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.

Supporting Those Who Support Others: Razom’s Mental Health Work in Ukraine

Published: October 29, 2026

Did you know that 3 in 4 Ukrainians experienced mental health issues over the past year? The World Health Organization’s 2026 survey found that 76% reported stress, anxiety, low mood, or other mental health difficulties. As another winter approaches, access to psychological support matters more than ever, including for those who care for others.

Razom provides free psychological support to people affected by the war. Our mental health program Razom z Toboyu (“Razom with You”) has delivered more than 40,000 counseling sessions and supported over 22,000 people dealing with trauma, grief, and stress. It also trains local professionals who work with people affected by the war, helping them recognize psychological distress and respond with greater understanding.

Across Ukraine, this work also reaches the people who support veterans and their families. In Volochysk, in the Khmelnytskyi region, Svitlana Darmoroz knows how important this support can be. When Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Svitlana volunteered by collecting supplies for Ukrainian defenders, sending aid to the front lines, and bringing together people who wanted to help. She continued volunteering in the years that followed. On May 1, 2025, she took on a new role, joining the local Veterans Support Center as a specialist supporting veterans and service members returning from war.

She supports veterans as they adjust to civilian life and helps their families navigate the uncertainty and loss that can come with war. Some are waiting for news of loved ones who are missing or held captive; others are grieving someone they have lost.

“For families waiting for news, not knowing what has happened to a loved one can be incredibly difficult. Those who are grieving or adjusting to a loved one’s return also need understanding, patience, and support,” Svitlana says.

But supporting others can take an emotional toll. Svitlana knows this from experience:

“There are times when I’m so exhausted that I feel I can’t go on. But somehow, I always find a reason to keep going. I don’t see myself as anyone special. I just can’t stand by and do nothing when someone needs help.”

Svitlana first reached out to Razom psychological support center in Khmelnytskyi, for guidance on complex cases involving veterans and their families. She later invited the center’s team to provide training for her colleagues.

Through the Razom z toboyu Resilience program, four training sessions were held in villages across the community. Social workers, healthcare professionals, educators, and veterans’ support specialists learned about psychological first aid, grief, communication with veterans and service members, and professional burnout.

Svitlana found the practical exercises and case studies especially useful. They gave her and her colleagues concrete ways to approach difficult conversations and better understand what veterans and their families may be going through.

“Knowing the procedures isn’t enough in our line of work. Thanks to Razom’s training, we better understand what a person is going through, how to respond to difficult emotions, and how to offer support while respecting personal boundaries,” Svitlana emphasizes.

The sessions also helped Svitlana and her colleagues work out how to approach sensitive conversations and when to refer someone to a psychological professional. For Svitlana, supporting veterans starts with making sure that the people they turn to know how to listen, understand, and help without overstepping.

Svitlana’s story shows just how much psychological support can matter. For veterans adjusting to civilian life and families waiting for news of missing loved ones, having someone who knows how to help can make a real difference. In some cases, that support can save a life.

Razom helps local professionals support people facing these challenges. This winter, your support can help this work continue. Support Ukraine through Razom’s winter campaign.

Keep Ukraine Going This Winter

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Drone Detectors: Humanitarian Aid for Communities Near the Front Line

Published: October 27, 2026

We have been without electricity since October 2024. People rely on generators. Now we also have no gas or phone service. Thank God, there are no children here, but 110 older people remain in the village (as of October 15). They refuse to evacuate for different reasons. Some cannot afford to leave. Some have nowhere to go. Others simply do not want to leave their homes.

Nataliia Kamenetska, Village Head of Oleksandrivka, Stanislav Community

When people think of humanitarian aid, they usually think of food, water, medicine, clothing, and other basic necessities. In Ukraine, drone detectors have become another essential item.

With financial support from Razom, Kherson Regional Charitable Fund «UNION» delivered 52 Dzyga (spinning top) drone detectors to the Kherson region. These devices help firefighters, medical teams, utility workers, social services, and evacuation teams stay safer while doing their jobs.

The Kherson region lies in southern Ukraine, with access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is famous for its delicious watermelons. Today, part of the region remains under Russian occupation, while the rest faces constant attacks by Russian drones.

