We asked the women who lead these groups: “If you could give one piece of advice to young women who want to make a real difference in the world, what would it be?”

Nova Ukraine CEO Ambassador Erin E. McKee said, “Know that your voice, your urgency, your refusal to accept what is — these are not liabilities. They are precisely what leadership demands. Especially now, when the stakes are this high.”

Tonya Levchuk, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Liberty Ukraine Foundation, said, “Some things are simply meant to happen and are beyond our control. What we can do is accept them, learn from them, and keep moving forward. One day, you will look back and realize that even the hardest waves carried you exactly where you were meant to be. Just keep going!”

Read everyone’s advice on Instagram.

The post Spotlighting Women Making History for Ukraine appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

“Ostap was there with us at the very beginning when Nova Ukraine started as Euromaidan SF, and he was crucial to getting us off the ground,” says Mikola (Nick) Bilogorskiy, Chairman of Nova Ukraine. “Welcoming him back as we turn toward recovery, reconstruction, and modernization is a full-circle moment for all of us.”

During his nine years at Facebook, Ostap helped build the systems powering the world’s largest social network. He later served as Director of Engineering at People.ai, leading the Intelligence Platform team.

Ostap recently earned his Master’s in Management from Stanford Graduate School of Business and co-founded NeoLens, where he serves as CTO. NeoLens builds an offline-capable, on-device AI copilot delivering diagnostics and step-by-step guidance for defense and industrial operators. The platform is provided free to Ukrainians. 

ABOUT NOVA UKRAINE

Nova Ukraine is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded in 2014 that provides humanitarian aid and services, and raises awareness about Ukraine in the United States and globally. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Nova Ukraine has delivered critical assistance to millions of Ukrainians, supporting medical institutions, civilian infrastructure, displaced families, and community-led recovery efforts.

The post Nova Ukraine Welcomes Ostap Korkuna to Board of Directors appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

“Every year, people ask me why I go to Davos and whether it’s worth the effort,” says Nova Ukraine Co-Founder and Chairman Nick Bilogorskiy. “And every year, I give the same answer: Yes, absolutely. Because Davos isn’t about the panels you attend, but the people you meet and the conversations you weren’t planning to have.”

Bilogorskiy says Davos is a rare opportunity where “talent, capital, and influence” converge in one place, and one can have meaningful conversations on Ukraine. Joined by Nova Ukraine Board Director Dr. Igor Markov and COO Vlad Dergunov, Bilogorskiy and his colleagues met dozens of global policymakers to discuss Ukraine’s humanitarian situation, security, long-term reconstruction, and a wide range of issues related to business, government, and civil society.

Markov recognizes that the fruits of these conversations aren’t always immediate, but can pay long-term dividends.

“Davos is a unique platform to have these talks, and it’s a crucial place to keep Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine at the top of the global agenda. Without our participation and that of our partners, Ukraine risks slipping off the radar of global attention, especially as the war has lasted four years with no end in sight,” he says. 

Markov adds that what stood out for him at Davos “wasn’t optimism for optimism’s sake, but a reassessment grounded in reality. Investors who once ruled Ukraine out are now evaluating concrete investment pathways, acknowledging reforms, resilience, and the scale of reconstruction ahead.”

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine this winter is particularly dire. Dergunov raised the issue with officials at Davos, emphasizing how Russia has deliberately weaponized winter against the Ukrainian population.

Dergunov says he spoke with officials at Davos about how Russia has intentionally weaponized the cold of winter against the people of Ukraine.

“Systematic attacks on energy infrastructure, combined with sub-zero temperatures, leave millions without the essentials for survival — heat, electricity, and water,” he said. “For many Ukrainian families, winter is no longer just a season — it has become another front in Russia’s war against civilians.

The Nova Ukraine leadership team met civil society partners, including Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. They discussed accountability, justice, and the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The group also visited Ukraine House Davos, a key space for Ukraine-focused discussions that brings together policymakers, business leaders, civil society, and international partners. At the Ukrainian Breakfast in Davos, Nova Ukraine leadership met with Jens Stoltenberg, former Secretary General of NATO and current Minister of Finance of Norway. 

Nova Ukraine’s presence in Davos aligns with its mission and vision: to help create a prosperous, independent Ukraine with a vibrant civil society. Rooted in partnership and innovation, Nova Ukraine works to empower Ukrainians to endure, rebuild, and shape their own democratic future.

