Razom for Ukraine has issued a statement regarding reports that a Russian-American dual citizen has been arrested in Russia for reportedly making a donation to Razom in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Razom, along with the Kyiv Independent, will organize panel discussions and screenings of their documentary Uprooted in five American cities.
Uprooted is a documentary about the abduction, deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation. The film investigates 30 cases of abduction of Ukrainian children in the occupied city of Mariupol and features interviews with three victims of the crime. It sheds light on the war crimes committed against Ukrainian children and unpacks the complexity of the systemic Russian policy of forcible deportations.
The War Crimes Investigations Unit of the Kyiv Independent won the National Competition of Journalistic Investigations award for this documentary.
U.S.-based nonprofit Razom for Ukraine will host the creators of the documentary as well as one of its subjects, while in America. The delegation will be represented by:
Daryna Shevhecnko, CEO of the Kyiv Independent
Yevheniia Motorevska, Head of War Crimes Investigations Unit, the Kyiv Independent
Olesia Bida, War Crime reporter, the Kyiv Independent
Ivan Matkovskyi, a subject of the documentary, a witness, previously forcibly transferred a minor who has been successfully returned to Ukraine.
“The Russians like to claim that they are actually saving Ukrainian children rather than deporting them. This is not true. They have established and finely tuned the system of deporting children to Russia. Maria Lvova-Belova is not the only one behind this; doctors, social service workers, and even ‘ordinary Russians’ who take Ukrainian children into their families are participating in this war crime,” said the film’s author, journalist Olesia Bida.
The film will be screened in five US cities:
February 14, 16 – New York City. Location and tickets: HERE Side event at Columbia University: HERE
February 15 – Washington DC Location and tickets: HERE Side event at Georgetown University: HERE
The screenings will be followed by panel discussions featuring:
Daryna Shevchenko, CEO, Kyiv Independent
Olesia Bida, War Crime reporter, Kyiv Independent, author of the movie
Yevheniia Motorevska, Head of War Crimes Investigations Unit, Kyiv Independent
Ivan Matkovskyi, a subject of the documentary and former forcibly transferred minor.
Local experts in each city will join the conversation, including Terrell Jermaine Starr (NYC), Peter Pomeranzev (DC) and Kimberley S. Julian-Varnon (Houston).
“The goals of the project are to bring the voices of people in Ukraine directly to audiences in the US, to raise awareness about the widespread russian war crime of abduction and deportation of Ukrainians, especially children, and to expose the evidence of russian genocide of Ukrainians as the United States debates whether to continue to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom,” said the manager of the project Katya Pavlevych.
About Razom
Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, is a leading U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to upholding the principles of the Revolution of Dignity (Maidan) and actively contributing to the establishment of a secure, prosperous, and democratic Ukraine. Razom delivers on this mission along with a network of volunteers and partners, by providing humanitarian assistance, and administering programs and services to support health, advocacy, civil society and culture.
About Kyiv Independent
The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s fastest-growing English-language media outlet. It was created in November 2021, just three months before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a mission to serve as the bridge between Ukraine and the world, delivering reliable news, context, and on-the-ground reporting.
Together, we can demand accountability for stolen childhoods!
Join us for a comprehensive two-day conference for orthopedic surgeons interested in expanding their knowledge in trauma and arthroplasty. Our panel of speakers is composed of international, national, and regional experts in their respective fields. The conference will encompass a wide array of topics crucial to modern orthopedic practice, including amputations, upper and lower extremity injuries, complex fractures, total joint replacements and more. A dedicated segment will focus on discussing challenging cases that participants submit prior to the conference. A selection of surgeries will be live-streamed in English and Ukrainian with the operating surgeons available to answer questions.
