Help preserve lives and donate to provide non-lethal aid to Ukrainian armed services.
About us
Daughters of Knyahynya Olha (DOKO), have been
delivering humanitarian and non-lethal aid to Ukraine’s
most elite defenders since the full-scale genocidal invasion
in February of 2022. Our historic figurehead, the ancient
ruler Olha of Kyiv, was renowned for her brilliant military
strategies and social innovations. Following in her
footsteps, DOKO works to preserve Ukraine, its people, its
heritage and its military.
The founders of DOKO are Daughters of Ukraine. We are
first generation Ukrainian-Americans raised in the
traditions of our ancestors. We are united in our life-long
commitment to preserving freedom and independence in
our motherland as well as our ethics that preclude earning
a salary from the blood of Ukrainian soldiers. That said,
DOKO IS LED STAFFED ENTIRELY BY UNPAID
VOLUNTEERS.
DOKO is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Mission
DOKO aims to accelerate Hope, Joy, Victory and Healing in Ukraine.
As representatives of a world beyond Ukraines’s borders, DOKO delivers a message of solidarity and HOPE with every delivery to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Maslow’s hierarchy informs ” the DOKO approach”. We work tirelessly to satisfy soldiers’ baseline needs to make room for fulfillment and JOY.
DOKO works exclusively with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Investing in Ukraine’s most elite teams is an investment in VICTORY.
The ancient Ukrainian tradition of storytelling is a powerful methodology for HEALING trauma. DOKO intentionally provides safe space for soldiers to tell their stories.
History
DOKO members understand that the strategic priority for peace in Ukraine is full investment in its military and that without that investment Ukraine will cease to exist. To maximize the return on our donors’ investment,
DOKO WORKS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH UKRAINE’S MOST ELITE SPECIAL FORCES.
DOKO has funded, purchased, collected, shipped and hand-delivered over $250,000 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine’s frontline defenders since 2022. We invite you to view Michael Nigro’s award-winning documentary which followed our CEO as she delivered supplies directly to units across 800 km of frontline. “Fragments of Ukraine” won both the LA Press Club Award and an EPPY in 2024.
Founders
Xenia Cox
Xenia is a retired strategy and project management executive. During a distinguished career, she organized and managed systems level innovation and social venture projects for government and academic institutions. Our CEO leads team DOKO’s strategy work and we credit her with establishing our highly effective logistics chain that enables critical aid to reach remote front line units. Her research in the effects of systemic trauma on human development are at the core of Team DOKO’s vision.
Vera Haftkowycz
Vera is a retired psychotherapist, entrepreneur, and dedicated community servant. As Executive Director of Operations, Vera leads daily business management and created our brand. Her expertise in trauma-informed care and art therapy underpin DOKO’s unique mission and core methodologies. Cherishing strong ties to Ukrainian community and beloved family inspire her volunteerism in the diaspora and commitment to bring enduring peace to Ukraine.
Maria Wolansky
Maria has dedicated her life to strengthening communities across diaspora in four states and Ukraine, cultivating a vast, trusted network. An educator and retired Spanish teacher, Maria has successfully leveraged her international connections to pioneer trans-Atlantic educational initiatives. In her role as Director of Communications and Networks, Maria utilizes her expertise to amplify our mission and foster impactful connections within the Ukrainian and global community.
Leadership
Pavlo Kryvonis
Pavlo is a highly experienced Information Technology Specialist, Avionics Engineer and Director of Technology for Daughters of Knyahynya Olha. A patriot and activist, Pavlo participated in the 2013-2014 Revolution of Dignity and Independence Square uprising, and served with Ukraine’s military in its war against Russian invaders. His lifelong passion for the design of remote contol systems and unmanned aerial vehicles are foundational to the expertise he brings to Team DOKO.
DR ANDREW Loginsky
Andrew is a physician and a global health advocate. Since 2022, Andrew has traveled to Ukraine as a volunteer providing TCCC training for soldiers and building transfusion kits for the front line. In 2025, he funded and organized a civilian mobile medical clinic that was deployed to the most war-affected zone. Andrew is currently completing his residency at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. In his role as Director of Medicine for DOKO, he leads work to provide critical medical equipment and training that improves medical outcomes on the battlefield.
