get advice or ask an instructor for help when you run into a difficult situation, that’s ideal,” he says.

Among the things Oleh gained from the course is something no certificate can capture: confidence in himself.

I jokingly ask whether his wife is proud of him. He looks a little embarrassed but smiles and says she is.

“The most important thing is that this is my own personal upgrade. When I need to do something, I’ll take it on and get it done. And if I have doubts or feel unsure, I know who to turn to for help. That’s what matters most,” Oleh says.

Support That Helps Ukraine Stay Strong

Four weeks may not be enough to become an experienced professional, but they can give someone the skills and confidence to take on real work. Oleh’s story shows that Ukrainians are ready to work, and with the right support, they can accomplish a great deal — and inspire others along the way.

What they need is access to the skills employers are looking for. Investing in vocational training strengthens Ukraine’s economy, helps people regain a sense of dignity and purpose, and builds the capacity of communities to recover despite Russia’s ongoing attacks.

Supporting Ukrainians as winter approaches is just as important. Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones, leaving people without electricity, heat, and water.

Learn more about Razom’s winter support initiative and join us in helping Ukrainians get through the winter at the link below.

Creators or Victims of History: How Razom Brings Ukraine’s Civil Society Together

Published: October 29, 2026

During a work trip to the United States, people ask me, ‘Don’t you think you have a weak government if civil society has to do so much?’ I say no. Let’s look at it another way. Ukrainian society is so active that it can sometimes step in and perform functions that would normally belong to the government.

Viktoriia Klymchuk-Dluhach, General Manager at Razom for Ukraine, during her opening remarks at the fourth annual Razom Sylnishi (Razom Stronger) conference.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Ukraine’s civil society has taken on enormous responsibility. Nonprofits and charitable organizations support the government, the military, and civilians. They help people get through crises and rebuild their lives. But who supports the people who help others?

That was the question at the fourth Razom Sylnishi (Razom Stronger) conference, which brought together nearly 200 representatives from more than 80 local nonprofits and charitable organizations supported by Razom through grants. Held in Ivano-Frankivsk, the conference is part of Razom’s long-term program to strengthen Ukraine’s civil society. Its goal is to help organizations grow, build their capacity, find partners, and continue their work even in difficult conditions. Many other organizations in Ukraine had to cancel their planned conferences because of security concerns and financial constraints.

Razom Sylnishi 4.0 took place at Promprylad, a Razom partner. One of the main themes was collaboration: how organizations can join forces, find partners, and work together to address challenges that no single organization can tackle alone.

The conference program was shaped by the needs of organizations receiving grant support from Razom. Topics included fundraising and financial sustainability, team mental health, and micromanagement.

“We want this conference to be a place of inspiration and support, where new connections are made and a new day begins. We hope you feel that this conference was created for you,” said Anna Solovei, Director of Relief and Connect Programs.

The Power of Partnerships

During a workshop for organizations working with young people, participants identified more than 15 potential partnerships in less than ten minutes. They discussed joint training programs for young people and teams, sharing expertise, and ways organizations could support one another.

“We do everything we can to encourage our grantees to connect and develop joint projects,” said Andrii Nimkovych, Razom Sylnishi project manager and conference organizer.

This year, Razom also recognized the winner of the Best Partnership award. The Voznesensk Community Foundation received the award along with a $1,000 institutional grant.

At a panel discussion on partnerships, the foundation’s leader, Viktoriia Baltser, noted that her organization was already carrying out or planning joint projects with nearly every speaker on the panel. Her team had even more partnerships in the works after the conference.

People United by a Common Purpose

Off the record, participants shared that they wished they had had more time to talk with one another. Their conversations covered education in Ukraine, employment, and the integration of veterans into society.

Some stepped outside their usual circles and learned about the challenges other organizations face. Others discovered that their experiences were not so different from those of their peers—and felt relieved to know they were not alone.

“This is my first conference, and I’ve realized one thing: we need to talk to one another. No problem is unimportant, and no problem is too small. Everything can be worked out. I’ve learned a lot today,” said Vladyslav from Volia Veteraniv (Veterans’ Will).

Culture Brings People Together, Too

The conference was about more than working sessions and sharing experience. It was also an opportunity to get to know the city, its culture, and the people creating new spaces for communities to connect.

Participants had the opportunity to visit the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater. One of the conference speakers was Yurii Fyliuk, an entrepreneur, civic leader, and founder and CEO of the Promprylad project. Promprylad has transformed an industrial site into a place where different communities, ideas, and initiatives come together.