Location:
Hosted by the First Medical Union of Lviv St. Panteleimon Hospital and Unbroken Rehabilitation Center in partnership with Razom for Ukraine
Located in the Clinical Municipal Communal Emergency Hospital Conference Hall at Ivan Mykolaichuk St, 9, Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, 79000
Directors:
Dr. Craig Silverton, Orthopedic Surgeon at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI
Dr. Vasyl Rokyta, Head of Traumatology and Orthopedic Department First Medical Union of Lviv St. Panteleimon Hospital
Schedule:
Friday, March 29, 2024: Presentations with Clinical Case Discussions in the Afternoon
Saturday, March 30, 2024: Live Surgery with available Ukrainian translation
Arthroplasty Topics:
Unicompartmental knee replacement update.
Extensile exposures during hip arthroplasty.
Unicompartmental versus High tibial osteotomy in the athlete.
Periprosthetic fractures; best options for stable fixation.
Trauma Topics:
To be announced
Speakers:
To be announced
Participants:
Ukrainian surgeons with a specialty or interest in orthopedic trauma or arthroplasty.
In-person maximum of 180 participants with an unlimited maximum of online participants.
The conference will be held in English with Ukrainian translation.
For in-person participants, registration includes: entry to conference presentations, case discussions, and conference space with the ability to ask questions during live surgery, refreshments, and lunch for the two conference days, certificate accreditation from Unbroken.
For virtual participants, registration includes: access to all presentations, case discussions, and access link to live surgeries. e-certificate for presentation and participation.
Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided by the conference for both days. Please book your own travel and accommodations to the conference, those will not be included.
By enrolling for the conference, you hereby acknowledge and accept the following terms and conditions:
The organization reserves the right to modify the program, date, and/or venue of the conference at any time without prior notice. The organization is absolved of responsibility for any loss or damage arising from substitution, alteration, postponement, or cancellation of the event due to causes beyond its control. The organization retains the right and holds sole discretion to cancel any conference at any time in the event of unavoidable and unforeseeable circumstances. In the event of cancellation, the organization will make reasonable and suitable alternative arrangements, such as posting the cancellation on the official event website to inform those who have booked arrangements for the event.
The war in Ukraine has inflicted unimaginable suffering, but one of the most egregious and heart-wrenching aspects is the widespread abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia. These innocent victims are being torn from their families, their homes, and their childhoods, with devastating consequences.
In the coming days and weeks, several key events will be taking place around the U.S. about this urgent issue. Razom invites you to participate in order to raise awareness and demand action:
Washington, D.C.
January 31st:
The Helsinki Commission hosts a hearing, “Eyewitness Accounts: Ukrainian Children and Civilians Abducted by Russia” featuring firsthand accounts from victims and experts, including:
-Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S.
-Pia Kauma, Member of Parliament from Finland and former Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly; OSCE PA President at the 2023 Annual Session in Vancouver.
-Mykola Kuleba, Founder and CEO of Save Ukraine, President of the Children’s Rescue Service, and former Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Ukraine.
-Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.
Join the hearing at 2 pm ET at Longworth 1334 in person or online at bit.ly/HChearing.
February 2nd:
Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues, co-hosted by the U.S. State Department and the Embassies of Ukraine and the UK, presents “The War Against Ukraine’s Children”. Hear from high-level officials and advocates including:
-Gillian Huebner, Executive Director of the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues at Georgetown University and a member of the Bring Kids Back UA task force.
-Nicole Chulick, the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State.
-Joel Hellman, the Dean of the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University.
-Mykola Kuleba, Founder and CEO of Save Ukraine, President of the Children’s Rescue Service, and a former Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Ukraine.
-Kyrylo Lapko, the Head of the International Relations Office at the Ukrainian Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development.
-Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner (Ombudsman) for Human Rights.
-Kati Csaba, the Executive Director of the Ukraine Bureau with Global Affairs Canada.
