The Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, in partnership with Razom for Ukraine, summarizes the $8.5 billion supplied by the United States to Ukraine in direct budget support. From pensions for seniors to salaries for first responders, US budget support has helped to guarantee Ukrainian society’s ability to defend itself and preserve continuity of government services.
Budget-Support-Infographic_2022_finalSummary of the $8.5 Billion Supplied by the United States to Ukraine in Direct Budget Support
UCCA, Razom, and JBANC respond to Administration “Aggressor State” Proposal
In response to the proposal by the Biden Administration to introduce legislation that would designate Russia as an Aggressor State Responsible for a Campaign of Terror Against Civilians in Ukraine (ASRCTACU), the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the Joint Baltic American National Committee, and Razom issued the following statement:
Statement-Aggressor-State-Designation-ProposalRazom at Congressional Hearing “Crowdsourcing Victory”
Razom is honored to have been part of the Congressional hearing hosted by the Helsinki Commission on a topic near and dear to our hearts, “Crowdsourcing victory” with our great colleagues from Prytula Charity Foundation, Come Back Alive, and Blue/Yellow.
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The following witnesses testified in front of Congress on Wednesday, December 7, 2022:
1. Dora Chomiak, President of the U.S.-based NGO Razom for Ukraine
2. Taras Chmut, Director of the Ukraine-based foundation Come Back Alive
3. Serhiy Prytula, Founder and Chairman of the Ukraine-based Prytula Charity Foundation
4. Jonas Öhman, Founder and Head of the Lithuania-based NGO Blue/Yellow for Ukraine
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Razom team members have been fine-tuning the testimony for weeks to accurately convey Razom’s mission to provide critical humanitarian war relief and to give justice to Razom’s volunteers, whose dedication is a cornerstone of all Razom’s operations. This hearing was important on many levels, but our main goal was to showcase the American people’s continued and strong support of Ukraine through their support of Razom.
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The testimonies served to remind Congress that civil societies worldwide are united in pursuit of a decisive Ukrainian victory. After hours of discussion, editing, and practice in preparation for the testimony – we hope we have shown Congress what it means to be Razom. Because… we are all in this together, Razom.
We thank everyone who made this hearing happen. We are grateful to Helsinki Commission for hosting the hearing and inviting Razom. And our huge thanks to the Razom team behind the scenes and our President Dora Chomiak, who did an outstanding job testifying in front of Congress.
Thank you to the people of Ukraine and the United States for trusting us! We are certain – Ukraine will win.
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Watch the full Congressional hearing “Crowdsourcing Victory. Inside the Civil Society Campaign to Improve the Lethality and Survivability of the Ukrainian Military”:
Additionally, early on the same day, our Razom Advocacy Team held a briefing for congressional staffers on designating russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism and invited Ambassador Bill Taylor and expert Dr. Azeem Ibrahim to speak and give commentary on the topic. The briefing was hosted by the offices of Congressmen Steve Cohen and Joe Wilson, who were also present at the briefing to give their remarks. Michael Sawkiw of UNIS also joined us to give final comments. Again, we thank everyone involved in this important work.
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Learn more about the work of our Razom Advocacy team here.
Letter Supporting Senate Recognition of Russia’s Genocide of Ukrainians
Russia’s policies in Ukraine undoubtedly point to genocidal intent and genocidal acts. S. Res. 713 and H. Res. 1205 reaffirm America’s commitment to our fundamental principles, underscoring the seriousness of Russia’s crimes. If we do not recognize this invasion for what it is, we not only fail the Ukrainian people, but we neglect our security interests and our foundational values. In the letter attached below, Razom et alia urge the Committee to pass this important resolution before the conclusion of the 117th Congress. The United States must recognize and help end genocide, and not just memorialize it after the ruination and devastation of a nation.
Razom Response Anti-Ukraine Letter to Conservative Coalition Letter on Congressional Ukraine Aid
In response to the letter from a dozen Republican-aligned groups advocating against further aid to Ukraine, Mariya Soroka, Director of Advocacy at Razom, issued the following statement:
Anti-Ukraine-Coalition-Statement-2***
Learn more about Razom Advocacy here.