Like civil society, culture creates space for dialogue. It brings people with different experiences together, helps them better understand one another, and opens up possibilities for collective action.

Finding the Strength to Keep Helping Others

People who support others need support themselves. That is why the conference program included a workshop by Razom z Toboyu (Razom With You) on burnout and mental health.

Some participants admitted that they had not realized how exhausted they were until they ended up in intensive care. For people who are responsible for teams, projects, and helping others every day, their own well-being often comes last.

One participant, whose organization works to restore homes and support families affected by Russian attacks in the Kyiv region, joked that her team had sent her to the conference to “get some sleep.”

Behind the joke was an experience many Ukrainians know well. Russian attacks, overnight air raid alerts, and constant sleep deprivation take a particularly heavy toll on people living in Kyiv and Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. Ivano-Frankivsk was chosen not only as a place for civil society organizations to meet, but also for safety reasons and to give participants a chance to rest.

“ I wasn’t in a very good place emotionally before the conference, but now I’ll go home feeling so much better!” shared Nadiia Korotaieva from Plast, Ukraine’s national scouting organization in the Odesa region.

Sometimes, continuing to help others starts with taking care of yourself. It also means being among people who understand your challenges, can offer support, and remind you why your work matters.

Creators or Victims of History?

At the end of her opening speech, Viktoriia Klymchuk-Dluhach recalled a quote by Yevhen Konovalets that she had shared during a conversation with Americans:

“We have a choice: to be creators or victims of history.”

“Ukraine’s civil society is choosing to be a creator of history, not a victim of it. Razom supports you as the people shaping Ukraine’s history,” Viktoriia said.

Nonprofits and charitable organizations across Ukraine put this choice into action every day. They support service members and veterans, help civilians, advance education, and find solutions to complex social challenges. They keep going even when they need support themselves.

The Razom Sylnishi conference is one way to provide that support. As part of Razom’s long-term commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s civil society, it creates a space where organizations can find the energy, connections, and inspiration to continue their work and help those who need it.

Razom brings together people who do not wait for history to decide Ukraine’s future for them. They are helping shape it themselves.

“No One Prepares You for Disability”: A Veteran Finds His Way Back to Rock Climbing After Losing Both Legs

Published: October 22, 2026

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Oleksandr Zhovnenko loved the mountains and rock climbing. After a serious injury on the front lines, he lost both legs but did not give up the activity he loved. At an adaptive climbing training camp supported by Razom, Oleksandr tried special prosthetic feet designed to help people with amputations climb rocks for the first time.

Today, he is also the captain of Ukraine’s national para ice hockey team. We spoke with Oleksandr about recovering after an injury, the support of the veteran community, and his plans to climb mountains again.

I started talking to guys who had already gone through the process of getting prosthetics

Oleksandr Zhovnenko, veteran of the Russian–Ukrainian War

From Injury to Para Ice Hockey

“No one prepares you for disability. You don’t think, ‘I’m going to serve in the military, but what if I lose a leg or something else happens? How will I live?’” Oleksandr says.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, he organized trips around the world and later worked in IT. After the birth of his first child, Oleksandr joined the military and became a drone operator with the Azov Brigade, part of Ukraine’s National Guard.

During his service, a Russian artillery shell hit the dugout where Oleksandr was resting before his next shift.

“After the explosion, the dugout caught fire almost immediately. I got up to run out but fell right away. My right leg was hanging on by bits of skin and clothing. I applied a tourniquet immediately. Everything inside the dugout burned. Two of us suffered shrapnel wounds. Everyone survived,” he recalls.

About a week and a half later, doctors amputated Oleksandr’s other leg in Lviv. While still receiving treatment and using a wheelchair, he began attending para ice hockey training sessions.

Other veterans became an important source of support. They had already received prosthetics, returned to work, and found ways to rebuild their lives after injury.

“I was still in the hospital, going through doctors’ appointments and surgeries. Almost immediately, I started talking to guys who had already gone through the process of getting prosthetics. They had their own lives and jobs. I think that helped me avoid falling into depression. I saw that life could still be okay,” Oleksandr says.

Today, he is the captain of Ukraine’s national para ice hockey team. Along with giving motivational speeches, he keeps the team’s spirits up by dancing. In August, the Ukrainian team defeated Great Britain 4–0. The Ukrainian national team has been around for only one year, while the British team has been around for 10 years.