-Lesia Zaburanna, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Co-Chairwoman of the Ukraine-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The Harriman Institute at Columbia University hosts “Kidnapped Childhood: Russia’s War on Ukraine’s Children”. Featuring Ukrainian filmmaker Tanya Khodakivska, artist Alevtina Kakhidze, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Dr. Volodymyr Venher and Mykola Kuleba from Save Ukraine. This event promises powerful insights and discussions and a peak into the upcoming animated documentary “The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole.”
Razom together with Kyiv Independent will bring their documentary “Uprooted” to five cities: Washington, D.C., New York City, Austin and Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ.
This investigative film delves into the abduction and illegal deportation of children from Mariupol. Catch the screenings and panel discussions featuring the creators and one of the film’s subjects, Ivan, a young boy who experienced forcible transfer but was successfully returned to Ukraine.
These events are crucial platforms to amplify the voices of Ukrainian children, shed light on this grave human rights violation, and urge action from international communities.
Attend in person, watch online, share the information, and raise your voice against this criminal injustice!
A panel on illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during the Ukraine Action Summit, April 2023
Together, we can demand accountability for stolen childhoods!
Razom for Ukraine leads letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding REPO Act
Razom for Ukraine organized a letter from leading former officials and experts to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act, urging the committee to pass the legislation in its current form.
Explore a rich array of Ukrainian books already translated into English, supported by Razom.
From Volodymyr Rafeyenko’s Mondegreen and his magical realism novel The Length of Days, exploring the annexation of Donetsk, to captivating works by other Ukrainian literary giants like Serhiy Zhadan, Andriy Kurkov, and Oksana Litsyshyna, as well as non-fiction accounts by Stanislav Aseyev, Serhiy Zhadan, and Andriy Kurkov. If you enjoyed “20 Days in Mariupol,” delve into the novel by its director, Mstyslav Chernov, titled The Dreamtime.
Olena Stiazhkina’s books.
Cecile the Lion Had To Die, a novel about the four Donetsk families and two generations, the last Soviet one and the first Ukrainian one. This book was Razom Book Club’s favorite read in 2021, which is why we extended a grant to publish it. This novel has already been taught in a few U.S. universities and received great marks by students and professors. Also, Olena’s diary of Russia’s 2014 take over of Donetsk was published for the first time in English. It was originally written in Russian, but the author decided not to publish it in the original language.
The modernist Ukrainian writer Lesia Ukrainka (pen name of Larysa Kosach-Kvitka) pioneered a new feminist literature at the forefront of European trends of the time. Born in 1871, her dramas, poetry and prose address concerns ranging from gender and race to feminism and environmentalism.
Harvard University Press is publishing a new translation of Cassandra, a dramatic poem and a translation of Forest Song by Razom’s frequent collaborators Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps of Yara Arts. Cassandra has already played to great reviews in London in 2021, and Yara Arts staged Forest Song online during the Covid quarantine (available online).
Yaroslav Trofimov
Immerse yourself in the riveting firsthand account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine capturing the heroism and resilience of the Ukrainian people, as recounted by Yaroslav Trofimov, Wall Street Journal’s Chief Foreign Correspondent. The title, Our Enemies Will Vanish, comes from Ukraine’s national hymn.
Artem Chapaye
A stunning debut collection by Artem Chapaye, a Ukrainian writer currently defending his country in Kyiv.
His collection, featuring the celebrated title story The Ukraine, published in the New Yorker in 2022, offers irreverent, tender, uncomfortable and inconvenient narratives.
Other Anticipated Books in 2024
Look forward to new translations of Andriy Kurkov’s novels, Artem Chech’s And Who are You?, Oksana Lutsyshyna’s Love Life, classics by Valerian Pidmohilny and Mike Iohanssen, and a sweeping Second World War novel depicting Kyiv under occupation by Oleksiy Nikitin.
This powerful, award-winning documentary directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov, is one of the “musts” to watch and spread the word about.
This year, “20 Days in Mariupol” made history for Ukraine by getting on the shortlist for the Academy Awards in two categories – International Feature and Documentary Feature.
