How Six Counseling Sessions Can Change a Life: Inside the “Razom z Toboyu” Psychological Center in Dnipro

Published: March 30, 2026

During wartime, psychological support becomes just as essential as medical care. In the city of Dnipro, the “Razom z Toboyu” Psychological Center, run by Razom for Ukraine, offers free counseling sessions to those in need. The center supports soldiers, their families, and civilians who are going through difficult life situations.

Natalia, the center’s senior psychologist, has been working on the project since 2023. She says that for many people, access to free counseling can make all the difference.

“I always say a big thank you to those who support this project. Many of our clients simply cannot afford mental health care,” she explains.

According to Natalia, the war has dramatically increased the psychological strain people are living under.. Constant tension, air raid alarms, and everyday challenges build up over time.

“I see how exhausted and irritable people are now. And that’s natural—we are all living in extremely difficult conditions. That’s why psychological support is so important right now,” she says.

The center offers both individual consultations and group sessions where participants learn about emotional wellbeing and coping strategies.

“When people begin to understand what they are experiencing, things start to feel more manageable. They start to see how they can help themselves and support others,” Natalia adds.

A Soldier’s Story

Natalia recalls the story of a soldier who came to the center after being injured.

At first glance, his injury was barely noticeable, but he had serious difficulties with hand mobility. After returning to civilian life, he struggled to adapt.

“He came to me because he struggled to find his place in civilian life again. There was a lot of tension, conflicts at home, and his relationships with loved ones had deteriorated,” Natalia says.

At the center, clients can receive a series of six counseling sessions. The goal is to stabilize a person’s condition and help them take the first steps toward recovery.

“We worked on self-regulation techniques — ways he could calm himself and better understand his emotions. ” she explains.

Over time, things began to improve. His sleep got better, and there was less tension at home.

“He even brought his wife to one of the sessions. It’s very important when family members become part of the process,” Natalia adds.

After completing the six sessions, the man decided to continue therapy.

“When he first came, he felt that nothing would ever change. But little by little he saw that things could actually improve,” Natalia says.

The First Step Toward Change

According to Natalia, six counseling sessions cannot solve every problem , but they often become the starting point for meaningful change.

Sometimes clients return months later when they face a new challenge or simply need someone to talk to again.

“Sometimes people call and say, ‘Can we talk again?’ And we continue working together,” she says.

Often, helping one person opens the door for others to seek support as well.

“First one person comes, then they bring their spouse, their children, or friends. People share their experience, and that’s how others learn that support is available,” Natalia explains.

She believes that centers like this play an important role not only today, but also in the future.

“All of this is aimed at helping Ukraine remain as mentally resilient as possible.,” Natalia says.

Sometimes change begins with a simple step—the courage to come in and ask for help.

Caring for the Country by Caring for its People: Lessons from the Razom z Toboyu Forum in Bucha

Published: January 15, 2026

In October 2025, the city of Bucha became a place of collective listening and forward-looking action. There, more than 70 practitioners, community leaders, public servants, educators, veterans, and partners gathered for the Mental Health Forum “Models of Resilience. Partnerships. Innovations,” organized by RAZOM z Toboyu, a project of Razom for Ukraine, funded by Direct Relief.

The forum asked a question that feels urgent across Ukraine today: How do we strengthen a mental health system that can meet people where they are – during war – and endure for the long recovery ahead?

A convening rooted in place-and purpose

Holding the forum in Bucha was deliberate. The city has become a symbol of profound loss and resilience, and a reminder that mental health is not an abstract policy goal – it is part of daily survival. Bringing the conversation here underscored a shared commitment to building support systems that are grounded in communities, responsive to trauma, and capable of scaling. Participants traveled from more than ten regions – from Kyiv Oblast (including Bucha, Irpin, Borodianka, and Boryspil) to Lviv, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv – alongside partners from the United States. Psychologists, social workers, medical professionals, veterans, educators, representatives of local government, and civil society organizations filled the room. For those unable to attend in person, the forum was also livestreamed, expanding the dialogue beyond the walls of the venue.

What the forum explored

Across panel discussions, presentations, and a Speed Networking roundtable, the forum focused on practical questions-and practical answers:

How can communities support the mental health of service members, veterans, their families, and civilians living under constant stress?
Which innovations-digital tools, evidence-based interventions, new service models-are helping psychologists work more effectively today?
How do we move from fragmented efforts to systemic cooperation among government institutions, local communities, and the nonprofit sector?

Opening remarks from project leadership and partners emphasized that durable solutions depend on partnership. “This forum is not just an event—it is an effort to create a shared space for action, partnership, and responsibility. Together, we aim to identify models that truly work and to lay the foundation for a joint roadmap for the development of mental health services in our communities.” – said Iryna Gudyma, Head of the RAZOM z Toboyu project.

Other speakers shared lessons learned from building psychosocial support models that prioritize trust, coordination, and local ownership-while remaining aligned with national policy and international best practices. Throughout the day, the conversations were candid. Participants named gaps in coordination and capacity, but they also shared what is working: community-based models, professional support for frontline specialists to prevent burnout, and tools that help measure outcomes rather than intentions.

From dialogue to a roadmap

A central outcome of the forum was the creation of a “roadmap” for intersectoral cooperation – a practical guide communities can use to develop and strengthen their own local mental health ecosystems. The roadmap that emerged from the Bucha forum translates dialogue into coordinated action. Developed on the basis of discussions, panels, and participant surveys, the Roadmap of Mental Resilience for Kyiv Oblast outlines how communities, professionals, and institutions can move from fragmented responses toward a coherent, people-centered system of psychosocial support.

At its core, the roadmap recognizes a simple truth: since the full-scale invasion, mental health has become inseparable from community resilience. Veterans, families of the fallen, internally displaced people, and civilians alike are living with prolonged stress and trauma. Addressing these needs requires more than isolated services – it requires sustained cooperation across sectors, shared standards, and trust.

The roadmap defines intersectoral partnership as the foundation of an effective system. Local governments, healthcare and education institutions, civil society organizations, and psychological centers each play distinct but interconnected roles. Communities are positioned as the first point of contact – places where people seek help and where trust is built – while specialized centers provide deeper clinical support, supervision, and methodological guidance. A third layer of organizations strengthens social cohesion through education, integration programs, and community-based activities.

Another central pillar is quality and accessibility of care. Forum participants identified stigma, low public awareness, and a shortage of specialists – especially in smaller or remote communities – as major barriers to care. The roadmap responds by prioritizing psychoeducation, clear referral pathways, and professional development for specialists. Regular supervision, peer support, and burnout prevention are not treated as optional add-ons, but as essential conditions for sustainable care.