Moving Forward and Climbing Higher

Before the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr loved hiking in the mountains and later took up rock climbing. After his amputations, he returned to climbing at an adaptive climbing training camp, where he tried special prosthetic feet designed for the climbing.

“I had seen people with prosthetics climbing at a pretty high level. The American coaches brought special feet designed for rock climbing. I could feel how much more comfortable they were than the ones I use for walking. I even thought about whether I could make something similar myself using my old prosthesis,” he says.

For Oleksandr, the camp was a chance to see what he could do with the new equipment. For the other participants, it was an opportunity to try adaptive climbing with guidance from experienced coaches.

Building Skills and Creating Opportunities for Other Veterans

The five-day training camp brought together nine veterans and 12 coaches. Participants trained at an indoor climbing gym in Ivano-Frankivsk before moving on to natural rock formations in Kamianets-Podilskyi.

Razom supported the project in partnership with the Ukrainian NGO Veterans Civilian Petros, the Second Breath Charitable Foundation, and Paradox Sports, a U.S.-based organization from Colorado.

The camp was about more than giving veterans a chance to try adaptive climbing. Another key goal was to train Ukrainian coaches who can use these skills in their future work with people with different disabilities.

The coaches learned how to use specialized climbing prosthetics for people who have had a leg amputated, as well as safety systems for climbers with paralysis. The American partners also provided specialized equipment worth $10,000.

But adaptive climbing takes more than the right equipment. Coaches need to know how to adapt climbing techniques to each person’s needs and make sure every training session is safe. The Paradox Sports coaches shared their experience and practical skills with their Ukrainian colleagues.

With Razom’s support, the project is helping Ukraine develop not only adaptive sports programs but also a community of trained coaches who can make sports more accessible to veterans and other people with disabilities.

Now I don’t pay attention to my prosthetics.

Oleksandr Zhovnenko, veteran of the Russian–Ukrainian War

New Summits Ahead

For Oleksandr, one important sign of recovery is feeling confident in everyday life again.

“Now I don’t pay attention to my prosthetics. And the most important thing is that my loved ones can forget I have them, too. They don’t have to think about it. It feels good to have regained my ability to do things and to know that the people around me don’t have to worry about me,” he says.

Before his injury, Oleksandr dreamed of climbing the Tatras. Now, he is planning that climb again. Special equipment, support from friends, and his experience returning to rock climbing have helped him see that this goal is still within reach.

“The Tatras have terrain and shapes similar to the Alps and even the Himalayas, but they aren’t as high. That means you can practice your climbing techniques there. Now I can see that it’s possible. I already have a circle of friends and people I know who can support me and help me. It feels like there’s still so much ahead,” Oleksandr says.

Oleksandr’s story shows that recovery is about more than medical treatment and prosthetics. It is also about returning to the activities you love, finding a community of people who understand your experience, and being able to plan for the future again.

By supporting initiatives like this, Razom helps veterans discover new opportunities and gives Ukrainian coaches the knowledge and tools they need to work with people with disabilities. What starts with one training camp can open up new possibilities for many people across Ukraine.

Math Is More Than Little Squares on Zoom

Published: October 9, 2026

Every morning, Ukrainian children head to school knowing that an air raid alert could interrupt their lessons at any moment. Russia could launch another missile or drone, and suddenly, solving for “x” is no longer important. What matters is getting to a shelter in time.

Supporting STEM education in Ukraine is one of Razom’s priorities. By supporting educational programs today, we help young people gain the skills they need to develop new technologies and shape the future of Ukraine and the world.

This summer, Razom supported three organizations that ran special summer camps for students with a strong interest in mathematics and programming: Boiko Foundation, the Center for Children’s Science and Creativity “Digit” (Tsyfra), and the AFINA Charitable Foundation.

Razom helped cover the cost of food and accommodation for 259 children out of nearly 400 who attended the camps. Without this support, these students would not have been able to take part. Many were winners of math competitions and Olympiads, while others had shown a strong interest in mathematics and technology.

A Place Where Loving Math Is Normal

“Honestly, before the camp, I was thinking about quitting math. But some of the lectures made me want to keep going,” says Yana Maltashova, a 10th-grade student at a specialized math and physics high school. She was also a finalist in Ukraine’s 2026 National Mathematics Olympiad.

Because of frequent Russian missile and drone attacks, many Ukrainian students have to study online. Their whole school life—classrooms, hallways, teachers, classmates, breaks, and snacks from the school cafeteria—has been reduced to a screen.