Razom is proud to partner with
FRONTLINE | PBS in bringing this documentary to universities around the U.S. through our Ukraine on Campus program.
If you are a student, professor, staff at a university and would like to participate, reach out to info@razomforukraine.org and stay tuned for announcements!
In the meantime, catch the film online and spread the word!
Another documentary that entered the Razom Cinema network is Polish/Ukrainian/French collaboration called “In The Rearview”. Behind this award-winning film is a small team of filmmakers who put their lives on hold to help Ukraine and ended up documenting the journey. “In The Rearview” is a collection of stories that director Maciek Hamela recorded during his volunteer rescue expeditions to evacuate people from different regions in Ukraine to safety. In the recent Q&A after the screening, producer Anna Palenchuk shared that she and her family had to leave Bucha around the same time as Maciek’s rescue missions. “I could’ve been one of his passengers”, said Anna. Razom supported the documentary during the OSCAR 2024 campaign as it is another Ukrainian story in the run for the nominations.
Razom had the pleasure to support the production of “A Rising Fury”, which is now a critically acclaimed and 96th Academy Award longlisted feature documentary about the Russo-Ukrainian War. Directed/producedby Lesya Kalynska and Ruslan Batytskyi, produced by TJ Collins and Jonathan Borge Lie, the film reveals the true untold story of how the Russo-Ukrainian war began in 2014. It’s a story about love, revolution, deception, and war filmed for nearly 10 years through intimate verité material. The filmmaking team has plans to make the documentary available to stream to the public in the U.S. and abroad in late spring 2024.
Mark your calendar – “A Rising Fury” will have a special screening in LA at TCL Chinese Theater on February 22, 2024 at 3:30PM and 7:00PM. For more information about the film and what’s next for the team, go to https://arisingfury.com/
RULE OF TWO WALLS
In Summer 2023, Razom provided a grant to the documentary team “Rule of Two Walls” to help bring their team and Ukrainian artists featured in the documentary to attend the World Premiere of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival. Since then, the documentary traveled across other prestigious film festivals and will screen in Australia at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival in February.
Executive produced by Liev Schreiber, the film gives an insight into the lives of Ukrainian artists who create art as a defiant act in the face of aggression.
After becoming the first Ukrainian filmmaker to receive the Sundance Award in World Cinema Dramatic Competition in 2022, Maryna Er Gorbach and her film “Klondike” collected various international awards and were Ukraine’s submission to the OSCARS 2022. This past Summer, “Klondike” had its U.S. theatrical release at the Angelika theater. Razom supported the film with a grant during its Oscars campaign.
Ruslan Batytskyi with Anna Borysova created powerful videos that documented Razom’s work and its impact on the ground in Ukraine. Their short documentary highlights the resilience and unbreakable spirit of sportsmen with disabilities – their undying motivation and belief in themselves. You can watch the full film on YouTube for free.
A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS
Another Razom supported film that made noise at the OSCARS 2023 after being nominated for Best Documentary Feature is the film directed by Simon Lereng Wilmont, co-produced by Ukrainian producers Darya Bassel and Vika Khomenko. The film follows the lives of children and the caregivers in an orphanage in Eastern Ukraine as the war in the region takes a heavy toll on families living nearby.
Razom helped assure there is a strong Ukrainian representation at the Oscars by providing a travel grant for the producers and caregivers featured in the documentary.
If you didn’t get the chance to attend the film screenings during UCF this past fall, you are able to catch some of them on TAKFLIX – Ukraine’s first streaming service of all things Ukrainian Cinema.
Join us for a special screening of Evgeny Afineevsky’s documentary “Freedom on Fire” at the United Nations on February 20, 2024 at 6:30PM. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for further announcements!
VESELKA – DOCUMENTARY
These dear friends of Razom are not only celebrating their 70th anniversary, but also the world premiere of documentary film “Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World” at Village East cinema.
