Heroes help Heroes
STORIES
Anastasia,
veterans wife,
doctor-rehabilitologist
Anastasia, veterans wife, doctor-rehabilitologist
Anastasia has been involved in the rehabilitation of children for about 10 years now. Initially, she worked in different medical centers, but two years ago she opened her own business. Her husband Igor, is a veteran and a combatant.
In 2014, after the start of the invasion of the Russian Federation, Anastasia had to leave her home, she moved from the temporarily occupied Kadiivka, first to Severodonetsk, then to the city of Irpin in Kyiv region.
Before the full-scale invasion, about 80 children from Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel, and Vorzel received treatment at her children's physical rehabilitation center.
As a specialist she works in different areas: musculoskeletal system, neurology, autism, epilepsy, and deals with other medical conditions.
"It is just like a kindergarten. Children learn to adapt and socialize in society. At first, the child takes individual classes, then we prepare it for a group, then – for society, an ordinary kindergarten or a school", - says the doctor.
At the end of March 2022, in result of a direct artillery shelling, her rehabilitation center in Irpin was destroyed.
"I saw a TV report about Irpin and the remains of my center were also shown there. It burned to the ground. After we returned, I began to restore everything little by little. Now I'm renting a new separate office, and I’m buying equipment peace by peace. 15 children have already approached me, I work with them," Ms. Anastasia tells us.
When the doctor found out that there was an opportunity to receive 20,000 hryvnias as state compensation for running a business, she applied.
"You know, maybe 20 thousand is not that much compared to the losses we suffered, but nowadays, every penny is important. I am really glad that such micro-grants exist. And I particularly like the fact that applications are considered very quickly, literally within a few days,"- Ms. Anastasia shares with us.
She has already received her 20,000 hryvnias compensation, she used it to purchase equipment for her child center. Currently, Anastasia is in search for the funds needed to restore what was destroyed by the enemy. And we, for our part, are glad that we can support the families of those who defend us.
Tetiana,
veterans wife,
owner of shoes shop
Tetiana, veterans wife, owner of shoes shop
“We started the production the day before the full-scale russian invasion. Everything stopped. But I
decided that I should restart business while my husband on the war front. 20 thousand from Ukrainian
Veterans Fund is a stone which we can grab and stand up”
Oleksandr Chub,
"Strokati Yenoty"
Oleksandr Chub "Strokati Yenoty"
In 2014 Oleksandr Chub joined the ranks of the 2nd battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine, and
then joined the newly formed Ukrainian Volunteer Corps.
In the battles for the Donetsk airport, he received a serious leg injury. Doctors said that Alexander would have to use crutches for the rest of his life. But he did not put up with it and recovered almost completely. During the rehabilitation, the veteran got the idea of a business with an important social mission.
As Oleksandr told in an interview with Hromadske radio: "The idea of the "Strokati Yenoty" ("Motley raccoons" in English) children's camp came to me during a long rehabilitation after receiving a serious injury. I got to the USA, and there I cycled 10,000 kilometers. During the rehabilitation process and travelling around the country, I received so much kindness and support from other people, that I wanted somehow to thank the world for treating me this way."
Publisher Vladyslav Kyrychenko supported Oleksandr's idea. He provided the territory of the "Kuznia" Youth Movement Center in Unezh to host an adventure children's camp. To realize his vision, Oleksandr Chub gathered a large team of volunteers, which provided assistance to volunteer veterans and families of the fallen defenders.
Oleksandr studied a lot, he tried different formats of fundraising for his business. In particular, he enlisted the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine for his "Strokati Yenoty" children's camp. Later on, he was able to launch a full-fledged veteran business.
"This project not only brings income and satisfaction but also gives an opportunity for self-realization. I made it profitable, independent of any external grants. The most important thing is the desire to do something interesting, to share It with the kids," Oleksandr Chub told Ukrainianer.
"Strokati Yenoty" adventure camp has become the place where children from all over Ukraine dream of going. The first visitors to the camp were the children of the fallen and wounded defenders of the battalion where Oleksandr once served.
"Strokati Yenoty" overturned the idea of ordinary children camps with its compulsion and boring programs. Here, children are taught to be active and independent. But, of course, there are certain rules of the so-called game that they should follow so that it wouldn’t turn into chaos. These rules include, for example, sorting garbage, speaking without any swear words and only in Ukrainian with maximum live communication possible.
Children play sports, travel, have different creative activities and communicate with each other a lot. The camp is designed to encourage children's desire to learn more about the world and lead an active life.
Oleksandr pays special attention to his "motley team" of the camp. Those who want to camp with children must first organize a class or an event for them. And only then, if they can get on the same level with children, without building any hierarchies, then they get into the team of instructors. "Strokati Yenoty” is a social project that became a business, but remained true to the values and goals that were set at the beginning.
Nowadays, Oleksandr Chub rejoined the ranks of the defenders of Ukraine, doing everything possible to bring Victory, so after that, the Ukrainian children will once again have happy childhoods with lots of trips and adventures.
In the battles for the Donetsk airport, he received a serious leg injury. Doctors said that Alexander would have to use crutches for the rest of his life. But he did not put up with it and recovered almost completely. During the rehabilitation, the veteran got the idea of a business with an important social mission.
As Oleksandr told in an interview with Hromadske radio: "The idea of the "Strokati Yenoty" ("Motley raccoons" in English) children's camp came to me during a long rehabilitation after receiving a serious injury. I got to the USA, and there I cycled 10,000 kilometers. During the rehabilitation process and travelling around the country, I received so much kindness and support from other people, that I wanted somehow to thank the world for treating me this way."
Publisher Vladyslav Kyrychenko supported Oleksandr's idea. He provided the territory of the "Kuznia" Youth Movement Center in Unezh to host an adventure children's camp. To realize his vision, Oleksandr Chub gathered a large team of volunteers, which provided assistance to volunteer veterans and families of the fallen defenders.
Oleksandr studied a lot, he tried different formats of fundraising for his business. In particular, he enlisted the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine for his "Strokati Yenoty" children's camp. Later on, he was able to launch a full-fledged veteran business.
"This project not only brings income and satisfaction but also gives an opportunity for self-realization. I made it profitable, independent of any external grants. The most important thing is the desire to do something interesting, to share It with the kids," Oleksandr Chub told Ukrainianer.
"Strokati Yenoty" adventure camp has become the place where children from all over Ukraine dream of going. The first visitors to the camp were the children of the fallen and wounded defenders of the battalion where Oleksandr once served.
"Strokati Yenoty" overturned the idea of ordinary children camps with its compulsion and boring programs. Here, children are taught to be active and independent. But, of course, there are certain rules of the so-called game that they should follow so that it wouldn’t turn into chaos. These rules include, for example, sorting garbage, speaking without any swear words and only in Ukrainian with maximum live communication possible.
Children play sports, travel, have different creative activities and communicate with each other a lot. The camp is designed to encourage children's desire to learn more about the world and lead an active life.
Oleksandr pays special attention to his "motley team" of the camp. Those who want to camp with children must first organize a class or an event for them. And only then, if they can get on the same level with children, without building any hierarchies, then they get into the team of instructors. "Strokati Yenoty” is a social project that became a business, but remained true to the values and goals that were set at the beginning.
Nowadays, Oleksandr Chub rejoined the ranks of the defenders of Ukraine, doing everything possible to bring Victory, so after that, the Ukrainian children will once again have happy childhoods with lots of trips and adventures.
Artur Krasovsky,
Azov bees
Artur Krasovsky, Azov bees
Veteran Artur Krasovsky is one of the winners of the #VARTO business financing competition from the
Ukrainian Veteran Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Artur will be developing the production of natural, ecologically clean honey and other useful bee products of the "Azov Bees" brand. He will be engaged in cultivating bees of the "Ukrainian steppe" and the "Carpathian" breeds.
"I began beekeeping 5 years ago. It was a hobby after leaving the military service. Since 2012 I worked in the police, investigating economic crimes. With the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2014, I was involved in the defence along the demarcation line near Mariupol," says Artur Krasovsky. After leaving the service, the man decided to turn his beekeeping hobby into a source of income. Artur lived in Melekine, near Mariupol. He had an apiary there. With the beginning of a full-scale invasion in 2022, he had to flee his home and move to Khmelnytskyi.
"We had to drive through dozens of roadblocks, through gray detours. That's why I couldn't take away his bees or his other property. Everything that remained in the temporarily occupied territory was destroyed. I had an open business. I thought about doing beekeeping, but it was too difficult financially. I saw on the Internet that the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation finances the development of veteran businesses. I applied and won, although I didn't even expect it. I was pleasantly surprised," the veteran shares.
According to the defender, their plans include the production of honey, packing it into sticks and making sweets. They will also provide apitherapy services. These are special houses that stand on beehives for people to rest there. 20 minutes of rest in the "bee house" can replace a full sleep. 6 people will be involved in the work of the apiary and the enterprise: assistant beekeepers, packers, and a marketing specialist. Artur plans that the next spring the apiary will be expanded to 500-600 beehives.
Artur will be developing the production of natural, ecologically clean honey and other useful bee products of the "Azov Bees" brand. He will be engaged in cultivating bees of the "Ukrainian steppe" and the "Carpathian" breeds.
"I began beekeeping 5 years ago. It was a hobby after leaving the military service. Since 2012 I worked in the police, investigating economic crimes. With the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2014, I was involved in the defence along the demarcation line near Mariupol," says Artur Krasovsky. After leaving the service, the man decided to turn his beekeeping hobby into a source of income. Artur lived in Melekine, near Mariupol. He had an apiary there. With the beginning of a full-scale invasion in 2022, he had to flee his home and move to Khmelnytskyi.
"We had to drive through dozens of roadblocks, through gray detours. That's why I couldn't take away his bees or his other property. Everything that remained in the temporarily occupied territory was destroyed. I had an open business. I thought about doing beekeeping, but it was too difficult financially. I saw on the Internet that the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation finances the development of veteran businesses. I applied and won, although I didn't even expect it. I was pleasantly surprised," the veteran shares.
According to the defender, their plans include the production of honey, packing it into sticks and making sweets. They will also provide apitherapy services. These are special houses that stand on beehives for people to rest there. 20 minutes of rest in the "bee house" can replace a full sleep. 6 people will be involved in the work of the apiary and the enterprise: assistant beekeepers, packers, and a marketing specialist. Artur plans that the next spring the apiary will be expanded to 500-600 beehives.
Vitaly Kucherenko,
demining
Vitaly Kucherenko, demining
Veteran Vitaly Kucherenko founded a company which is engaged with humanitarian demining of the
de-occupied territories. He purchased special equipment with the help of the funds provided by the
Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
In 2022, Vitaly was invited to participate as an expert in the draft of the Law "On Mine Action in Ukraine". The veteran became curious whether he would be able to create a non-governmental demining organization on his own and in that way benefit the state, himself, and his family.
"As a military man, I understand the scale of this problem. After returning to civilian life, I always wanted this land to be safe for me, my children and grandchildren," says Vitaly.
It was difficult to start, but the veteran enlisted the advice of specialists, used his own savings and got support from friends. Together with his colleagues, he worked in the Donetsk region, but the full-scale invasion prevented them from continuing the work.
One of the goals of the business is also to help brothers in arms, to provide jobs and to socialize them. Vitaly's team consists of former military servicemen, most of them have now returned to the frontline. But the company has already prepared replacement specialists in its training center. The team plans to work in Zhytomyr Oblast. In an area of 7 square kilometers that should be demined.
In 2022, Vitaly was invited to participate as an expert in the draft of the Law "On Mine Action in Ukraine". The veteran became curious whether he would be able to create a non-governmental demining organization on his own and in that way benefit the state, himself, and his family.
"As a military man, I understand the scale of this problem. After returning to civilian life, I always wanted this land to be safe for me, my children and grandchildren," says Vitaly.
It was difficult to start, but the veteran enlisted the advice of specialists, used his own savings and got support from friends. Together with his colleagues, he worked in the Donetsk region, but the full-scale invasion prevented them from continuing the work.
One of the goals of the business is also to help brothers in arms, to provide jobs and to socialize them. Vitaly's team consists of former military servicemen, most of them have now returned to the frontline. But the company has already prepared replacement specialists in its training center. The team plans to work in Zhytomyr Oblast. In an area of 7 square kilometers that should be demined.
Valery Pryadun,
cleaning company
Valery Pryadun, cleaning company
Veteran Valery Pryadun is one of the winners of the #VARTO contest of the UVF. He plans to develop a
cleaning company in Poltava with a full range of customer services.