Summer math camps bring students back into real classrooms, where they can work at a board and learn directly from teachers. They offer something just as important: a place where it is normal to love math. A place where students can be just as excited about playing volleyball as they are about talking about black holes.

“Spending time with other students who share their interests often helps children stay motivated, take part in Olympiads, and consider STEM careers in the future,” says Viktoriia Tsan of the Mathematical Olympus Charitable Foundation.

Some students have had to leave Ukraine because of the war and move to Germany, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, or Malta.

“I really like the people here. They’re unique, and it’s hard to find people like them anywhere else. I live in Germany, and there’s no one like them there,” says Yeva Kozynets, a ninth-grade student who moved from Sumy to Germany because of the constant shelling in her hometown.

From a Love of Math to a Future Career

These summer camps are part of longer educational programs that help students deepen their knowledge of mathematics and related subjects. For many children, a camp is more than a summer experience. It is one step on a longer journey—from discovering a passion to choosing a career.

Razom has supported Boiko’s independent school and the SmartSchool network of after-school learning centers for more than three years. In the 2025–2026 school year, 18 graduates of Boiko’s school scored an average of 189.7 out of 200 on Ukraine’s National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT) in mathematics. The national average for mathematics on the 2026 test was 131.9.

Graduates of the educational programs Razom supports go on to study at the University of Cambridge, École Polytechnique in Paris, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, and other universities. Some have already become teachers in Ukrainian schools.

STEM education helps Ukrainian children keep learning and exploring science and technology, even as the war disrupts their lives and forces families to move. Today, these programs give children a chance to return to the classroom, meet others who share their interests, and keep learning. In the future, these same children could become the scientists, engineers, and technology experts who help Ukraine rebuild and grow.

Behind every high test score, place at Cambridge, or first teaching job are years of learning, caring teachers, and a place where a child can grow. The war has made it harder for Ukrainian students to access these opportunities. By supporting STEM programs today, we can help children continue learning, discover what they are capable of, and prepare for careers that will help shape Ukraine’s future.

Stronger Leaders, Stronger Civil Society: How Razom Invests in the People Building Ukraine’s Future

Published: October 8, 2026

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukrainians faced a challenge to their very survival as a country and a nation.

People responded by stepping up. Across Ukraine, thousands of volunteers began organizing food deliveries, supporting displaced families, helping communities under attack, and raising money for people in need. Some volunteer initiatives eventually closed. Others grew into formal organizations that continue to serve their communities today.

As this new civil society grew, so did a new need: people who had learned to respond to an emergency now needed the knowledge to build organizations that could last.

Leaders of Ukrainian nonprofits were looking for practical skills in organizational development, strategic planning, management, and financial sustainability. They had learned by doing. Now they needed an opportunity to turn that experience into lasting expertise.

Until recently, Ukraine had no formal graduate program specifically designed around the realities of nonprofit work. When Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) launched its master’s program in Nonprofit Management, Razom created a scholarship program for civil society professionals.

The goal is simple: help the people serving Ukrainian communities build organizations strong enough to keep going.

Razom scholarships cover 75% of tuition for the full two-year program. Between 2024 and 2026, Razom supported seven civil society professionals.

Here are three of their stories — and what happens when people who are already creating change gain the knowledge to make that change last.

Anna Andruseiko: Seeing the Whole Picture

Anna Andruseiko came to the program with years of experience as a program manager at a donor foundation and a civic association. She already knew how to work with finances, law, management, and strategic planning.

But these skills existed in separate pieces.

Her studies at UCU helped her see how they fit together — and how people, processes, finances, and strategy all shape the strength of an organization.

She is already putting this perspective to work.

At the RUTA Association, Anna is helping develop an endowment and build a community around the organization. The goal is long-term financial independence, so the organization can continue its work without relying entirely on outside support.

At ZMIN Foundation, she looks beyond what an organization does. She asks what its work actually changes — and whether those results match its mission.

This is the theory of change in practice. And it gives Anna a stronger way to evaluate partnerships and make decisions.

For Anna, the program changed the way she sees her work. She learned to look at an organization as a whole and think more strategically.

She also found something just as valuable: a community of people with different experiences who are learning from one another and finding ways to work together.

Sofia Shcherbachuk: Turning Experience Into Stronger Action

For seven years, Sofia Shcherbachuk worked in volunteer, humanitarian, and civil society initiatives — from local projects to programs operating across Ukraine.

