Nataliia Zhukovska
A TV host, journalist and author of over three thousand materials on various subjects, including some remarkable journalist investigations that led to changes in local governments. She also writes about tourism, science and health. She got into journalism by accident over 20 years ago. She led her personal projects on the UTR TV channel, worked as a reporter for the news service and at the ICTV channel for over 12 years. While working she visited over 50 countries. Has exceptional skills in storytelling and data analysis. Worked as a lecturer at the NAU’s International Journalism faculty. She is enrolled in the «International Journalism» postgraduate study program: she is working on a dissertation covering the work of Polish mass media during the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Publications
Lyuba Shipovich had been living in the United States since 2008, but after the beginning of the full-scale war, she returned to Ukraine. Lyuba is a co-founder of the «Razom for Ukraine» public organisation, and since 2023, the founder of the «Dignitas» charitable foundation, which takes care of military and veteran projects, including providing the army with UAVs and training drone operators. Last year, Shipovich was listed in the TOP 50 Ukrainian female leaders according to Forbes magazine.
Nataliia Zhukovska: Lyuba, the main area of your work is unmanned technologies: surveillance and combat drones. What is the real situation with military units being provided with UAVs today?
Lyuba Shipovich: It is about technology in general. Apart from unmanned vehicles, there is also software, situation awareness, combat control systems etc. As for the drone supply, the state is now buying them. Yes, not yet in a sufficient amount but they started doing it. However, we still lack the infrastructure for these drones. I am talking about antennas, ground control stations, portable power stations, tablets, 3D printers for explosive components of air-dropping systems. Unfortunately, this whole infrastructure is not funded by the state at all at the moment. The funding comes either from foundations or the units raise the money for this themselves.
The drone does not fly by itself. There also have to be glasses, RCs, antennas, charging devices, tablets, retranslators
What has to be done to ensure there are enough drones on the frontlines?
If we compare 2022, when there were no drones at all, to the situation now, it is significantly better. According to the prime minister, 40 billion hryvnias have been dedicated to purchasing unmanned systems this year. This already is an improvement. But it is not enough. When the President is talking about a million drones, it sounds like a lot. In reality, however, we calculated that such an amount would only be sufficient for three months in today’s frontline and combat intensity. Therefore, a million - is, in essence, a fourth part of the yearly demand.
We are engaged in an intense war, the largest drone war in the world in the history of humanity. Moreover, due to the frequent lack of ammunition, drones often replace artillery. Western countries were not prepared for a large-scale land war. NATO's doctrine is to gain air superiority. However, we are conducting a large-scale land war. Even the combined NATO countries cannot supply it with enough ammunition. On one hand, they lack the capacity, on the other hand, political and bureaucratic processes are an obstacle. We cannot rely solely on the help of our Western allies.
We must invest in our own production. And what we are doing quite well is primarily the production of unmanned technologies
It is known that Ukraine still depends on China for some components necessary for drone production. And last year, the Chinese already imposed certain export restrictions. How do you assess the risk that at some point they might completely «tighten the screws»?
We need to look for alternatives. China is the cheapest and largest manufacturer, but fortunately, not a monopolist. There are other manufacturers in Central Asian countries. Factories are also being built in Europe and the USA. And, of course, we need to pay enormous attention to localising the production of components. We should produce in Ukraine everything that can be produced here, even if it is more expensive. Because during the war, the cost is not evaluated purely based on the economic factor. There is also the factor of national security. Currently, there are several hundred stable productions in Ukraine. However, very few of them scale up production capacities because they do not have guarantees that orders will be consistent.
The state should enter into medium- to long-term contracts with manufacturers for procurement. If the contract is at least three years, it will be of interest to the manufacturer to invest in their business
This is probably the biggest problem. And if we talk about manufacturers in European countries, they generally want 8- to 10-year contracts. After all, these are capital investments in production lines, expansion of facilities, and so on.
Lyuba, you have been involved in volunteer work since 2014. It was then that the charitable foundation «Razom for Ukraine» was established in the United States. You are one of its co-founders. Since February 24, over the course of a year, you have managed to raise 68 million dollars. How did you achieve that?
Over 60 per cent of the funds came from small donations from people, mostly Americans and Canadians. They contributed 10, 20, 100 dollars to help the Ukrainian army. There were also corporate donations. Up to ten corporations donated 1 million dollars each. These were quite well-known companies worldwide that often wished to remain anonymous. I attribute this level of activity among foreigners to the fact that, at that time, Ukraine was at the top of all the news. It was a natural impulse to help in the fight against injustice.