State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation: Debunking Common Misconceptions
Since February 24, 2022, the Russian state has been deliberately and repeatedly targeting civilians, threatening them with death, injury, or forcible deportation to Russia. Russian forces regularly attack critical infrastructure, denying millions of Ukrainians electricity and water in an attempt to scare Ukraine into submission. Russia’s barbarities in Ukraine have long surpassed legal and policy thresholds for designating Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Russia must be designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST).
In what follows, we debunk the most common misconception regarding the decision to designate Russia SST.
SST_Website-1***
Learn more about Razom Advocacy here.
This Election Day, Vote for Ukrainian Victory
Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day, and this year’s election is critical to ensure that Ukraine continues to receive the necessary support from the United States. Our team at Razom Advocacy encourages everyone who is eligible and cares about the future of Ukraine to make sure to vote by the time the polls close.
Why Should You Vote?
While voting is an important part of our civic duty as members of society, it also has an impact on the support that Ukraine will receive for the next two years. Many people do not turn out for midterm elections, but your vote is crucial at a time when many House and Senate chairmanships are due to change in 2023 and districts have been redrawn after the 2020 census. Only by voting can you show that Americans value continued support and aid to Ukraine.
It may sometimes feel that your single vote will not make much of a difference. However, many elections are decided by a relatively small number of votes, especially once you look past the larger races. In the last twenty years, there have been more than a dozen races decided by a single vote or ending in a tie, and many more have been decided by less than 1% of the vote.
How Should You Vote?
Voting processes differ vastly from state to state, and many states have already opened early voting for the past few weeks – and we are sure many of you have already voted. (If you have, thank you!)
If you have not yet voted, here are some resources to determine the best way to do so in your area:
- Over 20 states allow voters to register on Election Day. If your state is one of them and you’re not registered, make sure you bring proof of residency with you to your polling place, such as a driver’s license or ID card. You can find out more information on the registration requirements for your state here.
- You can locate your polling place by using Vote.org’s Polling Place Locater. It’s good to make a plan! Decide when you will vote and how you will get there – many local transportation options have discounts or special services to help voters access the polls.
- Know your rights – check what you will need to bring with you, such as ID, before you leave. If you are in line when the polls close, keep your place – as long as you stay in line, you will be able to vote. If you experience any issues or anyone attempts to stop you from voting, call the election protection hotline at 866-687-8683 to report it. More information on Election Protection can be found here.
- Vote.org’s Ballot Information page provides information on all of the candidates that will be on your ballot. If their stance on Ukraine isn’t readily available, a quick Google search of their name and Ukraine can bring up previous statements they may have made around the issue.
On Election Day, we can all play an important role in ensuring continued support for Ukraine from the United States. Thank you for your advocacy.
***
Learn more about Razom Advocacy here.
Razom and 25+ Organizations Submit Letter to Support Ukraine in the Defense Bill
At 10:00am on October 20, 2022, representatives of the Ukrainian, Belarusian, Baltic, Syrian, Bosnian, and Peace Corps volunteer communities of the United States submitted a signed letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The letter urges the committees to include vital provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act that help ensure Ukraine’s ability to prevail against the Russian invasion. The letter can be read below.
Letter-on-NDAA-Ukraine-related-provisions-10-20-2022
Atlantic Council. No, russia’s airstrike escalation is not retaliation for the Crimean Bridge
Atlantic Council published an article, written by the Razom Advocacy Team, on the Atlantic Council’s UkraineAlert blog. Razom has always stressed that narrative and framing is important, that information about Ukraine needs to be reported accurately. Millions of lives depend on it. We thank our Advocacy Team for the important work they do every day in sharing the truth about Ukraine with the world.
“by Razom Advocacy Team
Russia fired more than 80 missiles and launched at least 24 kamikaze drones at civilian targets across Ukraine on October 10. The latest reports suggest that 19 Ukrainians were killed in the attacks with more than 100 injured. The strikes left large swathes of the country without electricity, water, and internet access. The following day, Russian airstrikes continued with around 30 missiles and 15 drones targeting civilian infrastructure.