She learned how to work with communities, build trust, and turn ideas into projects that improve people’s lives.

But eventually, experience alone was no longer enough.

Sofia wanted to understand how to manage organizations more effectively, plan for the future, and measure whether their work was actually making a difference.

She began applying what she learned almost immediately.

Since March 2026, Sofia has led the culture program at SpivDiia Charitable Foundation. Before the program, her focus was mainly on delivering projects well. Now she also asks bigger questions: Why are we doing this? Who will it help? What will remain after the project ends?

That shift has already led her to develop new initiatives for her team and prepare grant proposals to grow the program.

For Sofia, the scholarship meant she did not have to put her professional growth on hold.

Most importantly, she saw that knowledge does not have to stay in a classroom. It can become a better decision the next day — and a stronger organization over time.

Ruslana Romanchuk: The Confidence to Lead Change

Ruslana Romanchuk first heard about the program in 2021 at the Civil Society Development Forum. She immediately saw it as the next step in her professional growth.

Many people she knew had already graduated from the program. They recommended it not only for the knowledge, but for the community of people working to strengthen Ukraine.

Ruslana believed in lifelong learning. She wanted to combine what she had learned through years of practical experience with a deeper understanding of how nonprofit organizations can grow and remain strong.

The impact was immediate.

At the NGO Resource Center for NGOs, Ruslana reviewed procurement policies, helped improve financial management, changed the organization’s approach to reporting, and facilitated a strategic planning session for a volunteer group.

During her studies, she also proposed creating a membership system for people who had worked with the organization for more than a year. The organization’s leadership adopted the new policy.

These may sound like internal changes. But they strengthen the organization’s ability to serve people — including through individual psychological consultations and support groups for adults and children from communities across Ukraine.

For Ruslana, the program gave her more than new tools. It gave her the confidence to use them.

And the scholarship made that possible. Without financial support, she would not have been able to afford tuition, accommodation, food, and travel.

The people she met through the program, she says, were one of the most valuable parts of the experience. They inspired her to keep learning, changing, and growing.

Stronger Leaders. Stronger Organizations. Stronger Communities.

In 2025, the number of humanitarian organizations directly providing assistance in Ukraine fell by 20%. Even organizations with years of experience are struggling to maintain their work.

That is why investing in people matters.

When a civil society leader gains new knowledge, it does not stay with that one person. It returns to their organization as better decisions, stronger teams, clearer processes, and more sustainable work.

And over time, stronger organizations mean stronger communities.

The goal is not for Ukrainian nonprofits to depend on outside support forever. It is to help them build the knowledge, leadership, and systems they need to stand on their own.

When you support Razom, you are investing in the people who are building that future — one organization, one community, and one decision at a time.

“We’re Always With Them Now”: How a Human Rights Advocate Helps Veterans Return to Civilian Life Through Theater

Published: October 8, 2026

Coming home from war does not end on the day a person leaves the military. Veterans need to find their place among civilians again, rebuild relationships, and feel that their experience matters. For Alina, that place was a community of writers. Now she is creating the same kind of space for other veterans.

Alina Sarnatska is a veteran, human rights advocate, radio host, and writer. In Lviv, she created the Veterans’ Theater, a space where veterans can develop their skills as playwrights. The project is part of the Veterans Program of INDEX, the Institute for War Documentation and Intellectual Cooperation with the Outside World, with support from Razom.

Over two and a half months, nine veterans and two veterans’ wives learned to write plays about their experiences of war, returning to civilian life, and how these experiences changed them.

“Veterans can come to the theater and see themselves represented on stage. It matters to see that people in this place care about veterans,” Alina says.

We spoke with Alina about her journey to theater and how playwriting can bring veterans together while helping the world understand what Ukrainians are experiencing during the war.

Writing to Find Yourself Again

“In the army, you get the full picture of what will happen when you die. How quickly people will forget about you. It is really hard to process,” Alina Sarnatska says.

“At some point, I realized that if I were killed, if the world completely erased all traces of me, I would regret not spending enough time with the people I loved and not writing enough.”

After three years of military service, Alina realized that she had not simply put her life on hold. Some of her skills were beginning to fade.

“After the army, I realized that I could no longer put my thoughts together. I was no longer as bright or confident as I had been. I was very sad. I realized that if I did not find a community, I would stop writing. I did not have enough courage. At some point, my friends started sending me links to a playwriting school run by playwright Maksym Kurochkin’s Veterans’ Theater. I applied. And I found a mentor in him. That helped me keep going — I finally had someone I could rely on.”

