Razom for Ukraine Launches Inaugural I’mmortal / Безсмертні Fellowship

Published: July 1, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2026
Razom for Ukraine Launches Inaugural I’mmortal / Безсмертні Fellowship
Five Transatlantic Arts-in-Health Partnerships to Gather at Wesleyan University This Fall

New York, NY – Today Razom for Ukraine announced the inaugural cohort of the I’mmortal / Безсмертні Fellowship, Razom’s first Arts-in-Health program, developed in partnership with Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts. Drawing from 35 applications submitted by NGOs, cultural collectives, artists, clinicians, and institutional partners across Ukraine and the United States, a selection committee of field experts chose five cross-border partnerships to co-develop projects using creative practice to transform mental health, physical rehabilitation, and community reintegration. Each partnership receives an implementation grant of up to $10,000 and full residency support for a week-long in-person gathering at Wesleyan University, November 2–7, 2026, culminating in a public Capstone Showcase on November 7th in Middletown, Connecticut.

The fellowship is built on a foundational recognition: Ukraine is currently a vital frontier for innovations in trauma recovery. The I’mmortal program matches artists and healers with institutional partners, including hospitals, universities, veterans’ centers, and NGOs, to develop collaborative projects that neither partner could conceive or execute alone. The long-term goal is that projects piloted in 2026 will move into full implementation in Ukraine in 2027.

“Art has always been how people make meaning and take care of communities in the hardest moments,” said Theodora Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine. “The I’mmortal Fellowship exists to put that idea into practice, across borders, and at the highest level of attention.”

“Where science maps the trauma, the arts map our humanity, providing the truth and wisdom needed to heal,” said Katja Kolcio, Chair of the Dance Department and Professor of Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University. “By bringing these extraordinary Ukrainian and American partners to Wesleyan, we are moving creative practice from the margins of healthcare straight to the center, proving that cultural expression is a critical, rigorous pillar of health, community resilience, and our collective capacity to build a better world.”

THE 2026 COHORT

GATHERING AROUND THE FIRE: ARTS, HEALING, AND RESILIENCE

Jessica Hecht / Alexandra Zaslav / The Campfire Project (New York, NY) x Mariana Ivanovych / Marcin Piotrowski / Folkowisko Ukraine (Nahachiv, Lviv region)

Therapeutic arts programming for children and youth in Western Ukraine, bringing together local and displaced populations to process war trauma, build resilience, and strengthen community through daily creative practice in dance, visual art, theater, and music, delivered through a trauma-informed, culturally adaptive framework. A parallel practitioner training strand, drawing on resources from the WHO and Jameel Arts and Health Lab, equips local educators and aid workers with tools they can sustain independently.

ARTSCAPES OF CARE: COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS & TOOLKIT

Nathalie Robelot-Timtchenko / Oleksandra Kliushnova / Joanna Wroblewska / First Aid of the Soul (Kyiv / Washington, D.C.) x Kerry Kincy (Middletown, CT) x Dr. Midori Samson (Lawrence, KS)

Trauma-informed, arts-based workshops for artists, community healers, educators, and mental health practitioners in the Lviv region, integrating soundscapes and deep listening, movement, visual storytelling, and embodied creative practice. The project will produce a replicable toolkit for Ukrainian organizations to continue and adapt the work independently.

RHYTHM AS REGULATION

Yekaterina Chizayeva (New Orleans, LA) x Kateryna Taranova (Kyiv/Lviv/Slavsko)

A transnational methodology exchange investigating how rhythm, through music, dance, voice, and body-based practice, can support nervous system regulation, reduce anxiety symptoms, and aid recovery from sensory disorientation caused by war-related sonic exposure. Two intensive methodology labs, one in Slavsko, Ukraine and one in New Orleans, bring together U.S. and Ukrainian artists to develop and prototype shared, cross-cultural protocols.

“ME – THE OTHER”: INCLUSIVE THEATRE & NARRATIVE RESTORATION INITIATIVE

Deb Gottesman / The Theatre Lab – Life Stories Institute (Washington, D.C.) x Yuliia Vintoniv / Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv)

An inclusive theatre initiative bringing together people with congenital and acquired disabilities, including those with war-related injuries, alongside students and community members to create original dramatic work from lived experience. The Theatre Lab’s over twenty years of autobiographical theatre practice meets Yuliia Vintoniv’s expertise in disability-inclusive education at Ukrainian Catholic University, with a pilot university course launching in 2027.

MOVING, IMAGINING, AND UNBROKEN

Román Baca / Exit12 Dance Company (New York, NY) x Alina Spas / Dr. Brendan Bo O’Connor / Imagination Lab (Albany, NY) x Dr. Yuliia Rozmyrska / Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (Lutsk)

A co-authored dance and movement program designed specifically for Ukrainian combat veterans, wounded and non-wounded alike, that integrates Exit12’s proven trauma-informed methodology with surrealism-based visual arts practice. The program is not an export of an American model but a genuine co-authorship, adapted entirely for Ukraine’s cultural moment and the realities of its combatants. Pilot workshops will be conducted in the New York area before full implementation in Ukraine in 2027.

ABOUT RAZOM FOR UKRAINE

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

ABOUT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts integrates world-class venues with a dedicated team of curators, producers, and technicians to advance creative practice as foundational to a liberal arts education. By bringing global artists into a dynamic relationship with the campus, the Center for the Arts supports critical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experimentation. At Wesleyan, the arts serve as an essential form of inquiry, teaching, and public engagement, cultivating bold thinkers who value embodied experience and community connection.

PRESS CONTACT

Rachel Shuey

rachel.shuey@razomforukraine.org

706-399-3333

razomforukraine.org

Youth Transforming Communities: How Youth Initiative Banks Are Helping Build the Future During Wartime

Published: June 26, 2026

As part of the Children & the Future Under Fire month, Razom is highlighting initiatives that support children, teenagers, and young people in Ukraine — not only as those in need of protection, but as active participants in the recovery and development of their communities.

One such initiative focuses on empowering active youth in 25 communities across 14 regions of Ukraine, including communities that have been deeply affected by the war. The project is implemented by the National Network for Local Philanthropy Development “Philanthropists” with the support of Razom and Fondation de France.

At the heart of the project is the International Youth Banks model. For more than two decades, this approach has been used in countries around the world, giving young people the opportunity not only to learn, but also to make decisions, mobilize resources, and support change in their own communities.

Similar youth philanthropy models also exist in the United States. For example, Northfield YouthBank and youth-led grantmaking programs at community foundations give young people the opportunity not only to propose ideas, but also to make decisions about funding projects in their communities.