"The launch of the company is expected in February-March 2023. Currently, the process of preparation and purchase of the necessary equipment is underway. Our company will focus not only on servicing offices but also private houses and apartments. I also plan to participate in tender procurement to have the possibility of working with state institutions," says Valery.
The veteran also shares his vision for his future team. While the process of providing services and finding clients will be worked out, the team will be up to 5 people. But later on, he wants to organize two mobile cleaning brigades.
"We will also need to purchase a vehicle to transport the equipment. A million hryvnias would be enough to realize all these ideas. But I entered a slightly smaller amount in the tender application. Although, when he found out that he won the #VARTO competition, he was pleasantly surprised. If there will be any more contests, I will definitely take part in them," says Valery.
In addition to the cleaning company, the veteran is also developing a company that provides security services in Poltava.
Before founding his own business, the man worked in the ranks of the Security Service of Ukraine. From 2015-2018 he was on an official mission in the zone of ATO/ Joint Forces Operation, in the Donetsk region. There he was engaged in counter-intelligence and other operational activities within the framework of the tasks assigned to the Security Service of Ukraine.
"The launch of the company is expected in February-March 2023. Currently, the process of preparation and purchase of the necessary equipment is underway. Our company will focus not only on servicing offices but also private houses and apartments. I also plan to participate in tender procurement to have the possibility of working with state institutions," says Valery.
The veteran also shares his vision for his future team. While the process of providing services and finding clients will be worked out, the team will be up to 5 people. But later on, he wants to organize two mobile cleaning brigades.
"We will also need to purchase a vehicle to transport the equipment. A million hryvnias would be enough to realize all these ideas. But I entered a slightly smaller amount in the tender application. Although, when he found out that he won the #VARTO competition, he was pleasantly surprised. If there will be any more contests, I will definitely take part in them," says Valery.
In addition to the cleaning company, the veteran is also developing a company that provides security services in Poltava.
Before founding his own business, the man worked in the ranks of the Security Service of Ukraine. From 2015-2018 he was on an official mission in the zone of ATO/ Joint Forces Operation, in the Donetsk region. There he was engaged in counter-intelligence and other operational activities within the framework of the tasks assigned to the Security Service of Ukraine.
Andriy Sarvira,
First Wave restaurant in Dnipro
Andriy Sarvira, First Wave restaurant in Dnipro
During the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation , veteran entrepreneur Andriy Sarvira opened
a volunteer headquarters on the territory of his exquisite First Wave restaurant in Dnipro. In the
first days of the war, the institution fed hot lunches to soldiers, internally displaced persons, and
policemen. Half a thousand people ate there every day.
In 2014, Andriy was actively volunteering. In 2015, he volunteered for the 81st separate airborne assault brigade. In fact, it was the fourth wave of mobilization. They performed combat tasks in Popasnaya, Vodyanyi and other hot areas.
In 2016 he demobilized in the rank of junior sergeant, and then he decided to engage in entrepreneurship. Andriy opened the Veterano Pizza restaurant in Dnipro. Things were going well; at one point, the restaurant was visited by the state's first persons, who didn't hold back from giving it rave reviews.
In 2018, they moved to the center of the city, increasing the space of the restaurant and the number of visitors increased as well. Later, Andrii stopped working under the Veterano brand, opening his own restaurant - First Wave, and a brewery by the same name.
"Why First Wave"? It seemed very apt to me then. Because it is like the first wave of mobilization. The landing of the first wave of the main forces during the Allied operation in Normandy also went by this name - The First Wave. And because we were the first wave of brewers who started making craft beer," Andriy explains the name of the restaurant.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, this restaurant of Ukrainian-European cuisine was closed and worked exclusively as a volunteer headquarters to provide hot lunches to the displaced, the military and the police.
Every day, the team fed about 500 people.
"I expected an invasion and knew that it would happen - not in previous years, but in 2022. There were all signs that it was going to happen, unlike any previous year. It was enough to listen carefully to what Russian officials and their other politicians were saying, they gave clear dates for a full-scale invasion. Zhirynovsky, for example, named one. After February 24, I left for three months to visit my friends in the east with, shall we say, a volunteer mission. I evacuated the family and launched a volunteer headquarters in the restaurant without hesitation," says Andrii.
The establishment has recently reopened as a restaurant, but after its absence from the market due to the war, sales declined drastically.
"We counted the losses - it is quite a large sum of money. Especially including rent and utilities," he says succinctly.
The veteran applied for the "VARTO" competition program of the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation. First Wave was one of the winners of the contest and will receive 860,000 hryvnas for development. In particular, they plan to purchase the new, more appropriate equipment.
"Our chance to keep the company afloat and to keep on developing is to attract a new wave of visitors, which we plan to engage with the help of entertainment and information events - concerts, exhibitions, lectures, and poetry evenings. We did it before, but thanks to the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation, we will organize them even more effectively," emphasizes Andriy.
And he states: "So far, the restaurant has not returned to the pre-war number of visitors."
But we at the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation believe, expect and know that a new wave of visitors will come to First Wave. Clients will come, lending a helping hand to the veteran entrepreneur. Just as he, having given up profit, offered his helping hand to those who needed it in the first days of the war.
In 2014, Andriy was actively volunteering. In 2015, he volunteered for the 81st separate airborne assault brigade. In fact, it was the fourth wave of mobilization. They performed combat tasks in Popasnaya, Vodyanyi and other hot areas.
In 2016 he demobilized in the rank of junior sergeant, and then he decided to engage in entrepreneurship. Andriy opened the Veterano Pizza restaurant in Dnipro. Things were going well; at one point, the restaurant was visited by the state's first persons, who didn't hold back from giving it rave reviews.
In 2018, they moved to the center of the city, increasing the space of the restaurant and the number of visitors increased as well. Later, Andrii stopped working under the Veterano brand, opening his own restaurant - First Wave, and a brewery by the same name.
"Why First Wave"? It seemed very apt to me then. Because it is like the first wave of mobilization. The landing of the first wave of the main forces during the Allied operation in Normandy also went by this name - The First Wave. And because we were the first wave of brewers who started making craft beer," Andriy explains the name of the restaurant.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, this restaurant of Ukrainian-European cuisine was closed and worked exclusively as a volunteer headquarters to provide hot lunches to the displaced, the military and the police.
Every day, the team fed about 500 people.
"I expected an invasion and knew that it would happen - not in previous years, but in 2022. There were all signs that it was going to happen, unlike any previous year. It was enough to listen carefully to what Russian officials and their other politicians were saying, they gave clear dates for a full-scale invasion. Zhirynovsky, for example, named one. After February 24, I left for three months to visit my friends in the east with, shall we say, a volunteer mission. I evacuated the family and launched a volunteer headquarters in the restaurant without hesitation," says Andrii.
The establishment has recently reopened as a restaurant, but after its absence from the market due to the war, sales declined drastically.
"We counted the losses - it is quite a large sum of money. Especially including rent and utilities," he says succinctly.
The veteran applied for the "VARTO" competition program of the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation. First Wave was one of the winners of the contest and will receive 860,000 hryvnas for development. In particular, they plan to purchase the new, more appropriate equipment.
"Our chance to keep the company afloat and to keep on developing is to attract a new wave of visitors, which we plan to engage with the help of entertainment and information events - concerts, exhibitions, lectures, and poetry evenings. We did it before, but thanks to the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation, we will organize them even more effectively," emphasizes Andriy.
And he states: "So far, the restaurant has not returned to the pre-war number of visitors."
But we at the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation believe, expect and know that a new wave of visitors will come to First Wave. Clients will come, lending a helping hand to the veteran entrepreneur. Just as he, having given up profit, offered his helping hand to those who needed it in the first days of the war.
Oleksiy Beshulya,
the rescue of the "Propala Gramota"
Oleksiy Beshulya, the rescue of the "Propala Gramota" publishing house
Veteran Oleksiy Beshulya is back again at the frontline.
On November 20, Oleksiy celebrated 3 years since the foundation of his publishing house "Propala Gramota". He recently won the #VARTO competition from the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans for its development and now he is sure that "soon the publishing house will start to delight customers with new books, and most importantly, with new meanings that were born out of the war."
Oleksiy was born in Donetsk region. In 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine, he volunteered to fight for his country.
He says about the idea of founding a publishing house: "I have always loved books, even during the war I carried a dozen books with me in a trunk, later the hobby turned into a business...".
Oleksiy says that books influence society's education level: “Our books raise awareness of citizens about the history of military affairs, the struggles of different peoples for freedom. We publish books that were written by Ukrainian warriors, particularly those that have fallen in the fight against Russia prior to the full-scale invasion.”
By the way, the publishing house is currently running a permanent campaign "Hang books for the troops". Anyone willing can buy a book and the team will hand over such gifts to various units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.
Currently, "Propala Gramota" needs support in order to resume full-fledged work and they need resources for their good cause. Therefore, with the support of the UVF, the publishing house will be able to ensure the printing of books that were already made and of those that were partially printed before the start of the full-scale invasion, as well as new editions of the publishing house's most popular titles.
The team believes that by printing novelties and bestsellers, the publishing will be able to restore full operation in the field of direct sales and improve wholesale distribution
On November 20, Oleksiy celebrated 3 years since the foundation of his publishing house "Propala Gramota". He recently won the #VARTO competition from the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans for its development and now he is sure that "soon the publishing house will start to delight customers with new books, and most importantly, with new meanings that were born out of the war."
Oleksiy was born in Donetsk region. In 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine, he volunteered to fight for his country.
He says about the idea of founding a publishing house: "I have always loved books, even during the war I carried a dozen books with me in a trunk, later the hobby turned into a business...".
Oleksiy says that books influence society's education level: “Our books raise awareness of citizens about the history of military affairs, the struggles of different peoples for freedom. We publish books that were written by Ukrainian warriors, particularly those that have fallen in the fight against Russia prior to the full-scale invasion.”
By the way, the publishing house is currently running a permanent campaign "Hang books for the troops". Anyone willing can buy a book and the team will hand over such gifts to various units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.
Currently, "Propala Gramota" needs support in order to resume full-fledged work and they need resources for their good cause. Therefore, with the support of the UVF, the publishing house will be able to ensure the printing of books that were already made and of those that were partially printed before the start of the full-scale invasion, as well as new editions of the publishing house's most popular titles.
The team believes that by printing novelties and bestsellers, the publishing will be able to restore full operation in the field of direct sales and improve wholesale distribution
Roman Yanko,
Fuel pellets made of wood
Roman Yanko, Fuel pellets made of wood
In November 2019, Roman Yanko, a veteran of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, returned home from the
war. While still in the hospital, he considered various ideas for his own business. And one of them
was the processing of waste from carpentry production into pellets.
The veteran says that he had a dream back in the trenches to process wood waste into something useful: "Nowadays, pellets are the best bioresource for space heating!" veteran claims.
He says: "Volunteers brought us sunflower pellets and we used them to heat the small houses. I became very interested in this, so I began to study this topic, machines, work processes, etc. Thanks to my friends, I delved into this process even more."
First of all, the veteran purchased a granulator machine, which can produce up to a ton of pellets a day, a screw conveyor and a screener-cooler.
This business is a dream job for him. Mr. Roman says he waits every day until the night is over so that he can come and work again with God's help. His brother works and helps him with production. And when someone ask him "What do you do?" Mr. Roman proudly answers "I am a businessman!".
Roman Yanko's talent for carpentry is just an accident, he says that his mother worked at the Chernivtsi souvenir factory "Bukovinka". Therefore, the boy grew up near the wood processing machines. He is also a carpenter by education.
When the war started in 2014, Roman Yanko went to the front without any hesitation, he became a soldier. He says that he did not go for the rank or for medals. He went there with deliberation to defend Ukraine. Now the veteran is not at the front due to his health, but he contributes to the victory by working, supporting the Ukrainian economy and creating new jobs.
The veteran is convinced: "Belief in what you are doing and supporting your relatives is the main formula for success." He claims that his wife Nadia's faith and his own tenacity work wonders.
During the development of his business, Roman was able to create a wide client base, and there were even orders from abroad, but he didn't have the capacity to fulfil such orders. But, thanks to the victory in the #VARTO competition, his dream will come true, and most importantly, the number of people working on new equipment will also increase.
The veteran says that he had a dream back in the trenches to process wood waste into something useful: "Nowadays, pellets are the best bioresource for space heating!" veteran claims.
He says: "Volunteers brought us sunflower pellets and we used them to heat the small houses. I became very interested in this, so I began to study this topic, machines, work processes, etc. Thanks to my friends, I delved into this process even more."
First of all, the veteran purchased a granulator machine, which can produce up to a ton of pellets a day, a screw conveyor and a screener-cooler.