The post At Davos, Nova Ukraine Keeps Global Focus on Ukraine appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

This winter, countless Ukrainian families face unimaginable hardship. Homes stand cold and dark, hospitals struggle to keep their doors open, and children fall asleep wrapped in layers just to stay warm. Despite the bitter cold and the constant threat of attack, the spirit of the Ukrainian people endures — sustained by courage, hope, and the compassion of those who refuse to stand by.

Russia is not just exploiting harsh weather conditions; it is deliberately weaponizing winter against Ukrainian civilians through systematic attacks on energy infrastructure that leave millions without heat, light, or water in sub-zero temperatures. 

These strikes are calculated to break people’s spirit by freezing homes, hospitals, and entire cities into darkness, pushing families to the very edge of survival. ​

The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco and Nova Ukraine have launched a joint humanitarian fundraiser to bring warmth and relief to Ukrainian families this winter. 

It is a vital effort bringing warmth, power, and essential supplies to the most vulnerable communities across Ukraine. Your generosity will help deliver generators, heating equipment, and emergency support to those fighting for survival this winter.

Every contribution is a gesture of solidarity — a reminder that, even across oceans, our shared humanity connects us all. Together, we can ensure that darkness and cold do not prevail over hope and resilience.

Please help us give Ukrainians strength, protection, and renewed hope—when they need it most and the understanding that they are not ALONE!

GIVE WARMTH TODAY

The post Warmth for Ukraine: A Humanitarian Appeal appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

Three million people in Kyiv are on the edge of survival. Russian strikes have plunged Ukrainian cities fall into darkness as temperatures plummet to minus 4°F—and meteorologists warn the deadly freeze will persist through January.

This is not the chaos of war. This is calculated. Russia is systematically weaponizing winter itself.

Across Ukraine—from Kyiv to Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih to Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia—families huddle in the cold, cut off from power, heat, and hope. Each day brings fresh strikes. Each night brings a deeper cold.

Nova Ukraine, one of the largest U.S. nonprofits supporting Ukraine since 2014, warns that Russia’s assault on civilian infrastructure has reached an unprecedented scale. The data confirms what Ukrainians live every day: this winter is different. This winter is Deadly.

International observers sound the alarm. The United Nations warns Russia’s ongoing campaign against energy infrastructure could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, civilian deaths from long-range weapons have surged 27 percent compared to last year.

On the ground, the toll is staggering. Nova Stash—Nova Ukraine’s volunteer rapid-response teams—deploy to strike sites immediately after attacks to support devastated Communities.

“The teams operate in nine cities,” said Olena Drozd, Nova Ukraine Infrastructure Lead.
“In the first quarter of 2025, there were around 26 deployments. In the most recent
quarter, that number increased to about 70. And these numbers exclude the most dangerous strike zones, where volunteers cannot enter until emergency responders complete their work.”

Nova Ukraine CEO Erin E. McKee witnessed the reality behind these numbers during a December visit to Ukraine. “I felt, to my bones and in my soul, the fear and anger that comes from being a victim of terror and tyranny,” McKee said. “Ukrainians endure this every single day. The world must understand: every resource we commit to helping Ukraine save lives and defend their freedom matters. Every dollar. Every voice. Every Action.”

Nova Ukraine refuses to let the darkness win. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the organization has delivered critical infrastructure and resilience projects designed for one purpose: to keep Ukrainians alive through winter’s weaponized cruelty.

Life-Saving Infrastructure in the Face of Catastrophe:

Invincibility Points: Refusing to Surrender
When the power dies, hope must not. With support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Nova Ukraine has established 56 autonomous Invincibility Points nationwide—community hubs that provide warmth, connectivity, and psychological support when everything else fails. Equipped with generators, stoves, Starlink internet, and potable water, these lifelines operate at 50 railway stations and six independent sites. Forty-five locations include children’s rooms where young Ukrainians can rest and create despite the chaos outside. Since 2022, more than 5 million people have foundrefuge in these spaces.

Heating Systems: Keeping Schools Alive
In the Kirovohrad region, two 300 kW solid-fuel boilers now heat schools serving 345 students—many displaced, most vulnerable. Voynivskyi Lyceum serves 265 students, half from families barely surviving. Dykivka Gymnasium, the only school in its village, keeps 80 children learning. In Kharkiv’s Dovzhyk community, another boiler sustains a center that houses a library, post office, Invincibility Point, and shelter for 2,500 people. These systems operate without electricity—a critical distinction when blackouts can last for days.