Innovation and digitalization form a third key direction. The roadmap emphasizes that technology is not a goal in itself, but a tool for expanding reach and continuity of support. Online consultations, digital case management systems, telemedicine platforms, and emerging tools such as chatbots or AI-assisted follow-up can help ensure that people do not fall through the cracks – especially when in-person services are unavailable. At the same time, the roadmap acknowledges the need to invest in digital literacy and trust-building so these tools can be used effectively and ethically.

Importantly, the roadmap centers care for the caregiver. The sustainability of any mental health system depends on the well-being of those delivering support. Training, supervision, fair working conditions, and recognition of professional expertise are framed as investments in the resilience of the entire system.

Finally, the roadmap is not a static document. It calls for memoranda of cooperation, shared trainings, mutual referrals, joint advocacy, and continuous feedback between partners. Its ambition is practical: to ensure that no person facing the consequences of war is left alone, and that communities have the structures, partnerships, and tools they need to support recovery today and in the long term.

Ukrainian resilience-shared with the world

The Bucha forum is part of a broader conversation. In 2025, the RAZOM z Toboyu team also presented Ukraine’s experience at the Heal Ukraine conference at Harvard, sharing a model of psychological resilience shaped by the realities of full-scale war.

That model emphasizes four interconnected levels of resilience-individual, family, professional, and social-and pairs them with evidence-based individual support that tracks progress and adapts care plans over time. It also centers professional resilience, offering psychoeducation to specialists working in “human-to-human” professions, and family-based approaches that address transgenerational trauma among military families and veterans.

As Iryna Gudyma put it: “Ukraine’s experience is not only about endurance; it is about innovation under pressure. The systems being built today are meant to be accessible, measurable, and scalable-relevant not just for Ukraine, but for any society facing prolonged crisis.”

Why this moment matters

Since 2022, RAZOM z Toboyu has been working to build a national system of psychological support based on trust, evidence, and partnership. A team of 40 psychologists – 12 with academic degrees – has delivered more than 28,500 individual consultations, 2,500 hours of group work, and over 440 psychoeducational trainings.

The Bucha forum marked an important milestone in that journey. It demonstrated what becomes possible when communities, professionals, and public institutions come together-not to compete for resources, but to align around people’s needs.

Resilience, the forum made clear, is not an abstract trait. It is something we build-deliberately, collectively, and in collaboration. In Bucha, that work continued, with eyes firmly on the future and a shared understanding that caring for mental health is essential to caring for the country itself.

“You Did Not Leave Us Alone”: Inside a Mission Where Every Gesture Matters

Published: December 12, 2025

In Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital, the echoes of the full-scale invasion feel both far away and impossibly close. Outside, life hums along: deliveries come and go, local residents walk their dogs while chatting, people carry home warm loaves of bread and other groceries. But on the ninth floor, inside the otolaryngology wing, the consequences of Russia’s invasion are etched into the faces of the people waiting quietly in the hallway.

Most are veterans, but some are also civilians caught in the wrong place at the wrong moment. Many have lived for months and years with injuries that no one in peacetime imagines: shattered cheekbones, torn eyelids, fractured eye sockets, burn scars, and the emotional burden of carrying an altered face through the world. This fall, a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses from the United States and Canada returned again to offer what Ukrainian patients describe most simply and most poignantly: hope.

This is the “Face the Future Ukraine” mission, and many hands took part in making it happen: the Face the Future Foundation, Razom for Ukraine, Still Strong , Patients of Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital, Materialise, and Humanitarian Nova Post – as well as dozens of individual doctors, nurses, and other professionals.

Khristie Morell, a Canadian nurse who has been volunteering in Ukraine since the earliest days of the full-scale invasion, reflected on what she sees in every patient she meets: “Being here in Ukraine, I see that every single contact from the outside world – people really take that to heart.” She added, almost as if speaking to every Ukraine supporter around reading this: “Every single donation, every single time you think of Ukraine or spread the word, is extremely valuable.” Her words are not abstract, but rather reflect something you can only understand when you stand at the bedside of a patient waking from anesthesia while air-raid sirens sound in the distance: the world’s presence really matters to Ukrainians, especially after four years of the full-scale war.

One of the patients waiting for surgery was a Ukrainian defender named Viktor Hrytskevych. Viktor has deep wounds on his face, a missing right arm, and almost no sight in both eyes – and requested not to be photographed or have video taken of him.

He was guided into the room by his wife Natalka, who hasn’t left his side since he received his injury – walking him around the hospital and helping him with daily tasks. Somewhat reluctantly, Viktor spoke of the injuries that he carried through multiple hospitals and across regions. He recounted how he was evacuated through Pokrovsk, then Zaporizhzhia, then Dnipro, then Kyiv, and finally Odesa. Specialists restored a small amount of vision there.

He now sees light, shadow, and some shapes – “але не більше” (“but not much more”). Months later, during rehabilitation, doctors told him there was a visiting mission that might be able to help further. He didn’t hesitate. “The doctors told me there is a program offering surgery… I agreed right away.” He squeezes Natalka’s hand as he says it, sharing that his biggest dream is to see his beautiful wife’s face again.

Another patient is Andrii Dyachko, a defender who spent a year undergoing treatment in Latvia, but even going abroad was not enough. He described his injuries in raw detail: “My face was asymmetrical, the cheekbone was shattered, my eye was sunken.” Previous surgeries helped restore some symmetry, but he hoped this mission could take him further – restore function, expression, the ability to meet the eyes of loved ones without self-consciousness. For him, surgery is not cosmetic, it is truly about recognition of the self he once was and the self he hopes to be again.

To understand the scale of this hope, you must also hear from those who make it possible, including the Ukrainian doctors who have worked tirelessly to bring this mission to the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital. Dr. Natalia Komashko, an otolaryngologist at the regional hospital and the founder of Still Strong Initiative, is the Ukrainian lead for the mission. She recalls the earliest days of the partnership, describing how the first mission was challenging and overwhelming, but also a breakthrough: “We carried out such a large-scale mission in Ukraine for the first time… It was difficult, but it succeeded.” That success opened the door to Face the Future’s ongoing collaboration. About the international team, she says: “We saw that their values align with ours, and that we can learn a great deal from each other.” For Dr. Komashko, this mission isn’t just about surgeries – it’s about building a medical community across borders, even under war.

Dr. Matthew Brace, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon from Ontario, has volunteered on multiple missions. His voice is calm but charged with purpose when he explains why he keeps coming back: “There’s nothing more satisfying as a doctor than helping somebody who’s in acute, dire need – when they can’t get help anywhere else.” His path to this mission began with a desire to combine trauma expertise with humanitarian care. When he first heard about Ukrainian patients waiting months or years for specialized procedures, he felt a pull he couldn’t ignore. But it wasn’t only the surgeries that kept him returning – it was the people. The Ukrainian doctors were eager to learn. The local teams who arrive early, stay late, and absorb every detail. The patients who endure what no one should.

