About us

United We Stand, Together We Resist, Out of Many, One.
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Our Mission

Create a trusted platform to unite the friends and allies of Ukraine in their support through meaningful and synergistic partnerships.

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Putting people first.

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Building trust through accountability and transparency.

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Amplifying impact through honest partnerships.

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Putting people first.

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Building trust through accountability and transparency.

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Amplifying impact through honest partnerships.

Our team
The People Behind Our Success

UA Resistance Foundation thrives thanks to the dedication and hard work of our committed team. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, we've grown from a small group of three to a robust community of over twenty passionate individuals. This expansion, coupled with the invaluable contributions of our volunteers and ambassadors, has been crucial in ensuring that Ukraine receives the essential resources and aid it needs during these challenging times.

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Ellen Lopatkina
Board Director/CEO
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Natalie Baranchan
Board Secretary/Director of Operations
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Svitlana Holub
Board Treasurer/Chief Accountant
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Oleksandra Chernova
Accountant/ Aid Coordinator, US
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Daryna Panchenko
Aid Distribution Manager, Ukraine
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Oleksandr Makarchuk
Warehouse Manager, Ukraine
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Ada Baranchan
Accountant, Ukraine
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Tom Maliszewski
Warehouse Manager, US
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Antonina Muzhylko
Social Media Manager, US
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Chief Emotional Support Officer, US
Our team
Ambassadors
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Professor Joel Levin
Professor Joel Levin, a distinguished professor at Northwestern Law School and former federal prosecutor, is a passionate advocate for Ukraine. Known for his unwavering support, he has emerged as an outspoken leader within Illinois' advocacy community, championing the Ukrainian cause with dedication and expertise.
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Dr. Chandra Hassan
Dr. Chandra Hassan, is an Associate Professor of Surgery and a passionate humanitarian. He has demonstrated his commitment to global health by repeatedly visiting Ukraine on medical missions. His dedication to improving lives through both his professional work and humanitarian efforts makes him an invaluable ambassador for our nonprofit.
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Brian Kolva
Brian Kolva, a Chicago-based attorney and activist, embodies a deep commitment to his Ukrainian heritage and community. As a second-generation Ukrainian-American, Brian shows support in numerous ways, from active participation in advocacy efforts in Washington, DC. to fundraising, delivering ambulances all the way to Kyiv, Ukraine.
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Rick Grobart
Rick Grobart, a Chicago-based risk management professional, is a true supporter of Ukraine. He donated thousands of dollars and drove ambulances to Ukraine. Rick's compassion extends beyond that, as he is also deeply committed to humanitarian efforts in Haiti. His dedication to multiple causes reflects his truly big heart and commitment to making a difference.
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Tetyana Shamarina
Tetyana Shamarina is an educator and a proud Ukrainian-American. She actively participates in advocacy in Washington, DC, and plays a vital role as an engaged constituent of Rep. Casten, ensuring that Ukraine remains a key focus on the Congressman’s agenda. Her commitment to her heritage and community is evident in her tireless efforts to support Ukraine.
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Chrystyna and Michael Pylypczak
Chrystyna and Michael Pylypczak, dedicated Ukrainian-Americans and active members of Chicago's Ukrainian community. Chrystyna and Michael exemplify commitment, service and compassion. Despite their lives as active and engaged grandparents, they consistently find time to sort and pack medical supplies for Ukraine.
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Jay Krafsur and Patricia Kennedy
Jay Krafsur and Patricia Kennedy form an exceptional team, a former EMT and a veteran skilled in piloting Army helicopters. Throughout their lives, hey have consistently shown remarkable generosity, whether it's providing school supplies for underprivileged children or personally delivering ambulances to Ukraine. Their commitment to offering support whenever needed is truly inspiring.
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Nadiia Levych
Nadiia Levych is a dedicated volunteer whose commitment has been invaluable. When we urgently needed medical supplies sorted this winter, Nadiia was at the warehouse every day, tirelessly working around the clock to ensure our shipment deadlines were met. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication.
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Mark Jones
Mark Jones is a first responder and an amazing volunteer. He has done it all: donated time, money and supplies, taught Ukrainian firefighters hazmat skills, showed us how to properly assemble IFAK kits. An example for us all!
Volunteers
Gabriel Ziegler

“There are not many ways to contribute your labor directly to Ukraine without leaving Chicago. You can fundraise and protest and share the culture but making a difference with a few hours of sweat feels different.