This business is a dream job for him. Mr. Roman says he waits every day until the night is over so that he can come and work again with God's help. His brother works and helps him with production. And when someone ask him "What do you do?" Mr. Roman proudly answers "I am a businessman!".
Roman Yanko's talent for carpentry is just an accident, he says that his mother worked at the Chernivtsi souvenir factory "Bukovinka". Therefore, the boy grew up near the wood processing machines. He is also a carpenter by education.
When the war started in 2014, Roman Yanko went to the front without any hesitation, he became a soldier. He says that he did not go for the rank or for medals. He went there with deliberation to defend Ukraine. Now the veteran is not at the front due to his health, but he contributes to the victory by working, supporting the Ukrainian economy and creating new jobs.
The veteran is convinced: "Belief in what you are doing and supporting your relatives is the main formula for success." He claims that his wife Nadia's faith and his own tenacity work wonders.
During the development of his business, Roman was able to create a wide client base, and there were even orders from abroad, but he didn't have the capacity to fulfil such orders. But, thanks to the victory in the #VARTO competition, his dream will come true, and most importantly, the number of people working on new equipment will also increase.
Oleksandr Kvyatkovsky,
agrodrones
Oleksandr Kvyatkovsky, agrodrones
"This is amazing because you can get the veteran business the most money with so little hassle. And
it's in these hard times!", Oleksandr Kvyatkovsky shares his feelings on the victory in the #VARTO
competition from the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Kvyatkovskyi received funding for the processing of agricultural crops with the help of an agrodrone. He will provide such services for ukrainian farms. Oleksandr is a combat veteran who served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' air reconnaissance in the Donetsk direction from the first day of the war in 2014. Due to his health, he is currently unable to serve and is instead holding economic front.
Since Oleksandr worked with drones and UAVs in the army, the idea for his business was actually on the surface. And now, during the agricultural season, he offers services for making maps of fields and using drone photos to assess the condition of crops. This information is needed to put precision agriculture into practice.
Oleksandr also acknowledges that he couldn't imagine how important his business would be now, given that many fields have been mined, and they still need to be cultivated and fertilized somehow.
He explains: "Those farms where fights have taken place try to use tractor tillage as little as possible. It takes more than one year for full demining, the drone is a safer alternative to the tractor: fewer passes of heavy equipment means less chance of hitting a mine or an unexploded shell."
His business is funded on the principle of ensuring food security, which is a crucial area of supporting state security, especially during wartime. Oleksandr says that: "The use of drones is relevant not only in the military matters, but also in agriculture, because it allows the use of precision farming approaches. This results in significant cost savings, improves the effectiveness of the use of fertilizers and plant protection products, and lowers the expenditures of fuel and lubricants, among other benefits."
Oleksandr adds: "Not many people are aware that Ukraine is currently a leader in the development of unmanned technologies for the agricultural industry. And drones now are greatly helping to reduce the expenditures, fertilizers used for processing and to speed up the cultivating process, and this saves a lot of resources for farmers and helps to process them in a short time. There are even periods when there is no substitute for such drones. For example, when corn or sunflowers are high, and it is simply impossible to go there with a combine harvester because it will damage the crop."
With the help of the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation, Oleksandr will be able to revitalize his company, broaden its range of services, create new jobs, employ veterans, and help farms affected by the war recover faster.
Oleksandr Kvyatkovskyi received funding for the processing of agricultural crops with the help of an agrodrone. He will provide such services for ukrainian farms. Oleksandr is a combat veteran who served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' air reconnaissance in the Donetsk direction from the first day of the war in 2014. Due to his health, he is currently unable to serve and is instead holding economic front.
Since Oleksandr worked with drones and UAVs in the army, the idea for his business was actually on the surface. And now, during the agricultural season, he offers services for making maps of fields and using drone photos to assess the condition of crops. This information is needed to put precision agriculture into practice.
Oleksandr also acknowledges that he couldn't imagine how important his business would be now, given that many fields have been mined, and they still need to be cultivated and fertilized somehow.
He explains: "Those farms where fights have taken place try to use tractor tillage as little as possible. It takes more than one year for full demining, the drone is a safer alternative to the tractor: fewer passes of heavy equipment means less chance of hitting a mine or an unexploded shell."
His business is funded on the principle of ensuring food security, which is a crucial area of supporting state security, especially during wartime. Oleksandr says that: "The use of drones is relevant not only in the military matters, but also in agriculture, because it allows the use of precision farming approaches. This results in significant cost savings, improves the effectiveness of the use of fertilizers and plant protection products, and lowers the expenditures of fuel and lubricants, among other benefits."
Oleksandr adds: "Not many people are aware that Ukraine is currently a leader in the development of unmanned technologies for the agricultural industry. And drones now are greatly helping to reduce the expenditures, fertilizers used for processing and to speed up the cultivating process, and this saves a lot of resources for farmers and helps to process them in a short time. There are even periods when there is no substitute for such drones. For example, when corn or sunflowers are high, and it is simply impossible to go there with a combine harvester because it will damage the crop."
With the help of the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation, Oleksandr will be able to revitalize his company, broaden its range of services, create new jobs, employ veterans, and help farms affected by the war recover faster.
Serhiy Svyrydenko, farmer,
Eco Farm “Kozatske Podvirya”
Serhiy Svyrydenko, farmer, Eco Farm “Kozatske Podvirya”
After returning from the ATO zone in 2016, veteran Serhiy Svyrydenko founded the Eco Farm “Kozatske
Podvirya” in Ivanopil'a village in Donetsk region. He raised a herd of goats there and made craft
meat delicacies and fragrant cheeses.
But on February 24th, active hostilities came close to his settlement. The market stopped functioning, and the conditions for raising animals became difficult.
Therefore, the man decided to move a thousand kilometers from home with 150 goats, equipment and machinery.
Until 2014, Serhiy Svyrydenko had lived in Donetsk. Because of Russian "tourists'' and “guest performers”, the situation became very tense, and Serhiy's whole family went to the country house in the Ivanopillia village, Kostiantyniv district, "for two weeks", which remained on the controlled territory. And it turned out that they had been staying there for 8 years.
When Serhii realized that they would not return home in two weeks, he went to the Military Commissariat. He served in the 54th brigade as an artilleryman for a year and a half. He fought on the Svitlodar Arc. After the demobilization, he founded a goat farm in Ivanopillia.
Serhii Svyridenko says: "What can you do in the village except farming? Everyone has cows, but only a few have goats. Firstly we bought seven ordinary goats. Then we began to learn what and to what. Then we ordered the first elite goat from Germany. And so it all slowly turned around."
At the same time, the man started making meat delicacies from pork. In 2017, they received a grant from the NGO "Ukrainian Donetsk Kurkul’" and built a mini-cheese factory at a price of 1 million hryvnias.
Meat delicacies and cheeses were sold in local shops, fairs and online. Things were going well. For example, in 2021, goods were sold for 4.9 million hryvnias. They were preparing to increase the volume of production and sales.
But on February 24th, a large-scale war began and destroyed all plans. In spring airstrikes occurred in Ivanopillia. Since May, gas has disappeared in the village. And then the Russians shot up the pumping station, so people were also left without water.
Serhiy's farm had its own well. He says he could survive in the village on his own, but keeping livestock became increasingly difficult due to water and feed shortages.
The man no longer believed that everything would pass in "a couple of weeks", because he had the experience from 2014. Therefore, Serhiy Svyrydenko decided to leave the village for a more peaceful area. It was not easy to transport such a large herd.
"I had no choice: either the goats will die of hunger in Ivanopillia, or we will move and I will be able to find feed for them. That is why I had been traveling around Ukraine since July, looking for places to move. Somewhere on television there was a program about my farm. Volyn businessman Ivan Bud had watched it. He invited me to his old farm in Volyn," says the man.
So, at the beginning of September, Serhiy Svyridenko hired a cattle driver. He loaded equipment, a tractor, and machinery onto the first floor, and 150 goats onto the second floor. He took two employees and products ready for sale and set off.
The goats have already settled in the new place. Although it was not easy: a different climate, grass. Serhii says that many animals fell ill, six died. But currently the situation has more or less stabilized. Equipping of the farm is still going.
But on February 24th, active hostilities came close to his settlement. The market stopped functioning, and the conditions for raising animals became difficult.
Therefore, the man decided to move a thousand kilometers from home with 150 goats, equipment and machinery.
Until 2014, Serhiy Svyrydenko had lived in Donetsk. Because of Russian "tourists'' and “guest performers”, the situation became very tense, and Serhiy's whole family went to the country house in the Ivanopillia village, Kostiantyniv district, "for two weeks", which remained on the controlled territory. And it turned out that they had been staying there for 8 years.
When Serhii realized that they would not return home in two weeks, he went to the Military Commissariat. He served in the 54th brigade as an artilleryman for a year and a half. He fought on the Svitlodar Arc. After the demobilization, he founded a goat farm in Ivanopillia.
Serhii Svyridenko says: "What can you do in the village except farming? Everyone has cows, but only a few have goats. Firstly we bought seven ordinary goats. Then we began to learn what and to what. Then we ordered the first elite goat from Germany. And so it all slowly turned around."
At the same time, the man started making meat delicacies from pork. In 2017, they received a grant from the NGO "Ukrainian Donetsk Kurkul’" and built a mini-cheese factory at a price of 1 million hryvnias.
Meat delicacies and cheeses were sold in local shops, fairs and online. Things were going well. For example, in 2021, goods were sold for 4.9 million hryvnias. They were preparing to increase the volume of production and sales.
But on February 24th, a large-scale war began and destroyed all plans. In spring airstrikes occurred in Ivanopillia. Since May, gas has disappeared in the village. And then the Russians shot up the pumping station, so people were also left without water.
Serhiy's farm had its own well. He says he could survive in the village on his own, but keeping livestock became increasingly difficult due to water and feed shortages.
The man no longer believed that everything would pass in "a couple of weeks", because he had the experience from 2014. Therefore, Serhiy Svyrydenko decided to leave the village for a more peaceful area. It was not easy to transport such a large herd.
"I had no choice: either the goats will die of hunger in Ivanopillia, or we will move and I will be able to find feed for them. That is why I had been traveling around Ukraine since July, looking for places to move. Somewhere on television there was a program about my farm. Volyn businessman Ivan Bud had watched it. He invited me to his old farm in Volyn," says the man.
So, at the beginning of September, Serhiy Svyridenko hired a cattle driver. He loaded equipment, a tractor, and machinery onto the first floor, and 150 goats onto the second floor. He took two employees and products ready for sale and set off.
The goats have already settled in the new place. Although it was not easy: a different climate, grass. Serhii says that many animals fell ill, six died. But currently the situation has more or less stabilized. Equipping of the farm is still going.
Victoria Tkach,
Slice&dry’s
Victoria Tkach, Slice&dry’s
Active volunteering, teaching tactical medicine courses in 2014, participation in war in 2015, a
successful start of her own business and war again - this is the story of Victoria Tkach, a veteran
entrepreneur who won the #VARTO competition organized by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation Ministry of
Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Victoria says, "The history of my own business began in 2018 when, as a volunteer, I began to study at the Kyiv School of Economics in order to return to civilian life and be able to work for myself. After receiving a grant in the amount of 25 thousand hryvnias, we purchased equipment and, having knowledge, how to develop a startup, got on the difficult road of business..."
At the front, Victoria did not eat meat, so her mother sent her dried vegetables and fruits, made with her own hands. That's how the idea appeared to make nutritious dry goods, which would be useful for those who fight, go to the mountains, and for everyone who needs to take something not so heavy but with high energy value on the road. Initially, the business was to be called "Kus'”, but it was launched as Slice&dry's. Currently, her manufacturing deals with the drying fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and meat.
"Our products are popular among people who spend most of their time outside their personal comfort zone, their home, namely athletes, rescuers, military, doctors, police, tourists, climbers, and all of them are united by love for healthy food and respect to their health," says the veteran.
With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, requests from the military increased 5 times. And therefore the capacity could no longer cope with the requests from customers, so the received money will be used to increase the capacity and expand the staff.
Victoria shares: "For me, this business is an opportunity to have something of my own and give the family another segment that will unite it. I see how my relatives are working on this project, and I am happy. I can see they like it. They talk about our case and joke about it all the time."
Victoria says, "The history of my own business began in 2018 when, as a volunteer, I began to study at the Kyiv School of Economics in order to return to civilian life and be able to work for myself. After receiving a grant in the amount of 25 thousand hryvnias, we purchased equipment and, having knowledge, how to develop a startup, got on the difficult road of business..."