It is also important to understand the American culture, where volunteerism is instilled from a young age. It is an integral part of life. There are even special days of the year, such as Giving Tuesday, that unite people to help each other. Currently, this support has decreased significantly, partly because Ukraine has disappeared from the news. Last December, I travelled to the United States, where Americans asked me, «Is there still a war going on?» If it is not shown in the news, it seems like it is over. But it is the same as Ukrainians not knowing what is happening in other countries. For example, in December, an important news story was about Venezuela. But if you ask Ukrainians what happened there, many would say, «Where is that?» When something is not in the news, it feels like it does not exist.
Last year, the team that worked on military and veteran projects within «Razom for Ukraine» separated into a new foundation called Dignitas. Why did this happen?
Out of the 68 million dollars that we managed to raise during the first year of the full-scale war, 45 million went to support the military. Specifically, this included the purchase of tactical medicine, drones, radios, power stations and so on. Meanwhile, the organisation also had humanitarian programs. Towards the end of 2022, discussions began about reducing military aid and redirecting more funds towards support and rebuilding efforts. At that time, I was the only board member based in Ukraine - all others were in the United States.
I tried to convey to people that it was still too early to focus on rebuilding Ukraine and that investment in defence was necessary. Because if we do not destroy the Russian tank, it will continue to wipe our cities off the map. Consequently, the rebuilding would become a never-ending process
It was at this stage that certain differences began to emerge. It became increasingly difficult to advocate that the funds were needed specifically for the military. After consulting with my team, we decided to separate into a new foundation, where it is clearly stated in the charter that we are a foundation for technological assistance to the security and defence forces, as well as veterans. We started again with zero dollars in our account.
Who forms the «core» of your team?
All those who had worked with us on military and veteran projects since 2014. The largest initiative, «Victory Drones», is led by Mariya Berlinska. It is an ecosystem for training the military in technology, specifically drone operators for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES), and medical services in cooperation with the General Staff. There is also the «Fierce Birds» project, which supplies strike drones to the front line. It is led by Katya Nesterenko, who had worked for many years in the «Isolation» project and is very knowledgeable and understanding of the Donetsk region.
There is a project called «A Thousand Drones», which primarily focuses on reconnaissance drones. For example, in the United States, we are not allowed to raise funds for strike drones. Therefore, we have split the fundraising efforts: we collect funds for strike drones in Ukraine and for reconnaissance drones abroad.
There is also the «Fly» project, within which military personnel in rehabilitation departments are taught to operate FPV drones. This project is led by Dana Yurovich, who had previously worked for many years with the Ministry of Health team under Ulana Suprun (acting Minister of Health of Ukraine from 2016 to 2019) and on various international projects. In the tenth year of the war, volunteering needs to be professional. Yes, there were periods when everyone was doing everything when tourniquets and drones were bought indiscriminately and without understanding. But in reality, such an approach is an inefficient use of financial resources, which are already quite limited. Everyone should focus on their area of expertise.
For example, everyone knows that they need to buy a Mavic drone. However, not all understand that there is a whole line of them with different characteristics and firmware. As a result, people spend money on the Mavic 3 Classic, which is often unsuitable for use on the frontlines. But if a little more money were added, another drone could be purchased that would definitely be useful. There have even been cases where drones were bought and handed over to the military without being reprogrammed, and without anonymised firmware, they revealed positions. So, sometimes it is not just wasteful, it can be harmful to the military. That is why we do not get involved in other areas. Our focus is on technology.
For a long time, you were involved in advocating for weapons for Ukraine. What was the most challenging part, and did Western politicians always listen to you?
I continue to do this work even now. Our American team regularly communicates with congressmen and attends meetings. This work does not stop. In 2022, it was challenging to convince American politicians that Ukraine would hold out. If you recall that period, what kind of weapons was Ukraine being given? It was Javelins and Stingers - not for waging war, but for guerrilla warfare. Only in May 2022, when it became clear that Ukraine was indeed ready to fight, did they start providing heavier weapons for conventional military operations. So, until the middle of 2022, it was a matter of simply convincing them that we could and would endure, that we did not need to surrender Ukraine along the Dnipro or agree to any peace deals.
We have shown that we are ready to fight. The Western politicians and voters believed in us
What do we need to do to prevent the weakening of support from Europe and the United States?