Razom leads joint letter to Congressional leadership urging bipartisan deal on Ukraine aid
Razom for Ukraine brought together nearly one hundred key community leaders to urge Congressional leadership to support a bipartisan deal to get Ukraine the critical aid it needs to prevail over Russia’s invasion. The United States has delayed aid to Ukraine for far too long, and the Ukrainian defenders having to ration ammunition as they fend off Russian forces are paying the price.
This letter was sent on January 9 to leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate and was signed by key voices such as Razom CEO Dora Chomiak, former House Majority Whip David Bonior, co-founder of Bluecheck Ukraine and actor Liev Schreiber, CEO of the National Coalition for Supporting Eurasian Jewry Mark B. Levin, and more.
Research Project Championing Freedom: Increasing Popular Support for Pro-Democracy Causes
Razom’s Advocacy program is working to enhance engagement with American audiences in order to establish popular, long-term support for Ukraine in the United States.
As part of its advocacy work, Razom received a grant supporting a project titled Championing Freedom. Its purpose was to understand what motivates Americans to support pro-democracy causes and be in favor of government support for a fight for freedom outside the U.S., as in the example of Ukraine.
The Championing Freedom project lasted six-months and examined how Americans, as well as pro-democracy activists around the world, identify with democratic causes. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was the case study used to better understand just how Americans think about supporting and defending democracy. The project was conducted in cooperation with Ukrainian civil society groups, global pro-democracy campaigners, friends of Ukraine, and other communicators already working in this space.
The results of the research can be applied by pro-democracy movements to activate popular support for foreign nations under invasion that is committed to preserving their democracy.
Key findings
The key question this research sought to answer is how Americans feel, perceive, and understand Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Poll results consistently indicated that the majority of Americans, despite multiple media manipulations, want to continue to support Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.
The poll conducted in August, 2023 showed that 63% of Americans support continuing military support for Ukraine in next year’s federal budget. The poll, conducted in October, confirmed that 60% of U.S. voters believe that America’s allies and enemies would view a U.S. withdrawal of military support for Ukraine as a sign of weakness.
However, the resumption of the Israel-Palestine conflict introduced a split among the respondents, with some demonstrating less support for military aid to Ukraine if aid is linked to Israel, while others indicated more support.
Americans strongly believe that Putin is a major threat to the US. Putin received the lowest approval rating among all the world political leaders across all the audiences – 85% total unfavorable; 74% very unfavorable. Americans do not like bullies and see Putin as a bully.
Messages that place Putin as the main villain and mastermind of the war against Ukraine and other conflicts around the world performed best in persuading Americans to support Ukraine.
Americans root for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, but they do not see either side winning.
70% of Americans believe that Ukraine should win the war imposed by Russia — this number holds throughout time — however, they do not see any side currently winning.
This response is important; winning is crucial for Americans to become invested in any conflict. Currently, Americans do not have a vision of a Ukrainian victory, and shaping that vision would be integral to obtaining popular support in the U.S.
When describing a timeline for the commitment to a struggle, many Americans hear “as long as it takes” as code for “forever”. Proclaiming “victory” as the end goal of aiding Ukraine is crucial to obtaining and sustaining popular support in the U.S.
Survey results indicated that the goal of “defending democracy” lacks broad appeal in the U.S. because different segments of Americans understand the word “democracy” differently. “Defending freedom” unites and motivates Americans more.
Comprehensive interviews with members of the general public indicate that Americans feel that their nation is weak and ineffectual, and are cynical about America’s goodness as a nation. Respondents once again want to feel strong, effective and good. They want their country to lead, but also want that the burden of leadership be shared with the allies. Most think that European allies are not doing their fair share in the war, and should be doing more. Whether it is true or not, this is how Americans perceive their role in the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.
Finer segmentation of polling indicated that an anti-Ukrainian mood prevails in a small segment of the conservative minority. However, that small segment more positively views support for Ukraine after learning that the U.S. spent less than 3% of its defense budget to destroy 50% of Russian armed forces, and that Ukraine has regained over 50% of previously occupied territories. The information that most boosted support was the persecution of Evangelical Christians by Russian occupational forces in Ukraine.
