Sunflower War 🌻 Part 2

After a year of the war, stealing humanitarian aid with the help of federal and local officials is not surprising to most Ukrainians anymore.

Today we continue to struggle: struggle with Russians, struggle with mental problems, with the fall of the economy, and with the absence of finance. But all this fighting makes us stronger and more innovative as a nation. We learn, develop and build a new future for our country. 

Phenomenon of fundraising

At the beginning of the full-scale offensive, every Ukrainian saw the difference between the country's size, capacities, quantities of troops, and weapons. At first, we were frightened, but then we understood such a thing "who else but us?" The power of the country is in its citizens.  

I'm sure that every Ukrainian became a fundraiser during the war. So, who is a fundraiser? What is fundraising? And why in Ukraine this thing became a phenomenon? 

"Fundraising is the act of collecting or producing money for a particular purpose, especially for a charity," by the Cambridge Dictionary. 

With the understanding that Ukraine needs help – weapons, tanks, missiles, all we can do is donate money. Primarily Ukrainian charity funds like "Povernys Zhyvym," "Serhii Prytula charity fund," "Razom for Ukraine," and a significant number of others have started to raise money for army needs.

Campaign "Narodnyi Bayraktar"

One of Ukraine's most breathtaking and phenomenal fundraising campaigns was called Narodnyi Bayraktar (translation People's Bayraktar). Bayraktar is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone capable of being remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. Serhii Prytula, who owned a charity fund, and a blogger Ihor Lachenkov, known as Lachen, were raising money for three Bayraktars (the price of one is 6 million dollars). Ukrainians raised 24 million dollars in three days. (Isn't it a miracle?) By the way, the Turkish company Baykar which produces Bayraktars was so impressed by this fundraising campaign that they gave three Bayraktars for free. 

After such considerable events, every Ukrainian knows the importance of even one hryvnia (Ukrainian currency). 

The power and braveness of the volunteer movement

Today the amount of fundraising campaigns only increases. Volunteers continue to find and raise money. Many representatives of different countries, ambassadors of brands, and concerned foreigners make a tremendous financial contribution through fundraising worldwide. 

Our featured fundraiser, Kelli Smith, continues to help Ukrainian refugees assimilate into Poland. She and her team have raised a large amount of money and have completed some significant projects. For example, they have started preschool and elementary classes and bought laptops for 20 kids and teenagers. However, their biggest project was renovating an old building and converting it into a community center to integrate Polish and Ukrainian people. 

The year of war showed the power and braveness of the volunteer movement for Ukrainians, the phenomenon of fundraising, and the help of foreigners. But unfortunately, the war also became an instrument of the illegal enrichment of rich people and, simultaneously, the impoverishment of poor people.

Humanitarian aid: politicians and stealing

Let's start with the scandal in the third month of the war.   

Epicentr K is the most extensive system of home improvement stores in Ukraine. The owner is Olexander Gereg, a current deputy of the last tree convocations. 

A photo of a bulletproof vest on sale at Epicentr K appeared on social networks in mid-May. The vest costs 12 500 UAH (approximately $350 USD). But the problem is that this basic necessity of protection should be free. 

This bulletproof vest was produced by the volunteer organization Lviv Defense Cluster, confirmed by its head Maksim Plehov. Ministry of Defense appoints this organization as coordinator of humanitarian aid connected with personal protection equipment for troops. 

"I am 100% sure that this vest is ours. I recognized the fabric, and some others specialties, as the vest was created with three types of threads. No one does in the same way," says Maksim.

The production of bulletproof vests by the Lviv Defense Cluster was confirmed by the bar code on its inner side. 

The point is Lviv Defense Cluster usually transfers vests directly to military unity or departments of the Ministry of Defense for free. So it is always made as an act of transmission with maximum control. But not this time. 

The local officials of Cherkasy asked this Lviv Defense Cluster for bulletproof vests to provide the "transferring action for troops to the front." But Cherkasy officials received these vests and gave them to the firm Venetto, which produces mattresses and furniture. The owners of this firm are from the family of ex-deputy Mychaylo Brodskogo. Later, Venetto sold these bulletproof vests to Epicentr K.

Venetto explained it as a mistake to sell these vests for a profit to Epicentr K when they were, in fact, donated for specific military purposes. And Cherkasy officials? Officials were out of the picture, knowing nothing. 

And this is just one revealed big scheme of stealing humanitarian aid. Most schemes are occurring in the western part of Ukraine, which has become a logistic center between Ukraine and Europe since the beginning of the war. 

Why do such things happen? One of the assumptions is that stealing occurred at the beginning of the war when the situation was chaotic and crazy. Tons of international humanitarian help, especially highly-valued items like medical equipment, clothes, and medicines, were sent, but the system of checks and balances needed to be monitored and accounted.

After a year of the war, stealing humanitarian aid with the help of federal and local officials is not surprising to most Ukrainians anymore. 

Nowadays, volunteers try to find ways to solve this problem. 

How small businesses survived

Ukrainians continue to live, work, and earn money despite the war. In times of war and economic crisis, one of the main goals for small businesses is to survive. Conversely, corporations and big companies are going through war much more manageable than small and medium ones. 

Small and medium-sized businesses often operate as a puzzle. If one piece of the puzzle is removed, it usually affects how the whole operation functions.

Ukrainian small businesses have had to find new ways to operate. First, companies that found new partners, launched joint projects, or even teamed with opponents found themselves staying afloat during war times.  

Second, because cities were decimated by rockets and gunfire, finding the right geographical region for conducting business was imperative. For example, if it is an online business, you should choose Khmelnytskyi city, which has become the biggest logistic hub. 

Third, businesses that finally accepted the digital transformation of their offline business also survived. 

For example, my husband and I have our own furniture business. We design and construct cabinet furniture. After the beginning of the war, we had to close our showroom. Today we developed our social networks to find and engage with new clients. We also embraced working from home because it is safer and more convenient. And if we meet with clients, we either identify cafes suitable with high-speed internet access or schedule a video chat. Regarding our workers, we adopted a new pay structure where workers are now partners, and as partners, they receive compensation per project.

The country is also trying to help entrepreneurs by providing grant programs and simplifying the tax system. 

Ukraine is in an extremely tough economic state due to the war. On the one side, it is essential to support the work of small businesses and provide the social support necessary for its citizens. On the other side, it is required to ensure the army. Therefore, if we can avoid disagreements inside our country and become more supportive and helpful, only in that case, we'll return to our territories and approach victory. 

by Christina Vernyhora

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Sunflower War 🌻 Part 3