What Is Youth Initiative Bank?

Youth Initiative Bank is an international model that has been implemented for more than 20 years in 37 countries with the support of Youth Bank International. In Ukraine, the model is implemented by the National Network for Local Philanthropy Development with financial support from Razom for Ukraine and Fondation de France.

A Youth Initiative Bank is a team of young people who study the needs of their community, mobilize local resources, organize grant competitions, and support the implementation of youth-led projects.

In other words, young people are not only applying for support for their own ideas. They are learning how to become grantmakers themselves: analyzing needs, defining priorities, developing selection criteria, making funding decisions, and supporting initiatives through implementation.

The model is built on the principle of “learning by doing.” Young people go through the full cycle of managing local change — from assessing community needs to fundraising, supporting projects, monitoring results, and reporting back to the community.

How It Works

Each year, every Youth Initiative Bank team goes through a full cycle of work.

First, a team of active young people is formed. They receive basic training and divide responsibilities among themselves. Then, the participants study the needs of their community by conducting surveys, focus groups, and consultations with residents to understand which challenges are most urgent.

Based on this research, the young people define priorities — the themes and areas that need support in their community. These may include social, educational, cultural, volunteer, or other initiatives that respond to real local needs.

The next stage is local fundraising. Teams organize charity events, fairs, campaigns, and community activities, raising funds from local residents, businesses, and partners. This is an essential part of the model, because it helps young people not only speak about change, but also bring their community together around it.

After that, the Youth Initiative Bank announces an open grant competition for youth initiatives, develops selection criteria, and makes decisions about which projects to support. The selected teams implement their ideas with mentoring support from the Youth Initiative Bank. At the end of the cycle, they analyze the results, assess the impact, and report back to the community.

Why Co-Funding Matters

One of the key features of this model is co-funding.

Teams do not simply receive support from outside. They raise resources within their own communities: they speak with residents, look for partners, work with local businesses, and organize charitable events. Based on the results of the grant competition, the Youth Initiative Bank then provides additional funding for youth-led projects.

This means that the more actively a team mobilizes local resources and community support, the more opportunities it has to bring its ideas to life.

This approach builds more than individual projects. It builds trust within the community. Young people see that their voices matter. Local residents see that young people are capable of taking responsibility. And the community receives initiatives that are not imposed from above, but born from its real needs.

What Young People Gain

Participation in a Youth Initiative Bank gives young people practical experience that is difficult to gain through formal education alone. They learn how to work in a team, manage projects, analyze information, write grant applications, communicate ideas, lead fundraising efforts, and distribute resources responsibly.

But just as importantly, young people gain the experience of being trusted. They are not simply told that they matter to the future of their community. They are given real tools of influence: the ability to research, decide, support, and take responsibility for results.

For communities — especially those affected by war — this is particularly important. Amid loss, displacement, and constant uncertainty, it is essential not to lose active young people, but to create reasons for them to stay engaged, grow, and see their place in Ukraine’s future.

Where Young People Are Given a Chance

Behind every Youth Initiative Bank, there is more than a grant competition or a training program. There are people who, at some point, heard a simple but powerful phrase: “You can do this.”

In the Kobleve community in Mykolaiv region, this journey did not begin with major victories. Youth Initiative Bank coordinator Oksana Dukhan recalls returning from training two years ago with “a whole carriage of doubts.” She was not local, she knew few people, and the community itself consisted of 11 villages scattered across an area with limited transport connections. Because of the war, some young people had left, and opportunities had become fewer. Even gathering the first team of three people was a challenge.

The first fundraising attempt did not work either. The team opened a charitable donation jar, made plans, and waited. But no one donated, because no one knew who they were. So they changed their approach: they went to people in person. They asked the community to believe not just in projects, but in youth-led ideas. Gradually, the community began to respond with trust.

One of the first projects was the restoration of a volleyball court in the village of Luhove. Teenagers planned the budget themselves, purchased materials, painted, and organized the space. For them, it was more than just a sports ground. It was their first experience of realizing that they can change the place where they live.

Criticism followed. Some said it could have been done better, that the net was not right, that teenagers should not be trusted with money. But at that moment, the real meaning of the project became clear. The point was not that everything had been done perfectly. The point was that young people had, for the first time, gone through the full path from idea to result on their own.

A year later, young people in the same village of Luhove implemented another project — creating a modern cinema space for local residents.

Today, the Kobleve Youth Initiative Bank team includes 12 active teenagers. Over two years, they have implemented 15 youth projects in eight villages, raised around UAH 250,000 for youth initiatives, and helped more than 45 teenagers gain their first real experience in project management, fundraising, and civic engagement.

Another story comes from Cherkasy. Tetiana Honcharova joined the Youth Initiative Bank as a young professional looking for a space where she could be useful. Her first project, “ArtInsight,” combined psychological support with creative practices. In just one month, it reached more than 150 people.

For Tetiana, this was more than a grant competition victory. It was the moment she felt that her ideas had value — and that the desire to help could become real change. Later, she went on to lead the Youth Initiative Bank herself. Today, she supports other young people, helping them overcome fear, speak up, act, and try.

This is the power of Youth Initiative Banks. They do not simply fund youth ideas. They create the moment when a teenager in their community feels for the first time: I am trusted. My voice matters. My idea can become something real.

During wartime, that carries special weight. Because Ukraine’s future is not an abstract date after victory. It is already being shaped through small decisions: to gather a team, to go out and speak to people, to ask for support, to restore a playground, to hold a meeting, to support someone else’s idea, to believe in yourself.

Big changes can truly begin with a small local initiative — especially when young people are given a chance at the right time.

A Future Built Locally

The war has forced many young people to grow up faster. But even under these circumstances, they are not only adapting — they are acting.

Through Youth Initiative Banks, young people in Ukrainian communities launch local projects, support their peers, engage residents, work with partners, and learn to make decisions that affect the lives of those around them.

For Razom, supporting such initiatives is part of a broader effort to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian communities. During wartime, the future is not an abstract idea. It is formed every day — in schools, youth spaces, volunteer teams, local initiatives, and communities where young people are given the chance to act.

When young people have the tools, trust, and support they need, they do not simply imagine the future. They begin to build it.

From World Wars to Wartime Today: How Ukrainian Scouting Is Protecting the Spirit of Youth in Odesa

Published: June 25, 2026

On a warm, sunny May afternoon, a scenic lakeside in Odesa dotted with tents hummed with the sound of children’s laughter and play. Standing on the banks downstream from their campsite, a row of young Vikings saluted their group oath in unwavering solidarity, “Brothers, the time has come for us to rise, to take up and carry the ideals of Plast. Glory to Ukraine!”