At the front, Victoria did not eat meat, so her mother sent her dried vegetables and fruits, made with her own hands. That's how the idea appeared to make nutritious dry goods, which would be useful for those who fight, go to the mountains, and for everyone who needs to take something not so heavy but with high energy value on the road. Initially, the business was to be called "Kus'”, but it was launched as Slice&dry's. Currently, her manufacturing deals with the drying fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and meat.
"Our products are popular among people who spend most of their time outside their personal comfort zone, their home, namely athletes, rescuers, military, doctors, police, tourists, climbers, and all of them are united by love for healthy food and respect to their health," says the veteran.
With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, requests from the military increased 5 times. And therefore the capacity could no longer cope with the requests from customers, so the received money will be used to increase the capacity and expand the staff.
Victoria shares: "For me, this business is an opportunity to have something of my own and give the family another segment that will unite it. I see how my relatives are working on this project, and I am happy. I can see they like it. They talk about our case and joke about it all the time."
Volodymyr Skosogorenko,
granulated garlic
Volodymyr Skosogorenko, granulated garlic
Veteran Volodymyr Skosogorenko has received funds to expand production of processing garlic into paste
and fermented black garlic — into spices, sauces and single-use stacks.
"Tell me, do you like to chop garlic and then wash that garlic press, clean it with a toothpick? No? In our business, it was important to find the pain point and solve it. We have found it - we free people from washing garlic presses," Volodymyr says with a smile about his business.
Volodymyr Skosohorenko defended Ukraine in 2014-2015 in the Luhansk region. After discharging the military service, he began to look for himself and started studying psychology in order to help himself and others. In particular, he now volunteers as a psychologist working with wounded military personnel and those who are undergoing rehabilitation.
He decided to go into business because he wanted to earn money... to help combatants with psychological rehabilitation and to fund projects aimed to provide psychological rehabilitation to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war and their families.
Volodymyr shares that his own business started for him out of certain interest: how he can apply his combat skills in entrepreneurship? And now he confidently tells everyone that it is necessary to do business with veterans, if only because they want to make the product better, useful and with better quality.
How did it all begin? With his veteran friends, Volodymyr was looking for his business niche for a long time, and then he remembered that he had his two legal hectares of land, which he had leased to a farmer. This farmer grew garlic on that land. Volodymyr invited him to talk and realized that this was it. So in 2021, he started his own business. His team consisted of several veterans.
Later, Volodymyr Skosogorenko began studying the plant in more detail and realized that it was a veteran product. He says: "There are a lot of hypertensives in the army, and garlic lowers blood pressure and has many other useful properties."
After February 24th, almost all of Volodymyr's brothers went to the front, and due to the injuries he received in 2014-2015, he was told to keep home front and create new jobs for them, so that there would be somewhere to return to after the Victory. Now Volodymyr is dealing with the information front, monitoring the mental state of volunteers, and when everything more or less normalized, he continued to develop the "garlic" business.
Volodymyr is currently working on two areas — creating small batches of the garlic paste and spices from fermented black garlic. He says that garlic, like lard, is a superfood.
"What is my dream? I want to see empty packaging from our products in the garbage!", - shares the veteran. — "And if globally, then after filling Vinnytsia and all of Ukraine with our garlic products, I`m going to enter the international market as well."
Volodymyr motivates with his thoughts: "In business, the idea is not so important, because there are many ideas floating in the air, but they often disappear, because there was no necessary knowledge for implementation. It is important to understand. Because when we started, we focused on one market, but it didn't work. Then we changed the vector and everything began working. The main thing is stubbornness."
"Tell me, do you like to chop garlic and then wash that garlic press, clean it with a toothpick? No? In our business, it was important to find the pain point and solve it. We have found it - we free people from washing garlic presses," Volodymyr says with a smile about his business.
Volodymyr Skosohorenko defended Ukraine in 2014-2015 in the Luhansk region. After discharging the military service, he began to look for himself and started studying psychology in order to help himself and others. In particular, he now volunteers as a psychologist working with wounded military personnel and those who are undergoing rehabilitation.
He decided to go into business because he wanted to earn money... to help combatants with psychological rehabilitation and to fund projects aimed to provide psychological rehabilitation to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war and their families.
Volodymyr shares that his own business started for him out of certain interest: how he can apply his combat skills in entrepreneurship? And now he confidently tells everyone that it is necessary to do business with veterans, if only because they want to make the product better, useful and with better quality.
How did it all begin? With his veteran friends, Volodymyr was looking for his business niche for a long time, and then he remembered that he had his two legal hectares of land, which he had leased to a farmer. This farmer grew garlic on that land. Volodymyr invited him to talk and realized that this was it. So in 2021, he started his own business. His team consisted of several veterans.
Later, Volodymyr Skosogorenko began studying the plant in more detail and realized that it was a veteran product. He says: "There are a lot of hypertensives in the army, and garlic lowers blood pressure and has many other useful properties."
After February 24th, almost all of Volodymyr's brothers went to the front, and due to the injuries he received in 2014-2015, he was told to keep home front and create new jobs for them, so that there would be somewhere to return to after the Victory. Now Volodymyr is dealing with the information front, monitoring the mental state of volunteers, and when everything more or less normalized, he continued to develop the "garlic" business.
Volodymyr is currently working on two areas — creating small batches of the garlic paste and spices from fermented black garlic. He says that garlic, like lard, is a superfood.
"What is my dream? I want to see empty packaging from our products in the garbage!", - shares the veteran. — "And if globally, then after filling Vinnytsia and all of Ukraine with our garlic products, I`m going to enter the international market as well."
Volodymyr motivates with his thoughts: "In business, the idea is not so important, because there are many ideas floating in the air, but they often disappear, because there was no necessary knowledge for implementation. It is important to understand. Because when we started, we focused on one market, but it didn't work. Then we changed the vector and everything began working. The main thing is stubbornness."
Oleg Kashlyak,
Merlion veterinary clinic
Oleg Kashlyak, Merlion veterinary clinic
Oleg Kashlyak is one of the winners of the #VARTO veteran business financing competition program. He
expands and develops the Merlion veterinary clinic in Lviv.
Oleg has been on the veterinary path since 1996, when he graduated from the Lviv Veterinary Institute. But in 2013, Oleg was overthrown from the position of senior veterinarian and appointed as the head of the fuel and lubricants department. Therefore, from the beginning of the Maidan until 2016, Oleg was engaged in providing fuel to the Western grouping of troops. In the ATO, he went to the hottest spots of the front: from Debaltseve to Stanytsia Luhanska. His gas station supplied all roadblocks where the National Guard of Ukraine was stationed.
In 2016 Oleg organized his second laboratory of safe food products. It was designed to make sure that all products that went to the ATO, as well as those that were supplied to the National Guard, were safe.
However, being in the ATO, he also took care of animals. Oleg remembers: "There were many stray cats and dogs in the ATO. Together with the State Veterinary Service and the National Guard veterinarians, we vaccinated homeless animals in the area wherever the NGU served."
In 2022, the man retired due to health issues. Around this time, his son graduated from the Veterinary University, so they decided to start their own business. Father and son opened the "Merlion" veterinary clinic. This name is symbolic for both of them. The Merlion is a lionfish, the symbol of Singapore. According to the horoscope signs, the son is Pisces, and the father is Leo.
"That's how we got our Dr. Merlion, with the tail of a fish and the head of a lion. The lion is wise and fiery, the fish is calm water. Two elements at the same time"
In 2021 concurrently with opening the clinic, Oleg took business courses from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. Then he made two business plans. One for the IOM (International Organization for Migration), which paid for his surgical table. The other is for the Lviv Regional State Administration, which bought him an artificial lung ventilation apparatus.
Today, the development of the veterinary clinic has reached the second stage of the business plan - the equipment of the diagnostic and laboratory department.
"This stage is 60% of what we planned to do with our clinic. I found out #VARTO program from Yulia Laputina (Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine), who came to my clinic. I applied to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation. Furthermore, I filled out an application for the #VARTO competition program and became one of those who received the financing. With the funds of UVF, I will pay for an ultrasound machine and a biochemical hemoanalyzer," says Mr. Oleg.
Now the clinic has hired two students that will be trained to work with the new equipment. Previously, the veterinary clinic concluded a contract with the Lviv Veterinary University. Groups of students came, including foreign students. Oleg's goal is to cover more university departments and to provide students practical knowledge.
Oleg continues to maintain friendship with the military. He says: "I do not have formal cooperation with them, but i maintain friendly relations. I am in contact with various power structures of the Armed Forces, and, of course, of the National Guard, because I served in together with them." Why do many people know a lot about the clinic? Oleg says it's a good reputation that spreads quickly. "We constantly keep an eye on this question. because a good client service is often passed from mouth-to-mouth. Both cynologists and volunteers know about us. Because they brought us animals that we cared for, and then they recommended the Merlion veterinary clinic to their friends."
We are incredibly glad that we can support such clinics and the good deeds of our veterans.
Oleg has been on the veterinary path since 1996, when he graduated from the Lviv Veterinary Institute. But in 2013, Oleg was overthrown from the position of senior veterinarian and appointed as the head of the fuel and lubricants department. Therefore, from the beginning of the Maidan until 2016, Oleg was engaged in providing fuel to the Western grouping of troops. In the ATO, he went to the hottest spots of the front: from Debaltseve to Stanytsia Luhanska. His gas station supplied all roadblocks where the National Guard of Ukraine was stationed.
In 2016 Oleg organized his second laboratory of safe food products. It was designed to make sure that all products that went to the ATO, as well as those that were supplied to the National Guard, were safe.
However, being in the ATO, he also took care of animals. Oleg remembers: "There were many stray cats and dogs in the ATO. Together with the State Veterinary Service and the National Guard veterinarians, we vaccinated homeless animals in the area wherever the NGU served."
In 2022, the man retired due to health issues. Around this time, his son graduated from the Veterinary University, so they decided to start their own business. Father and son opened the "Merlion" veterinary clinic. This name is symbolic for both of them. The Merlion is a lionfish, the symbol of Singapore. According to the horoscope signs, the son is Pisces, and the father is Leo.
"That's how we got our Dr. Merlion, with the tail of a fish and the head of a lion. The lion is wise and fiery, the fish is calm water. Two elements at the same time"
In 2021 concurrently with opening the clinic, Oleg took business courses from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. Then he made two business plans. One for the IOM (International Organization for Migration), which paid for his surgical table. The other is for the Lviv Regional State Administration, which bought him an artificial lung ventilation apparatus.
Today, the development of the veterinary clinic has reached the second stage of the business plan - the equipment of the diagnostic and laboratory department.
"This stage is 60% of what we planned to do with our clinic. I found out #VARTO program from Yulia Laputina (Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine), who came to my clinic. I applied to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation. Furthermore, I filled out an application for the #VARTO competition program and became one of those who received the financing. With the funds of UVF, I will pay for an ultrasound machine and a biochemical hemoanalyzer," says Mr. Oleg.
Now the clinic has hired two students that will be trained to work with the new equipment. Previously, the veterinary clinic concluded a contract with the Lviv Veterinary University. Groups of students came, including foreign students. Oleg's goal is to cover more university departments and to provide students practical knowledge.
Oleg continues to maintain friendship with the military. He says: "I do not have formal cooperation with them, but i maintain friendly relations. I am in contact with various power structures of the Armed Forces, and, of course, of the National Guard, because I served in together with them." Why do many people know a lot about the clinic? Oleg says it's a good reputation that spreads quickly. "We constantly keep an eye on this question. because a good client service is often passed from mouth-to-mouth. Both cynologists and volunteers know about us. Because they brought us animals that we cared for, and then they recommended the Merlion veterinary clinic to their friends."
We are incredibly glad that we can support such clinics and the good deeds of our veterans.
Oleksandr Ruban,
a shelter for internally displaced
persons in the village of Karolino-Bugaz, Odesa region
Oleksandr Ruban, a shelter for internally displaced persons in the village of Karolino-Bugaz, Odesa region
"I myself had to leave my hometown, which is still being shelled by the Russians. Rockets have already
exploded three times near my house. When we arrived in Odesa, I had problems with settling. On the
first night of our move, we sought shelter in the villages. There were many holiday homes, but it was
simply impossible to spend the night there. Many of them were closed. That's why I had to go to
Odessa," Oleksandr says.
He and his family stayed in the village of Karolino-Bugaz. There they found a location that used to consist of three separate apartments, but they have been combined into one large space. They decided to set up a shelter there.
"There are currently 300 displaced people living in our settlement. The United Territorial Community forbade visiting the beach and the ocean. As a result, it is no longer a resort destination but rather a location to stay temporarily. Up to 6 persons can simultaneously occupy a room at our shelter. All amenities, as required by sanitary standards: bathrooms, a large and spacious kitchen," says the veteran.