Key arguments
From our research, there are key points Americans need to know to sustain popular support for
Ukraine. Americans need to know the main facts about events in Ukraine,and most do not have accurate information, therefore sharing key arguments is crucial.
Ukraine is not involved in a regional “squabble” with Russia. It is fighting for its freedom and for the right to govern itself.
Although the situation is complex, given the U.S.’ vast experience and capabilities, America is up for the task, and has a clear path to victory.
Getting involved is critical both for U.S. national security and because morally, when innocent lives are at stake, supporting Ukraine is the right thing to do.
Ukraine is not in a “forever war” and the U.S. is not going in blind. America has the resources for assisting Ukraine and will do everything possible to preserve the lives of not only Americans but of those who are defenseless and oppressed.
The stakes couldn’t be clearer—either we live in a world where bullies roll over defenseless innocents or we stand up for freedom, we stand up for innocent lives, and we work with other nations to win a better future for us all.
Ukrainians are making good use of American aid and making progress against Russia. But that doesn’t mean the fight is over. Civilians, churches, and schools are still being targeted and hurt by Russian forces. Americans can’t let that stand.
Key stories
Beyond polling, another element of this project was a series of deep-dive interviews with a representative group of American voters. When combined with the polling data, a pattern of narratives emerged around how Americans identify with and support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
Heroic Moments from Shared History
For many Americans, helping Ukraine is a chance for the U.S. to be a hero to the world, just as in World War II. The American Revolution of 1776 is sacred to both Americans and Ukrainians. Describing Ukraine’s fight as a revolt against Russia’s colonial domination—or Ukraine’s own “1776 moment”— can inspire Americans and make them more closely identify with Ukraine.
Respecting Order, Protecting Innocents
Many Americans are deeply offended and moved by Russia’s abuse of innocent lives: the bombing of civilians, abduction of children, rape of women, and other war crimes. They need to hear the stories that bring to life Russia’s rule-breaking, use of torture, and targeting of civilians beyond more abstract claims that Russia is “violating international law.” Narrating the suffering and bravery of Ukrainian civilians living in Russian-occupied areas gives Americans a better understanding of Ukraine’s stake and motivation in this war.
Doing What’s Right *
Narratives about America’s fundamental desire to oppose evil and fight for good; America’s role as the world’s most powerful nation should be provided. Stories should narrate fundamental values—the right to safety, security, freedom, and self-determination. When a major power attacks a small nation, most Americans want the U.S. to side with David and beat Goliath.
* America’s stance in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, however, detracted from this argument as many Americans see a double standard in how the U.S. has responded to the protection of innocents in the Middle East conflict and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Winning a Safe, Freer Future
The fundamental purpose of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is for Russia to define the future of humanity: oppression vs. freedom; liberty vs. censorship; impunity vs. the rule of law. Offering a vision of a future where Ukraine’s victory makes the world safer and deters future authoritarian aggression motivates Americans to be more invested in Ukraine’s cause.
Summary
The research demonstrated that content featuring Putin as an enemy of the free world and the U.S. as a force for good, works for different audiences, especially conservative and independent ones, to amplify support for Ukraine. Since Putin enjoys an extremely low approval rating even among anti-Ukrainian audiences in the U.S., the most universally persuasive messages would focus on him personally.
Based on research insights, Razom, in partnership with Spirit of America, produced an ad that features Col. Matt Dimmick, who went to Ukraine and is an avid advocate in the U.S. of Ukrainian victory.
Overall, Americans’ hearts are in the right place: the majority of people are motivated to support causes to help civilians and vulnerable populations and to safeguard justice and freedom for all. What Americans lack are awareness and reliable facts. Due in part to a competitive information environment, people repeat a set of statements they hear from public figures and in the media (e.g. that the war is a “territorial dispute”, Ukraine is “too corrupt”, the U.S. has given Ukraine a “blank check”, etc.). These types of statements disperse public attention from Ukraine and refocus it on Americans’ deepest anxieties and concerns.