The bright patches of their uniforms, each hard-won through successfully completing a meticulous task or test, caught in the sunlight as the children held their imaginary Viking shields by their side.

Yes, today they would be Vikings.

Not orphans or children without a home. Not refugees forced to flee their city. Not children of frontline parents, not children of war. Just Vikings in a beautiful, carefree world of make-believe. And underneath that, just children.

This return to the innocent and creating a space for free development is exactly what Plast, Ukraine’s international scout organization, strives to create. For over a century, Plast has helped young people build character, hone leadership skills and establish a strong community through outdoor adventures, service and teamwork. In today’s Ukraine, where many children have grown up under the shadow of war, these lessons take on new meaning, creating a new reality with more possibilities.

Plast, like all of Ukraine, was built through repression, difficulty and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Founded in 1912 in western Ukraine, the organization survived two world wars as well as occupation by Poland, Germany and Russia, all of whom forbade or restricted the existence of Plast.

1. Plast camp in the village of Solochyn (Zakarpattia Oblast), 1934. Archive of the “Local History” project. 2. Plast group in the village of Bryukhovychi, Lviv District, Lviv Province, 1920s. Personal archive of Daria Korchak. 3. Plast girls, 1930s. “Local History” Project Archive. 4. A Plast camp for boys in Staryava near Khyrov, held from June 28 to July 24, 1939. Personal archive of Lukia Lukomska

In theory, Plast, like all of Ukraine, wasn’t supposed to make it. War after war, regime after regime, everything that plagued the land that Plast was built on, tried to snuff out the flame of Ukrainian culture and progress which it strived to illuminate. All of it worked to make Plast and Ukraine a faint memory.

And now, the full-scale invasion of Russia brings past horrific history into full swing again as war forces Plast into another round of defense and struggle for its own existence and name. But Plast has shown throughout its history that, like Ukraine, it cannot be thrown down that easily.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, over 25,000 internally displaced children have moved to Odesa. Combined with a shortage of youth programs and stable community spaces, many children in the area have limited opportunities for personal development, leadership training and social connection, a problem that Razom joined Plast this year to help address.

However, the challenges facing children in Odesa extend beyond displacement. Air raid sirens remain a regular part of life, and youth activities can still be interrupted by security threats. Plast youth leader Polina described a recent case when a Shahed drone flew over the camp, forcing everyone to flee into bomb shelters.

“It was so scary… But afterward, we had to get back and just continue- in a country without war, you don’t have to think about this,” said Polina.

Many such thoughts and anxieties surround Ukrainian youth in their day-to-day lives. Their unique situation makes things like Plast all the more important for their continued development.

“There is nothing ‘ordinary’ about being a young person in Ukraine today,” said Nastia Rab, chief advancement officer for Razom. “Even a summer camp takes place against the backdrop of a full-scale war. Yet that makes these experiences even more important. They give young people community, purpose, leadership skills and a sense of hope for the future.”

Despite these obstacles, this spring, Plast’s Odesa branch hosted its fifth major youth event of the year, Spring Festival, bringing together children from across the region, and across Ukraine, for a weekend of camping, games, challenges and friendships. Razom’s team joined in to experience the festival firsthand and to speak with participants and leaders about what Plast meant to them- and why they believe it’s important in shaping Ukraine’s future.

Razom partnered with Plast Odesa last year to provide a full year of support for such youth advancement activities. By providing materials such as tents, ropes, crafts and training resources, Razom helped manifest the goals and ideas that Plast had for the kids in their community.

Students participated in a rotation of workshops, stations and games where they learned different scouting and nature skills, such as knot tying, proper travel packing, setting up tents and map reading, materials for which were directly provided by Razom.

Their achievements are reflected in the patches they earn, and every patch tells a story. Most children have already gained multiple patches in several Plast programs throughout the year, including one for providing emergency first aid.

In addition to learning practical skills, participants and leaders emphasized the importance of Plast providing a unique environment for a thriving Ukrainian culture and community. Plast is Ukrainian-speaking, meaning all the events and activities are hosted in Ukrainian. For some students who don’t speak Ukrainian at home or encounter Russian in their everyday contexts, this provides a space where Ukrainian language and culture are the norm rather than the exception.

“A child should be immersed in Ukrainian-language culture and experiences, without Russian constantly entering that space,” said Korotaeva.

For some participants, Plast is an experience of re-immersion into Ukrainian culture and a unique space where they can share that with others.

“They want a community. They want more friends who share their values, more Ukrainian values, people who speak Ukrainian. Maybe at school or near home they don’t have that,” said Polina.

Plast not only invests in children participants, but also in training up group leaders and student counselors. As a training ground for young adults, Plast prepares older youth to step into adulthood with a leadership mindset and skillset.

“This also gives me some benefits, I gain experience being a leader, -something I don’t often get the chance to do,” said another Plast leader.

Most importantly, Plast provides participants with relationships and friendships that they can keep with them for the rest of their lives. It’s not just a camp where kids are dropped off and then picked up at the end of the day, it’s a forever-community, said Korotaeva.

“For me, Plast has become an inseparable part of life,” said a young participant.

Plast is all about investing in this resilient future. However, Razom’s connection to Plast is actually much deeper rooted in the past. Many from Razom’s staff were once Plast scouts or counselors as youth, and owe much of their love and work for Ukraine to their experience in the organization.

Dora Chomiak, third from left at a Plast history and public speaking competition

Dora Chomiak, shaking the left hand of a Plast counselor

Dora Chomiak, Razom’s CEO, started her journey with Plast as a child, attending camps in the Washington D.C. branch. Later, she became a Plast leader herself where she learned how to plan and run a camp for over a dozen students only a few years younger than her.

“I rely on all those experiences throughout my career,” said Chomiak. “Collaborate. Roll with it. Walk on the sunny side of the street when you can. Respect nature.”

Rab immigrated from Ukraine to the U.S. as a child and found an invaluable Ukrainian community in Plast that allowed her to stay connected to her roots.

“Plast helped shape who I became. Knowing that today’s scouts are finding the same friendships, values and sense of responsibility that I found years ago makes me especially proud of this partnership,” said Rab.

Uliana Bilash, Razom’s director of people and culture is a generational Plast attendee in her family. Her parents met at a Plast camp and passed on the experience to her, which eventually brought her to Plast camps across the U.S., Canada, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Ukraine both as a camper and counselor.