LARYSA A SALAMACHA
Larysa is an extraordinary example of a life-long public servant. As Managing Director, her mission was to provide constituent accessibility to local government. She accomplished this throughout her distinguished career in economic development by advocating, creating and implementing projects, initiatives and legislation which enhanced business and community investment. Recently retired, Larysa now serves as Director of Development for DOKO, leading work across teams to track community resources which in turn enable DOKO to optimally achieve its mission in Ukraine.
WOLODYMYR aka SALAAM
Wolodymyr is a patriot, innovator and military professional that has dedicated his life to the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine. A veteran of the defense of Bakhmut and liberation of Kherson, he leverages years of combat experience to help DOKO understand the constraints, realities and most urgent needs on a quickly changing battlefield. In his role as Special Liaison to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Wolodymyr’s engineering acumen and military leadership influence every DOKO project, ensuring that our work yields an authentic advantage for our warfighters.
Our Work
Russia deliberately hunts doctors and medics providing aid to wounded civilians and soldiers. This practice, which flagrantly violates Geneva Conventions, has devastating impact across Ukraine’s military resilience. As a direct response to repeated enemy’s attacks on medical personnel and evacuation corridors, DOKO shifted its attention nearly three years ago to our SYSEVAC initiative – a comprehensive, systems-based, research-driven strategy for improving military medical outcomes. SYSEVAC weaves inter-dependent strands of work that comprise the Casevac Ecosystem (engineering, technologies, equipment, education, logistics, tactics) into an integrated strategy specific to the unique challenges of Ukraine’s battlefields.
DOKO’s #1 PRIORITY IS TO SAVE THE LIVES AND LIMBS OF UKRAINE’S SOLDIERS.
Past Fundraisers
List of aid delivered includes, but is not limited to:
- High quality wool socks and winter gloves
- Level 3 and 4 base layers
- Military grade sunglasses and safety goggles
- Lightweight backpacking stoves
- Instant coffee and hydration packets
- Seasonal uniforms and outerwear
- Weatherproof footwear
- Water filtration straws
- Military hearing-protective earmuffs and communications equipment
- Life saving tourniquets, chest seals and IFAKS
- Mine detectors and probes
- CASEVAC vehicles for medical evacuation of civilian and military casualties
- Conventional rechargeable mobile battery systems
- Cutting edge military-grade mobile solar and battery systems
Our Work
DOKO Delivers to hot zones.
Past Fundraisers
List of aid delivered includes, but is not limited to:
- Portable aspirators and ventilators
- Portable Ultrasound
- Portable Forced-Air Patient Temperature Control Systems for
- Anesthesia Blankets
- Unmanned Ground Vehicles for remotely controlled CASEVAC
- Starlinks
- Portable blood warmers and transfusion kits
- Lightweight backpacking stoves
- Specialty medical evacuation litters
- Water filtration straws
- Military grade hearing-protection and communications
- equipment
- Life saving tourniquets, chest seals and IFAKS
- CASEVAC vehicles for medical evacuation of civilian and
- military casualties
- Conventional rechargeable mobile battery systems
- Cutting edge military-grade mobile solar and battery systems
Testimonials
Board of Trustees
VSEVOLOD PETRIV
Board President
Vsevolod recently retired from a career in Executive Managment of Information Systems at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. His journey of dedication and service to Ukraine and Ukrainians culminates in current leadership roles as President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (Boston) and President of the Ukrainian-American Education Center. Vsevolod is a life-long member of PLAST, the Ukrainian Scouting Organization. He recieved his BA from the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
ANN JASKIW
Ann is an entrepreneur and engineer. She founded and sold an enterprise software company in 2023. Previously, she was an engineering leader in healthcare technology. Ann began her career at Goldman Sachs and holds a degree in Computer Science and Economics from Brown University.
LEO WOLANSKY
Leo is an AI and Data professional with experience across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. He is currently General Manager at Mercor where he builds large-scale datasets to train AI models. Prior to working in AI Data, Leo was Director of Product for The Rockefeller Foundation Health Initiative, where he funded and built products that leverage data to improve the world’s preparedness and response to infectious disease threats. There, he served as an advisor to non-profits, social enterprises, and multilateral organizations like the WHO. Leo is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania.
