A charity concert titled MOTANKA by the Vyshyvanka School of Dance took place in the United States — an evening dedicated to Ukrainian culture, dance, art, and support for Ukrainian defenders. During the event, organizers raised $6,134 for the treatment, prosthetics, and rehabilitation of severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers in the U.S. and Ukraine.
This was reported by Revived Soldiers Ukraine.
The central theme of the evening was the Ukrainian motanka — a traditional protective doll symbolizing strength, rebirth, and the human soul. In cooperation with Revived Soldiers Ukraine, the concert featured unique motanka dolls created by wounded Ukrainian soldiers undergoing rehabilitation at the NextStep Ukraine centers in Irpin and Lviv.
Guests had the opportunity to watch a video about the doll-making process and purchase motankas to support the recovery of Ukrainian warriors. Organizers emphasized that for many soldiers, this creative work became part of their psychological rehabilitation and return to civilian life.
Highlights of the evening included performances by Vyshyvanka School of Dance and The Elegy Studio. The artists presented Ukrainian folk dances in traditional costumes, combining stage energy with elements of folk culture and Ukrainian traditions.
Singer and musician Yuriy Yaremchuk also performed, alongside artist ODali SandArt, who created live sand paintings during the concert, blending music, light, and animation.
Father Mykola Buryadnyk addressed the guests and spoke about his long-standing support for the mission of Revived Soldiers Ukraine and assistance to Ukrainian servicemen.
Among the honored guests were Ukrainian soldiers undergoing treatment and rehabilitation:
-Taras Orel, a serviceman of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade;
-Artem Borysenko, a fighter of the 151st Separate Mechanized Brigade;
-Oleksandr Kungurov, a representative of the Special Operations Forces;
-and Colonel Andriy Samoilenko, a surgeon at Kyiv’s Main Military Hospital.
During the charity auction, a unique protective motanka doll created by Ukrainian craftswoman Svitlana Zbroi was sold for $2,500. The buyer was Serhiy Konyk, and all proceeds will go toward helping Ukrainian soldiers and supporting their rehabilitation.
Organizers also shared special stories connected to Svitlana Zbroi’s works. According to them, one motanka given to a family before the full-scale war miraculously protected a home in Ukraine after an aerial bomb landed nearby without detonating. Another doll became a symbol of salvation for a family in Los Angeles during major wildfires, as the fire reportedly stopped at the doorstep of their house.
The artisan’s motankas have also been used during charity initiatives in Mexico, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Spain to raise funds in support of Ukraine.
Special thanks were also extended to craftswomen Iryna Melnychenko and Olena Chystiakova, who conducted motanka-making workshops for veterans and soldiers at the NextStep Ukraine rehabilitation centers.
Additional gratitude was expressed to Pavlo Fedkiv and Oksana Fedkiv for their long-term support of Revived Soldiers Ukraine and for organizing the charity evening.
Organizers emphasized that events like this combine support for Ukrainian soldiers with the promotion of Ukrainian culture and traditions abroad.
“Together we preserve Ukrainian heritage, support our heroes, and build a future in which kindness, memory, and humanity always prevail,” participants of the event stated.
Photo: Revived Soldiers Ukraine
Author: Danylo Pievchev