“Humanity Over Borders: Russian-Born, American-Led—How One Couple Is Saving Thousands of Lives in Ukraine”

In Their 12th Mission On May 20th the Founders of STAYWITHUKRAINE INC Aim to Hand-Carry Their 6,000th Pound of Life-Saving Trauma Care Supplies on the Front Lines

In a world divided by borders, beliefs, and breaking headlines, one couple is choosing something greater: humanity. From Austin, Texas, Inna and Alexander Adamovich, Russian-born Americans, are quietly leading one of the world’s most direct humanitarian missions—hand-delivering life-saving trauma supplies into Ukraine’s hardest-hit areas, bag by bag, heartbeat by heartbeat.

Inna Adamovich is the Co-Founder of 501(c)(3) STAYWITHUKRAINE Inc., a small, family-run charity organization with a colossal purpose: to support the Ukrainian people fight for survival by placing blood-stopping, lifesaving first response medicine directly into the hands of those who need it most. 

“If I can’t stop the war, I can stop the bleeding. Stopping the bleeding can’t wait. Lots of things in our life can wait but stopping the bleeding.”

Our mission in Ukraine is vital and urgent. On May 20th my charity will be delivering its12th round of medical supplies to Ukrainian medics, helping them to save someone’s son or father, or someone’s little child, rescued from the rubble of a destroyed house. Blood-stopping tourniquets are very essential in the bleeding country Ukraine. 

When you truly know what is happening in Ukraine, how much of a human tragedy there is, you don’t know how to live your “normal” life with such a heavy heart. As a mother, grandmother, medical professional and simply a human, my charity STAYWITHUKRAINE Inc. is on the mission to save lives. 

Take us back when you and your husband visited Ukraine. 

Two years ago, around this time, my husband and I traveled to Ukraine for the first time—not as tourists, but as friends coming to hug friends, to help friends. We had a few in Ukraine. The war had already been raging for over a year. By then, the world was already shattered by unspeakable cruelty: …the massacres in Bucha……almost every flower bed in the destroyed city of Mariupol was turned to a grave during the siege of the city……the Russian torture chambers in Izium, equally for civilians and military… But nothing could prepare me for the scale of human suffering I saw with our own eyes. I didn’t want to believe it. But I didn’t look away. I couldn’t look away. I kept my eyes open—to the destruction, the grief, the endless cemeteries stretching toward the horizon. I kept my eyes open to see children kissing their fathers’ faces on memorials. I kept my eyes open to see children sleeping on the floors of underground metro stations during nights filled with air raid sirens. I kept my eyes open to witness this full-blown, unprecedented 21st-century war—a war that should have never happened again.

My “Ukrainian Love Stories” were seen with my own eyes, heard with my own ears, and lived by me in Ukraine. And yet, amidst the devastation, I saw something even more powerful: the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people.
A will to live.
To fight for Ukraine.
To love and to hope—to always remain Ukrainian.

I have no Ukrainian roots, but after 11 trips to Ukraine during the war, I believe I’ve grown wings—with blue and yellow feathers. Trip #12 can’t come soon enough.

My Ukrainian Love Stories are countless. They are my tears, my treasures, and my reminders of what truly matters. They’ve become my moral compass. However, STAYWITHUKRAINE Inc. wasn’t born in Ukraine, but in Kraków—just outside the Schindler Museum. On our way home from our first time in Ukraine through Poland, after visiting the Schindler Museum, we felt history repeating itself. We knew that without a formal organization, Inna and Alexander Adamovich couldn’t help Ukraine on the scale it needed. So, we sat on a bench and filed the paperwork to incorporate STAYWITHUKRAINE Inc. Our very first donations—just $31—came during a day trip on a bus in Poland. I was crying, watching the beautiful countryside blur past, but all I could see were the ruins of Ukraine: the cemeteries, the children kissing photos of their fathers on memorials. People stared. At the end of the day, I asked the guide for the microphone. I apologized if my tears had disturbed anyone—and then I told them why I was crying. I told them my first Ukrainian Love Story. Some cried with me. Others gave us money—to help, to support the mission we were already committed to. So, much has happened since then. Everything before those days feels like a different life, lived by a different version of me. Since then, we’ve delivered over 6,000 lifesaving tourniquets and countless other supplies. Our mission is simple but vital: to give medics the tools they need to save lives. And now, I can’t wait to cross the border again—carrying hope, help, and proof that Ukrainians are not forgotten. Ukraine has changed me forever. And I will keep telling its unique, powerful, inspiring, heartbreaking, and heartwarming Ukrainian Love Stories—one at a time.