Solar Power: Light in the Darkness
In Odesa, a hospital now powers critical medical equipment through a 40 kW solar installation completed during active combat. When missiles cut the grid, solar panels keep ventilators running, operating rooms lit, and lives saved. The doctors and engineers who built this system under constant threat can explain how innovation becomes survival.

Stoves for the Frontlines: When Everything Else Is Gone
In the frontline and liberated territories, where gas pipelines lie shattered and centralized heating is a memory, families survive on potbelly and rocket stoves—burzhuyky—that burn any available fuel and need no electricity. Since 2022, Nova Ukraine has delivered nearly 4,000 units. Local residents depend on these stoves during blackouts, shelling, and sub-zero temperatures. They represent the difference between survival and freezing.

Generators: Power When Power Dies
More than 2,000 generators delivered since 2022 keep hospitals operational, shelters warm, and administrative centers functioning when prolonged outages would otherwise mean death and chaos.

Nova Ukraine can arrange direct media access to local coordinators, educators, healthcare workers, and families whose lives depend on these systems. The human stories behind the statistics demand to be told.

The international community cannot look away. Ukrainians are not simply enduring winter—they are surviving a deliberate campaign of terror designed to break their will through cold, darkness, and fear.

Every resource committed to Ukraine’s survival matters. Every voice raised in their defense counts. The world’s attention cannot waver now.

The post Russia Weaponizes Winter: Ukrainian Civilians Face Catastrophic Threat from Systematic Infrastructure Attacks appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

On January 13, the Ukrainian Cultural Showcase “C-Ukraine” officially opened in San Francisco. The project was organized by the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco. By visiting the space, guests can explore Ukrainian culture, traditions, and history, as well as discover what Ukrainian brands are creating today – meaningful, contemporary pieces shaped by Ukrainian culture and today’s realities.

“C-Ukraine Cultural Showcase is our way of opening this light to the world. A pop-up space where culture, creative industries and Ukrainian brands curated by CODE 380, innovation, and community meet,” according to the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco.

The opening was attended by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Members of Nova Ukraine’s board were also present as Nova Ukraine enthusiastically supports the “C-Ukraine” launch and helps to promote the showcase.

Nick Bilogorskiy, chairman of Nova Ukraine, commented on the significance of the initiative:

“At a time when Ukraine’s culture and identity are under attack, C Ukraine popup is a powerful reminder of the resilience, creativity, and spirit of the Ukrainian people. We were glad to join as a community partner and show what makes Ukraine special.”

C-Ukraine will also serve as an event venue in the heart of San Francisco. The space is available to host a wide range of events, including technology meetups, holiday celebrations, and startup pitches.

Igor Markov, the director of Nova Ukraine, emphasized that the region has long lacked a dedicated cultural space of this kind:

“Seeing a vacant space in San Francisco transformed into a cultural hub is inspiring and deeply meaningful to all of us at Nova Ukraine. From its early years in 2014, Nova Ukraine organized cultural events in the Bay Area, such as Ukrainian film screenings, poetry readings, and musical performances. Finding appropriate venues was always a challenge, so events often took place at private homes and local universities”.

Also, Nova Ukraine’s leadership highlights that this space provides a platform for community members to share their stories, traditions, and heritage with the broader Bay Area. The new center will also support local Ukrainian entrepreneurs by facilitating networking and providing opportunities for community members to meet with elected officials.

Updates about events hosted at the center will be shared on the showcase’s Instagram page.

Support for cultural projects is one of Nova Ukraine’s Empower pillar’s focus areas. Through it we develop programs that support Ukrainian culture, recovery through psychosocial care, education, career development, adaptive sports, and family support. These programs strengthen youth leadership and learning initiatives and help people stay connected, supported, and able to contribute to their communities.

The post The Ukrainian Cultural Showcase “C-Ukraine” Opens in San Francisco appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

With approval from both chambers, Wisconsin became the first US state to pass this kind of resolution through its full legislature. Although a similar measure exists at the federal level, this marks the first state level legislative action on the issue.

Advocates see this step as an important signal of growing momentum in the United States to recognize and respond to Russia’s documented war crimes against children.