To see so much resilience and strength not only physically but in character in spirit and in collective will is deeply moving. When you think about freedom or justice in America you probably don’t think about the maidan the revolution of dignity or the reason Ukraine is so determined to manifest their own destiny, but when you learn the history, the Holodomor their sacrifice in world war 2 the journey to independence and the fight to reject secondhand Russian oligarch rule, you cannot help but feel empathetic and inspired and want to help. When you listen to the sound of the language, see the clothing and the traditions and the values of the Ukrainian people you cannot help but want to join them in being people. And when you learn of the war crimes the half hearted help the Constant attacks on civilians in parks and homes and shopping centers hospitals and schools, the burning of historical buildings and art, the theft of cultural icons, the attempts to erase their traditions and contributions, the rape and torture of civilians and prisoners of war, on and on, your heart will break. It’s a mountain of grief poured over genuinely good people, people who have every right to be bitter and angry and vindictive who would be justified in leaving and never looking back, who would be logical to give up and choose an easier way, yet who still smile as they work to hold on to rebuild to give back to home and country.

It is both an urgency and a relevancy that we mostly just read about in text books.

But here you have the opportunity to sweat for someone’s chance at a bit more life, a bit less pain, a bit more hope.

If that isn’t worth a few hours I don’t know what is”.

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Victoria Illyha

“At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, I met Daryna, who motivated me to do more, because it gave me great hope for tomorrow’s day. Through her I met Natalia. To me, she is the heart of UA Resistance Foundation, I would want that heart to not stop beating”.

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Sultan Mamyraliev

“I volunteer with UA Resistance because I find this nonprofit trustworthy. They have interesting projects and initiatives and a great team. It’s a place where I made a lot of friends”.

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Darina Semenets

I was simply looking for a way to help Ukraine, and as we all know, life is an interesting thing that throws opportunities at you when you are looking for them, and this is how I learned that there are opportunities to sort medical supplies. As a bonus, I met all the people from the nonprofit. When you call yourself Ukrainian, the question of why you help doesn’t arise. You do it because you can’t otherwise.

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Volodymyr Romahchuk

‘Will start with why you need to help. I think it's a responsibility of everyone who wants to call themselves Ukrainian, so we need to make sure that we have our military’s back because, in this war, they are sacrificing the most important; their time, health, and their lives. Hence, I choose to volunteer to help directly here in the U.S. Through Oleksandra I discovered what US Resistance does, so I started coming to their warehouse to sort medical supplies to help and was honestly surprised with the scope of aid that they deliver to Ukraine. I also want to recognize the people I have met there. They have a lot of ideas and are united by one mission.

There was a time when I even approached them for help with specific medical aid for my friend in Ukraine and without hesitation they helped us out, so I can say first hand that they are trustworthy and I have huge respect for them for all the work that they do for Ukraine’s victory”.

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Hanna Sud

“Last year UA Resistance Foundation went to Burning Man and as far as I can recall my friend helped them with some aspect of it. He came here and they organized it all, put together that phoenix and I picked that friend from their warehouse a couple of times. That’s how I met Ellen, Natalie, Oleksanda and they mentioned that they will need volunteers to sort some medicine. And it happened at the same time as I wanted to get involved in helping Ukraine more because I didn’t have that feeling of being part of helping Ukraine when just donating. I wanted to help with my hands to instantly see that result with my hands. So, that’s how I joined them:)”.

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Tetyana Shamarina

“I chose this organization because I advocated for Ukrainian legislation with them in D.C., so I am familiar with the people leading the effort. Additionally, they are honest, efficient, and hardworking in their objective of helping Ukraine and getting people involved.”

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Volunteers Gallery
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Our partners

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

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Upcoming events
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Saturday 31st of August 9:00 - 3:00pm
Chicago Community - We are looking for volunteers!!

Let us know if you are coming in the comment section, please!

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Last Updates
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31 AUG 2024
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Phoenix Project

A remarkable symbol of Ukrainian resilience and rebirth that debuted at the Burning Man festival on August 31, 2023

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30 Aug 2024
Chicago Community - We are looking for volunteers!!

WHEN: Saturday 31st of August 9:00 - 3:00pm WHERE: 4136 United Parkway, Schiller Park, 60176 Unit A Let us know if you are coming in the comment section, please!

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