In 2022, when Plast summer camps in Ukraine had to close due to the invasion, Bilash volunteered at a Plast camp in Spain where many Ukrainian children refugees fled. It was another chance for her to pour into the next generation. Now that Plast is back in Ukraine, she works to ensure that kids still have the same experiences she had as a Plast scout.

“Now, we are lucky that Plast camps continue in Ukraine, but we often lack the resources needed to run them,” said Bilash. “By supporting Plast camps, we can help Ukraine’s children learn skills that can grow them into leaders of a prosperous and democratic Ukraine.”

Ukrainian Plast participants recreate their version of the Mariupol Theater at a Plast camp in Spain 2022.

Razom’s public engagement coordinator for its advocacy branch, Daryna Lesniak, also a Plast alumnus, started her own Plast group in Shanghai as a way to express her own Ukrainian story wherever she went.

“With Plast you always carry a piece of Ukraine with you,” said Lesniak.

Plast’s rich history and work has brought much of Razom’s team to their place right now. However, Plast’s reach also goes beyond the regular parts of Ukrainian society. Not only have Plast members taken great part in fighting in the world wars, were strong participants in Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity in 2014, but many now serve on the front lines, in defense against Russia’s aggression.

Having members of Plast serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine creates a conflicting reality. Enormous amounts of time, energy and resources are poured into supporting current and former Plast members in the army, which hold paramount importance. However, that also creates challenges in funding and sustaining the core youth programs that keep Plast active for the next generation, said Rab.

The future of Plast in Odesa is one of prospective growth. The current program is at full capacity with over 100 children on the waiting list. There are only so many resources available to cover so many students; there is not enough capacity for demand, said Korotaeva.

“We receive inquiries from parents almost every day,” said Korotaeva. “I keep writing and saying everywhere that our dream is for anyone who wants to join to be able to do so. Any child, especially here in Odesa.”

Looking ahead, Plast in Odesa hopes to expand their equipment inventory, train more leaders and eventually open up their own office to reach more communities in the area, and Plast’s organizers emphasized the important role of donors and outside support to make this a reality.

“Through these grants, over the last seven months, we’ve grown tremendously and made our events bigger and better. Without that support, we wouldn’t have been able to do it,” said Korotaeva.

“One of the things that makes me very happy on bad days is knowing that people in other countries are supporting us.”

Every year, Plast functions as a community of knowledge, skill-building, close relationships and Ukrainian values.

Whether a refugee in Spain, an immigrant in the U.S., or a young Viking on the banks of an Odesa lake, every Plast member inherently becomes part of its vast history, part of an experience they will never forget.

“For many people, Plast is one big adventure,” said participant, Ihor.

“It’s something you’re meant to enjoy.”

Plast in Odesa is just one of the vital projects we’ve been able to support this year thanks to the generosity of our community.

But our work doesn’t stop here.

War is trying to steal their childhood, but you can help us give it back.

By becoming a part of this crucial mission, your gift to our Kids Campaign helps Ukrainian children reclaim their joy, resilience, and hope—giving them safe spaces to learn, grow, and just be kids.

Beyond the Soviet Frame: How Razom and Metrograph Brought Ukrainian Poetic Cinema to New Audiences

Published: June 19, 2026

In late 2025, New York audiences gathered at Metrograph for Soul & Soil: Ukrainian Poetic Cinema — an ambitious retrospective co-presented by Metrograph, Razom Cinema, and Dovzhenko Center that introduced audiences to one of the most visually innovative film movements of the twentieth century. Across eighteen screenings, the series drew nearly 1,400 in-person attendees, reached thousands more through streaming, and generated significant engagement across social and film media platforms.

But the retrospective was never intended to function merely as a successful repertory film series. At its core, Soul & Soil, sought to challenge a longstanding misconception in global film culture: the tendency to treat Ukrainian cinema as a subsidiary chapter within “Soviet cinema,” rather than as a distinct artistic tradition with its own language, identity, and historical trajectory.

“There’s a version of Ukrainian cinematic history that gets told as a footnote to Soviet cinema,” explained Head of Razom Cinema Polina Buchak. “One of the things that drives Razom Cinema is the refusal to accept that framing.”

Through a carefully curated program of landmark films, rare archival materials, guest discussions, and contextual programming, Soul & Soil demonstrated not only the enduring artistic power of Ukrainian Poetic Cinema, but also the growing appetite among international audiences to engage with Ukrainian culture on its own terms.

Building the Collaboration

The retrospective emerged from a collaboration between Razom Cinema and Metrograph’s Program Operations Manager, Anri Vartan. Both recognized an opportunity to create a program that would move beyond topical wartime cultural interest and instead introduce audiences to the historical depth of Ukrainian cinematic tradition. Vartan was also the curator of the retrospective series.

While Razom Cinema had already become known for presenting contemporary Ukrainian films and cultural programming in New York, Soul & Soil marked its first major retrospective dedicated specifically to Ukrainian film heritage. It was also the first significant Ukrainian Poetic Cinema retrospective in New York City since the Film at Lincoln Center series curated by Richard Peña in 2012.

“The series was conceived to illuminate the depth and distinctiveness of Ukrainian Poetic Cinema,” said Vartan. “For audiences in New York, the goal was to offer more than just a screening series — it was an invitation to experience a distinct cinematic language profoundly rooted in its sense of time and place.”

The title Soul & Soil reflected the retrospective’s central themes: the enduring relationship between the Ukrainian people, their land, and cultural memory. The films traced a path through key moments in Ukraine’s modern history, from the National Revival period through the Soviet era and into works that anticipated the collapse of the Soviet Union itself.

Reclaiming a Cinematic Heritage

For both Metrograph and Razom, the retrospective carried significance beyond film history. Ukrainian Poetic Cinema emerged during the 1960s as a visually daring movement associated with filmmakers such as Sergei Parajanov, Yurii Illienko, Leonid Osyka, and Ivan Mykolaichuk. Drawing deeply from Ukrainian folklore, history, ethnography, and language, the movement represented a profound break from the rigid constraints of Soviet Socialist Realism.

As filmmaker and producer Pylyp Illienko explained in a companion Metrograph interview, the movement was heavily censored precisely because it articulated a distinctly Ukrainian cultural identity. The films’ emphasis on folklore, spirituality, local traditions, and historical memory challenged Soviet cultural homogenization and, in many cases, resulted in bans, shelving, or severe censorship.