The resolution was brought before lawmakers through a partnership between Nova Ukraine, a leading US-based nonprofit supporting Ukraine, and Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc., with support from Friends of Ukraine – Madison. Together, these organizations worked with bipartisan lawmakers to ensure the issue received formal recognition at the state level.

Senator Andre Jacque, one of the authors of the resolution, emphasized why Wisconsin could not remain silent. “With today’s passage in the Assembly, both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature have now formally condemned the actions of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation, and his genocidal policy of abducting Ukrainian children,” said Sen. Jacque. “This is not just child abduction. It is about cultural erasure and an attempt to rewrite history and eliminate a nation through its youngest generation, and we refuse to be silent until every Ukrainian child is reunited with their families.”

Representative Daniel Knodl also underscored the human dimension behind the vote.

“As a father and a grandfather, I cannot imagine the pain of having a child taken from their family,” he said. “With the passage of AJR 110, Wisconsin is sending a clear and unified message that the kidnapping of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation is a horrific violation of human rights. I am proud that Wisconsin will be the first state in the nation to formally condemn this inhumane practice and to stand with the children, families, and people of Ukraine.”

Nova Ukraine has supported advocacy on the issue of abducted Ukrainian children since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The organization works with Ukrainian partners and international coalitions to raise awareness among US audiences and policymakers about the systematic nature of these crimes.

“This is a question of good versus evil, and today Wisconsin made it clear where they stand,” said Aleksandr Krapivkin, Associate Director of Community Engagement at Nova Ukraine. “For our team, this result is a clear mandate that this work is important, and we will continue to advocate for the return of Ukrainian children. The world must be aware of these abductions and condemn them to protect the future of our world. We are grateful to the Wisconsin Legislature for setting a precedent as we look to other states across America to do the same.”

Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc., a growing diaspora organization that has supported humanitarian aid, cultural programming, and refugee resettlement since the beginning of the war, also played a key role in advancing the resolution.

“Today, my heart is heavy and hopeful at the same time,” said Halyna Salapata, President of Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc. “Thousands of Ukrainian parents have been robbed of a simple, sacred right. Their children were taken, their names changed, their identities erased. This resolution matters because it says clearly that these children are not forgotten. But a resolution alone cannot bring them home. Only relentless pressure, moral courage, and global action can.”

According to the Ukrainian government and international monitoring organizations, more than 19,546 Ukrainian children have been abducted and forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-occupied territories. The actual number is believed to be significantly higher. Many of these children have been separated from their families, placed into Russian institutions, or adopted under altered identities.

By passing this resolution, Wisconsin has taken a first step at the state level. For Nova Ukraine and its partners, it is also a call to continue pressing for accountability and action until every abducted child is returned home.

The post Wisconsin leads the nation in condemning Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children – Nova Ukraine welcomes a significant precedent appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

In 2022, Nova Ukraine did provide a grant to this organization during the early emergency phase of the full-scale invasion. At that time, the initiative was presented as a coordinated evacuation effort involving Ukrainian regional authorities responsible for residential institutions, Turkey’s Ministry of Family and Social Services, and local municipal structures in the Antalya region that provided accommodation permissions. Given these representations—and the urgency of removing children from areas under bombardment—Nova Ukraine had no indication of the concerns now being reported.

To be clear: the conditions described in the current reporting were not known to us at the time we awarded the grant. Once we became aware of these findings, Nova Ukraine immediately and permanently ended all cooperation with the Shostak Foundation.

Nova Ukraine’s grantmaking system is built on transparency and accountability. Every partnership undergoes documented review, internal verification, and cross-checking through our wide network of active partners, subject-matter experts, and collaboration with local authorities and hromadas. By 2023, Nova Ukraine strengthened reporting standards and prerequisites for grantees. Even with these systems in place, this situation shows the need to further strengthen monitoring and independent access for programs involving children.

We support full, transparent investigations by the relevant authorities and stand firmly on the side of every child’s right to protection. We have initiated an internal review to reinforce our safeguarding procedures, particularly for any program where children’s rights, safety, or daily welfare depend on partner operations. 

Our position is clear: Nova Ukraine will only work with partners who uphold standards that ensure safety, dignity, lawful oversight, and responsible use of resources.

For media inquiries: [email protected]

The post Nova Ukraine Statement Regarding the Turkey Evacuation Program of Ukrainian Children appeared first on Nova Ukraine.