As he put it: “To help 30 people in one week is extraordinary. But the impact doesn’t stop with them – it ripples outward to their families, their communities, their children.”

“I have four daughters and my wife, and so being away from them for ten days is probably the hardest part. They’re all very understanding. When I first told my wife about the invitation to come, she said, ‘I don’t want you to go, but I think you should.’ And my kids have been the same… we talked about it a lot as a family. I said, ‘If we were in the same situation Ukraine is in and I was injured, I would hope somebody would be brave enough to come and help.’ And my kids are totally on board with that, and they say, ‘Yeah.’”

And the patients are certainly grateful for the ones brave enough to come and help. One patient, after speaking with the mission leads, took the interviewer’s hands and said: “ [I wish] prosperity to you and your organization.” It is gratitude not for charity, but for presence and for solidarity. For the knowledge that he – and Ukraine – have not been forgotten.

Nurse anesthetist Andrew Kosteniuk, a Ukrainian-Canadian member of the team, certainly understands the importance of letting Ukrainian people know that they are remembered by the global community: “It’s vital that people here don’t feel alone, don’t feel abandoned, don’t feel forgotten. We’re here to give them hope that there is a better future, a brighter future. Hope is the most important thing.” In wartime Ukraine, hope is not abstract – it emerges through the smallest gestures and moments. It looks like surgeons huddled over CT scans at 7:00 a.m, sounds like quiet Ukrainian spoken to a patient emerging from anesthesia, and feels like a promise that there are people in the world who care enough to come.

Dr. Peter Adamson, founder of Face the Future, reflects on these small moments and gestures that have a big impact through the mission’s butterfly logo: “The butterfly flaps its wings… and the impact grows.”

During the Face the Future Mission, this flap of wings looks like dozens of life-changing reconstructive surgeries, over 200 nurses trained in a single symposium, Ukrainian surgeons mastering techniques they had never performed before, and veterans regaining function, symmetry, dignity. In the middle of a war, small things are not small – they are everything.

None of this – not one surgery, not one training, not one moment of connection – happens without a vast chain of people who believe in Ukraine’s right to heal. Razom helps coordinate logistics, secure supplies, support patient vetting, and build long-term relationships between Ukrainian medical teams and their international colleagues. The support of our donors and partners ensures that defenders with shattered faces receive world-class care and patients hear a message that matters as much as the medicine: you are not alone.

As one patient said, with a tired but grateful smile: “Я з вами заодно.” (“I am with you.”) And because of supporters like you – Razom is with them too. Together, we keep the butterfly’s wings in motion, carrying hope across a country that refuses to lose its face – and its future.

Ukrainian Resilience Takes the Global Stage at Harvard: How “RAZOM z Toboyu” Is Building a New Model of Mental Health Support

Published: November 24, 2025

At a time when the world is searching for answers about how societies survive — and grow — through war, Ukraine is offering not theory, but evidence. This November, the team behind “RAZOM z Toboyu” (“Razom With You”) presented Ukraine’s emerging model of psychological resilience at Harvard University’s Heal Ukraine 2025 Conference, joining more than a hundred experts from the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Ukraine.

It was more than a presentation. It was Ukraine’s voice — steady, thoughtful, and grounded in lived experience — showing the world what it means to care for a nation living through trauma and still choosing to build a better future.

Thanks to Razom’s supporters, this program has grown into one of the largest, most practical mental-health networks operating inside Ukraine today. And at Harvard, it became clear: Ukraine is not only enduring. Ukraine is innovating.

A Ukrainian Model of Resilience — Born in War, Built for the Future

For three years, the “RAZOM z Toboyu” team has been developing an integrated model of psychological support rooted in the real experiences of communities, families, and the specialists who serve them.

At Harvard, speakers Iryna Gudyma, Tetiana Kril, Larysa Zahray, and Nataliia Chorna introduced a comprehensive system built on four interconnected layers of resilience:

Individual resilience — strengthening awareness, emotional regulation, inner resources, and spiritual grounding.

Family resilience — rebuilding trust, communication, and support networks within households carrying the weight of war.

Professional resilience — supporting teachers, psychologists, medics, social workers, and volunteers so they can continue helping others without burning out.
Social resilience (post-traumatic growth) — transforming collective trauma into collective strength, where communities become engines of healing.

“Ukraine is a symbol of resilience. Ukrainian specialists are creating a modern, accessible, and scalable mental-health system. This experience matters not only for us — but for the world,” said Iryna Gudyma, RAZOM z Toboyu program director.

Evidence-Based Care That Reaches Thousands

Behind this model are tangible results — made possible by donors who believe in Ukraine’s long-term recovery.

As of October 2025:

28,570+ individual counseling sessions
1,157 group sessions
442 resilience trainings
Over 2,000 specialists trained across 155 organizations
Six psychological support centers operating in Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Bucha, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipro, and Kharkiv
All services provided free of charge for people impacted by war

These are not statistics — they are thousands of lives stabilized, supported, and strengthened.

The team also unveiled a six-session individual support model that helps clients quickly experience measurable improvement. Using standardized assessment tools, psychologists track symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. After six sessions:

Depression levels (PHQ-9) drop by 17.5%
Anxiety (HADS) decreases by 18%
79% of clients develop personal self-regulation and recovery plans

A digital platform, Health Suite, enables automated monitoring of progress and program effectiveness — a rare achievement for mental-health interventions during wartime.

“We help people who continue living in war. Our task is not only to stabilize, but to cultivate skills that allow clients to restore balance on their own,” said Tetiana Kril, RAZOM z Toboyu MHPSS lead.

Strengthening Those Who Support Others

One of the program’s most profound impacts has been among Ukraine’s “human-to-human” professionals — psychologists, teachers, medics, social workers, and volunteers who form the country’s emotional and social backbone.

In 2025 alone:

2,100+ specialists completed training
Participants’ knowledge levels rose by 22.9% on average
Workshops on communication with service members and preventing professional burnout saw gains above 25%

“Training for the ‘human-to-human’ system must be continuous. We create a space where people can reflect, recover, and continue helping others without burning out,” emphasized Larysa Zahray, RAZOM z Toboyu senior psychologist.

Her Harvard presentation also highlighted how the war is transforming psychological education in Ukraine: universities are redesigning curricula around trauma-informed care, crisis response, and emotional regulation, preparing a new generation of specialists who understand the reality their country faces.