“Revisiting these films today allows audiences to see how questions of identity, resilience, and self-determination have been explored by Ukrainian filmmakers for decades,” said Vartan. “Ukrainian Poetic Cinema was a site of resistance against Soviet cultural hegemony.”

That framing became especially resonant in the context of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. For Razom Cinema, presenting these films internationally was not only an artistic project, but also a cultural and historical intervention.

“Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is not only a military assault, but a deliberate attack on Ukrainian cultural identity,” Buchak noted. “Presenting Ukrainian cinema to international audiences is an affirmation of Ukraine’s existence as a distinct, sovereign culture with its own artistic voice.” Cinema, she argued, offers audiences something beyond news coverage or geopolitics — a way to experience a culture from within: “It allows audiences to feel a culture from the inside — its motions, its rhythms, its memory and identity.”

Creating a Singular Audience Experience

What distinguished Soul & Soil from a standard repertory series was the depth of contextualization and the extraordinary level of collaboration behind the scenes.

Razom Cinema provided grant support that enabled the sourcing of rare 35mm prints from Yurii Illienko’s personal archive — materials that had not screened outside Ukraine in decades — alongside digital restorations from the Dovzhenko Center, Ukraine’s leading film archive.

The retrospective also featured in-person appearances by Pylyp Illienko, son of Yurii Illienko, who introduced films and participated in post-screening discussions, offering audiences rare insight into the production histories and political contexts surrounding the works. Composer Leonid Grabovsky, whose experimental scores shaped the audiovisual language of several Illienko films, also joined select screenings.

“These screenings became something much more unique,” Buchak said. Metrograph and Razom further elevated the experience through live subtitling provided by Razom Cinema Program Coordinator Yuliia Haleta, custom translation work, and carefully designed print and editorial materials that framed the series for audiences unfamiliar with Ukrainian film history.

Opening night set the tone for the retrospective’s immersive approach. Before a screening of Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s Earth accompanied by DakhaBrakha’s score, the Ukrainian Village Voices ensemble performed live folk music inspired by the same traditions reflected in the film itself.

For Vartan, contextualization proved essential: “The way a film program is framed has a huge impact on the audience’s experience and ultimately on their appreciation of the cinema itself,” he reflected. “Print materials, guest appearances, and the technical presentation itself are all integral details that are vital in presenting a film in its best light.”

This emphasis on contextualization extends beyond the screenings themselves. Razom Cinema’s team continues to invest in ongoing study and engagement with Ukrainian film history, including participation in programs such as the 2026 Ukrainian Institute London course Ukrainian Cinema: A Century of Innovation, Struggle, and Resilience, reflecting the organization’s commitment to presenting Ukrainian cinema with both historical depth and contemporary relevance.

Audience Response and Institutional Impact

The response to Soul & Soil demonstrated that Ukrainian cinema can attract substantial international interest when presented with strong curatorial framing and institutional support. The retrospective achieved a 68% average occupancy rate across eighteen screenings, drawing nearly 1,400 attendees in theaters. An additional 1,640 viewers engaged with the series through Metrograph’s streaming platform, bringing total viewership to more than 3,000 people.

The program’s digital footprint extended even further. Promotional content reached approximately 370,000 social media accounts and generated more than 887,000 views, including a highly successful collaboration with Letterboxd that alone approached 700,000 views. Coverage from outlets including Letterboxd, FilmStage, Screenslate, United24, Bazilik, and The Gaze further amplified the retrospective’s visibility.

For Razom Cinema, the statistics confirmed something larger than the success of a single event: “There is a desire and appetite for Ukrainian cinema among international audiences,” Buchak said. “Soul & Soil proved that when the programming is presented with care, context, and the right institutional partnerships, audiences show up.”

The collaboration has already opened conversations about future institutional partnerships and expanded programming opportunities. Both Razom Cinema and Metrograph see the retrospective not as a singular event, but as a model that can travel to other venues and audiences.

“The films are extraordinary,” Buchak reflected, “but audiences need a frame to receive them. Razom Cinema is here to help build that frame in collaboration with any institution ready to open their doors to the power that Ukrainian cinema offers.”

Ukraine’s Future Is Growing Up During War

Published: June 17, 2026

“Ukrainian kids are creative and talented.
They’re camping out down in the metro, drawing, playing
and believing in a happy, peaceful life. So we have to provide them with that life.”
— Serhiy Zhadan

“Freedom is generational work. For children to grow up free,
the necessary institutions and policies must already be in place.”
— Timothy Snyder

Ukraine’s future is not waiting for the war to end.

It is growing up right now – in classrooms interrupted by air raid sirens, in frontline towns where schools are closed, in summer camps where children can laugh with friends again, in STEM labs where students are building robots, and in youth programs where young people are learning how to lead, work, create, and stay connected to their communities.

For children and young people in Ukraine, the war has taken too much: safety, routine, school years, friendships, homes, and plans for the future.

But it has not taken away their curiosity. Their talent. Their courage. Their need for joy. Or their right to imagine a life in Ukraine.

This summer, when you support Razom, you support work that helps Ukrainian children and young people keep learning, building skills, finding community, and experiencing moments of childhood even during war.

Make a gift today to help Ukraine’s next generation grow, lead, and thrive.

A Summer That Gives More Than a Break

For a child in Ukraine, summer camp can mean more than games, songs, and time outside.

It can mean sleeping in a safe place for a few days. It can mean laughing without feeling guilty.

It can mean meeting other kids who understand. It can mean remembering that they are more than what war has taken from them.

For teenagers, summer can be a chance to try something new, build confidence, discover a career path, join a team, or take part in a project that helps their own community.

These moments matter. Because Ukraine does not only need its young people to survive the war. Ukraine needs them to see a future worth staying for.

Why This Matters

Across Ukraine, young people are growing up under extraordinary pressure. Schools have been damaged or forced online. Families have been displaced. Parents are serving, working, grieving, or rebuilding. Many young Ukrainians are asking themselves whether they can build a life at home at all.

That question matters for Ukraine’s future.

Razom’s youth work is built around a simple belief: young Ukrainians need real opportunities now — not someday after victory, not someday after recovery, but now.

They need safe places to gather. They need hands-on learning. They need mentors. They need practical skills. They need joy, friendship, and a break. They need to know that their country still has room for their dreams.

Your gift helps make that possible.

What Your Gift Makes Possible

1. Help young Ukrainians keep learning

War has disrupted education across Ukraine, especially in frontline and underserved communities. Many students have limited access to hands-on learning, equipment, or safe spaces where they can gather with peers.

Razom supports STEM labs, mobile learning hubs, teacher training, advanced academic camps, robotics programs, and opportunities for Ukrainian students to compete and excel at olympiads internationally.