It seems to me that Ukraine has disappeared from the news in the United States. We are not acting proactively. Look at Russia, which has been developing a network of television channels around the world for over 20 years. They broadcast in different languages - Arabic, Spanish, English, French, German, and others - meaning they generate their own content. In addition, they have a whole series of entertainment programs. They attract viewers' attention with these, and then they broadcast news between them. And what kind of news do the Russians broadcast about Ukraine? The ones that benefit them.
Where does the Western consumer get information about Ukraine? Either from the infrequent news in Western media or from Russian TV channels. We need to pay more attention to the information space and understand that foreign consumers consume information in their own language. Not Ukrainian and not always English. There is a huge Spanish-speaking world that we do not pay attention to, and the Arab world, where we also have very little information. And to gain support in those countries from politicians, we first need to gain it from their voters.
Why are there political bargaining and debates in America right now? Ukraine is a bargaining chip because voters do not have a clear opinion about us. If all voters wanted to support Ukraine, it could be guaranteed that politicians would do the same. Because they listen to their voters, especially in America, where congressional elections are held every two years. It is a relatively short election cycle, so voters are listened to constantly. Moreover, our politicians often use Western media to fight among themselves. And it is important to understand that this does not benefit us either.
When Western consumers see our internal political games, they think the war is over because local politicians are competing with each other
The major goal of the state is Ukraine's accession to NATO. This would be the greatest security guarantee for the country. Do you believe in NATO, where everyone defends each other?
I have spoken with Poles on this topic quite a bit. They are confident that they will be the next target of the Russian Federation. But when you ask them if they would go to defend their country, the response is: «Why would we? We are in NATO, the Americans will come to protect us». That is the classic answer. They do not understand that the primary responsibility is to defend their own country. And this collective NATO agreement is not about sitting back while someone else comes to fight for you. It means that we all defend each other together.
In my opinion, Russia will not go into Poland next, but into the Baltic countries. And I think that Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians understand this very well. They also understand that they must rely on their own forces. That is why they are actively preparing
For instance, they are conducting training for the population. When we talk about NATO countries, we think of a strong, powerful army. However, the Alliance does not have experience in conducting land wars. Right now, many of our military personnel are undergoing training abroad, and even NATO generals admit that they can learn more from Ukrainians than vice versa. Because currently, there is only one country in the world that can resist Russia - and that is Ukraine. Only we have the experience of resisting such a powerful aggressor. So if NATO sees Russia as an enemy, they are definitely interested in having Ukraine as, if not a member, at least a strong ally.
Photos from a private archive
«Currently, only one country in the world can resist Russia - Ukraine. If NATO considers Russia an enemy, then they definitely should be interested in having Ukraine as a good ally»
Superhumans, «supers» - that’s what patients are called in the Superhumans rehabilitation centre. This modern clinic specialises in prosthetics, rehabilitation, reconstructive surgery, and psychological support for injured military personnel and civilians. All services are provided to patients free of charge. The facility operates on donations, including from Ukrainian benefactors. Sestry spoke with the CEO of the Superhumans Center, Olga Rudnieva, about the facility's capabilities, current challenges, and the prospects for prosthetics and reconstruction development in Ukraine.
For us, there are no problems. There are challenges.
Nataliia Zhukovska: Olga, the Superhumans Center can host up to 70 monthly patients. How are you managing with today’s influx of patients?
Olga Rudneva: According to our plan, we were supposed to have up to 50 monthly prosthetic, rehabilitation, and psychological support patients. But we understand that the queue is quite large, and it’s not getting any smaller. Currently, there are over 800 patients on our waiting list. Therefore we’ve raised the monthly amount of patients to 70.
I think we could take in even a hundred patients but it would be financially difficult. After all, this is quite an expensive undertaking.
For example, fifty patients cost over a million dollars just for prosthetic components. And that’s assuming we supply all of them with only basic mechanical prosthetics. However, many people receive things like myoelectric hands and electronic knees at our facility, which are several times more expensive. Additionally, we already have a ward fund in the reconstructive surgery department. We perform facial reconstructions, which are quite complex procedures lasting up to 15 hours, involving flap transplants - a complex of tissues consisting of skin, muscle, and bone fragments with mandatory preservation of blood vessels. The recovery is rather slow, for these are patients with difficult cases. We also perform hearing restoration surgeries. Recently we’ve also started working on eyes, - specifically eye implants. And there are patients, on whom we perform reamputation surgeries due to complications like fragment expulsions, osteophytes, or neuromas. Accordingly, we could add another 45-50 monthly patients. In total, we have 100-110 patients simultaneously at Superhumans each month.