Healing Families, Breaking the Cycle of Trauma

War impacts every household touched by service, displacement, injury, or loss. That is why the “RAZOM z Toboyu” team dedicates a major part of its work to family rehabilitation, especially for families of veterans and active-duty service members.

Nataliia Chorna presented evidence that structured family therapy:

Rebuilds trust
Reduces secondary trauma
Strengthens communication
Creates durable patterns of mutual support

Her work also addresses transgenerational trauma — how wartime experiences can echo into the future through family beliefs, memories, and behaviors.

“Rehabilitation is not only about overcoming trauma. It is about creating new systems of mutual support. Family is the key resource capable of transforming pain into strength,” noted Nataliia Chorna, RAZOM z Toboyu supervisor.

Ukraine’s Experience as a Guide for the World

For many at Harvard, the Ukrainian team’s presentations were not simply reports of progress — they were a glimpse into the future of trauma-informed recovery in conflict-affected regions.

“Today, Ukraine demonstrates how a nation living through war can not only survive, but build a modern mental-health system rooted in evidence, ethics, and accessibility — and show post-traumatic growth even in the hardest times,” said Iryna Gudyma.

The Heal Ukraine 2025 Conference included leading organizations such as Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, Scholars at Risk, Heal Ukraine Group, Razom for Ukraine, MedGlobal, Doctors United for Ukraine, Nova Ukraine, and others. But it was the Ukrainian specialists who brought something irreplaceable: lived expertise.

Their message resonated deeply: Resilience is not an abstraction. It is daily work — work made possible when families, communities, and supporters stand together.

Why This Matters — And What Comes Next

In the face of daily air-raid sirens, displacement, and unimaginable loss, Ukraine continues to invest in dignity, recovery, and hope. Donor support has allowed Razom to nurture a program that is now shaping global discussions on mental health during war.

Ukraine is teaching the world how to heal while fighting for survival — and how to turn shared trauma into shared strength.

Together, we’re building a future where every Ukrainian can heal, rebuild, and rise stronger.

Healing the Invisible Wounds: How Razom z Toboyu is Changing the Culture of Mental Health in Ukraine

Published: October 9, 2025

On October 10, the world marks World Mental Health Day. For Ukraine, a country enduring its third year of the full-scale invasion, the day resonates in profoundly urgent ways. The violence of Russia’s aggression has left deep scars not only on the land and bodies of Ukrainians, but also on their minds and hearts. The invisible wounds – trauma, anxiety, depression, grief – will outlast the missiles and sirens if not addressed with compassion, professionalism, and persistence.

Razom’s Razom z Toboyu (Together with You) initiative exists for exactly this reason. It is a growing network of psychological support centers and online services providing free, high-quality mental health care to Ukrainians affected by the war. More than a project, it is becoming a cultural shift: building a future in which seeking psychological support is not taboo, but normal, valued, and accessible.

This transformative vision has recently received a powerful boost. Direct Relief awarded Razom z Toboyu a $1 million grant to expand access to mental health services across Ukraine.

The Mental Health Landscape in Ukraine

The statistics paint a sobering picture. At the beginning of 2025, only 36% of Ukrainians reported satisfaction with their psychological state, down from 41% in 2022. More than 83% live under high stress, and experts estimate that 40–50% of the population – some 15.7 million people – will need psychological assistance in the coming years.

Symptoms are widespread and pervasive: 58% report anxiety and tension, 50% sleep disorders, and nearly half report exhaustion and low mood. Among the most vulnerable are 1.8 million veterans, 7 million elderly people, and around 4 million children. The stakes are high, as untreated trauma risks translating into intergenerational harm, rising rates of depression, suicide, and social instability.

And yet, amid these challenges, there are signs of hope.

Stigma around therapy is diminishing, as demonstrated by the share of Ukrainians willing to see a psychologist growing from 7% in 2022 to 17% in 2025, while the overall demand for psychological support jumped from 41% to 71%. This is where Razom z Toboyu has stepped in, not only to meet the need but to accelerate this cultural transformation.

Building a Network of Care

Razom z Toboyu was founded on a simple yet profound conviction that healing is possible, and help is close by. With physical centers in six cities and nationwide online access, the program combines local expertise with global best practices. Its 50+ specialists offer individual and group therapy, outreach support, psychoeducational programs, and webinars.

The numbers are impressive: since the launch, the program delivered 25,730 individual

consultations, 2,883 hours of group sessions, and trained 1,373 professionals across Ukraine.

Nearly 90% of clients said their challenges became more manageable, and 100% would recommend the program.

But behind every number is a human story (names changed for anonymity):

Larisa, who lost one son to war and whose other son remains in captivity, found in Razom z Toboyu the strength not only to survive but to create a nonprofit for other grieving women. She now leads art workshops and support groups, becoming a beacon of solidarity.
A veteran with survivor’s guilt after losing his entire unit began to heal through therapy, eventually remarrying and rebuilding his life.
Oksana from Mariupol, who lost her home and future, arrived at the Bucha center unable to stop crying. With steady support, she regained hope, found work, and now uses her craft both as therapy and as income.

These stories embody what Program Director Iryna Gudyma describes as the essence of the initiative: “Resilience is woven into our DNA – we fall, we rise, we rebuild. And all that while carrying unimaginable loss – Ukrainians keep choosing dignity, solidarity, and hope.”

Innovation for a New Culture

Razom z Toboyu is not just delivering therapy; it is pioneering models that can redefine mental health in Ukraine for generations.

One innovation is the digital HealthSuite system, which securely documents consultations, monitors outcomes, and enables large-scale planning. Another is the introduction of VR-assisted therapy and digital EMDR tools to scale trauma-focused care. In the future, a voice-first pilot will allow Ukrainians – including those in rural or isolated areas – to receive coping exercises and risk monitoring via phone.

Equally important is the focus on psychoeducation. Through resilience trainings, webinars, and partnerships with schools and workplaces, Razom z Toboyu normalizes conversations about mental health and equips people to support one another. As Gudyma notes, the program is building systemic resilience so “the next generation can grow without the shadow of untreated trauma.”

A Wise Investment in Ukraine’s Future

This work has not gone unnoticed. A recent award from Direct Relief is a recognition that mental health is as critical to Ukraine’s recovery as physical reconstruction. “How forward-looking they are,” Gudyma reflected, “that they realize the importance of mental health for the future of Ukraine. We are so grateful for their support.”

Indeed, the grant is more than funding; it is a vote of confidence in the vision that healing minds is foundational to rebuilding a nation. In the words of one veteran’s wife, “They gave me a DREAM that makes me strong.”

