Diary of War. Women - Benefit Reading for United Help Ukraine

Diary of War. Women

Benefit Reading for United Help Ukraine

Directed by: Musa Gurnis

Cast: Katie Hartke, Merlinda Akindele, Tessa Weinland, Agnes Enkhtamir, Khali Sykes, Tatienne Hendricks-Tellefsen, TBA

Diary of War. Women is a documentary theater piece, featuring first-hand accounts from Ukrainian women who have shown remarkable resilience in the face of danger. The script is drawn from a larger archive of 41 personal histories from an eclectic group of Ukrainians describing their experiences of the full-scale invasion. These raw testimonies were collected and produced by the Ukrainian cultural activist Daria Kolomiec, beginning with her own war diary, recorded as a voice memo on her cell phone while sheltering from bombs with neighbors in the basement of a local cafe in her native Kyiv. The full, original audio recordings of all the diaries are available with subtitles through the podcast.

We offer this performance to honor the memory of Iryna Tsybukh.

Diary of War. Women voices the stories of these brave Ukrainians:

- Iryna Tsybukh, call sign "Cheka," a film producer and project manager in civilian life. Iryna shares her work as a combat medic in the Hospitallers volunteer battalion, evacuating soldiers in hot spots on the front line. In May 2024, she was killed during her rotation.

- Olena Nikulina is the wife of Maksym Nikulin, a soldier of the Azov Regiment. She describes learning about her second pregnancy while her husband was at the Azovstal factory surrounded by Russians. Olena has not heard from Maksym since his capture, and he has never met his son.

- Julia Kochetova, a photojournalist who regularly works in Ukraine's most dangerous places, reporting about Russian war crimes. For her work, she was awarded an Emmy in 2023 and a World Press Photo Award in 2024.

- Tetyana Kuzmenko recounts her experiences living under Russian occupation in the Kyiv region, providing insight into the harsh realities of those times.

- Anastasia Shevchenko (STASIK) is a singer, an actress, and a war veteran. Anastasia shares how she overslept the war she was preparing for, her experiences of hostilities, and of Ukrainian heroism. Since recording her diary, Anastasia has rejoined the army.

- Olha Bulkina provides a moving account of her work as a clown at Kyiv's Ohmatdyt, the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine, where she continues to bring comfort to kids amidst the war's casualties. Recently, Ohmatdyt was targeted by a Russian ballistic missile, killing four children.

- Valeria Mykhailovska describes her emotional journey from the Czech Republic to rescue her mother and dogs from Mariupol. Her story captures the brave risks taken and personal sacrifices made during the invasion.

The evening starts with a special performance at 7 by Anastasiya Voytyuk (BanduraGirl) – a singer, promoter of Ukrainian folk culture and virtuoso of the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument. The reading will begin at 7:30.

Beneficiary:

All funds raised from this event will go to United Help Ukraine – a registered 501(c)(3) charity providing humanitarian, medical and psychological assistance to those affected by the Russian war in Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and occupied part of eastern Ukraine. UHU also focuses on raising awareness and advocating for Ukraine to remain a free, democratic and independent nation.

As a part of their medical aid program, UHU will direct the money we collect through this reading toward supplies for Hospitallers, a Ukrainian volunteer organization delivering crucial medical care on the battlefield, facilitating the evacuation of the wounded, and assisting with their recovery. Since its inception in 2014, Hospitallers have been instrumental in evacuating over 17,000 people from combat zones, continuing their essential work to this day.

Donation Details:

100% of the income from ticket sales will be donated to United Help Ukraine. United Help Ukraine will transfer 100% of these funds to the brave volunteer combat medics of Hospitallers to purchase urgently needed supplies. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to make further donations to the organization at the venue. There will be a live auction following the reading, with donated items including Ukrainian champagne, a Hospitallers t-shirt (the merch of heroes!), and a stunning silver gelatine print from Natura Morta (2022) series by Ukrainian photographer Yuliia Haleta.

Why Attend?

This reading provides an opportunity to engage with profound personal stories while supporting a significant cause. By attending, you will contribute to the ongoing efforts of United Help Ukraine, aiding those who provide critical care and support in the wartime, including the brave volunteer combat medics of Hospitallers to whose specific needs the proceeds of this event are dedicated.

Can I donate if I can’t attend the event?

Yes! You can donate directly for United Help Ukraine – just use this link.

Host or Publisher United Help Ukraine