And who’s aiding Superhumans financially?
We don’t use state funds at all. We’ve had this strategy and philosophy since the start. We believe that the state should spend its money on defence, while additional resources can be attracted from donors for humanitarian projects.
Our biggest benefactor - American philanthrop Howard Buffett, who covered yearly prosthetics costs for 500 people.
And this is a significant support for us. We also engage in fundraising. We have a wide circle of benefactors from Ukraine and around the world. We are constantly working on attracting additional resources for various areas - psychological support, prosthetics, and reconstructive surgery.
What are the three biggest problems that the Superhumans Centre encounters today?
There are no problems for us. There are challenges that we address. These challenges can be sorted by areas. People are a major challenge - we require high-quality specialists. Teamwork is a challenge as well since Ukrainian doctors aren’t used to working in teams, and our patients are part of this team. Another challenge is Ukraine’s accessibility. Because when a patient leaves our facility, he enters the real world again. If he encounters difficulties with integration and mobility, it threatens his mental state, and in time he could return to us once again.
And we do not want patients to return for psychological rehabilitation. It's important for us that they integrate into civilian life as quickly as possible.
The challenges include scaling the Superhumans model across Ukraine. The next two centres are set to open in Odesa and Dnipro. When it comes to purely medical challenges, we deal with difficult amputation cases. There’s also infection control because our patients often arrive with numerous infections. Before reaching us, they may have been in 6-7 different hospitals and have picked up infections during evacuation. Many of the injuries are from landmines and explosives, with numerous complications. There are many challenges, but none are insoluble.
You are against Ukrainians receiving prosthetics abroad. Why is that?
We must develop our own expertise in Ukraine, and prepare our specialists to become independent of western medical support. It won’t last forever. Unfortunately, as of today, we’re facing a large number of upper limb amputations, double and even triple amputations that are difficult to work with. Despite that, why should we send our most complicated patients abroad? To educate foreign specialists?
We have everything to completely ensure the installation of prosthetics for our people here, in Ukraine.
Secondly, a prosthetist and a patient are linked for life. Weight changes, changes in the patient's needs regarding the prosthesis - all of these require adjustments, servicing, and fine-tuning. It's simpler to do this in Ukraine. Returning abroad for these adjustments is very costly. It's unlikely for a person to collect the necessary funds to modify, for example, a prosthetic socket or reprogram something in their knee. Consequently, the overwhelming majority of people who were initially fitted with prosthetics abroad end up getting re-fitted in Ukraine over time. And the third factor is the language barrier. We have quite a few patients who received high-quality prosthetics abroad but came to Ukraine for rehabilitation because they didn't receive psychological support abroad due to language barriers or insufficient rehabilitation. These issues highlight the inefficiency of prosthetics abroad. Therefore, we must do everything to provide all these services locally.
How would you rate the current prosthetics level in Ukraine? What has changed in the last few years?
Our prosthetics level is quite high. Foreign experts, who used to come to teach us, now say: «There’s nothing more we can teach you. We should come and learn from you». The number of complex cases we've seen in Ukraine and at Superhumans over the past year matches all of the ones that Walter Reed (an American military hospital - author.) has encountered throughout its history of working with veterans' prosthetics in the U.S. Therefore, we already have the experience. Our prosthesits are constantly learning and have practical skills. This is not only true for Superhumans. Overall, there are a lot of skilled specialists in Ukraine.
The only issue is that we lack upper limb prosthetists. We constantly invite foreign experts to come and help us fit prosthetics for our patients.
But all in all, Ukraine has the experience, and the prosthetists. There just needs to be more of them. And we’re educating them right now, specifically at Lviv Polytechnic on our base and the UNBROKEN base, meaning that these people will soon become available on the job market and will be highly qualified.
Reconstructive surgery - it’s expensive and difficult
In war, people not only lose their limbs but also suffer facial injuries. At the end of February, the Superhumans Center started operating a reconstructive surgery department. How developed is this field in Ukraine?
We perform a considerable number of facial reconstructions and surgical interventions. However, the problem is that these are mostly carried out by doctors specialising in maxillofacial trauma, whereas general surgeons are needed. This is because the procedures involve implants and grafting skin from various body and facial parts. Together with the Ministry of Health, we have started a reform in training and preparing such specialists. We indeed lack experience in this area. Moreover, there are few schools worldwide that train specialists in this field. Together with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, we are collaborating with France in this direction. Additionally, we need to prepare people who specialize in postoperative care, as patients will require long-term recovery and special care to minimise rejection, infection, and complications.