Why Continued Support Matters

As the war drags on, and even more so when active hostilities subside, the temptation for the world will be to move on – to redirect funding to physical reconstruction projects while mental health quietly falls down the list of priorities. But the lesson from other wars is stark. As a fact, after the Vietnam War, U.S. veterans suffered a very high rate of suicides because invisible wounds went untreated. Ukraine cannot afford such a tragedy.

As Gudyma reminds us: “War never ends at the frontlines – it continues in the hearts and minds of those who carry its invisible wounds.” Healing those wounds is not a short-term emergency measure; it is a generational project.

Ukraine’s ability to rebuild schools, businesses, and communities depends on whether its people can process grief and rediscover meaning. A resilient Ukraine begins with resilient Ukrainians.

Together With You

Razom means “together.” And Razom z Toboyu means that no Ukrainian has to face their trauma alone. This World Mental Health Day, as we reflect on the global call for mental health equity, Razom z Toboyu offers a powerful example of how community, innovation, and international solidarity can transform lives and societies.

The path to a free, thriving, democratic Ukraine runs not only through victory on the battlefield but also through healing in clinics, group sessions, and quiet conversations where pain is met with compassion and stigma gives way to acceptance.

Supporting this work is not just charity. It is an investment in stability and human dignity. It is how Ukraine will win the peace, and establish lasting justice and security for itself and for the global community.

Two Doctors, One Mission: Bringing Hope Through Healing

Published: September 25, 2025

When Dr. Ilya Petrenko first crossed paths with Dr. Raymond Cho in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, neither could have imagined how that meeting would blossom into a transformative journey across continents. What began as a chance encounter during a medical mission has now grown into an observership in Columbus, Ohio – an exchange that underscores the power of professional solidarity and the resilience of Ukraine’s medical community.

A Meeting in Ukraine

Dr. Cho, an oculoplastic surgeon at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, first traveled to Ukraine in the spring of 2023 as part of the Face to Future missions. “I’ve been to Ukraine three times already, and I’ll be going back again in October [of 2025],” he shared. On one of those trips, he met Dr. Petrenko, an ophthalmic surgeon from Kyiv City Ophthalmology Hospital “Eye Microsurgery”. Their conversations planted the seeds of a mentorship that would soon span oceans.

“I had a great desire to learn more and attend this type of observership,” Dr. Petrenko recalled. Through one of the organizers, Natalia Komashko, he became involved in the medical missions, where he worked alongside Dr. Cho. After several collaborations in Ukraine, Dr. Cho extended an invitation to come to Ohio to see how his work unfolds in an American hospital setting.

Crossing Borders for Knowledge

The journey was not without hurdles. Securing university approval and navigating the visa process took more than six months. But perseverance prevailed, and in the summer of 2025, Dr. Petrenko arrived in Columbus for a three-week observership.

“It is an observership, so he’s not able to participate in surgeries,” Dr. Cho explained. “But he goes everywhere I go – to the clinic, to the operating room, to lectures. We even eat most of our meals together. He’s with me all day.”

For Dr. Petrenko, the experience has been tremendously useful. He observed orbital fracture and decompression surgeries, as well as complex procedures involving the tear ducts.

“What really impressed me was how many materials are available to American doctors,” he said. “For example, there is this device called the Jones tube. If it doesn’t fit, they simply open another one. They don’t reuse it. In Ukraine, we have fewer technical and material opportunities available to us.”

Beyond the technical exposure, Dr. Petrenko was struck by the discipline and organization of the American medical system. “Everyone starts their work so early – at 7:30 in the morning, everything is already in motion. The operating room works like clockwork. The level of professionalism and coordination is inspiring,” he noted.

For Dr. Cho, the value of the observership is also personal. With more than 26 years in military medicine, he feels a deep connection to Ukraine’s wounded defenders. “Ukraine is in a fight for its existence. It has been invaded by a foreign power without provocation. Ukraine as a sovereign state needs to be given the opportunity to survive. In the two years that I have been involved, I have come to love the people of Ukraine”. He added that introducing Dr. Petrenko to his colleagues in Ohio raises awareness and helps people understand Ukraine on a very human level.

Connecting with Community

While in Ohio, Dr. Petrenko also found support from the local Ukrainian diaspora. He celebrated Ukraine’s Independence Day with community members, who welcomed him as family. In conversations with patients during consultations, he was moved to hear how many Americans expressed solidarity. While he is unable to share the specifics because of the confidentiality agreement with the institution, he is still able to convey the general attitude: “Every tenth patient would say something about supporting Ukraine,” he remembered. “It made me feel that people here are with us.”

Looking Ahead

Back in Kyiv, Dr. Petrenko frequently treats wounded soldiers and civilians. He sees his observership as an investment in his ability to serve them with greater skill and confidence. “I have had opportunities to leave Ukraine and work elsewhere, but I have no intention of doing so,” he said firmly. “My country is my home. This is where my wife and children are. Ukraine is the best place for me.”

Reflecting on their collaboration, both doctors voiced gratitude to Razom’s Co-Pilot Project for making the exchange possible. “Thank you, Razom, for the support,” Dr. Cho said. Dr. Petrenko echoed: “Thank you for this opportunity, for organizing everything, and for supporting us.”

From Ivano-Frankivsk to Ohio, the journey of Drs. Cho and Petrenko is more than a professional exchange -it is a bridge of hope. It is a reminder that even in the darkest times, partnerships can flourish, knowledge can be shared, and lives can be changed.

Supporting Ukraine’s Mental Health for Resilience and Victory

Published: August 26, 2025

The psychological toll of war on Ukrainians is staggering. According to the World Health Organization, 68% of Ukrainians report a decline in their overall health since the full‑scale invasion, with 46% specifically citing mental health concerns—making psychological distress the most prevalent impact of the conflict. Others estimate that 9.6 million Ukrainians are currently at risk of or living with mental health issues, including 3.9 million experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. Moreover, around 80% of citizens live under chronic stress and anxiety, carrying an ever‑present psychological burden. These numbers are not mere statistics – they are real people: mothers coping with trauma, children whose innocence has been stolen, veterans wrestling with nightmares, and families who confront loss every day. Addressing these deep-seated wounds is both a humanitarian and a strategic imperative, as a resilient nation is built not just by battalions, but by healed hearts and minds.

A New Beacon of Hope in Khmelnytskyi: “RAZOM with You”

Amid the chaos, a hopeful light has emerged in Khmelnytskyi. The newly opened psychological support space “RAZOM with You” symbolizes resilience, compassion, and unity. For three years, this initiative has been championing the mental health of Ukrainians impacted by war – offering a lifeline to those grappling with loss, trauma, burnout, and emotional crisis. The new center also serves as the local pillar of the Razom for Ukraine charitable foundation – creating a warm, safe refuge where individuals can find understanding and solace.