According to official data from the Kherson Regional Military Administration, the number of Russian drone attacks in the region has more than doubled over the past year, rising from around 2,500 to 5,500 drone attacks per week in the de-occupied part of the region. Russian forces increasingly target civilian vehicles, municipal equipment, minibuses, ambulances, and evacuation vehicles.

This affects the daily lives of local residents. Traveling around Kherson and operating public transport have become life-threatening.

How Do Drone Detectors Work?

A drone detector is like a pocket-sized TV. But instead of news and your favorite shows, it searches for video signals from nearby drones that may be filming you in real time.

For example, someone riding alongside an ambulance driver can use the detector to see what the Russian drone pilot sees. The device allows users to switch between different “channels,” or frequency ranges, to search for signals. The receiver does not transmit any signals itself, so it cannot be tracked through its own signal emissions.

Using a drone detector gives people more time to decide what to do while a drone is still far away. This can literally save lives.

To choose the best detectors for the people receiving them, the Razom team relied on tests conducted by radio communications specialists. They carried out field tests of around 40 types of detectors and different models.

One of the best options in terms of price and quality was Dzyga, a drone detector made by a Ukrainian manufacturer. The team considered not only professional test results but also positive feedback from users.

Dzyga is easy to use: switch it on, raise the antenna, and wait for a signal. It charges like a phone, using a power bank or a car charger. If the device breaks, the warranty covers repair or replacement.

Unfortunately, no detector can identify every drone, even though Dzyga covers most of the radio frequency ranges used by drones. For example, if a drone operates through a fiber-optic cable or flies on autopilot without an operator controlling it, the detector may not detect it.

That is why, even when using Dzyga, people continue to watch and listen carefully to their surroundings so they have time to protect themselves from Russian drones.

We spoke with people in the Kherson region who use Dzyga detectors about the situation in their communities and how the devices have become part of their daily work.

Ruslan Petrovych: Head of the Local Fire Department in Arkhanhelske, Vysokopillia Community

“During the summer, we often had fires caused by dry grass, or a drone would crash somewhere and start a fire. So we went out on emergency calls at least once every one or two weeks.

Before we had this detector, drone operators would call us and warn us to be careful or stop and wait somewhere because something was flying nearby. We also checked social media groups for updates. Now we can see the signals ourselves.

Three of us go out on each call. One person always drives, and another uses Dzyga to watch the monitor. When the detector picks up a signal, it starts beeping. Then we turn on a larger monitor, which shows us an image from the drone.

We don’t wait until we can see our own vehicle on the screen. If the monitor starts showing an image, we stop, get out of the vehicle, look at the sky, and listen carefully. If possible, we move to a safer place.”

Nataliia Kamenetska, Village Head of Oleksandrivka, Stanislav Community

“We have been without electricity since October 2024. People rely on generators. Now we also have no gas or phone service. Thank God, there are no children here, but 110 older people remain in the village as of October 15. They refuse to evacuate for different reasons. Some cannot afford to leave. Some have nowhere to go. Others simply do not want to leave their homes.

“The Russians attack all kinds of transport, whether it is a car or even a bicycle. In cold weather, they target places where they see steam or smoke rising.

“After Russian drone strikes, people in our village can also be left without water. Our water supply is centralized, and the wells are outside the village, in an open field.

“For utility workers to connect a generator and restore the water supply, they need at least basic equipment to warn them when drones are nearby. That is why these detectors are so important to us. Thank you so much for this support.

“We also use them when we travel outside the village to collect deliveries of diesel fuel.”

Humanitarian Aid That Meets Real Needs

The situation in Ukraine is constantly changing, as are the weapons Russia uses to attack Ukrainian communities. Humanitarian aid must keep pace with these changes and respond to what people actually need on the ground. For Razom, listening to local communities and responding quickly is essential.

The 52 drone detectors will not stop Russian attacks. But they will help firefighters respond to emergencies, utility workers restore water supplies, and social workers and evacuation teams carry out their work with a better chance of staying safe.

This support helps communities keep going, even in places where everyday work has become life-threatening. Most importantly, these devices can save lives.

Another winter of Russia’s full-scale war lies ahead. Razom is raising funds to provide Ukrainians and local services with essential support, from backup power to equipment for emergency responders.

Your support will help Ukrainian communities prepare for winter and keep essential services running — services that people depend on for their lives and well-being.