Operations Team

We are U.S.-based teachers, lawyers, tech executives, developers, and professionals from a wide range of fields. We operate exclusively as volunteers, in support of the teams on the ground in Ukraine, and for the love of our community.

We’re proud to be an organization with no overhead costs — meaning that 100% of every donation goes directly to Ukrainians in the war zone, and never to running the organization.

  • I immigrated from Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2001. I work as a high school English language learner teacher. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because I want to do what I can to support the heroes who lessen the suffering caused by the war.

  • I immigrated from Odessa, Ukraine, in 1988. I work as a math teacher. It is heartbreaking to see my country being bombed and my friends and parents' friends fleeing their homes.

  • I immigrated to the US from Moscow, Russia, in 1992. I work as a Product Management Consultant & Coach. I am involved in Ukraine TrustChain because I am appalled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I am heartbroken at the senseless violence. I am furious at Russia's criminal government. I am ashamed that many Russians do not stand against this war.

    My mother grew up in Russia and my father in Ukraine (though both are Jewish) and we still have strong ties to both countries. I have visited Kyiv 3 times - I love the city and have friends there and family in Moscow.

    I feel that it's my responsibility to help Ukraine and its people as much as I can and show that many Russians and Russian immigrants stand firmly against this war.

  • Daniil Cherkasskiy (CEO) envisioned and founded Ukraine TrustChain shortly after the start of the invasion to protect his sanity. In his previous life Daniil was a CAO of ShowingTime, a prominent real estate tech firm acquired by Zillow in 2021. For more than a decade, Daniil managed operations across a number of distributed engineering and data science teams. In his parallel life, Daniil had an extensive performance art practice exploring the immigrant experience and its abandoned utopias.

  • I immigrated from Kyiv, Ukraine, to the US in 1995. I am an associate professor at Loyola University Chicago. I have numerous friends that are currently in Ukraine and my dad is now in Kiev. In the last two weeks, they went through what no human being should be asked to go through. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because I can’t sit and watch my home country getting devoured by an aggressor. Joining TrustChain is the least I can do to help.

  • I grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine and immigrated to the US in 1995. I joined Ukraine TrustChain to help in the way that feels most direct. Staying focused on the work, helping people on the ground directly is helping me get through the painful experience of watching my home country being destroyed. May there be peace soon.

  • I immigrated from Kharkiv, Ukraine, to the US in 1995. I am a research and data scientist. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because watching my home country getting obliterated is simply impossible, so I am doing what I can to help support on-the-ground work to bring immediate relief.

  • I immigrated from Kyiv in 1994. I work as an IT manager. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because how would I not be involved when millions are in danger and the city where I (and my parents and grandparents) was born is being bombed daily. The organization is incredibly effective at providing immediate help to people in Ukraine and saving countless lives.

  • I came to the US as a refugee from St. Petersburg, Russia in 1987. I work at Northwestern University and live in Chicagoland with my husband, 2 kids and 2 cats. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because I want to support on-the-ground work to bring immediate relief.

  • Gene moved from Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine to St. Louis MO in 1992. From the first days of the invasion Gene became an active force in the Polish volunteer movement. He has joined TrustChain operations team to drive fundraising efforts and develop logistics networks to deliver humanitarian aid to volunteer teams in the frontline cities.

  • I immigrated from Minsk, Belarus, at age 5 in 1989. I am a marketing professional and live in Chicago with my husband and four kids. Being a refugee shaped me and I feel empowered by all I went through to help the people of Ukraine now.

  • I Immigrated in 2009 from Moscow. I work as an accessibility analyst.

    I have a lot of friends and relative from Ukraine and who are still in Ukraine. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because it is an opportunity to do what we can. While I can't change things globally, I don't want to just stand by when people suffer. What is happening now is not ambiguous, it is a struggle between light and evil. Ukraine TrustChain really makes a difference for a lot of people, and I am happy if I can help.

  • I immigrated from Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 1994. I am a software engineer. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because I want to do what I can to help the people suffering due to Putin's abhorrent attack on Ukraine.

  • I am an American-born Ukrainian from Chicago and a JD candidate. My parents grew up in Kyiv and are originally from Lubni and Lyman. Every day I have watched my grandparents, cousins and loved ones live in war and I feel I must give what I can to the cause.

  • I immigrated to the US from Moscow, Russia, in 1991. I am the Director of Social Work and Community Health at Rush University. I am involved in Ukraine TrustChain because it's real help from people I personally know.

  • I was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. My family came to the U.S. as refugees in 1979. I am a private investor and money manager. I joined Ukraine TrustChain to help the war relief efforts.

  • I immigrated from Minsk, Belarus, in 1992. I am a high school math teacher. My heart is breaking over what is going on in Ukraine. I'm so grateful to Daniil for starting this effort and allowing me to help.

  • I immigrated from Russia in 1991. I am a regional manager responsible for cyber security. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because it’s the most meaningful way to help people in dire need that I have ever been a part of.

  • I immigrated from Moscow, Russia, to the US in 1993. I am a college professor. I joined the Ukraine TrustChain team because as a mother artist, I do not believe in war.

  • I immigrated from Minsk, Belarus in 1992. I work as an Occupational Therapist. I joined Ukraine TrustChain to do whatever I can to help Ukrainians in a meaningful way.

  • I was born in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine and grew up in Mariupol. My family came to the US in 1998. I work as a software engineer. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because it is an effective organization supporting folks in Ukraine many of whom would not be helped otherwise.

  • I immigrated from Chishinau, Moldova, in 1995 with my mom and brother as refugees. Today, I am an executive director of SEEDS of Northeastern Pennsylvania and I have three beautiful girls with my husband. I joined Ukraine TrustChain because I was born in Ukraine, spent my summers there, still have family there, and have the warmest memories of my childhood there. I also know what it is to be a refugee and I want to help people feel safe and cared for amidst this devastating war.

  • I immigrated from Odessa, Ukraine, to Chicago in 1989. I manage a community literacy program at University of Michigan. I am involved in Ukraine TrustChain because Ukraine is my homeland; it's where my sister and I experienced our childhoods and where our parents and grandparents were born and lived much of their lives. I cannot stand by and watch the destruction of our home country and violence against people. As a human being, it is my moral duty to help.

  • I came to the USA in 1988 from Odessa, Ukraine—which was part of the USSR at the time—with my husband and our two little kids. I worked here as an engineer and IT professional for over 35 years. I first heard about UTC from my daughter Anna, my niece Julia, and my daughter-in-law Elena, who were involved with the organization from day one. I still have many dear friends in Ukraine, and for me, helping and supporting Ukrainian civilians as they face Russian aggression is a way to stand by them—and to reaffirm the values that brought me to this country in the first place: freedom and independence.