Oleksandr claims that when the government advised Ukrainians to take care of their home's energy efficiency, he got the idea to equip the building with electricity-generating equipment. "In the shelter, we will install Ukrainian-made blinds on the windows, which can generate electricity from sunlight. This is how we will illuminate the spaces. Additionally, if a battery is connected, you can build up energy that is sufficient to power an electric fireplace and heat the room" the businessman claims.
Before the start of the war, Oleksandr Ruban was a private entrepreneur for ten years. Before that, he was a huntsman at nature reserve parks. In April 2014 he signed up to join the "Dnipro 1" special purpose battalion as a volunteer. Later on, he enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, where he spent an additional two years of service. Oleksandr participated in combat operations close to Popasna and Bakhmut in the anti-terrorist operation zone.
He and his family stayed in the village of Karolino-Bugaz. There they found a location that used to consist of three separate apartments, but they have been combined into one large space. They decided to set up a shelter there.
"There are currently 300 displaced people living in our settlement. The United Territorial Community forbade visiting the beach and the ocean. As a result, it is no longer a resort destination but rather a location to stay temporarily. Up to 6 persons can simultaneously occupy a room at our shelter. All amenities, as required by sanitary standards: bathrooms, a large and spacious kitchen," says the veteran.
Oleksandr claims that when the government advised Ukrainians to take care of their home's energy efficiency, he got the idea to equip the building with electricity-generating equipment. "In the shelter, we will install Ukrainian-made blinds on the windows, which can generate electricity from sunlight. This is how we will illuminate the spaces. Additionally, if a battery is connected, you can build up energy that is sufficient to power an electric fireplace and heat the room" the businessman claims.
Before the start of the war, Oleksandr Ruban was a private entrepreneur for ten years. Before that, he was a huntsman at nature reserve parks. In April 2014 he signed up to join the "Dnipro 1" special purpose battalion as a volunteer. Later on, he enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, where he spent an additional two years of service. Oleksandr participated in combat operations close to Popasna and Bakhmut in the anti-terrorist operation zone.
Kateryna Priymak,
"Veteranka" sewing workshop
Kateryna Priymak, "Veteranka" sewing workshop
The number of women in the Ukrainian army is one of the largest in the world.
According to various data sources, there are from 40 to 70 thousand female military personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Each of them needs a female uniform.
The Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement, in conjunction with representatives of the Ukrainian fashion industry, opened a shop for tailoring women's military uniforms.
Kateryna Pryimak, one of the leaders of the Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement, says that girls began to address the problem—they received male uniforms that did not suit them at all. In order to solve this problem, they began to sew uniforms on their own.
The first batch of 50 uniform sets has already been sent to the defenders. And in order to help in the future, they turned to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
"Our workshop needed support for our development because the potential is huge. Talented people work here, but there is little equipment, and it is not all that professional. Therefore, we’ve sent a project to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation for the promotion of a sewing workshop. We plan that the workshop will continue its volunteer activities. "We also want to create a civilian clothing line, which we hope will profit us," Kateryna Pryimak says of her plans.
The workshop intends to obtain new sewing machines with the help of funds from the UVF. The co-founders want to establish their own full-fledged production. Their goal is to provide jobs to female veterans so that they will be able to acquire a new profession after the victory of Ukraine.
Two lines of clothing are planned to be tailored under the Veteranka TM: military and designer. Currently, they continue to sew essential items such as uniforms, T-shirts and underwear.
According to various data sources, there are from 40 to 70 thousand female military personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Each of them needs a female uniform.
The Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement, in conjunction with representatives of the Ukrainian fashion industry, opened a shop for tailoring women's military uniforms.
Kateryna Pryimak, one of the leaders of the Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement, says that girls began to address the problem—they received male uniforms that did not suit them at all. In order to solve this problem, they began to sew uniforms on their own.
The first batch of 50 uniform sets has already been sent to the defenders. And in order to help in the future, they turned to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
"Our workshop needed support for our development because the potential is huge. Talented people work here, but there is little equipment, and it is not all that professional. Therefore, we’ve sent a project to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation for the promotion of a sewing workshop. We plan that the workshop will continue its volunteer activities. "We also want to create a civilian clothing line, which we hope will profit us," Kateryna Pryimak says of her plans.
The workshop intends to obtain new sewing machines with the help of funds from the UVF. The co-founders want to establish their own full-fledged production. Their goal is to provide jobs to female veterans so that they will be able to acquire a new profession after the victory of Ukraine.
Two lines of clothing are planned to be tailored under the Veteranka TM: military and designer. Currently, they continue to sew essential items such as uniforms, T-shirts and underwear.
Oleksandr Morozov,
Clean Shot
Oleksandr Morozov, Clean Shot
At the age of 25, Oleksandr Morozov patented oil napkins for cleaning weapons. The need for such
invention was dictated by his own combat experience.
"Once in 2015 I had to use my wounded comrade's weapon for two weeks, because I did not have the opportunity to clean my machine gun. There was simply nothing. Then it occurred to me that something practical and reliable was needed," says Oleksandr Morozov, who served in the ranks of the 95th Air Assault Brigade in the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war.”
During the battles, in addition to the pollution that occurs as a result of intense shooting, dirt also sticks to weapons. Therefore, after the assault, the weapon becomes unusable, it needs to be cleaned. But the opportunity to do this often does not exist.
Oleksandr Morozov's invention was designed to solve this pressing need of our servicemen.
Now Clean Shot is the only Ukrainian manufacturer of oil-based napkins for cleaning weapons.
Oleksandr Morozov’s product has already managed to win the favor of the Ukrainian sector of national security and defense and international partners. Reviews are only positive. The need for such napkins for our Defense Forces is only growing: intensive combat operations, assaults, and counter-offensives are ongoing for the liberation of Ukrainian land. Weapons must be loaded and clean.
"The transition of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to new weapons creates a demand for the improvement and expansion of means for cleaning both small arms and heavy weapons. Therefore, for production processes, we need to purchase additional equipment that will allow not only to expand, but also to reduce the cost of final products", — Oleksandr Morozov comments on the plans for the development of his veteran business.
In addition, in the future it is planned to provide volunteer organizations and military personnel with free tools for cleaning weapons. There are two ways to do this: investment by the enterprise and the opportunity for retail buyers to make a donation in the form of napkins for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"Once in 2015 I had to use my wounded comrade's weapon for two weeks, because I did not have the opportunity to clean my machine gun. There was simply nothing. Then it occurred to me that something practical and reliable was needed," says Oleksandr Morozov, who served in the ranks of the 95th Air Assault Brigade in the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war.”
During the battles, in addition to the pollution that occurs as a result of intense shooting, dirt also sticks to weapons. Therefore, after the assault, the weapon becomes unusable, it needs to be cleaned. But the opportunity to do this often does not exist.
Oleksandr Morozov's invention was designed to solve this pressing need of our servicemen.
Now Clean Shot is the only Ukrainian manufacturer of oil-based napkins for cleaning weapons.
Oleksandr Morozov’s product has already managed to win the favor of the Ukrainian sector of national security and defense and international partners. Reviews are only positive. The need for such napkins for our Defense Forces is only growing: intensive combat operations, assaults, and counter-offensives are ongoing for the liberation of Ukrainian land. Weapons must be loaded and clean.
"The transition of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to new weapons creates a demand for the improvement and expansion of means for cleaning both small arms and heavy weapons. Therefore, for production processes, we need to purchase additional equipment that will allow not only to expand, but also to reduce the cost of final products", — Oleksandr Morozov comments on the plans for the development of his veteran business.
In addition, in the future it is planned to provide volunteer organizations and military personnel with free tools for cleaning weapons. There are two ways to do this: investment by the enterprise and the opportunity for retail buyers to make a donation in the form of napkins for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ivan Pavlish
agricultural drones
Ivan Pavlish, agricultural drones
Ivan Pavlish will use drones both on the battlefield and while working on the land. He is a veteran and recently won the #VARTO contest. Ivan will receive funding for his own business - agricultural drones.
Before the ATO, the veteran worked as a judge's assistant. He planned to continue working in law. But after demobilization, he began to grow soybeans and wheat, so Ivan became a farmer.
"I was inspired by the idea of starting my own business. I saw trends and realized that agriculture is a promising industry, especially in Ukraine. Besides, I have a friend who is engaged in farming. He has his own land plot and the equipment," says the veteran.
Ivan knows how to properly organize the process, he has the necessary project management skills. After his participation in the ATO, he obtained an economic education and graduated from the Norwegian University with a specialization in "Project Management". Ivan also took part in a special course for veterans that was held at the Kyiv School of Economics.
"Many people think that a farmer is someone who always has his hands up to their elbows in mud or turning nuts on a tractor. But modern farming is the same business as any other, the same algorithms operate there," Ivan explains.
The veteran tried to grow sweet potatoes and planned to reach a commercial level of production. However, on February 25, he was already in the military unit.
"During the second mobilization, I was partly involved in aerial reconnaissance and work with drones. At the courses, I met a guy who, in addition to having experience in aerial reconnaissance, was also involved in agricultural drones. I became highly interested in it," that's how the idea arose, It was financially supported by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
No crop can be grown without spraying. Plants need fertilizers, protection from pests and proper treatment. Ivan Pavlish describes such advantages of agrodrones:
• They accurately apply plant protection products
• They can work in hard-to-reach areas
• They help to decrease water consumption
• They do not leave tracks, etc.
"You make a map of the field, and the drone automatically calculates its routes, calculates how much time it needs, and returns itself to refuel or replace the battery. The most autonomous thing, which greatly facilitates the work of the farmer," the veteran shares his experience.
Ivan plans to spend the funds from the UVF on drones, additional equipment for them, as well as for the training of two more operators.
"According to the terms of the project, I have to hire two more workers. I plan to hire veterans with relevant experience. If they have combat experience, they can definitely handle agrodrones. But It is necessary to pay for the appropriate courses for them. I will also be able to make good money if I provide services to neighbouring farms. They are already interested. I hope that I will be able to organize everything," concludes the veteran entrepreneur.
Ivan will transfer 5% of his own profit to a charity fund that organizes training for combat drone pilots.
Before the ATO, the veteran worked as a judge's assistant. He planned to continue working in law. But after demobilization, he began to grow soybeans and wheat, so Ivan became a farmer.
"I was inspired by the idea of starting my own business. I saw trends and realized that agriculture is a promising industry, especially in Ukraine. Besides, I have a friend who is engaged in farming. He has his own land plot and the equipment," says the veteran.
Ivan knows how to properly organize the process, he has the necessary project management skills. After his participation in the ATO, he obtained an economic education and graduated from the Norwegian University with a specialization in "Project Management". Ivan also took part in a special course for veterans that was held at the Kyiv School of Economics.
"Many people think that a farmer is someone who always has his hands up to their elbows in mud or turning nuts on a tractor. But modern farming is the same business as any other, the same algorithms operate there," Ivan explains.
The veteran tried to grow sweet potatoes and planned to reach a commercial level of production. However, on February 25, he was already in the military unit.
"During the second mobilization, I was partly involved in aerial reconnaissance and work with drones. At the courses, I met a guy who, in addition to having experience in aerial reconnaissance, was also involved in agricultural drones. I became highly interested in it," that's how the idea arose, It was financially supported by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
No crop can be grown without spraying. Plants need fertilizers, protection from pests and proper treatment. Ivan Pavlish describes such advantages of agrodrones:
• They accurately apply plant protection products
• They can work in hard-to-reach areas
• They help to decrease water consumption
• They do not leave tracks, etc.
"You make a map of the field, and the drone automatically calculates its routes, calculates how much time it needs, and returns itself to refuel or replace the battery. The most autonomous thing, which greatly facilitates the work of the farmer," the veteran shares his experience.
Ivan plans to spend the funds from the UVF on drones, additional equipment for them, as well as for the training of two more operators.
"According to the terms of the project, I have to hire two more workers. I plan to hire veterans with relevant experience. If they have combat experience, they can definitely handle agrodrones. But It is necessary to pay for the appropriate courses for them. I will also be able to make good money if I provide services to neighbouring farms. They are already interested. I hope that I will be able to organize everything," concludes the veteran entrepreneur.
Ivan will transfer 5% of his own profit to a charity fund that organizes training for combat drone pilots.
Anton Brostovsky
"Dragon Land" children's amusement park
Anton Brostovsky "Dragon Land" children's amusement park
The passion for Japanese culture grew into something bigger. The veteran is planning to build a children's amusement park "Dragon Land".