The opening ceremony was a testament to communal solidarity. Deputy Mayor Mykhailo Kryvak, Inna Pikalo from the veterans’ policy department, and a representative from the Ombudsperson’s office – among others – joined to celebrate the center’s new chapter.

Their presence reflected both civic recognition and commitment to collective healing. Words of hope were also shared by two remarkable figures: psychologist and war veteran Pavlo Molchaniuk, recently joined to support others through shared experience, and former border guard and veteran Igor Korsun, whose journey through captivity and healing underscores the profound need for psychological solidarity.

Expanding Reach: From Rooms to Regions

Since 2022, RAZOM with You has grown into a robust psychosocial network – providing both individual therapy and group sessions tailored to communities, military families, internally displaced persons, youth, veterans, and social service professionals.

Project Lead Iryna Gudyma stresses the unique strength of their multidisciplinary team: “The expertise of the “RAZOM with You” team makes it a reliable partner for government initiatives in the field of mental health. Half of our psychologists combine practical work with academic research, which allows us to test newly developed programs and have them approved by university academic councils. Currently, a rehabilitation program for people with experiences of captivity and torture is being piloted, and a training program is being launched for specialists working with military personnel and veterans.” The center’s offerings – psychoeducational workshops, support groups, training programs, webinars – now stretch across Khmelnytskyi region, empowering communities with tools to rebuild mental resilience.

Tetiana Kril, Head of Mental Health for RAZOM with You, shares what sets their team apart: “These are not just psychologists. They are people whose lives have been shaped by war – military spouses, defenders themselves, volunteers. Their professionalism is informed by personal courage and the peer-to-peer support they provide.” The team’s impact extends into civic structures, with psychologists Nataliia Durdas and Tetiana Kril serving on the advisory council for veterans’ rights and the project entering into a memorandum with the regional council to expand accessible, high-quality mental health systems across the region.

Why Your Support Matters

This is the story of a community rising from trauma – of spaces transformed by empathy, expertise, and shared purpose. But projects like RAZOM with You hinge on ongoing support. Each donation, each shared story, each volunteer hour fuels outreach, innovation, and healing.

How You Can Help:

Donate to Razom for Ukraine to empower mental health services and expand these life‑saving programs.
Raise awareness – sharing stories like this creates momentum and mobilizes more support.
Advocate for mental health to be a core component of Ukraine’s national resiliency strategy.

Ukraine’s victory will be won on many fronts – not least of all psychological. Strong minds and compassionate hearts are as vital as any defense. By supporting RAZOM with You, you’re not just aiding recovery – you’re investing in Ukraine’s strength, dignity, and future.

Together in Healing: Co-Pilot Project Expands Training and Partnerships for Ukrainian Medical Professionals

Published: August 22, 2025

When Ukraine’s defenders are wounded on the battlefield, every second counts. Survival depends not only on courage but also on skill, knowledge, and the ability of medical professionals to deliver care under extreme pressure. That is why Razom’s Co-Pilot Project under the Razom Health program is so critical – it equips Ukrainian doctors, surgeons, and instructors with world-class training and connections that directly save lives.

This summer has been a season of impact and growth for the Co-Pilot Project. From presenting Ukrainian innovations at one of the largest U.S. military health conferences, to hands-on training in leading American hospitals, to building the next wave of international partnerships, the message is clear: Ukraine’s medical leaders are not only learning -they are also teaching the world.

Ukrainian Voices on the Global Stage

In early August, Razom supported three Ukrainian medical professionals whose research was accepted at the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS).

Dr. Oksana Popova, surgeon, ultrasound specialist, and Director of ELLING Training Center, presented her work on advancing emergency ultrasound including FAST-U and TRIDENT protocols.
Dr. Oleksandr Raboshchuk, anesthesiologist and lecturer at the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy, shared outcomes of Ukraine’s groundbreaking methodology in treating hypovolemic arrest.
Dr. Kateryna Maslyak, TacMed instructor and anesthesiologist from Kharkiv, highlighted the critical role of lyophilized plasma in managing hemorrhagic shock during large-scale combat operations.

These presentations marked more than academic milestones—they were powerful reminders that Ukraine is contributing to global knowledge in trauma care. U.S. and European doctors, military leaders, and researchers left inspired by Ukraine’s resilience and ingenuity.

And the knowledge exchange went both ways – Dr. Raboschuk shared that he gained a great deal from the conference and during his observership at the University of Florida: “During MHSRS, I learned about advanced issues in military healthcare, including strategies to overcome antimicrobial resistance and modern approaches to resuscitation of patients with hemorrhagic shock. I participated in the Bootcamp for Anesthesia Fellowship. The main takeaway was the importance of simulation-based training and practicing different clinical scenarios. This approach would be highly applicable and valuable to implement in Ukraine. I also participated in Ground Rounds in the General ICU and Orthopedic Department, where I gained an understanding of the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in solving clinical tasks.”

Building Partnerships for Long-Term Impact

Beyond the conference stage, Razom facilitated vital meetings with high ranking leaders from the US and Europe. One Ukrainian delegate joked that they could “fill a binder with Razom business cards,” underscoring just how deeply our teams are embedded in Ukraine’s health and defense ecosystems. Every card represents a project, a training, or a life touched through Razom’s collaborative work – and that is why the project team has no intentions of slowing down. They are actively planning to further develop partnerships that will benefit Ukraine.

Learning Shoulder-to-Shoulder in U.S. Hospitals

Conferences are just one part of the journey. The heart of the Co-Pilot Project is immersive observerships in U.S. hospitals. In August alone:

At the University of Florida, Dr. Raboshchuk trained in advanced resuscitation methods and anesthesia, while Dr. Popova prepared her ultrasound data for international publication.
At the University of North Carolina, Dr. Popova exchanged insights with colleagues on the TRIDENT protocol and recorded an episode for the Prolonged Field Care podcast, amplifying Ukrainian expertise globally. Make sure to check the podcast page in the next few weeks to catch the recording of the episode.

In Ohio, Dr. Ilya Petrenko began a three-week oculoplastics observership with Dr. Raymond Cho, continuing a collaboration that grew from years of joint surgical missions in Ivano-Frankivsk.
At OU Health in Oklahoma, eight Ukrainian surgeons—including military doctors from frontline regions—are training intensively in trauma, neurosurgery, orthopedics and facial plastics. Their schedule includes flap reconstruction courses, ATLS certification, and grand rounds lectures.

These experiences create ripple effects. When Ukrainian doctors return home, they bring not only new skills but also new teaching methods, curricula, and international networks that will strengthen Ukraine’s healthcare system for decades to come.