That is how a new Ukrainian playwright emerged. Her plays are now read and staged not only in Ukraine but abroad as well. For example, her play Balance was presented as part of Razom’s Ukrainian Drama Showcase in New York.

The theater gave Alina more than a new profession and a community. It also allowed her to continue doing what she had done before: representing people’s needs and making their experiences visible to society.

After finding this new source of support, Alina decided not to stop at writing plays. She wanted to teach other veterans how to write and create theater — and to help new voices emerge.

Writing for Equal Rights

We are speaking with Alina over video when explosions begin outside my window in Kyiv. I have to pause the conversation and move into the closet.

“Why pay rent for the whole apartment when we’re basically living in the corridor?” I joke.

“Why pay rent at all when you can just live in the subway?” Alina jokes back.

Alina trained as a psychologist and studied social work in graduate school. She conducted research and worked as a manager at a nonprofit organization. For many years, she focused on women’s rights, including preventing gender-based violence. She worked with UN Women, Columbia University, and other international organizations.

“We wanted to make changes in the country,” Alina says.

Alongside her work in civil society, Alina was involved in a right-liberal movement, where she first met veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The community had a significant influence on her, she says. She remained friends with many of them even after their work together ended.

“We used to argue a lot about women’s rights, Pride, and the LGBTQ+ community. When the full-scale invasion began, I saw all these people join the military — except mothers with children. And I think they gave me an incredible example.”

“The Ukrainian army is made up of civilians who went to defend their country out of love,” Alina says. She came to the military from the civil society sector.

Writing to Support Her Battalion

Alina’s Facebook posts from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic are about podcast recordings, work, burnout, and learning English. There are also fox toys, fox decorations, and fox emojis.

In March 2022, “Fox” became her military call sign. The civil society activist became a combat medic with a fire support company of the 207th Battalion of the 241st Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the time, women in Ukraine were not subject to mandatory mobilization, and Alina’s employer had offered her the opportunity to leave the country.

As of early 2026, more than 75,000 women serve in Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

“I am an adult woman without children. I understood that I had to join the military and defend my city and my people. When people ask why I joined the military… I think the more logical question is why someone did not.”

In the spring of 2022, recruitment centers were filled with volunteers: teachers, IT professionals, managers, and other civilians who had never served in the military. Like Alina, they chose to put their lives on hold for their country.

“During the first few weeks, I cried at night. Nothing made sense. Everything was frightening and strange. I was afraid I would not be able to handle the responsibility. I was told that I was now responsible for the health of hundreds of soldiers. I had no medical training, and we had not had a single day of training. Someone showed me where the safety on the rifle was. I learned tactical medicine from materials I found online… Bit by bit, it became easier.”

There were no weekdays in the army, and the only color left in her wardrobe was camouflage green. Alina would track incoming strikes near the Kyiv home where her family stayed and would celebrate a second birthday after surviving an artillery attack near Irpin (a town near Kyiv).

“To serve in the military, you have to find balance. In my first year of service, I bought cat ears for my helmet and a sleeping bag liner with Pokémon on it. In my second year, I stopped being embarrassed about sleeping with a stuffed animal. My mother sent me a badger from home. His name was Filimon. He got a little dirty, so whenever I had the chance, I washed him and dried him in the sun,” Alina writes in her play Balance.

During her service, she began writing again. This time, she wrote short posts on social media to raise money for her battalion.

“We needed everything: vehicles, drones, radios… Everything. I became pretty good at writing dialogue because dialogue was what brought in the most donors and helped raise donations,” Alina recalls.

Alina took part in combat operations in Donetsk region. She received the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s “For Saving Lives” badge and the President of Ukraine’s “For the Defense of Ukraine” award.

At the beginning of her service, Alina wanted to sleep in a bed, go to the movies, to kiss the person she loves, roast a chicken in the oven, and write well. She dreamed of becoming a writer.

Writing to Bring Veterans Together

“I believe that people should be part of a community and that it is important to serve your community. I want to be useful to veterans. For me, it is almost a question of faith,” Alina says. She has attended church for more than 20 years.

Alina says it would be wrong to describe the program as art therapy. Not every creative process is healing. Even watching performances of her own plays can leave her feeling unwell for several days.

For her, the most valuable part is being among people with similar experiences — and having the chance to learn a new profession.