In 2025, Razom-supported STEM initiatives reached approximately 9,500 students across over 25 local learning centers, helping young people explore robotics, engineering, physics, astronomy, and applied science.

Your gift helps students keep learning in a country where education itself has become an act of resilience.

War should not determine a child’s potential.

Razom supports programs that help students continue learning, developing new skills, and pursuing their interests despite disruptions caused by war.

In 2025 alone:

9,500 students participated in STEM education programs
760 students attended advanced mathematics and physics camps
25+ STEM clubs and learning spaces received support
250+ teachers received training

Today, students supported through these programs are competing in international Olympiads, participating in robotics competitions, and preparing for careers that will help shape Ukraine’s future.

2. Help children experience joy, safety, and belonging

For children living through war, joy is not extra. It is part of recovery.

A summer camp, a youth center, a sports field, a creative workshop, or a weekend with peers can give children something they badly need: a chance to breathe.

Razom supports programs that create spaces where children and teenagers can gather safely, build friendships, discover new interests, explore who they are, and feel connected to others.

These programs do not erase the war. But they give young people moments of normalcy, confidence, and care.

Your gift helps Ukrainian children experience childhood, even when war is trying to steal it.

3. Help young people lead in their own communities

Young Ukrainians are not only recipients of help. They are already rebuilding.

Razom supports youth leadership programs that help young people organize local projects, volunteer, restore community spaces, participate in school governance, and take active roles in civic life.

Through one Razom-supported partnership with Building Ukraine Together (BUR), young leaders helped mobilize hundreds of volunteers and restore community spaces in frontline and high-need regions, including youth centers and rehabilitation spaces.

Your gift helps young Ukrainians become the people their communities can count on.

This work helps young Ukrainians build confidence, direction, and a reason to stay connected to their country’s future.

Your gift helps young people turn possibility into a plan.

This is the future Ukraine is fighting for. Help protect it.

4. Help young Ukrainians build a future at home

One of the biggest threats to Ukraine’s future is that young people may feel they have no future there.

That is why Razom supports programs that connect young people to mentorship, career exploration, entrepreneurship, internships, and practical skills they can use in real life.

Through Razom-supported programs, thousands of young people have accessed career training, mentorship, business development, and professional networks. In one program, young people from small towns and frontline areas developed career and business ideas, received mentorship, and presented youth-led startups for seed funding.

We Also Fight for the Children Russia Tried to Erase

As Razom helps young Ukrainians learn, lead, and grow, we also continue to advocate for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

More than 20,000 cases have been officially documented, with many more children still at risk. Razom has worked to keep this issue visible in U.S. policy conversations, public advocacy, media, and community action — including through the Bring Kids Back campaign and the teddy bear installation on the National Mall.

Because every Ukrainian child deserves to come home.
And every Ukrainian child deserves a future.

Russia’s war has also targeted Ukraine’s children directly. While the world often hears the figure of 20,000 documented deported children, the reality is much broader. Millions of Ukrainian children remain under Russian occupation, where they face forced assimilation, militarization, and efforts to erase their Ukrainian identity.

Razom continues to advocate for Ukraine’s children, support efforts to bring them home, and keep this issue at the center of public and policy conversations.

Every Ukrainian child deserves the right to grow up with their family, in their community, and in a free Ukraine.

Here is How You Can Help

50 USD

enables a child from the frontline community to take part in a national science competition

125 USD

covers the cost of one volunteer’s participation in a BUR camp, where they help rebuild communities in Ukraine

250 USD

provides training in entrepreneurship in a 5 month program for one teenager from a small Ukrainian community

Stand with Ukraine’s next generation.

Together, we can help ensure that Ukraine’s future has every opportunity to succeed.

Investing in Ukraine’s Future: How Math Olympiads Help Children Learn, Dream, and Stay Connected

Published: June 17, 2026

Despite the war, air raid sirens, and constant challenges, Ukrainian children continue to learn, explore the world, and achieve remarkable success. That is why Razom has long supported educational initiatives that help students develop their talents and discover new opportunities for growth and learning.

Over the past several months, Razom has supported several mathematics-focused projects for children across Ukraine, including the “Cyfryata” Olympiad, the Yulia Zdanovska All-Ukrainian Mathematics Olympiad for Grades 5–7, and the family competition “Mathematical Nest.” These events brought together hundreds of participants from different regions of the country, giving children the opportunity not only to demonstrate their knowledge but also to feel part of a larger community of like-minded peers.

First Steps into the World of Mathematics

For many students, the “Cyfryata” Olympiad is their first introduction to the world of mathematical competitions. It helps children discover that mathematics is not only about formulas learned in school, but also about creativity, logic, and finding innovative solutions.

Such initiatives are especially important during wartime, when many children study remotely and have fewer opportunities for in-person interaction and extracurricular activities.

An Olympiad That Continues Yulia Zdanovska’s Legacy

Among the projects supported by Razom, a special place belongs to the Yulia Zdanovska All-Ukrainian Mathematics Olympiad, named in honor of the talented Ukrainian mathematician and volunteer whose life was tragically taken by a Russian missile strike in 2022.

Today, her name inspires a new generation of Ukrainian children to learn, set ambitious goals, and believe in their own potential. This year, the Olympiad brought together 93 young mathematicians from across Ukraine.

Among them was Karolina Petrushova from Kramatorsk, the only participant representing Donetsk Oblast. For children from frontline regions, where education often takes place remotely, such a trip means much more than simply participating in a competition.

“Before traveling to Kyiv, I was very nervous, but at the same time excited about the opportunity to attend such an Olympiad. What I remember most was the atmosphere, because children from different cities across Ukraine gathered there, all sharing a love for mathematics. It was exciting to talk with them and solve problems together,” Karolina recalls.

Like many children in Kramatorsk, Karolina studies remotely. Her trip to Kyiv gave her not only the chance to participate in the Olympiad, but also to visit the capital, explore the Museum of Mathematics, and meet peers who share her passion.

“I enjoyed both the Olympiad and Kyiv. I came home with many new impressions and even more motivation to continue studying mathematics. I sincerely thank the organizers, partners, and everyone who supports talented children in Ukraine and creates opportunities like these for us,” Karolina wrote after returning home.

Another participant was Bohdan Zavhorodskyi from Kherson. For children living in a city that endures daily Russian attacks, even the journey to Kyiv can be challenging.

Yet Bohdan remembers the trip with the resilience and optimism that characterize so many Ukrainian children:

“We got there just fine. The Shahed drones didn’t stop us.”