A Community of Support

None of this would be possible without the community that surrounds Razom. In Raleigh, North Carolina, Razom’s Public Engagement team hosted a dinner bringing together Dr. Popova with local leaders, state officials, and supporters. It was a vivid reminder that these efforts are not only about medicine—they are about solidarity, friendship, and building bridges of understanding.

Why It Matters

Every protocol refined, every skill mastered, and every partnership formed translates into lives saved on the battlefield and beyond. As Ukraine defends its freedom, the resilience of its medical community is a beacon of hope—not just for Ukrainians, but for all who believe in the power of human dignity and collaboration.

How You Can Help

The Co-Pilot Project is proof of what happens when we come together: Razom, our partners, and supporters like you. Your donations make it possible for Ukrainian doctors to train, present, and innovate at the highest levels. Together, we can ensure that those who sacrifice so much for Ukraine’s future have the best chance at survival and recovery.

Donate to Razom today and stand with us in building a healthier, stronger, and more resilient Ukraine.

Ukrainian doctors learn the latest advancements in complex surgery skills at OU Health

Published: May 22, 2025

In the ever-evolving world of medicine, the exchange of knowledge is not just beneficial—it is essential to advancing patient care, driving innovation, and saving lives. Nowhere is it more true than in Ukraine, where the demands of wartime medicine include the full spectrum of patient care from rapid response for complex wounds and multiple life-threatening injuries, to patient stabilization, as well as reconstructive and rehabilitative care.

Paired with limited access to advanced subspecialty training in fields like neurosurgery, reconstructive, and plastic surgery, this creates a gap between the rising demand for complex procedures and the opportunity for Ukrainian surgeons to deepen and expand their expertise.

To provide support in alleviating this issue, the Razom Health program team launched its Co-Pilot Project in 2016 after the visit of Dr. Luke Tomycz to Ukraine. Having observed the needs of Ukrainian patients and the challenges in Ukrainian surgeon’s access to the newest surgical knowledge, Dr. Tomycz was resolved to engage the expertise of US surgeons to offer in-person trainings to their Ukrainian colleagues. Since then, numerous North American medical professional (!) organizations and initiatives have reached out to Razom and Co-Pilot Project expressing desire to help with performing complex surgeries and training Ukrainian doctors. Since the beginning of the project, Co-Pilot has implemented observerships in leading U.S. hospitals as part of its surgical training initiative. Between 2017 and 2022, 8 such placements were facilitated. Combining collaborative surgeries with international surgeons and observership programs helps bridge the gap in Ukraine’s short-term residency model—2 years compared to 4–7 years in the U.S. and Europe—and compensates for the absence of cadaver labs and surgical simulation training in Ukrainian residency programs. This approach is referred to as Co-Pilot’s “light residency.”

In 2023, a formal partnership with the University of Oklahoma was launched, with three maxillofacial surgeons participating and the expansion into a long-term program covering four specialties: neurosurgery, orthopedics, oculoplastics, and head and neck surgery. Additionally, Co-Pilot organized observerships for Ukrainian surgeons at Harvard Medical School, Mount Sinai, MedStar Washington Hospital, the University of Cincinnati, and several private clinics. These initiatives have been recognized at the inaugural Orden of Saint Panteleimon Awards, a recognition named after the Patron Saint of healers and helpers.

The Co-Pilot Project has made a major impact by training Ukrainian surgeons through hands-on collaboration with international experts. But for many doctors, one key piece was still missing: the chance to see how advanced surgical tools are actually used in practice – not just as individual instruments, but within real-world clinical workflows. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received a wide range of donated medical equipment, but without the opportunity to observe how these tools are used together in high-functioning settings, much of their potential remains untapped. “Because of the war, a lot of equipment came to us, and a lot of instruments, and to see how to fully use it is a big help for us, which will allow us to help our defenders and civilians much better,” shared Dr. Yurii Lazarenko of the Central Regional Military Medical Center. Co-Pilot is helping close that gap – giving Ukrainian surgeons the chance to train in environments where technique, equipment, and teamwork come together in practice.

Now, thanks to the Co-Pilot Project, Ukrainian surgeons can receive hands-on training on the newest approaches in surgical care and correct utilization of imported medical equipment through the observership initiative. The most recent of such observerships brought nine Ukrainian surgeons to Oklahoma City to spend one month with colleagues at OU Health under the program Operation Ukraine. Surgeons from Lviv, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia—representing four different medical specialties—were carefully selected.

This is the fifth cohort organized under the Operation Ukraine observership program at OU Health in Oklahoma City, offering Ukrainian surgeons the opportunity to learn advanced surgical techniques and collaborate with American colleagues.

Razom played a key role in making this observership possible by supporting travel, visa assistance, stipends, and program logistics. The team also helped select candidates through a competitive application process and awarded a grant to OU Health to help cover key training and administrative costs. With an average cost of $6,000 per participant, this initiative depends on donor support to continue creating high-impact training experiences for Ukrainian surgeons.

The observership at OU Health is unlike any other program of this kind in the US, in that the Ukrainian surgeons are able to scrub in and assist in surgeries, learning the skills in instrument usage, operating room dynamics, and innovative techniques. “We don’t have such an opportunity in Ukraine,” Dr. Andrii Kovalov, a Ukrainian Surgeon said. “This is, I think, one of the best opportunities to get the hard skills before you get that access to the patients.”

At the heart of the Operation Ukraine program is Dr. Mark Mims who has spearheaded this initiative within OU Health. Dr. Mims has worked with the state medical board, hospital administration and leadership team to structure the program in such a way as to permit the vital “scrubbing in and assisting” element for Ukrainian surgeons, allowing them to gain the necessary skills in a drastically compressed time frame. “With our Operation Ukraine program at OU Health, our hope is to help train the next generation of Ukrainian surgeons,” Dr. Mark Mims with OU Health said. “We want the surgeons who come through our program to return home not only with advanced skills to care for their patients, but also with the ability to pass that knowledge on — building a stronger future for healthcare in Ukraine.”

Once back in Ukraine, the surgeons apply what they’ve learned to treat some of the war’s most complex injuries. They also train their colleagues, multiplying the impact of the observership and helping to build a stronger, more resilient surgical community. As Dr. Vitalii Panchenko of Lviv Military Hospital shared, “This experience changed everything. I now have the skills and confidence to perform complex surgeries that once felt impossible.”

This work is made possible through the partnerships with doctors, hospitals, and thanks to the generous contributions from our donors. If you are interested in supporting more opportunities for learning and connection for Ukrainian doctors, you can make a donation below.