“We had one participant in Lviv from Superhumans (Rehabilitation Center for Military), a very young man who had only recently lost his leg. I am not sure the program was really about writing for him, but he became part of the community. He came to every class and wrote a play. A year later, he realized that he wanted to keep writing. It is a long-term process. For us, this is not just a course — we’re always with them now.”

After the program ends, all participants remain in a group chat where they share opportunities and stay in touch.

Veterans who are still receiving treatment in hospitals can join the classes. Even active-duty service members at the front have participated.

Writing to Bring the Country Together

“I understand that what happens to veterans will affect many generations. It will matter how abandoned and unnecessary they feel,” Alina concludes.

Military service can fundamentally change the way people see life and everyday things. For service members, the primary task is to survive. In Ukraine, projects focused on veterans’ integration and support have existed since 2014.

The final stage of Alina’s program is a public reading of the new plays, performed by professional actors.

“It has a huge impact on the participants. They see that these stories matter to other people. And it affects everyone — both the local community that comes to the performance and the veterans who wrote the plays.”

A play can become a way for people with very different experiences to understand one another — and to find a way to live and create together.

Theater cannot erase the experience of war. But it can give veterans a place where people listen to them. And it can give society an opportunity to hear their stories.

Alina Sarnatska’s story is not only about finding yourself after war. It is also about how the support you receive from others can become an opportunity to support someone else. Once, a community helped Alina believe in her own voice. Today, she helps other veterans find theirs — and make themselves heard far beyond the theater stage.

Because returning from war is not only a journey a veteran has to make. It is also about whether society is ready to create a space where their experience, talent, and future matter.

And that is a space we need to build together.

That is why supporting these communities is an investment not only in veterans. It is an investment in the Ukraine that will emerge after the war.

Razom and Ukrainian mail carrier “Nova Poshta” – now working together to victory!

Published: March 14, 2023

Razom and Nova Poshta signed a memorandum of cooperation, which provides for cooperation on psychological rehabilitation and career counseling of veterans, inclusivity programs for the company’s clients, provision of tactical first-aid kits to Nova Poshta employees working in front-line areas, and more.

“We are extremely grateful to Nova Poshta promptly responding to our invitation to cooperate. This is an excellent example of true corporate social responsibility and a powerful manifestation of the leadership’s civic stance, which the company has demonstrated more than once. Thanks to our cooperation, we will be able to help people suffering from the war even more effectively and increase the volume of humanitarian aid,” says Evelina Kurilets, Executive Director of Razom in Ukraine.

In addition, Nova Poshta became a partner in the Razom Toy Drive project. The company’s couriers will personally deliver birthday gifts to the children of fallen heroes.

“As part of the project, we will not deliver parcels, but dreams! For the recipients – the children of the Heroes – our couriers will turn into real magicians who will deliver a fulfilled wish from hand to hand. The plan is to send thousands of parcels, and therefore to receive thousands of happy children’s smiles!” says Olena Plakhova, Director of Reputation Management of Nova Poshta.

“Nova Poshta” is a Ukrainian international group of logistics companies, the leader of express delivery in terms of the volume of parcels delivered in Ukraine. The company provides businesses and individuals with a full range of logistics and related services. It was founded in 2001.

The “Humanitarian Post of Ukraine” program was created by Nova Poshta as a response to russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Since then, it has become a reliable logistical arm for the volunteer movement of Ukraine. Learn more about the program and how to use it at https://humanitarian.novaposhta.ua/

Razom x Face to Face Medical Mission

Published: November 5, 2022

During September 16-24th, Razom facilitated a medical mission for the group of 11 American doctors and nurses from AAFPRS (American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) to deliver advanced reconstructive surgeries and corrective plastic procedures to patients who suffered as a result of russia’s war on Ukraine. In the spirit of collaboration and learning, American and Ukrainian colleagues worked side by side at the medical facility of Ivano Frankivsk Oblast Hospital.

On May 22, 2022, we received an email that read:

“My name is Dr. Manoj Abraham and I am a Facial Plastic Surgeon based in New York. I am the Chair of the Face To Face Committee, the humanitarian arm of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and I am a Governor for the American College of Surgeons. We are looking to partner with anyone sending medical teams to safe areas in Ukraine or surrounding areas to help treat those with facial injuries from the war – we have experience doing this previously in Croatia. We will need to connect with hospitals and doctors in the local area to help coordinate, and I am hoping you can put me in touch with anyone who can help with making these arrangements. My contact information is listed below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks, Manoj”

This email started a massive collaboration that resulted in the Razom x Face to Face Medical Mission, giving 31 Ukrainians, military and civilians alike, extremely complex reconstructive surgeries and a chance to have a normal life.