Anton Brostovskyi is one of the winners of the #VARTO competition program from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. In 2014, he became a volunteer and took part in the ATO in the East of Ukraine. Then he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. And in 2016 Anton returned and joined the family business. The veteran expanded the wood production his father established. They started with decorative furniture, wooden stairs, then gazebos, and now they are building amusement parks.
Anton's last project, "Gyurgivska fortress" in the city of Bila Tserkva, won the competition for funding from the public budget. The fortress was supposed to be opened in the spring of 2022. However, with the first explosions on February 24, Anton and his younger brother went to the military unit.
The parents continued the project. Anton is the head of the medieval club "Gyurgiv" (the ancient name of Bila Tserkva). He embodied all his knowledge and skills in the idea of creating a children's entertainment interactive and educational park "Dragon Land". Exactly this project will be financially supported by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
"We submitted a project idea and we won. We already had experience in such a business. Anton participated in public procurements and tenders as a sole proprietor. The main thing was to stay within the allocated funds, to explain everything carefully and to agree in advance with the suppliers to fix the prices because they are growing quickly," says the veteran's mother, Iryna.
Financial support will be mainly used to purchase building materials. It is worth noting that the implementation of the project involves the creation of additional jobs. While, according to Iryna, creative people also participate in the creation of the park on a volunteer basis.
Japanese culture and architecture are dear to Anton Brostovsky's heart. This project is a real rarity for the Ukrainian market. This is so original.
Anton Brostovskyi is one of the winners of the #VARTO competition program from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. In 2014, he became a volunteer and took part in the ATO in the East of Ukraine. Then he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. And in 2016 Anton returned and joined the family business. The veteran expanded the wood production his father established. They started with decorative furniture, wooden stairs, then gazebos, and now they are building amusement parks.
Anton's last project, "Gyurgivska fortress" in the city of Bila Tserkva, won the competition for funding from the public budget. The fortress was supposed to be opened in the spring of 2022. However, with the first explosions on February 24, Anton and his younger brother went to the military unit.
The parents continued the project. Anton is the head of the medieval club "Gyurgiv" (the ancient name of Bila Tserkva). He embodied all his knowledge and skills in the idea of creating a children's entertainment interactive and educational park "Dragon Land". Exactly this project will be financially supported by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
"We submitted a project idea and we won. We already had experience in such a business. Anton participated in public procurements and tenders as a sole proprietor. The main thing was to stay within the allocated funds, to explain everything carefully and to agree in advance with the suppliers to fix the prices because they are growing quickly," says the veteran's mother, Iryna.
Financial support will be mainly used to purchase building materials. It is worth noting that the implementation of the project involves the creation of additional jobs. While, according to Iryna, creative people also participate in the creation of the park on a volunteer basis.
Japanese culture and architecture are dear to Anton Brostovsky's heart. This project is a real rarity for the Ukrainian market. This is so original.
Oleksandr Holopoteliuk
takeaway pizzeria VETERANO PIZZA
Oleksandr Holopoteliuk, takeaway pizzeria VETERANO PIZZA
Oleksandr Holopoteliuk is a veteran, an owner of the "Veterano Pizza" pizzeria in Odesa. Oleksandr has been fighting since 2014 in the 28th Mechanized Brigade. After being wounded and demobilized, he decided to open his own business. But before that, he received a relevant economic education.
The veteran bought a pizzeria and became the owner of the Veterano Pizza franchise in Odesa. As a new stage of business, Oleksandr planned to open another pizzeria. Therefore, he applied for a competitive program from the UVF.
Oleksandr says that he plans to supply the products to hospitals and hospitals for the wounded for free. He is also going to employ veterans and members of their families.
The veteran will spend the funds received from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation on the necessary equipment for the new cafe: an oven, refrigeration equipment, a dough bowl, etc.
The veteran bought a pizzeria and became the owner of the Veterano Pizza franchise in Odesa. As a new stage of business, Oleksandr planned to open another pizzeria. Therefore, he applied for a competitive program from the UVF.
Oleksandr says that he plans to supply the products to hospitals and hospitals for the wounded for free. He is also going to employ veterans and members of their families.
The veteran will spend the funds received from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation on the necessary equipment for the new cafe: an oven, refrigeration equipment, a dough bowl, etc.
Mykola Voropai
Mykola Voropai
Veteran entrepreneur Mykola Voropai is a story about stubbornness, inspiration, forward movement, development and life.
Just think about it: the man was on a combat mission in Mariupol surrounded by Russians as part of the Marine Guard unit. After the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, he fought in Mariupol and managed to get out of the encircled city. He moved to Subcarpathia and settled in Ivano-Frankivsk, where he started to resume his business.
In Mariupol, Mykola had his own photo studio and created souvenir products.
During the full-scale invasion, he lost everything, and the businessman returned to action - together with the unit, he performed tasks in the area of the Azov Ship Repair Plant and the Mariupol Sea Trade Port.
Now the Ukrainian Veterans Fund is helping the entrepreneur in reviving his business: the man applied for the "Varto" competition of the UVF. Mykola will receive funding for the implementation of the "ARTnation" project. Renuval". Its essence is the launch of its own production for cutting various materials, applying images, labelling products, etc.
With these funds, they plan to purchase a laser machine, a milling machine, a 3D printer, and a UV printer. With the help of this equipment, according to the entrepreneur, it will be possible to print high-quality images on almost any surface.
Mr. Mykola plans to manufacture an impressive range of products: coasters for drinks, flower beds, clothes for amulet dolls, lamps, applying images on tiles, printing on fabrics, etc.
We would also like to add that this is not Mykola Voropay's first cooperation with the Ukrainian Veterans Fund — he has already received funding from the UVF as part of the "20 thousand hryvnias" program. These funds also were used for purchasing photo and laser equipment, and in the summer of 2022 he resumed production of products.
The business comes to life, something that once was lost is now renovated, once stolen is returned to the owner, at the cost of a lot of work. And we at the UVF help in this by lending a hand of support.
Just think about it: the man was on a combat mission in Mariupol surrounded by Russians as part of the Marine Guard unit. After the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, he fought in Mariupol and managed to get out of the encircled city. He moved to Subcarpathia and settled in Ivano-Frankivsk, where he started to resume his business.
In Mariupol, Mykola had his own photo studio and created souvenir products.
During the full-scale invasion, he lost everything, and the businessman returned to action - together with the unit, he performed tasks in the area of the Azov Ship Repair Plant and the Mariupol Sea Trade Port.
Now the Ukrainian Veterans Fund is helping the entrepreneur in reviving his business: the man applied for the "Varto" competition of the UVF. Mykola will receive funding for the implementation of the "ARTnation" project. Renuval". Its essence is the launch of its own production for cutting various materials, applying images, labelling products, etc.
With these funds, they plan to purchase a laser machine, a milling machine, a 3D printer, and a UV printer. With the help of this equipment, according to the entrepreneur, it will be possible to print high-quality images on almost any surface.
Mr. Mykola plans to manufacture an impressive range of products: coasters for drinks, flower beds, clothes for amulet dolls, lamps, applying images on tiles, printing on fabrics, etc.
We would also like to add that this is not Mykola Voropay's first cooperation with the Ukrainian Veterans Fund — he has already received funding from the UVF as part of the "20 thousand hryvnias" program. These funds also were used for purchasing photo and laser equipment, and in the summer of 2022 he resumed production of products.
The business comes to life, something that once was lost is now renovated, once stolen is returned to the owner, at the cost of a lot of work. And we at the UVF help in this by lending a hand of support.
Myroslav Hai
"Bandera's Eye" project
Myroslav Hai, "Bandera's Eye" project
Veteran Myroslav Gai currently serves in the ranks of the First Separate Special Brigade named after Ivan Bohun. And his project, the winner of the #VARTO competition, is called "Bandera's Eye". And his nearest ambitious plans include ousting Russian propagandist content from Ukrainian YouTube.
Myroslav Gai is a veteran, journalist, actor, volunteer and public activist. At one time, he was an active participant in the Revolution of Dignity. On May 2, 2014, as part of the 1st Reserve Battalion of the National Guard named after General Serhiy Kulchytskyi, he participated in the first battle near Sloviansk. On May 14, 2014, it was Myroslav Gai, together with the paratrooper of the 95th Zhytomyr airborne brigade, Serhiy Shevchuk, who raised the Ukrainian flag on the Sloviansk TV tower near Karachun mountain.
Now Myroslav is back in the army. Recently, he was awarded the Order of "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi" of the III grade - for personal courage and selfless actions shown in the defence of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and loyalty to the military oath.
"Bandera's Eye" is a YouTube project that posts short videos twice a week. In those videos, they explain current political and social phenomena and events in simple terms.
The goal of the project, as Myroslav explains: "Is popularising everything Ukrainian in the global informational space, countering fakes and manipulations. It is important to engage in the cultural education of the population. Every citizen should know basic things about the world, society and his country. They should understand the laws under which society exists, what are international organizations and why they were created. This will contribute towards the formation of a civil society of our nation. It is necessary to destroy the attitude of apoliticality, in order to make people engaged in the social life of the country. We want to supplement the cultural sector of audiovisual art with high-quality, Ukrainian-language content."
Myroslav and his team won a #VARTO competition for the development of Ukrainian-language content in order to overcome the Russian monopoly in the media field. They plan to develop the YouTube channel as a business project, attract advertisers, create jobs for veterans, organize charity events for the Armed Forces, popularize charitable initiatives, etc.
Myroslav Gai is a veteran, journalist, actor, volunteer and public activist. At one time, he was an active participant in the Revolution of Dignity. On May 2, 2014, as part of the 1st Reserve Battalion of the National Guard named after General Serhiy Kulchytskyi, he participated in the first battle near Sloviansk. On May 14, 2014, it was Myroslav Gai, together with the paratrooper of the 95th Zhytomyr airborne brigade, Serhiy Shevchuk, who raised the Ukrainian flag on the Sloviansk TV tower near Karachun mountain.
Now Myroslav is back in the army. Recently, he was awarded the Order of "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi" of the III grade - for personal courage and selfless actions shown in the defence of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and loyalty to the military oath.
"Bandera's Eye" is a YouTube project that posts short videos twice a week. In those videos, they explain current political and social phenomena and events in simple terms.
The goal of the project, as Myroslav explains: "Is popularising everything Ukrainian in the global informational space, countering fakes and manipulations. It is important to engage in the cultural education of the population. Every citizen should know basic things about the world, society and his country. They should understand the laws under which society exists, what are international organizations and why they were created. This will contribute towards the formation of a civil society of our nation. It is necessary to destroy the attitude of apoliticality, in order to make people engaged in the social life of the country. We want to supplement the cultural sector of audiovisual art with high-quality, Ukrainian-language content."
Myroslav and his team won a #VARTO competition for the development of Ukrainian-language content in order to overcome the Russian monopoly in the media field. They plan to develop the YouTube channel as a business project, attract advertisers, create jobs for veterans, organize charity events for the Armed Forces, popularize charitable initiatives, etc.
Marko Melnyk
Marko Melnyk
Marko Melnyk, with the call sign "Viry" (‘’Whirlpool’’), will develop the "Intellectual Arsenal" project. The veteran became one of the winners of the first #VARTO veteran business funding competition.
Marko was born and raised in the city of Kryvyi Rih. He participated in the Revolution of Dignity, then joined the "Right Sector" organisation and became a member of the revolutionary self-defence forces. He was wounded during clashes with "Berkut" police forces.
In 2014, Marko went to the front as a volunteer. He was a soldier of the reconnaissance unit of the "Azov" battalion. There he became the founder and editor-in-chief of the first front-line magazine in Ukraine. Within a year, he became the driver of the medical service and the commander of a group of military journalists of the ideological service of the "Azov" regiment. Participant of the Shyrokyn operation.
In 2016, he founded one of the first veteran publishing houses in Ukraine.
"The "Intellectual Arsenal" project will publish and distribute five editions of books that will provide Ukrainians, and in particular the military, who are currently defending Ukraine, with proper informational and intellectual materials," says Marko.
According to the defender, such books are necessary to preserve the high morale of soldiers and civilians, and to orient society as a whole on its way to the victory and restoration of Ukraine after the defeat of the Russian occupiers.
"It is planned to publish books on the following topics: the history of Ukraine's struggle for independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s during the collapse of the USSR; the world's biggest successful military operations against terrorism; ideological foundations and the national idea of Ukraine; military memoirs of volunteers (veterans) who defended Ukraine since 2014; a poetic collection of veterans of the war with Russian Federation," the veteran shares.
In 2022, Marko Melnyk became the vice president of the historical club "Kholodny Yar".