United for Better Care: Razom, Face the Future, Still Strong, and Patients of Ukraine Shape the Future of Nursing in Ukraine

Published: April 18, 2025

Medical personnel from the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital gather with Face the Future Foundation team members and Razom Co-Pilot Coordinator in Ukraine, Lilea Dzhaliuk, in front of the hospital during the April 2024 medical mission.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s healthcare system has faced immense pressure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been more than 2,100 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of medical workers and patients. Nurses—who make up the backbone of the healthcare system—have carried a disproportionate burden.

As women and families are forced to flee, the nursing profession—largely made up of women—is stretched thin. Those who remain often care for overwhelming numbers of displaced patients, while adapting to the complex realities of war injuries and under-resourced facilities. The shortage of qualified nursing staff has become critical. Younger, less experienced nurses—and at times even patients’ family members—are taking on care responsibilities.

Despite the challenges, Ukraine remains determined to improve patient care. But progress is impossible without support. That’s why Razom’s Co-Pilot Project partners with organizations like Face the Future Foundation, Still Strong, and Patients of Ukraine to support Ukrainian nurses through training, equipment, and knowledge exchange. In April 2024, this partnership brought together international and Ukrainian nurses, surgeons, and medical coordinators for a mission at Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital—and an academic nursing symposium that reached more than 300 healthcare workers from across the country.

Behind the Scenes: Coordinating Surgical Care During Wartime

To understand what it takes to coordinate a mission like this, we turn to Debbie Fritz, RN. A retired nurse with more than 40 years of experience in labor & delivery, the operating room, and pediatric care, Debbie has participated in 35 humanitarian surgical missions since 2006. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, she joined the Face the Future Foundation team on a mission to Ivano-Frankivsk in September 2022—and has since returned twice more as Operating Room team lead.

“One of the challenges early on was trying to recruit qualified people who are willing to travel to an active war zone,” she explains. “Some people are totally on-board, but their family members say ‘absolutely not!'”

In her leadership role, Debbie coordinates daily OR operations and surgical supply procurement, while ensuring her team feels confident and supported. Her collaborative approach helps build trust quickly in high-stakes settings. “After just a few cases together, the team develops a smooth and fluid rhythm,” she says.

Each mission requires careful planning, especially around supplies. Debbie starts sourcing essentials—surgical packs, sterile gowns, gloves, sutures, medications—months in advance. Backorders, shipping delays, and last-minute surgical needs are constant hurdles. But thanks to her preparation, Ukrainian hospitals are able to deliver high-quality surgical care amid wartime constraints.

Symposium for Strength: Learning, Sharing, and Supporting Nurses

During the April mission, Patients of Ukraine and partners organized an academic nursing symposium in Ivano-Frankivsk that brought together more than 300 nurses from across Ukraine. The event focused on sharing knowledge, building resilience, and creating community among nurses facing unprecedented challenges.

Laurie Thomas, RN from Toronto, Canada, led the academic day. She provided hands-on training in catheterization and cardiac assessment and brought donated stethoscopes and other urgently needed equipment.

Amy Bradley, RN from Houston, Texas, participated alongside her husband, an anesthesiologist. Amy specializes in PTSD, anxiety, and trauma care—and her contribution to the symposium focused on the mental health of nurses and patients alike. “Self-care is not a luxury,” she explained. “It’s a necessity for nurses working through war.”

Challenges in Ukraine’s Healthcare System

Both Laurie and Amy identified systemic challenges in Ukraine’s healthcare landscape. Amy noted the hierarchical structure that limits collaboration: “Doctors are seen as above nurses, instead of equally important parts of the healthcare team. This can interfere with patient wellness.”

Laurie highlighted the lack of continuing education: “Unlike in North America, Ukrainian nurses rarely receive dedicated teaching time. Now, they’re being asked to care for complex cases like facial trauma without the training support they need.”

The Emotional Toll of War

Ukrainian nurses carry not just medical but emotional burdens. “It’s hard to focus on your work when you’re listening for the next air raid siren,” says Laurie. “Many nurses have to go home and care for children while worrying about husbands at the front.”

Amy adds: “They are exhausted. Many have lost loved ones, their homes, their income. Women are holding the country together. And when this war is over, they will be the ones to rebuild.”

Resource Gaps and Solutions

The mission team addressed critical equipment shortages. The hospital lacked a bladder scanner, and catheter supplies were minimal. Through Razom, the team purchased a scanner and distributed donated catheters and 60 brand-new stethoscopes.

Beyond equipment, systemic change is underway. Ivano-Frankivsk Hospital leadership is expanding the scope of nursing practice. “Dr. Komashko and Head Nurse Nataliia Ryzhulo are making real progress,” Laurie explains. “More hospitals need this kind of leadership and support.”

Elevating Patient Care: Practical Training

During post-op care, Amy observed dangerous gaps. “There was no recovery room protocol. Patients weren’t monitored for pain or complications. It wasn’t that the nurses didn’t care—they had just never been taught.”

One case stood out: a patient waking up in severe pain was dismissed as “fine.” Amy intervened with proper post-op care and pain relief, resulting in immediate improvement. “Infection is the second enemy of Ukrainians after war injuries,” she said. “Simple things like hygiene and pain management can save lives.”

Knowledge Sharing at the Symposium

The symposium featured nurses from every specialty—emergency, OR, critical care, rehab. Debbie Fritz delivered a session on electrocautery use and safety, drawing on her OR experience.

“It was incredibly rewarding when nurses came up during breaks to ask questions and share stories,” she said. “We emphasized that nurses are not just assistants—they are essential to successful outcomes.”

Mental Health as Essential Care

Amy’s session on trauma care used brain imaging to show how trauma affects the body. “There’s a cultural narrative in Ukraine of being tough. But we need to acknowledge trauma. Assume every patient you see has been affected.”

She used simple metaphors to convey the importance of gentleness and empathy in care. “By the end of the talk, many nurses were in tears. They finally felt seen.”

Laurie reinforced the message: “The psychological wounds of this war will outlast the physical ones. If we don’t address them now, they will linger for generations.”

Building Bridges Through Healthcare

These missions are about more than surgical care. They are about solidarity, community, and long-term capacity building. International and Ukrainian nurses are learning from each other, improving outcomes, and forging lasting partnerships.

As the Face the Future Foundation team left Ukraine, they passed a line of Ukrainian soldiers heading to Poland for training. From the bus window, the team held up a Ukrainian flag. The soldiers responded with heartfelt hand gestures of thanks.

Moments like this remind us: We are stronger together. And together, we will help rebuild a resilient, compassionate, and skilled healthcare system in Ukraine.

Support Razom’s Co-Pilot Project

Help us train and equip Ukrainian healthcare workers. Support missions like this one and be part of the effort to strengthen Ukraine’s healthcare system from the ground up.

Thank you to Yana Leshchynska and Yuliia Shama, for working on the article.