Our team immediately saw the incredible potential and the major challenge of implementing such a mission, especially in the ongoing war. At first, it seemed almost impossible to find and connect all the dots to make it happen. Even the American College of Surgeons sadly informed Dr. Manoj T. Abraham:

“Many of you have reached out to us, asking how you can contribute to the care of victims in war-torn Ukraine.

At this time, no current role or mechanism exists for safe travel to help in person.”

But Razom’s team decided to embrace the challenge. We mobilized all connections and resources available to us to ensure that such an altruistic and invaluable for Ukrainian people intention becomes a reality.

Razom for Ukraine has been bringing doctors from the US to Ukraine since 2016 to work with surgeons on the ground and perform neurosurgery as a part of The Co-Pilot Project initiated and run by Razom’s co-founder Mariya Soroka and her husband, Dr. Luke Tomycz, Neurosurgeon at The Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey. The project has been a huge success and has given us a decent network of Ukrainian and American healthcare professionals and partners.

Hundreds of hours, miles of correspondence, and countless Zoom calls went into planning this mission. First, we connected with Dr. Ivanka Nebor – ENT doctor, founder, and president of INgenius, a platform for the development of medicine and science in Ukraine. Thanks to her professional network of young physicians in Ukraine, we were able to install the first wheel to the Face to Face vehicle.

We needed a hospital with operating theaters, postoperative care units, inpatient wards, and possible intensive care units. It was vital not to disrupt the care that was already being provided to the patients. The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital and Ukrainian ENT doctor Natalia Komashko and her team courageously embraced a massive workload by taking on a lot of challenging cases in a short period of time.

American and Ukrainian — Dr. Natalia Komashko and Dr. Ivanka Nebor

Finding the Ukrainian doctors and a hospital both interested and able to facilitate the American doctors’ efforts was only the beginning. Ahead of us laid a lengthy and complex process of recruiting and screening the patients. INgenius has utilized its platform and social media outreach to spread the word.

Patients’ stories moved, shook, and horrified us. The survivors of russian aggression hailed from locations notorious for war crimes and atrocities, such as Bucha, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Izyum. Repairing facial scars could be the final stage in their arduous medical journeys, allowing them to finally get closure, feel whole again, and return to society. Understanding that recuperation and readjustment to society are greatly aided by psychological rehabilitation, Razom invited our “Razom With You” therapists from the Ivano-Frankivsk Support Center to help the patients cope and process what happened to them.

English subtitles are available for this video

There were a large number of applications, but only the 34 most complicated ones could be selected. Not only did the patients need all of the supporting medical documentation for the screening process, but they also had to be physically able to withstand long hours of complicated surgeries.

After months of planning, long hours of surgery, and heartbreaking patient stories, this mission has deeply touched every participant. The American doctors’ and nurses’ incredible selfless devotion to helping people will long be remembered and appreciated by all Ukrainians.

The goal of this mission isn’t only to perform the medical procedures but to teach the Ukrainian doctors employ these incredible technologies in their practice. Throughout the entire week, all surgeries were broadcasted and available live for all medical professionals in Ukraine to observe and learn. Razom’s focus was always to support the democracy and prosperity in Ukraine, and modern healthcare is a vital part of any society. We strive to continue developing the avenues for education and experience exchange on both sides of the Atlantic by implementing more missions and projects that aid this process.

Please, donate to help us rebuild Ukraine and ensure that Ukrainian people have access to technologies available in the modern healthcare field

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Giving Tuesday in Kyiv

Published: December 5, 2019

The Giving Tuesday charity event dedicated to Veterans Stipends that took place in Kyiv this December collected 80,500 UAH, which explicitly shows that Ukrainians are supportive of and ready for the global movement and tradition of charitable nights.

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Razom helped bring twenty artists to Galicia Cult: a cultural festival in Kharkiv 2016

Published: December 15, 2016

Razom is happy to announce that with the support of our donors and volunteers we were able to sponsor the transportation of 20 artists participating in the Galicia Cult festival in Kharkiv that ran Oct. 2-18, 2016.

Galicia Cult is a multidisciplinary social-cultural forum that aims to introduce eastern Ukrainians to modern western-Ukrainian culture. Besides promoting a cultural exchange, the forum also intends to break common stereotypes in both the east and the west.

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