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This wave of attacks began just two days after an explosion on the Crimean Bridge, which links the occupied Ukrainian peninsula with the Russian Federation. In an address on October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Moscow’s dramatic air war escalation was a direct response to the suspected Ukrainian attack on the Crimean Bridge.
Many international media outlets appeared to take Putin at his word and framed their coverage of the Russian missile blitz as retaliation for the earlier bridge attack. These attempts to create a single news narrative from two separate events are factually incorrect, not to mention pernicious.
The scale of Russia’s aerial attacks on October 10-11 indicates weeks if not months of planning and preparations. Dozens of targets in towns and cities across Ukraine had to be identified and confirmed; missiles, bombers, warships, and drones had to deployed and prepared for action. These are not tasks that could realistically be accomplished in the two-day window between the Crimean Bridge attack and the launch of Russia’s airstrike escalation.
In addition to these obvious practical issues, the retaliation narrative also risks creating false equivalency between Russian international aggression and Ukraine’s justifiable efforts to defend itself. The Crimean Bridge was constructed by Russia to strengthen Moscow’s illegal occupation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. Furthermore, it has since been used as a key artery for the transportation of troops and military equipment from the Russian Federation to Crimea and Russian-occupied regions of southern Ukraine. In other words, the bridge plays a vital logistical role in the Russian invasion. As such, it clearly qualifies as a legitimate military target…”
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Learn more about and support the work of Razom Advocacy Team here.
Ukraine Action Summit
Razom for Ukraine co-organized a three-day event in Washington DC called the “Ukraine Action Summit”. During the Summit, Razom and other pro-Ukrainian organizations, all participants of the newly minted American Coalition for Ukraine, met with American legislators on the Hill, where they spoke about Ukrainian issues currently of the greatest concern to their constituents.
On the first day of the Ukraine Action Summit, advocates from all over the US gathered in the afternoon at Georgetown University for an advocacy workshop. During the workshop, they strengthened their advocacy skills and prepared for two days of Congressional meetings. About 40% of attendees were first-time advocates! Participants received advice from former Ambassador Steven Pifer, former Ambassador Michael McFaul, Robert McConnell and Emily Channel Justice on engaging with current administration staffers and gave more context on current American foreign policy.
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In total, over 150 meetings were held with constituents, with most occurring between September 18-20. Over 30 states and 110 Congressional districts were represented. A further 24 meetings with principals and experts who joined the Summit to offer their expert opinions and timely research. Advocates spoke with their representatives and elected officials about expedited military aid to Ukraine, increased financial aid, and more robust sanctions against russia. Using the advocacy handbook that was prepared by the Razom Advocacy’s Research Team, advocates also discussed specific pieces of legislation currently before the House and Senate that would help Ukraine win the war.
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The Summit concluded with a reception at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event was kicked off by renditions of the American, sung by Summit participant and US veteran Mark Lindqvist, and Ukrainian, sung by Eurovision winner and Ukrainian music star Ruslana, national anthems. Speakers included Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Tom Malinowski, and Peter Meijer, as well as Zaher Sahloul of MedGlobal and the Syrian-American community. Attendees also heard Ukrainian songs performed by Duet Malvy on the Bandura and Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar music performed by the Kobzarska Sich chorus.
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Razom is honored to have stood with all of the advocates and organizations in the American Coalition For Ukraine, speakers, and performers who participated the Ukraine Action Summit! Bringing so many people together to fight for a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine has been incredible, and we cannot wait to hold a summit like this one again. We look forward to continuing this important work together – #Razom.
To learn more about the Ukraine Action Summit and the American Coalition for Ukraine, you can check out AmericanCoalitionForUkraine.org or check out the hashtags #UkraineActionSummit and #AmericanCoalitionForUkraine on social media. And don’t forget to add your voice to advocacy for Ukraine by writing or calling your Representatives!
To support advocacy effort – donate today.
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