For him, the most valuable part of the experience was meeting children from different parts of Ukraine and feeling connected to a broader mathematical community. He already plans to participate again next year.

His mother also emphasized that events like these are important not only for education but also for building connections among children from different regions of the country.

“We are deeply grateful to all the donors and supporters who contributed to this wonderful Olympiad and made it possible for children from across Ukraine to come together. We learned so much, gained valuable experience, and are returning home with a large circle of new friends.”

When Mathematics Becomes a Family Affair

Another project supported by Razom was the “Mathematical Nest” competition. For more than ten years, it has brought together children, parents, and entire families through a shared love of mathematics.

Unlike traditional Olympiads, “Mathematical Nest” is built around collaboration and collective problem-solving. This format helps foster a culture of learning not only among children but also within families and local communities.

Education as an Investment in Ukraine’s Recovery

Each of these initiatives serves a different audience and follows a unique format, but they all share a common goal: helping children realize their potential regardless of where they live or the challenges they face.

For participants, these experiences provide new friendships, inspiration, confidence, and the understanding that even during wartime, knowledge, talent, and perseverance remain powerful assets.

By investing in education today, we are investing in the future scientists, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will rebuild Ukraine tomorrow.

Russia Is Not Only Attacking People. It Is Attacking Ukraine’s Memory, Culture, and Identity.

Published: June 16, 2026

On the night of June 15, Russia launched one of its largest attacks in recent months.

More than 70 missiles and 611 Russian-Iranian drones were fired across Ukraine, with over 60 missiles targeting Kyiv.

The attack once again claimed civilian lives and caused extensive damage to residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure. But its consequences extend far beyond physical destruction.

An Attack on the Heart of Ukraine’s Faith, Culture, and History

That same night, Russia struck something that cannot be quickly rebuilt or replaced.

Ukraine’s cultural heritage came under attack.

One of the most painful symbols of this assault was the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Founded in 1051, the Lavra is one of Europe’s oldest monastic complexes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For nearly a thousand years, it has remained a spiritual, historical, and cultural center of Ukraine.

For millions of Ukrainians, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is far more than an architectural landmark. Generations have come here to pray, seek comfort, celebrate life’s milestones, and preserve a connection to their history. The site houses sacred relics, manuscripts, religious artworks, and centuries of cultural memory.

As a result of Russia’s attack, parts of the Lavra complex were damaged, and a fire broke out in the Dormition Cathedral.

“Once again, we see these barbaric acts committed by Russians, for whom nothing is sacred. It is horrifying that while calling themselves Christians, they strike at the very heart of our people. Once again, this reveals exactly who we are dealing with,” said the Vicar of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra following the attack.

The damage to the Lavra serves as another reminder that this war is not only directed against Ukrainian cities and communities.

It is directed against Ukrainian identity itself.

Culture Under Fire

During the same attack, Russia damaged Mystetskyi Arsenal, one of Ukraine’s most important cultural institutions. The Arsenal hosts international exhibitions, educational programs, major artistic initiatives, and the country’s largest annual book festival.

Reflecting on the attack, Mystetskyi Arsenal Director General Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta drew a striking historical parallel:

“It is remarkable that the Russian drone struck the exact same location that was hit by a Nazi bomb during World War II. It is some kind of mystical coincidence — perhaps the souls of aggressors united?”

Russian strikes also damaged the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, the birthplace of Ukrainian cinema.

According to the studio’s officials, its primary costume archive was destroyed. Approximately 100,000 costumes and priceless archival materials documenting decades of Ukrainian film history were lost.

“Costumes from such iconic films as Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, The Lost Letter, and Bohdan Khmelnytsky were stored here. Now this building has been completely destroyed — there is practically nothing left,” said studio director Andriy Donchyk.

Other cultural institutions damaged during the attack include the Kharkiv Art Museum and the House of Organ and Chamber Music in Dnipro.

And all of this happened in a single night.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine’s cultural heritage. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, as of May 2026, 1,783 cultural heritage sites and 2,540 cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged or destroyed across the country.

UNESCO has independently verified damage to at least 534 cultural sites, including museums, libraries, historic landmarks, archaeological sites, and more than 150 religious buildings.

These figures reveal a disturbing reality: Russia is waging war not only against Ukraine’s cities and communities, but also against its historical memory, culture, and identity.

They Came to the Rescue

That same night, Russia once again demonstrated its complete disregard for human life.

In Kharkiv, five emergency responders from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) were killed.

After an initial strike on a civilian industrial facility, emergency crews arrived to assist victims and assess the damage.

They were doing what they have done every day since the start of the full-scale invasion: searching for survivors, helping the wounded, extinguishing fires, and protecting communities.

After receiving warnings of a possible second strike, the rescuers left the facility and moved to another location, following safety protocols.

Moments later, a second missile struck near where they had gathered.

Five emergency responders were killed instantly.

Several others were injured.

“One of the missiles struck approximately 30 meters from the rescuers, who had managed to leave the facility and were standing in a wooded area near the fence. Unfortunately, the missile struck directly at those who save lives,” said Bohdan Hladkykh, Director of Kharkiv’s Department of Emergency Situations.

These men were not soldiers. They were not engaged in combat. They had come to save civilian lives.

Russia’s double-tap strikes have become one of the most dangerous and deliberate tactics of this war. After an initial attack, emergency responders, medics, and rescue crews arrive at the scene. A second strike then follows.

The targets are the people helping others.

Since the first day of the full-scale invasion, Razom has supported emergency responders, firefighters, medics, and rescue teams across Ukraine. They are often the first to arrive after an attack and the last to leave once the rescue operation is complete.

Their service is a service to life itself.

That is why the deaths of these five rescuers in Kharkiv represent a tragedy not only for their families and colleagues, but for all of Ukraine.

The Goal Is Not Only Destruction

When emergency responders are killed while trying to save others, it is an attack on humaneness.

When the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is damaged, it is an attack on spiritual heritage.

When film archives are destroyed and museums are struck, it is an attack on cultural memory.

All of these acts are part of a larger pattern.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has damaged or destroyed hundreds of religious and cultural sites across Ukraine. Churches, museums, theaters, libraries, archives, and historic landmarks have all come under attack.

These are not accidental losses.

They are not unavoidable consequences of war.

They are systematic attacks on the foundations of Ukrainian identity and resilience.

When humaneness, culture and faith are targeted, the goal is not simply destruction.

The goal is erasure.

Why This Matters to All of Us

Cultural heritage does not belong to one nation alone.