Is there a sufficient amount of specialists in the field of reconstructive facial surgery? Where do you look for them?
Today, we have joint teams operating - Ukrainian specialists together with their French or Czech colleagues. Each case is documented, broadcast live from the operating room, and discussed with experts. Every surgery is described as a case study and made available to the market so other surgeons can view it and ask questions. Additionally, American and Canadian missions come to help with facial reconstructive surgery. Thanks to the international medical partnership initiated by the First Lady, we have gained access to the world's best surgeons.
Our team of doctors includes those who performed the world's first face transplant operation.
They are interested in our complex cases, and we require their experience. Besides, reconstructive surgery is expensive, as the implants themselves are costly.
People with facial injuries are difficult patients from the perspective of not only physical but psychological recovery. Do they work with psychologists? Is there enough of them?
The first step for a patient at the centre is a meeting with a psychologist and an assessment of their psychological state. Regardless of the newcomer’s condition, their first meeting is with a psychologist who evaluates their mental state. The psychologist is the person who accompanies the patient throughout the entire treatment period. It is quite challenging for the patient to go through the recovery period, which sometimes lasts 3-5 years. Until the person is satisfied with the result, a psychologist has to be by their side, accompanying them through all these interventions.
We wouldn’t have initiated the treatment if we were lacking such specialists
This is not the case where we can figure out in the process that we’re lacking, for example, three specialists. They’re not trained in one night. Therefore, we form a team from the get-go. For instance, the Superhumans Center in Odesa is set to open in February but team-forming and preparation will start in September. In Dnipro, the centre should open in September 2025 but the teams have already started preparing. Hence, the team preparation period for launching a new centre or service is quite time-consuming.
We work with every investor and explain where their money will go
During your work trips abroad, you always encourage the West to engage more actively in supporting Ukraine. What particular aid and support would you like to see from them in the foreseeable future?
We always ask for weapons. This will help us end the war sooner. We understand that the sooner this happens, the less work we will have. We also ask for support for humanitarian projects, especially in education and healthcare. We believe these two areas are crucial for the country to function after the victory. Therefore, we constantly encourage foreign donors to pay attention to them and support us. Whether we are heard depends solely on us - on how we convey our thoughts. If we don't receive funding, it is our problem. It means we are not communicating effectively. After all, there are many problems in the world. We are not the only country at war.
And it is our job to ask for help, to encourage and invite additional resources here
And I believe everyone is doing that - from the President to a mother in Kharkiv who helps his husband on the frontline.
Olga, you once said that you dreamed of meeting Richard Branson and Bono face to face. And you did. You felt inspired by Hillary Clinton - and she invited you to her podcast. What rendezvous do you dream of today?
I think I’ve accomplished everything I dreamed of. There are certain plans for people we’re interested in working with. We would like them to engage in supporting Ukraine more actively. Accordingly, all of them are on our list.
You see, these meetings are not just for Olga Rudneva to somehow satisfy her ego. They’re about what these people can do for Ukraine
They can join support, provide additional funds, resources for certain projects. Therefore, we choose such people ourselves, people who are important for us to work with, and to be led into Ukraine as support. In my personal list, there are people like Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, and Melinda Gates. These are people who are still not involved in supporting Ukraine on the scale that we would prefer.
We have all been traumatised by the war
Olga, what do you learn from the Superhumans?
In our interactions with patients, we continuously improve our services. We follow their needs and adapt accordingly. The centre evolves, as does our vision of what it should be. This ranges from rebuilding the entire country in terms of accessibility to changing attitudes toward certain things. When you communicate with someone who has lost two, three, or even four limbs and see what they can achieve, it's a profound source of insights. It's a constant learning process. We enhance our personal and team qualities through these interactions. We remodel the centre to make it more convenient for them, ensuring the service is of higher quality and seamless.
Personally, they taught me endurance, and the ability to have less, but do more.
Tha is probably what they teach us every day. They taught us to dream and understand that it's not really about legs and arms, but about where we are going and why we need these limbs. The overwhelming majority of people have four limbs, and the most they use them for is to write angry comments on Facebook. That's the only thing they produce for the outside world. This raises the question of whether they really need their legs and arms to share negative content online. We have our "supers" who don't have four limbs.
