Washington, D.C. — On May 30, 2025, at 7 PM, the Atlas Performing Arts Center in partnership with United Help Ukraine will host Diary of War, a compelling benefit reading that brings to life the powerful, real stories of Ukrainians whose lives were upended by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Featuring a cast of acclaimed actors, the reading presents firsthand accounts of war, resilience, and survival — offering the audiences a rare emotional insight into Ukraine’s human experience.
Collected, produced by: Daria Kolomiec.
Directed by: Musa Gurnis.
Cast: Holly Twyford, Tony Nam, Renee Wilson, Lolita Marie Clayton, Emily Townley, Drew Kopas, and Jeremy Keith Hunter.
Rooted in the Diary of War documentary podcast by Ukrainian cultural activist and Time Magazine Next Generation Leader Daria Kolomiec, the project developed into impactful performances with NY's Private Theatre, transforming true stories into profoundly moving theatrical experiences. The project captures the raw and emotional stories of Ukrainians during the full-scale Russian war, providing a window into the personal impact of the ongoing invasion.
Since February 2024, Diary of War benefit readings produced by Kolomiec have repeatedly sold out venues across New York City, including Bedlam’s West End Theater and the Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research, raising over $90,000 for Ukrainian volunteer organizations conducting frontline medical evacuations and supporting female veterans.
This performance marks the highly anticipated Washington, D.C. premiere of Diary of War. Since its first events in NYC, the project has drawn interest from audiences across the country, many of whom have followed the project since its inception through media coverage, social platforms, and personal networks.
The date of May 30 was chosen deliberately: May 29, marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Iryna Tsybukh (call sign Cheka) – one of the project’s diarists, a combat medic with the Hospitallers volunteer battalion. She was killed during a rotation on the Kharkiv frontline on May 29, 2024. Since her passing, every Diary of War reading has been dedicated to her memory. This upcoming performance continues that tradition, honoring Iryna’s life, service, and enduring impact.
Directed and co-produced by Musa Gurnis, the reading at Atlas Performing Arts Space will share the testimonies of seven Ukrainians whose lives were irrevocably changed by war:
Iryna Tsybukh (call sign Cheka), a film producer and a project manager in civilian life, 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, the wife of Maksym Nikulin, a soldier of the Azov Regiment, describes learning about her second pregnancy while her husband was at the Azovstal factory surrounded by Russians. Since his capture in May 2022, Olena has not heard from Maksym, and he has never met his son.
- Denys Khrystov, a former TV host, evacuated hundreds of people and animals from the war zone; some of the towns he visited with his evacuation assignments no longer exist.
- Julia Kochetova, a photojournalist who regularly works in Ukraine's most dangerous places, reports about Russian war crimes. She was awarded an Emmy in 2023 and a World Press Photo Award in 2024 for her work.
- Olha Bulkina describes her work as a clown at Kyiv's Ohmatdyt, the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, struck by a Russian missile in the summer of 2024.
- Marat Shevchenko is a stageman and DJ who had to flee his occupied hometown of Kupiansk on an old motorcycle with his vinyl records and ethnic embroidered shirt.
- Yurii Marchenko, a Ukrainian journalist, storyteller, and editor-in-chief at Platfor.ma, a media and creative agency for social projects, tells about losing his pet pug and being unable to get timely veterinary assistance during the first weeks of the full-scale war.
The reading features a stunning cast of beloved D.C. actors, including: Holly Twyford, Tony Nam, Renee Wilson, Lolita Marie Clayton, Emily Townley, Drew Kopas, and Jeremy Keith Hunter.
The evening will start at 7 PM with an exceptional performance by Olga Perepelytsia, a versatile bandura player and educator, followed by Georgian-Ukrainian singer-songwriter, composer and producer Sophie Villy, who will offer a unique interpretation of the Ukrainian folk song.
The upcoming Washington, D.C. performance will honor Iryna Tsybukh (Cheka) and raise funds in partnership with United Help Ukraine to rebuild a Hospitallers’ base destroyed by Russian forces.
2X Donation Match: All proceeds go to United Help Ukraine, with donations doubled up to $20,000 by an anonymous donor. Those unable to attend are encouraged to support this vital frontline medical effort.
United Help Ukraine is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit 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 raises awareness and advocates for Ukraine to remain a free, democratic, and independent nation.
Hospitallers is a Ukrainian volunteer organization that delivers crucial medical care on the battlefield, facilitates the evacuation of the wounded, and assists with their recovery. Since its inception in 2014, Hospitallers have been instrumental in evacuating over 20,000 people from combat zones and continue their essential work to this day.
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