Educational and informative campaigns aimed at boosting awareness about Ukraine and providing Americans with reliable information from resources they trust, are key to securing popular support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom.
This research was conducted in real time and the results were influenced by a fast-moving news cycle. Future research would be beneficial to ensure these findings stay relevant.
Project team
Katya Pavlevych, Project Manager, Razom for Ukraine
Gretchen Barton, Team Lead, Worthy Strategy Group
Kirk Cheyfitz and Rose Hackman, Narrative Development & Strategy,Kirk Cheyfitz/ Political Narrative,
Stephen Clermont, Polling Lead, Change Research
Ellen Kirk, Creative Project Manager
Milan De Vries, Content Testing and Analysis
This research was supported by the Temerty Foundation and Open Society Foundation.
Razom Congratulates Ukrainian Films in the Running for the 2024 Oscars
December 21st brought us the long awaited news of shortlisted films for the 2024 Oscars (Academy Awards). Razom is celebrating the incredible accomplishments of every Ukrainian story that became a contender for an Oscar, and those that went on to fill up the slots on the shortlist for the award. Over the years, Razom Cinema has supported films that amplify Ukrainian voices and center stories from Ukraine, and this year we congratulate all of our filmmakers not only on this accomplishment, but also for the impactful work that led to this point.
Synopsis: An AP team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting atrocities of the Russian invasion. As the only international reporters who remain in the city, they capture what later become defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital, and more. (20daysinmariupol.com)
“20 Days in Mariupol” is shortlisted for the Documentary Feature category as well as the International Feature category, where it represents Ukraine. Razom, along with other partners, has supported the film during its U.S. theatrical release, as well as helping bring the documentary to various communities around the U.S. This film is currently available to watch online (U.S. territory) on YouTube as well as PBS Frontline.
Synopsis: In the Rearview is an authentic, intimate observation of war as it unfolds, following multiple generations of Ukrainian civilians as they abruptly abandon their homes and rely on the help of director Maciek Hamela’s volunteer aid van to escape the life-threatening conflict. As he steers through minefields to leave Ukraine and tries to get through numerous military checkpoints, Hamela offers us a seat in his car, guiding the documentary from behind the wheel and behind the camera, crisscrossing the roads of Ukraine to transport uprooted refugees safely to Poland. The van traverses tens of thousands of kilometers and serves as a waiting room, hospital, shelter, and zone for confidences and confessions among compatriots thrown together by chance. (intherearview.eu)
“In the Rearview” is shortlisted for the Documentary Feature category. Razom provided a grant to the film team in order to support their screenings in key cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, which were part of the Oscar campaign. Keep an eye out for more screenings in the new year!
Synopsis: “A RISING FURY” follows two hopeful Ukrainian idealists from the peaceful protest in Kyiv in 2013 to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pavlo and Svitlana met and fell in love at the Maidan Revolution and were filmed nearly 10 years with several expeditions to the frontlines of the war. When Russia invaded Crimea and Donbas in 2014, Pavlo lost his family home and joined the Ukrainian military effort. To defend his nation, he engages in deadly firefights against former friends and a close military instructor who join Russian forces. As Svitlana transports food and medical supplies, both find themselves on the battle lines, protecting their land, democracy, and their relationship. This film reveals the true untold story of how the Russo-Ukrainian war began nearly 10 years ago. (arisingfury.com)
“A Rising Fury” recently had an incredible US theatrical release in NYC (watch a conversation between director Lesya Kalynska and Professor Timothy Snyder). This came after their successful festival run that started from Tribeca Film Festival in 2022. Razom is proud to have supported the making of this vital film that shines light and provides insight into the beginning of this nearly ten-year war while following the heroic journey of Pavlo.