PAUL SHMOTOLOKHA
A Co-Founder of New Use Energy, Paul currently serves as Chairman and CEO of the company. He is a recognized specialist in international business and government relations in technology and telecommunications with over 30 years of executive leadership focusing on strategy, revenue growth, operations and marketing. Paul served as an officer for 13 years in the US Army Reserves and was nominated in 2019 by the President of the United States to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Export Import bank of the United States.Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
RICCARDO STOECKICHT
Riccardo has over 40 years of experience in the for-profit, non-profit, education, entrepreneurial, and consulting sectors, having lived and/or worked in Europe, South America and the United States. He is dedicated to the success of persons in their 3rd act of life. He is also expert in the area of operating excellence so that non-profit organizations can create streamlined processes and structure, and optimize their resources, allowing teams to focus on organizational missions. Riccardo is a graduate of Brown University and Northeastern University.
Advisory Panel
TIM BROOKINS
Tim has twenty-five years of experience in enterprise software engineering. He currently holds the position of Principal Architect for Microsoft Teams and has the distinction of previously having served in the coveted position of Distinguished Engineer. A perennial innovator and inventor with a long history of volunteerism and service, Tim dedicates his talent, skills and free time to the mission of DOKO and success of their military partners in Ukraine. Tim received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from North Dakota State University.
Dr Novneet Sahu
Novneet Sahu is an experienced Emergency and Family Medicine Physician with a rich history of community service. Currently holding the positions of Associate Professor of Emergency and Family Medicine and Director of Health Systems Science at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, he also serves as Attending Emergency Physician at University Hospital, leads Rutgers Mobile Medical Clinic serving Newark’s unhoused and is a volunteer firefighter. Dr. Sahu leverages a wealth of Trauma and Emergency Medicine experience to inform DOKO’s work to equip CASEVAC medics in Ukraine. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, and Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University.
Dr JOHN QUINN
Dr. John Quinn is a physician and leader in public health, health security and emergency medicine. His work is further distinguished by contributions to combat medicine in conflict zones from Iraq to Ukraine. He is a regular presenter at medical and military conferences, and author of scholarly works, pertaining to military medicine, disaster preparedness, and public health. John is the recipient of many honors including a Ministry of Defense of Ukraine award for military medical excellence. Dr. Quinn informs and guides all DOKO CASEVAC and battlefield medicine initiatives. He recieved his Master’s in Public Health from the University of Illinois (Chicago), Doctor of Medicine (MD) and PhD in Preventive Medicine from Charles University.
“And then remember me with gentle whispers and kind words in the great family of the newly free.” – Taras Shevchenko, Testament
translated by Dr. Alexander J. Motyl
We are grateful to the many supporters who have chosen to honor their loved ones through memorial contributions:
Dr. & Mr. Mariyka & Laszlo Szijj
in memory of
Nadia Haftkowycz
Stephen & Julia Szyszka
in memory of
Володимир Вовк – псевдо “Пес” УПА
Anonymous
in memory of
Marusia Kashanchi
Maria H Szijj
in memory of
Theodozia Haftkowycz Ostap
Laszlo Szijj
in memory of
Olga & Jaroslaw Haftkowycz
Roman O. Nowakiwsky
Oksana Korduba
Oksana Hnatczuk
In memory of
Christine Hnatczuk
Our Partners
The leadership of Daughters of Knyahynya Olha express our heartfelt thanks to SIFH Global for providing support and a home for Team DOKO since February 24th, 2022. We are grateful to you for our humble beginnings and ongoing support as we grew into the force for Ukraine that we are today. Slava Ukraini!
Welcome to our Blog!
Doves over Donbas
Blog Author: Nina Rakowsky
Nina Rakowsky is second generation Ukrainian American from New Jersey. Raised in the diaspora, she is a member of PLAST, Ukrainian Scouting organization, and The Ukrainian Society at The Ohio State University. Nina is a rising senior at Ohio State, where she is pursuing a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. Inspired by the contributions made by her ancestors and by the bravery of Ukrainians fighting for freedom today, Nina chose to volunteer with DOKO to play her part in supporting Ukraine and its people in its ongoing fight for sovereignty.