"Sirens of Hope: MOAS Mission to Save Lives in Ukraine" book presented at Ukrinform

American entrepreneur and MOAS founder Chris Catrambone, British writer and book co-editor Justin Marozzi, MOAS director Ihor Shekhtman, MOAS medic Inna Dymeter, MOAS critical care nurse Yuri Sroka, Ukrainian journalist and book co-editor Iryna Savchuk took part in the presentation.

The book was written, designed, produced, printed and financed by the Ukrainian side, and was recently published in the Ukrainian language, which is why the British writer and co-editor of the MOAS book, Justin Marozzi, sees it as a “thoroughly Ukrainian venture.”

He noted that the book is about the unique stories of medics, testifying to the work done in Ukraine by the MOAS team to save lives.

"They are heartbreaking personal stories the medics have, understandably, the suffering they witness every day in their ambulances,” he said.

According to Marozzi, the book is also unique in the way that it tells stories of medics from their organization who are constantly on the front lines alongside Ukrainian war heroes.

"What MOAS does is exceptional,” Marozzi argues, noting that other organizations, such as Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, are either unable or unwilling to do the work MOAS performs on the frontlines," he added, expressing hope that the books reflects this.

The co-author noted that the team wanted to make the book not for sale, but as a gift to donors on both sides of the Atlantic, in English and Ukrainian.

The plan is to print multiple copies of the book and promote it, including in the UK and the US. Marozzi emphasized that at the same time, there is no better place for promotion than Ukraine itself.

As reported on the MOAS Facebook page, its founder Chris Catrambone was awarded the Cross of Honor by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine late May for his significant personal contribution to the effort and providing comprehensive assistance to the personnel of Ukraine’s military units in wartime conditions.

MOAS is an international humanitarian organization that has been working in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, having already saved more than 45,000 lives. The organization has 150 teams of Ukrainian medics manning 50 ambulances with modern equipment on board. MOAS relies entirely on fundraising to support its operations, which cost some $1 million a month.