Please share a Ukrainian Love Story. 

My Ukrainian Love Story from Zaporizhzhia. 

Before I even arrived, my friend and “partner in crime”, Larisa, had already approved our packed “to-do” list—two intense days of work not far from the frontline. She picked me up from the train station, where I arrived with heavy suitcases full of tourniquets and other life-saving first aid supplies. Her small, battered “working Bronco” barely had room for them all. Before diving into our mission, we made a quick stop at Larisa’s home, where five dogs joyfully greeted their mama. “People leave,” Larisa said, “but many animals are left behind. We feed them. Five of them found a home with me.” 

One of the dogs, Mila, can’t walk. Mama Larisa gently carries her, giving her all the care and love she needs. As we drove through the countryside, past endless fields of Van Gogh’s sunflowers glowing under a wide, bright sky, Larisa spoke with deep pride about her homeland. “This Ukrainian soil is rich and generous. We could feed the whole world. It grows everything! And how gorgeous my land is!” I was mesmerized. The fields stretched on forever like golden waves. We stopped, and I couldn’t help myself—I ran into the sunflowers, hugged them, and whispered to them about their beauty. But Larisa immediately called me back. “Don’t go too far,” she warned. “As beautiful as it is, our land is littered with hidden mines. Russian drones scatter them everywhere. My beautiful country is the most mine contaminated in the world now,” she said sadly. 

That day, we visited a group of women and children weaving camouflage nets. We support them with supplies so they can keep going. Later, we delivered bags of dog and cat food to two local shelters. Then came a visit to the hospital, where we brought boxes of sweets for the wounded. Grown men, like little kids, smiled wide as they reached for candies and pastries. That same day, we met with medics from the frontlines, who came to pick up the medical supplies we brought—tourniquets, bandages, and more. I told them, as I always do, “I pray to God you won’t need these. I pray no one will be hurt.”

We returned to Larisa’s home just after sunset. The dogs rushed to greet her—all but one. Mila, unable to move, waited quietly. Mama Larisa scooped her up, carrying her gently through the house, helping her live with love. We had much more planned for the next day. As night fell, we simply hoped it would be quiet—free from missiles and drone attacks.

How has helping Ukrainians cost your family?

The day the war began changed countless lives forever. It cracked the Earth beneath us, dividing people on opposite sides of a canyon that now feels bottomless. That rift—once unthinkable—has separated friends, families, and entire communities.

You’d believe it impossible to support the aggressor—the terrorists, the murderers, the rapists. I thought so too. But I was wrong. It is possible. And that realization has been one of the most painful parts of all.

Here in America, we’ve lost connections with people we once called friends—people we trusted for decades. It’s hard to put into words, but the war has made compromise feel like betrayal. Forgiveness feels impossible. There are no neutral conversations anymore when your heart is torn in half and your thoughts are consumed by the unthinkable suffering in Ukraine. For me, this is personal. I’ve lost family to this war. I’ve traveled across Ukraine—from east to west, from the northern towns to the shores of the Black Sea. I’ve seen the truth with my own eyes. No propaganda or filtered news can change what I know. War kills. It takes lives and destroys the bonds between people. The war must end.

Tell us about working with Dr. Yevgeniy Maksimenko. 

From day one, we knew exactly who we could trust to guide us through the world of tactical medicine for Ukraine. Dr. Yevgeniy Maksimenko—Ukrainian-born and a passionate supporter of his homeland—has been our mentor and an invaluable team player. But Yevgeniy is more than just a colleague; he feels like our family. Yevgeniy and my daughter both graduated from the same high school in Maryland and now serve as emergency room doctors in the San Antonio medical system. We share the same values, face the same challenges, and are driven by the same mission.

Our charity is a small, family-run organization. None of us receive a salary—we’re all volunteers. I’m proud to say that we travel to Europe using our personal airline miles, and thanks to the generosity of United Airlines and Lufthansa, we’re able to check 400–500 pounds of medical supplies each trip at no cost. We’re efficient, transparent, and deeply committed—every donation goes directly to PEREMOGA, our mission for Ukrainian victory.

How has your nonprofit developed over the years in making a difference in the lives of the Ukrainians? 