Photos are taken from the personal archive of Mark Melnyk
Marko was born and raised in the city of Kryvyi Rih. He participated in the Revolution of Dignity, then joined the "Right Sector" organisation and became a member of the revolutionary self-defence forces. He was wounded during clashes with "Berkut" police forces.
In 2014, Marko went to the front as a volunteer. He was a soldier of the reconnaissance unit of the "Azov" battalion. There he became the founder and editor-in-chief of the first front-line magazine in Ukraine. Within a year, he became the driver of the medical service and the commander of a group of military journalists of the ideological service of the "Azov" regiment. Participant of the Shyrokyn operation.
In 2016, he founded one of the first veteran publishing houses in Ukraine.
"The "Intellectual Arsenal" project will publish and distribute five editions of books that will provide Ukrainians, and in particular the military, who are currently defending Ukraine, with proper informational and intellectual materials," says Marko.
According to the defender, such books are necessary to preserve the high morale of soldiers and civilians, and to orient society as a whole on its way to the victory and restoration of Ukraine after the defeat of the Russian occupiers.
"It is planned to publish books on the following topics: the history of Ukraine's struggle for independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s during the collapse of the USSR; the world's biggest successful military operations against terrorism; ideological foundations and the national idea of Ukraine; military memoirs of volunteers (veterans) who defended Ukraine since 2014; a poetic collection of veterans of the war with Russian Federation," the veteran shares.
In 2022, Marko Melnyk became the vice president of the historical club "Kholodny Yar".
Photos are taken from the personal archive of Mark Melnyk
Vitaliy Pyrogov
Vitaliy Pyrogov, "Active Season" brand
Veteran's brother Vitaliy Pyrogov, "Active Season" brand
Serhiy and Vitaliy Pirogov founded their own brand "Active Season". Serhiy is a veteran. He had been in the ATO since 2014, and now he is currently undergoing rehabilitation. Therefore, now his brother Vitaly runs their family business.
The brand works in Dnipro and produces goods that improve conditions for the military on the front line:
• air mattresses for relaxation - it can be quickly inflated in the trenches, and the material is flexible and strong;
• hermetic bags for personal belongings;
• soft buckets for a comfortable everyday life.
"Hermetic bag is a bag for things. It is waterproof and protects things from moisture, which is very important for the current conditions," says Vitaliy Pyrogov, co-owner of the production.
Vitaliy, Serhiy and their team do everything on the conscience. Everything is checked to ensure that things are reliable and perform their functions:
"We test the hair dryer and materials, at what temperature, which material is soldered. Some things can be glued, some can be soldered, we try the best options. For each material, we select our own fastening option," shared Dmytro, an employee of the enterprise.
The received funds from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation are planned to be spent in several areas:
• to increase the number of jobs;
• to expand production volumes;
• to develop new product models
The team has already purchased new equipment. Now they are testing materials.
Serhiy and Vitaliy Pirogov founded their own brand "Active Season". Serhiy is a veteran. He had been in the ATO since 2014, and now he is currently undergoing rehabilitation. Therefore, now his brother Vitaly runs their family business.
The brand works in Dnipro and produces goods that improve conditions for the military on the front line:
• air mattresses for relaxation - it can be quickly inflated in the trenches, and the material is flexible and strong;
• hermetic bags for personal belongings;
• soft buckets for a comfortable everyday life.
"Hermetic bag is a bag for things. It is waterproof and protects things from moisture, which is very important for the current conditions," says Vitaliy Pyrogov, co-owner of the production.
Vitaliy, Serhiy and their team do everything on the conscience. Everything is checked to ensure that things are reliable and perform their functions:
"We test the hair dryer and materials, at what temperature, which material is soldered. Some things can be glued, some can be soldered, we try the best options. For each material, we select our own fastening option," shared Dmytro, an employee of the enterprise.
The received funds from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation are planned to be spent in several areas:
• to increase the number of jobs;
• to expand production volumes;
• to develop new product models
The team has already purchased new equipment. Now they are testing materials.
Natalya Gumba
Natalya Gumba, mother of the fallen hero
Natalya Gumba, mother of the fallen hero, visual content production
Once again, we get convinced by how strong people are our winners of the #VARTO program.
A great example of this is Natalya Gumba, the mother of the fallen defender Astamur Gumba.
Astamur was born in Abkhazia, a territory of Georgia which was occupied by Russia. So he lived most of his life in Ukraine.
He joined the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces on the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion. He first fought in the Kyiv region, in the city of Irpin, then he went to the eastern front. Unfortunately, Astamur died on June 28 near the village of Dementiivka, Dergachiv district, Kharkiv region.
But even after this tragic event, Natalya did not get despaired. She showed her personal strength and decided to honor her son's memory, Natalya founded the Astamur Gumba Peace Fund. It is planned that the Foundation will unite those who study conflicts and will explore the possibilities of overcoming conflicts that take millions of lives and often simmer for years; the Fund will be engaged in the research of conflicts in Southeast and Eastern Europe.
Natalya is an international journalist. In the summer of 2014, she and a team of like-minded people organized the photo exhibition "Donbas: War and Peace", which at the time was exhibited in the European Parliament. Therefore, she knows how important the information component is in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Natalya is the winner of the first competitive program #VARTO from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
With the help of the funds received from the UVF, she plans to produce visual content, for example, social advertising promoting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Natalia is going to use the help for the acquisition of technical equipment, training in video making, editing, etc. It should become, according to Ms. Natalia's plan, a full-fledged production studio with professional equipment, lighting, etc.
"Yes, my son died. But in a virtual sense, his life goes on. Therefore, this project is also his project. And we have to keep his memory alive," says Natalya.
We support the strong. We make the strong stronger. The story of Mrs. Natalia, who lost her son in the war, but did not lose her yearning for victory, and she shows it so vividly.
Once again, we get convinced by how strong people are our winners of the #VARTO program.
A great example of this is Natalya Gumba, the mother of the fallen defender Astamur Gumba.
Astamur was born in Abkhazia, a territory of Georgia which was occupied by Russia. So he lived most of his life in Ukraine.
He joined the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces on the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion. He first fought in the Kyiv region, in the city of Irpin, then he went to the eastern front. Unfortunately, Astamur died on June 28 near the village of Dementiivka, Dergachiv district, Kharkiv region.
But even after this tragic event, Natalya did not get despaired. She showed her personal strength and decided to honor her son's memory, Natalya founded the Astamur Gumba Peace Fund. It is planned that the Foundation will unite those who study conflicts and will explore the possibilities of overcoming conflicts that take millions of lives and often simmer for years; the Fund will be engaged in the research of conflicts in Southeast and Eastern Europe.
Natalya is an international journalist. In the summer of 2014, she and a team of like-minded people organized the photo exhibition "Donbas: War and Peace", which at the time was exhibited in the European Parliament. Therefore, she knows how important the information component is in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Natalya is the winner of the first competitive program #VARTO from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
With the help of the funds received from the UVF, she plans to produce visual content, for example, social advertising promoting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Natalia is going to use the help for the acquisition of technical equipment, training in video making, editing, etc. It should become, according to Ms. Natalia's plan, a full-fledged production studio with professional equipment, lighting, etc.
"Yes, my son died. But in a virtual sense, his life goes on. Therefore, this project is also his project. And we have to keep his memory alive," says Natalya.
We support the strong. We make the strong stronger. The story of Mrs. Natalia, who lost her son in the war, but did not lose her yearning for victory, and she shows it so vividly.
Oleksandr Shylin
Oleksandr Shylin, expansion and legalization of business in the direction of treatment of household and large-sized waste in Kharkiv
"When my employee goes on vacation, I will replace him. So it will be easier to get out of all these situations. To rehab," says Oleksandr Shilin, winner of the #WORTH contest.
Oleksandr is an ATO veteran. After returning to the army, he serves in Kharkiv region. Despite this, he is already planning what he will do after the war. That's why he has opened a cool garbage collection business. Firstly, he rented a car. Now he is recruiting and not against working by himself. Oleksandr believes that while working he will recover faster after the front.
Oleksandr had been working at enterprises dealing with household waste in Kharkiv for 10 years. This is how a large client base has been formed. Therefore, his colleagues and he can provide private services.
Having evaluated the situation in the country and the current requests, the veteran decided to legalize and expand the business.
"We expect that orders will start in the spring, waste collection will increase. Maybe the war will end. More repairs, more household waste will begin," the veteran says.
Oleksandr's company now takes out waste from various districts of Kharkiv. They work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the number of his employees decreased because his colleagues were mobilized to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The main customers are people who started to rebuild their homes after the shelling, as well as small and medium-sized businesses.
Oleksandr will direct the funds received from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation to:
• purchase of reliable vehicles;
• purchase of containers to attract regular customers;
• rent of a territory with a parking space and a repair box;
• fuel purchase;
• involvement of professional drivers, mechanics and logisticians;
• advertising campaign.
The veteran plans to employ people who defended Ukraine.
Oleksandr is an ATO veteran. After returning to the army, he serves in Kharkiv region. Despite this, he is already planning what he will do after the war. That's why he has opened a cool garbage collection business. Firstly, he rented a car. Now he is recruiting and not against working by himself. Oleksandr believes that while working he will recover faster after the front.
Oleksandr had been working at enterprises dealing with household waste in Kharkiv for 10 years. This is how a large client base has been formed. Therefore, his colleagues and he can provide private services.
Having evaluated the situation in the country and the current requests, the veteran decided to legalize and expand the business.
"We expect that orders will start in the spring, waste collection will increase. Maybe the war will end. More repairs, more household waste will begin," the veteran says.
Oleksandr's company now takes out waste from various districts of Kharkiv. They work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the number of his employees decreased because his colleagues were mobilized to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The main customers are people who started to rebuild their homes after the shelling, as well as small and medium-sized businesses.
Oleksandr will direct the funds received from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation to:
• purchase of reliable vehicles;
• purchase of containers to attract regular customers;
• rent of a territory with a parking space and a repair box;
• fuel purchase;
• involvement of professional drivers, mechanics and logisticians;
• advertising campaign.
The veteran plans to employ people who defended Ukraine.
Andriy Vasylchenko
Andriy Vasylchenko, restoration of the business of providing automobile freight transportation services
Andriy Vasylchenko had a farm for 300 piglets in the Luhansk region - the Russians stole them.
He cultivated 1,000 hectares of land - the Russians occupied them.
Mr. Andriy founded his farm back in 1993 in the Starobilsk district of the Luhansk region. The land was cultivated and sown with grain. Then the grain was transported to the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol and sold to Turkey. He had his own auto park.
There was also income from the sale of pork - it was sold at the markets of the nearby cities of Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Rubizhne.
With the full-scale invasion of the russians, Andriy Vasylchenko lost everything, his entire life's work - hundreds of piglets, his land, and a fleet of vehicles. Now he is reviving his business, but this time in Zhytomyr Oblast. And the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation helps him with this.
The village where Mr. Andrii's farm operated was, as he put it, "in a pocket", because on one side it was just 100 km away from Voronezh region of Russia, and on the other side it was surrounded by the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk re by Russia.
On the morning of February 24, the first massive shelling began. Firstly, Mr. Andrii evacuated his family to western Ukraine.
On February 27, the Russians came to his neighborhood - they wanted him, because Mr. Andriy is a participant in the Antiterrorist operation: in May 2014, he joined the ranks of the Starobilsk Self-Defense Force, and in June the "Aidar" battalion. He took part in battles for Shchastya and Zolote-4 in his native Luhansk region. He served in the Armed Forces till the end of 2015.
"Everything in the house has been turned upside down. Even the vodka that was left after the New Year celebration was taken out of the kitchen from the cupboard. Meat and fish were taken out of the freezer. They broke the locks, stole all the equipment. 300 piglets were also taken away - they were loaded and taken away, they came six or seven times to pick up every single one," he says.
His native village is now occupied, Mr. Andrii settled in Zhytomyr Oblast — life goes on. He applied for the "VARTO" program from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, and received funding for the development of freight transportation services - he will transport grain. He has already bought a car, and plans to get a transport trailer.
The man dreams of returning to his native Luhansk region. He calls the disintegration of the Russian Federation as a state and the return of Ukraine to its official borders as a true victory in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
He cultivated 1,000 hectares of land - the Russians occupied them.
Mr. Andriy founded his farm back in 1993 in the Starobilsk district of the Luhansk region. The land was cultivated and sown with grain. Then the grain was transported to the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol and sold to Turkey. He had his own auto park.
There was also income from the sale of pork - it was sold at the markets of the nearby cities of Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Rubizhne.
With the full-scale invasion of the russians, Andriy Vasylchenko lost everything, his entire life's work - hundreds of piglets, his land, and a fleet of vehicles. Now he is reviving his business, but this time in Zhytomyr Oblast. And the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation helps him with this.