When a UNESCO World Heritage Site is damaged, when museum collections are destroyed, or when irreplaceable archives are lost, humanity loses a part of its shared history.

That is why protecting Ukrainian culture is not solely a Ukrainian issue.

It is a matter of preserving memory, history, and values that transcend borders.

At Razom, we work every day to ensure that Ukrainian stories continue to be seen, heard, and understood around the world. We document attacks on Ukrainian culture, amplify the voices of those defending their communities, and ensure that the world does not look away from efforts to erase an entire nation’s heritage.

Today, we honor the memory of the five DSNS rescuers who lost their lives while serving others.

We also remind the world of the churches, museums, archives, and cultural institutions that Russia continues to attack.

Ukraine continues to resist.
And as long as there are people saving lives, preserving culture, and telling the truth, Ukraine can never be erased.

Razom for Ukraine Joined Ukraine’s Premier Annual Emergency Medicine Championship

Published: June 11, 2026

The Razom Health team participated in the 12th Ukrainian Emergency Medical Care Championship, Vinnytsia Medical Rally 2026 — the largest competition for emergency medical professionals.

This year, 29 teams from across Ukraine, along with international participants from Poland and Lithuania, took part in the championship. Over the course of two days, medics worked through more than 50 simulation scenarios in highly realistic conditions, ranging from mass casualty incidents to cardiopulmonary resuscitation in smoke-filled environments.

For the Razom Health team, the championship provided an opportunity to engage directly with emergency medical leaders and practitioners from seven frontline regions of Ukraine. A key focus of these conversations was the urgent need for alternative communication systems for emergency medical teams operating under the constant threat of losing connectivity. The next step will be the signing of cooperation memorandums to support these efforts.

The team also had the opportunity to assess the impact of Razom’s POCUS initiative, which trains healthcare providers to use portable ultrasound devices in pre-hospital settings. Razom representatives spoke with medics, instructors, and service leadership about how the program is being implemented in practice.

“We sincerely thank Razom for providing equipment that enables ultrasound examinations in ambulances. Our teams use it regularly, and it greatly helps us determine the most effective treatment strategy for patients. These tools save lives. The training organized by Razom has been incredibly valuable, and we continue to pass this knowledge on to our colleagues,” said Eduard Kika, Medical Director of the Odesa Regional Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine.

During the opening ceremony, representatives of Razom for Ukraine welcomed participants and recognized the critical role of emergency medical professionals across the country.

“It is incredibly important for Razom for Ukraine to stand alongside you — the people who make life-saving decisions every day. We are here not only as partners, but also to better understand the realities you face and the support you need. We wish every team success, but above all, we hope this championship strengthens collaboration, creates opportunities for learning, and reinforces the pride we all share in Ukraine’s emergency medical service,” said Olena Teryaieva, Program Manager at Razom Health.

Event participation helped us better understand how emergency medical service teams operate in wartime conditions. We had our first conversation with the medical director of the relocated Emergency Medical Care Center of Luhansk region and learned from his experience in evacuating injured civilians. We also discussed the issue of retaining medical staff with the head of the HR department at the Zaporizhzhia Emergency Medical Care Center.

The championship winners were the Emergency Medical Care Centers of Odesa Oblast, Kirovohrad Oblast, and Vinnytsia Oblast. The national team of the Republic of Poland was recognized as the best international team. The total prize fund exceeded €350,000, and the winners received certificates granting them participation in the international Rallye Rejviz championship in the Czech Republic in 2027.

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.

Razom, Esper Bionics, and Ukrainian clinical partners launch a new initiative to expand access to advanced prosthetic care in Ukraine

Published: May 27, 2026

Razom, Esper Bionics, and Ukrainian clinical partners
launch a new initiative to expand access to advanced prosthetic care in Ukraine

Razom for Ukraine, Esper Bionics, and Ukrainian clinical partners are launching a new initiative to expand access to advanced prosthetic care for people living with limb loss in Ukraine.

This project is about helping people regain independence, dignity, confidence, and a path back to daily life — while also strengthening Ukraine’s prosthetics ecosystem for the future.

At the center of the initiative are the patients themselves: Ukrainians whose lives have been changed by injury and who are rebuilding their futures as they return to work, family life, and community participation. “The program is designed to support people through a full pathway of care, from assessment and fitting to adaptation and follow-up, so that the prosthesis becomes part of long-term recovery rather than a one-time intervention.” said Dmytro Gazda, CEO of Esper Bionics.

The initiative also reflects the strength and ingenuity already present in Ukraine. Esper Bionics, a Ukrainian company developing advanced bionic prosthetics, brings technical innovation to the project. Ukrainian clinical partners bring the medical expertise and rehabilitation support needed to help patients integrate these devices into everyday life.

Razom’s role, as public health implementation expert, is to connect donor resources, clinical providers, and patients into coherent projects that work inside Ukraine’s public health system. We standardize how partners coordinate, stay compliant with national health regulations, and report results, ensuring each project strengthens the system rather than running parallel to it.

“This project is about helping people get back to their lives, while also showing that Ukraine is building modern recovery pathways under extraordinary conditions,” said Dora Chomiak, CEO of Razom. “It is a bridge between the US and Ukraine, connecting resources, expertise, and legitimacy with Ukrainian innovation, talent, and resilience.”

The project is also being built with sustainability in mind. Razom is working to ensure that the initiative complements, not replaces, Ukraine’s existing government support system, with careful attention to patient eligibility, continuity of care, and long-term access to state assistance.

Through this partnership, the initiative aims to show what is possible when patient needs, public health implementation expertise, and Ukrainian innovation come together. It is a story of recovery, systems-building, and partnership — and a reminder that what is being created in Ukraine today can help shape recovery and rehabilitation far beyond Ukraine’s borders.

About Razom

Razom is a leading U.S.-based nonprofit organization working to build a secure, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine. Founded in 2014, Razom (“together” in Ukrainian) supports urgent needs in Ukraine while investing in long-term solutions across health, civil society, advocacy, and culture. As Ukraine’s future has global implications, Razom strengthens trauma care systems, supports local leaders and communities, and connects Ukraine to the world.

About Esper Bionics

Esper Bionics is a Ukrainian company developing advanced bionic prosthetic solutions designed to restore function, independence, and quality of life for people living with limb loss.

About the clinical partners

Ukrainian clinical partners are helping make this initiative possible by providing the medical expertise, rehabilitation support, and patient care needed for successful prosthetic fitting and adaptation.

Press Contact:Iryna Gudyma
iryna.gudyma@razom.org