At the end of this month, STAYWITHUKRAINE Inc. will proudly celebrate two years of dedicated service. We may be a young organization, but we are confident, committed, and we are moving forward. Our mission is clear, our values are unwavering, and we lead with purpose. Over time, our community of supporters has grown—and with their trust comes a deep sense of responsibility. We are honored to have earned that trust, and we work every day to uphold it. By personally traveling to Ukraine and hand-delivering critical medical supplies directly to frontline medics, we’ve built strong, lasting relationships on the ground. This hands-on approach ensures that every donation reaches its intended destination—without waste, loss, or corruption. Our no-middleman model guarantees transparency and impact. Every day, I walk through my Texas community—knocking on doors, visiting churches, and speaking at Rotary Clubs—to share our mission and ask for support. I go to hospitals and fire departments, requesting unnecessary medical supplies, which still can be used in Ukraine. I reach out to those who believe, as I do, that nothing in this world is more precious than life itself.

So much in life can wait—but saving a life cannot. While we may not be able to stop the war, we can stop the bleeding. And that simple act can mean everything. I’m looking for those who share this belief, who understand that even small actions, rooted in compassion, can make a life-saving difference.

Share your thoughts about your upcoming trip.

Every trip to Ukraine is different, but my mission remains the same: to help. Ukraine is at war. Nothing is certain. You never know what each day will bring. Missile and drone attacks on cities and civilians happen almost daily. Anything can happen, at any time. It’s not unusual for air raid sirens to go off nonstop—day after day, hour after hour. The sound is relentless, exhausting.

“Ukrainians have lived like this for over three years,” I keep reminding myself.

“Be strong, like Ukrainians,” I repeat, over and over.

When we go to Ukraine, it’s not just to deliver the 400–500 pounds of critical supplies we’ve collected. I also work on the ground—raising funds through meaningful, direct efforts that truly reach those in need. I push to get as close to the frontline as possible.I meet with medics, speak with them, and witness the harsh, dangerous conditions they face every day. They risk their lives to save others.

I always ask them: How can we help?

I speak with civilians in frontline villages and ask the same question: How can we help you? Your children? The animal shelters caring for pets left behind?

When I’m standing in a bombed-out neighborhood, wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest, people pay attention. They feel the urgency. They want to help. Talking to my supporters from Ukraine, I always say: You don’t have to come here. I will. But I need your support to make things happen. That’s why I’m here. Because a medic unit needs an evacuation vehicle. An animal shelter needs food to feed more than 100 stray dogs and cats. A hospital near the frontline needs an emergency generator. An orphanage needs new beds and mattresses. When people see what I see, they’re moved to act.

On my upcoming trip—#12—I won’t be slowing down. I’m going to help. And I’m bringing you with me. Together, we can make a real difference where it matters most. I’m reaching out today to ask for your support of my life-saving humanitarian work in Ukraine. We can’t afford to stop now. To the compassionate individuals, businesses, and corporations: I need you. I’m calling on you for help.

Each mission costs about $25,000 and is fueled entirely by grassroots donations. The Adamovichs use personal travel miles for their flights and receive critical logistical support from United Airlines and Lufthansa, which waive baggage fees for the 10–14 bags they carry on every trip.

Inside these bags are tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, decompression needles, chest seals, and stretchers—emergency tools that often mean the difference between life and death within minutes. The supplies are sourced from trusted U.S. medical distributors and generous hospital partners, as well as through a dedicated Amazon registry where supporters can purchase needed items directly.

Last thoughts, what do you want people to know about the reality of the situation involving the war between Russia and Ukraine?

When discussing the Russian-Ukrainian war, it’s vital to be clear about one thing: who is the aggressor and who is the victim. Facts matter. Just as we remember the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese militarists—a dark day in history—we must not twist or forget the truth today. Russia is an aggressor. 

The historical fact is this: on 2/24/22 at 4 a.m., without warning, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine. It was an act of terror—an attempt to conquer, to kill, to erase.

Having been in Ukraine during the war multiple times, I’ve seen firsthand the strength and determination of the Ukrainian people. They are united to fight for Ukrainian freedom. From the elderly to the youth, they say with unwavering courage: “We are going to victory—or to the last one of us.”

But I don’t want there to be a “last one.” That’s why I say: #StayWithUkraine. Because while we may not be able to stop the war ourselves, we can stop the bleeding. We can save lives.

Please donate to STAYWITHUKRAINE Inc. and stand with us in this critical time.
Let’s stay with Ukraine—together.

Ways you can help:

• Donate directly at www.staywithukraine.org

• Purchase trauma supplies through their Amazon gift registry (Search: Stay With Ukraine)

• Sponsor a shipment by initiating a hospital or healthcare institution connection that may lead to partnerships or medical supply donations

• Invite Inna to speak at your organization, medical institution, or community group.