Synopsis: Under the shadowy threat of war, a young Ukrainian girl awaits a call from her father. As she waits, the day turns into night and she sinks into various dreamscapes from which she must find her way home.
“Sunflower Field” just recently wrapped its festival journey – taking home the award for Best Short Animation from Oscar-qualifying Woodstock Film Festival. Razom provided support with community engagement where the filmmaker was also able to connect with several Ukrainian schools in different states to not only screen the animation, but also engage with Ukrainian children by inviting them to become part of the animation.
Make sure to follow our newsletter and social media for more announcements on how to catch these films and more! In the meantime, we urge you to connect with your local theaters, art institutions, and other locations where you could potentially host a screening of one of these films (or reach out if you’re looking for more). Together, we can prove to cultural programmers that Ukrainian stories are necessary and that there is a large audience ready for them.
The holiday season brings a spirit of compassion and giving. Two major donations recently accepted by Razom Health illuminate this spirit and the positive impact created by our partnerships. The contributions from Dr. Rocco Armonda, and Partners for World Health brought much-anticipated medical supplies to assist healthcare efforts in Ukraine. The commitment and generosity demonstrated by these donors is commendable, and their contributions will undoubtedly help alleviate the stress on Ukraine’s health system.
Razom Health expresses heartfelt gratitude for the impactful gift from Dr. Rocco Armonda, which arrived at Dnipro Mechnikov Hospital: four pallets of neurosurgical supplies. This valuable donation is crucial to the dedicated doctors, who heroically save lives every day. The delivery is Dr. Armonda’s twelfth shipment since the full-scale invasion began, bringing the total to 29 pallets, weighing over 5,000 kilograms, with a value exceeding 4 million USD. Razom Health is grateful for Dr. Armonda’s continued support over the past two years, contributing significantly to our cause.
A long-awaited container of medical supplies from Partners for World Health (PWH) has arrived in Ukraine, marking the first time Razom Health has navigated a new tracking system required by the Ukrainian government. This donation from PWH is the fourth in the past two years, a testament to the organization’s stalwart commitment to support healthcare efforts in Ukraine. With a total weight of 22,000 pounds, the 40-foot container boasts an entire emergency hospital’s worth of supplies, a treasure trove of high-quality medical equipment and supplies including hospital beds, stretchers, defibrillators, ultrasound machines, and various essential medical consumables. We are truly grateful for the tireless efforts of PWH donors and volunteers to ensure that these vital resources reach those in need.
Once again, Razom Health would like to express our appreciation for all of these partnerships and substantial contributions. As we celebrate the season of giving, these transformative healthcare donations serve as inspiring reminders of the impact that partnerships like these have on communities in need. The stalwart support from Dr. Rocco Armonda and Partners for World Health embodies the true spirit of the holidays, offering hope, healing, and a brighter future for Ukraine.
Razom says Dyakuyu!
Thank you to our esteemed partners and individuals for their invaluable support: Institutional Support – Duke University Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Neurosurgery, Miami University Hospital Neurosurgery, Balt Corporation, Doro, NeuroOptics (Pupillometry), Longevity (Cranial Implants), Neurovascular Divisions for Medtronic, Stryker, and Microventions, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Jackson Foundation, Mizuho Microsurgical Sugita Aneurysm Clips, Raumedic Neuromonitoring, Baxter Hemostatics.
Special Recognition to – Ivan Bezkoravanny, Heidi Armonda, Michelle Armonda, Dr. Mario Golokovsky, Dr. Catherine Reilly and Family, Jeremy Kaczaniuk, Steve Brown, Dr. Gerry Grant (Chairman of Duke Neurosurgery), Dr. Rober H. Rossenwasser (Chairman of Neurosurgery Thomas Jefferson University), Dr. Maxim Shapiro (NYU NeuroIR), Alex Razmovsky (PhD), Ken Green (DDS).