The village where Mr. Andrii's farm operated was, as he put it, "in a pocket", because on one side it was just 100 km away from Voronezh region of Russia, and on the other side it was surrounded by the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk re by Russia.
On the morning of February 24, the first massive shelling began. Firstly, Mr. Andrii evacuated his family to western Ukraine.
On February 27, the Russians came to his neighborhood - they wanted him, because Mr. Andriy is a participant in the Antiterrorist operation: in May 2014, he joined the ranks of the Starobilsk Self-Defense Force, and in June the "Aidar" battalion. He took part in battles for Shchastya and Zolote-4 in his native Luhansk region. He served in the Armed Forces till the end of 2015.
"Everything in the house has been turned upside down. Even the vodka that was left after the New Year celebration was taken out of the kitchen from the cupboard. Meat and fish were taken out of the freezer. They broke the locks, stole all the equipment. 300 piglets were also taken away - they were loaded and taken away, they came six or seven times to pick up every single one," he says.
His native village is now occupied, Mr. Andrii settled in Zhytomyr Oblast — life goes on. He applied for the "VARTO" program from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, and received funding for the development of freight transportation services - he will transport grain. He has already bought a car, and plans to get a transport trailer.
The man dreams of returning to his native Luhansk region. He calls the disintegration of the Russian Federation as a state and the return of Ukraine to its official borders as a true victory in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Serhiy Lugerya
Serhiy Lugerya, production of animal feed and fuel pellets
Support your own. This is the goal veteran Serhiy Lugerya sets himself. He will increase the power of his village community and local production through his own business.
Veteran Serhiy has won the #VARTO competition from the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation. He will develop his own business for the production of animal feed and fuel pellets in the Moshni village and in Cherkasy region.
The man started entrepreneurship after returning from the war. He went to the front in 2015. He was the chief sergeant of the reconnaissance platoon of the mechanized battalion of the 128th brigade. He returned home after being wounded near Debaltseve. But now he is again in the Ukrainian Armed Forces defending our country.
Serhiy does not want to mention the combat operations from 2015. There is a place in his memory only for pleasant memories - new acquaintances, support of relatives and help of volunteers. And there is no time to talk about the current battles.
The main goal of Serhiy Lugery's project is to provide the village population with cheaper animal feed and fuel pellets of local production, as well as village and community development. That is why he will purchase the material and technical base for farming with money from the Foundation.
The veteran says: "As a result of the project implementation, the farm will reduce the costs of technological services, because they will be provided at lower prices than now. It will also provide feed and fuel pellets to local industries at a lower cost, thanks to the development of local production. New jobs will be created. Especially for veterans. And all this, in turn, will ensure the sustainable development of our village community..."
Serhiy Lugerya intends to sell his products not only in the territory of Moshny village, but also in the nearest villages of the Cherkasy district, thereby providing the region with animal feed and fuel pellets of his own production.
Veteran Serhiy has won the #VARTO competition from the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation. He will develop his own business for the production of animal feed and fuel pellets in the Moshni village and in Cherkasy region.
The man started entrepreneurship after returning from the war. He went to the front in 2015. He was the chief sergeant of the reconnaissance platoon of the mechanized battalion of the 128th brigade. He returned home after being wounded near Debaltseve. But now he is again in the Ukrainian Armed Forces defending our country.
Serhiy does not want to mention the combat operations from 2015. There is a place in his memory only for pleasant memories - new acquaintances, support of relatives and help of volunteers. And there is no time to talk about the current battles.
The main goal of Serhiy Lugery's project is to provide the village population with cheaper animal feed and fuel pellets of local production, as well as village and community development. That is why he will purchase the material and technical base for farming with money from the Foundation.
The veteran says: "As a result of the project implementation, the farm will reduce the costs of technological services, because they will be provided at lower prices than now. It will also provide feed and fuel pellets to local industries at a lower cost, thanks to the development of local production. New jobs will be created. Especially for veterans. And all this, in turn, will ensure the sustainable development of our village community..."
Serhiy Lugerya intends to sell his products not only in the territory of Moshny village, but also in the nearest villages of the Cherkasy district, thereby providing the region with animal feed and fuel pellets of his own production.
Oleksandr Shaposhnyk
Oleksandr Shaposhnyk, "Galya Baluvana" home-made semi-finished products store
Konotop, spring 2022. The city is surrounded by the Russian military, shops are closed, the settlement is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster. But the store of home semi-finished products "Galya Baluvana" works, manufactures products and feeds the population, without increasing the prices of their production.
This is a fragment of the story of Oleksandr Shaposhnyk, a veteran of the State Border Service of Ukraine. This is a story of real resilience and humanity. Mr. Oleksandr is the winner of the "VARTO" program of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, let's get to know him and his own case.
It all started in September 2021. Then Mr. Oleksandr bought the franchising rights for the production of homemade semi-finished products "Galya Baluvana". Before opening a franchise he had a cafe, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and the increase in rent prices, he had to close his business.
Galya Baluvana store offers more then 90 different items in their product range. The most common are ravioli, Ukrainian vareniki, pancakes, cheesecakes, chebureks, cutlets, cabbage rolls, stuffed peppers, etc.
And it was this "menu" that saved Konotop residents during the siege of the city. Oleksandr Shaposhnyk recalls that in the first days of the invasion, Russians managed to get into the city. The battles were still going on, and the occupiers came for some negotiations, but the locals and the authorities resisted them. Therefore, the city was closed for entry and exit.
"At that time we were working. Because both business needs to be developed and people need to be helped. Jobs must be maintained. We looked for opportunities. Dumplings and dumplings were made. We were looking for lard and meat, although it was difficult. All shops were closed. It was also difficult to find flour. The price of onions has increased several times, let's say. But we decided not to raise the price of our products. Yes, there was no profit, but we paid salaries to our people. The store was open for an hour or two a day, and we sold no more than 2 kilograms of products to each person(in order to resist any speculations) ," the veteran tells us.
This mode of work lasted for about two months. Later, when the Russians were kicked out of Kyiv Oblast, Konotop was no longer surrounded.
Now Mr. Oleksandr dreams of expanding the range of products and starting to make ice cream, confectionery, jams and sauces from high-quality and natural ingredients. For this, he needs specialized equipment - a freezer (for making ice cream) and shockers (equipment for shock freezing of products).
For this, Mr. Oleksandr will receive 830,000 hryvnias from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
"This will double the volume of sales of our production, it will also increase business profitability and payments to the state budget. So, the sales volume for 9 months of this year amounted to 4 million hryvnias. For the corresponding period next year, we plan to reach 8 million hryvnia of which will pay UAH 200,000 as taxes to the state budget," explains Mr. Oleksandr.
We believe that the veteran's business will go well. He did well in the army - that's why he will be able to manage business just as well. Oleksandr has 27 years of experience in the ranks of the State Border Service of Ukraine. He retired in 2017 with the rank of major. As of 2014, he was performing tasks in the Luhansk region, from 2015 to 2017 he was a soldier of the Kramatorsk border detachment.
"What is victory for me? Entry to the state border of 1991. Without any territorial concessions," says the veteran border guard, coming from him, it sounds very sweet and extremely convincing.
So while the Defense Forces of Ukraine are bringing closer our victory and the restoration of control over the borders, we in the UVF are making small but decisive steps to empower the strongest.
This is a fragment of the story of Oleksandr Shaposhnyk, a veteran of the State Border Service of Ukraine. This is a story of real resilience and humanity. Mr. Oleksandr is the winner of the "VARTO" program of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, let's get to know him and his own case.
It all started in September 2021. Then Mr. Oleksandr bought the franchising rights for the production of homemade semi-finished products "Galya Baluvana". Before opening a franchise he had a cafe, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and the increase in rent prices, he had to close his business.
Galya Baluvana store offers more then 90 different items in their product range. The most common are ravioli, Ukrainian vareniki, pancakes, cheesecakes, chebureks, cutlets, cabbage rolls, stuffed peppers, etc.
And it was this "menu" that saved Konotop residents during the siege of the city. Oleksandr Shaposhnyk recalls that in the first days of the invasion, Russians managed to get into the city. The battles were still going on, and the occupiers came for some negotiations, but the locals and the authorities resisted them. Therefore, the city was closed for entry and exit.
"At that time we were working. Because both business needs to be developed and people need to be helped. Jobs must be maintained. We looked for opportunities. Dumplings and dumplings were made. We were looking for lard and meat, although it was difficult. All shops were closed. It was also difficult to find flour. The price of onions has increased several times, let's say. But we decided not to raise the price of our products. Yes, there was no profit, but we paid salaries to our people. The store was open for an hour or two a day, and we sold no more than 2 kilograms of products to each person(in order to resist any speculations) ," the veteran tells us.
This mode of work lasted for about two months. Later, when the Russians were kicked out of Kyiv Oblast, Konotop was no longer surrounded.
Now Mr. Oleksandr dreams of expanding the range of products and starting to make ice cream, confectionery, jams and sauces from high-quality and natural ingredients. For this, he needs specialized equipment - a freezer (for making ice cream) and shockers (equipment for shock freezing of products).
For this, Mr. Oleksandr will receive 830,000 hryvnias from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
"This will double the volume of sales of our production, it will also increase business profitability and payments to the state budget. So, the sales volume for 9 months of this year amounted to 4 million hryvnias. For the corresponding period next year, we plan to reach 8 million hryvnia of which will pay UAH 200,000 as taxes to the state budget," explains Mr. Oleksandr.
We believe that the veteran's business will go well. He did well in the army - that's why he will be able to manage business just as well. Oleksandr has 27 years of experience in the ranks of the State Border Service of Ukraine. He retired in 2017 with the rank of major. As of 2014, he was performing tasks in the Luhansk region, from 2015 to 2017 he was a soldier of the Kramatorsk border detachment.
"What is victory for me? Entry to the state border of 1991. Without any territorial concessions," says the veteran border guard, coming from him, it sounds very sweet and extremely convincing.
So while the Defense Forces of Ukraine are bringing closer our victory and the restoration of control over the borders, we in the UVF are making small but decisive steps to empower the strongest.
Mykhailo Roschuk
Mykhailo Roschuk, develops a Pizza BRO franchise
Suspended pizza for wounded services and medics in the hospital.
The veteran will open a pizzeria that will work in support of the security forces.
Veteran Mykhailo Roschuk is one of the 30 winners of the #VARTO funding competition from the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
"I offered the idea of opening my own pizzeria to my brothers in 2020. I bought a franchise from Pizza BRO and now I’m ready for the opening," says Mykhailo.
His project is aimed, first of all, at veterans, active services and other employees of the security forces.
"For veterans, active services, volunteers and the police, we constantly offer discounts of up to 25% on pizzas marked on the menu. And every visitor or customer can suspend a pizza, which we will hand over to wounded active services and doctors in the hospital," Mykhailo says.
He also mentions that he plans to employ up to 6-8 people. Staff will be recruited, first of all, from the veterans. After all, Mykhailo is a veteran himself and understands how important it is to reintegrate services into civilian life.
"My battle path lasted during 2015-2016. He served in the 11th “Kyiv Rus'' Mechanized Infantry battalion. Tasks were carried out near Troitske (Donetsk region) and Novozvanivka (Luhansk region). In 2008, he passed military service. I have the rank of senior sergeant," the veteran says.
Soon the pizzeria will open its doors to visitors. The cafe will be located on Rusanivka, Mykolaichuk Str., 7a.
The veteran will open a pizzeria that will work in support of the security forces.
Veteran Mykhailo Roschuk is one of the 30 winners of the #VARTO funding competition from the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
"I offered the idea of opening my own pizzeria to my brothers in 2020. I bought a franchise from Pizza BRO and now I’m ready for the opening," says Mykhailo.
His project is aimed, first of all, at veterans, active services and other employees of the security forces.
"For veterans, active services, volunteers and the police, we constantly offer discounts of up to 25% on pizzas marked on the menu. And every visitor or customer can suspend a pizza, which we will hand over to wounded active services and doctors in the hospital," Mykhailo says.
He also mentions that he plans to employ up to 6-8 people. Staff will be recruited, first of all, from the veterans. After all, Mykhailo is a veteran himself and understands how important it is to reintegrate services into civilian life.
"My battle path lasted during 2015-2016. He served in the 11th “Kyiv Rus'' Mechanized Infantry battalion. Tasks were carried out near Troitske (Donetsk region) and Novozvanivka (Luhansk region). In 2008, he passed military service. I have the rank of senior sergeant," the veteran says.
Soon the pizzeria will open its doors to visitors. The cafe will be located on Rusanivka, Mykolaichuk Str., 7a.