They win marathons, climb mountains, learn to write, write books, learn to write with their other hand
You see these people and realise - yes, hands are really needed, and not just as hands, but hands for something meaningful. This understanding of «why?» actually came from our «supers». And there is an incredible gratitude for the standard set of limbs you feel every day because you can save a tremendous amount of energy and do things much faster. You understand that beside you is someone who does no less than you but spends much more effort and health to accomplish something. This gratitude is immense. People come to us with new stories every time. And this interaction is invaluable.
What do Superhumans’ patients dream of and what are they afraid of the most?
This is very individual. It’s hard to generalise this. Of course, everyone dreams of victory, and also - of finding their place in life. We try to help people achieve their dream, which can be divided into goals.
Every day, a person has to know why they get up in the morning and put on their prosthetics.
This is very important because without all this, the rehabilitation process can be prolonged for months, and that's not right. We help our «supers» find a purpose. And they are actually afraid of things that might seem trivial. Their biggest fear is telling their mothers that they have lost a limb. The guys fear that their wives will come, open the door to the ward, see the missing arm or leg, and say, «I told you so». They fear they won't be able to integrate into civilian life. They worry that people will point at them on the street, that they won't be able to connect with people who have never been to war. They fear they might lose their temper because they know they also represent the veteran community. They fear losing friends who are still fighting and not having enough resources to help their comrades who are still at war. Their fears are very much in the context of today. They are more afraid of the social aspects they might face because of their disability.
How do you help yourself when it gets hard emotionally and where do you look for motivation?
It does not get emotionally difficult for me. I don't experience periods of depression or despair. When you realise what you're doing, for whom, and why, you don't need to look for motivation. The difficulty lies purely in logistics - juggling different tasks. For instance, you might have Hillary Clinton on call while a patient requires immediate help, and at the same time, you need to decide who will take out the trash, which somehow falls onto you. It's challenging to manage different tasks simultaneously. You're a living person, and you must distribute the 24 hours you have each day effectively. But emotionally, it's not difficult for me. Despair and depression consume resources that are already very limited. I can't afford to spend them on such trivialities. Resources are limited in time, emotions, and even my knowledge. Therefore, I have to use them as efficiently as possible.
Yes, I hear different human stories every day, but I don't consider, for example, the story of someone losing four limbs as negative. The person is alive, standing in front of me. I understand what I can do for them. If they want to, they will have a wonderful life. Of course, if I were burying my comrades every day or on the frontlines unable to provide help, and people were dying in my arms, I would be emotionally devastated. But I don't see that.
I work with people who survived. These stories are borderline fantasy. These are survivors that have a future.
And if they came to us, they are dreaming of recovery and life. When I see someone in a wheelchair, I already envision them standing on their feet, holding a cup for the first time. I don't see a person without limbs. So, there's nothing for me to worry about. Nothing destroys me because I work with hope every day. And it's not mythical. We've already helped 550 patients who left us on their own two feet. They have lives that go on, families, and they dream and have children. The stories of our «supers» are stories of victory, even if they are incredibly challenging.
Does society have to be prepared for interaction with veterans? What should Ukrainians realise during this war?
All of us are traumatised in different ways, as a consequence of the war. To some, this means a lost home, a lost life, to others, it means losing their loved ones, some are veterans themselves, and some lived abroad and are returning to Ukraine. We all have different traumas and experiences of war. And we have to intertwine these experiences and learn to live together. And this is not a question of whether we have to learn to live with veterans. We need to learn to live with one another overall, to interact with the understanding that anyone standing in front of us has some kind of war trauma. Just like us. To treat each other with respect and understanding. After that, it’s a technical question. What trauma does the person in front of me have and what have they been through? They could’ve gone through the war, been wounded three thousand times, and be less traumatised than someone who’s lived abroad the entire time and came back with immense guilt.
We are all different. There is no special device that we could use to measure each other’s trauma
Our stress resilience and response to trauma is also different. Consequently, it's hard to determine whose trauma is deeper or more damaging to the state and to the individual. Therefore, we need to prepare to live with a range of war experiences within the same country. I believe that this is going to be our greatest challenge yet.
The Superhumans Center is a full-fledged rehabilitation town, where over a hundred complex reconstructive surgeries have been performed and 550 prosthetics have been installed over the course of this year.
Oresta Brit - a volunteer with over a decade of experience, head of the BON Charity Foundation and a former advisor to Valeriy Zaluzhnyy. Before 2014, she studied at the Sorbonne and worked as a runway model in Paris. Returned to Ukraine at the beginning of the Revolution of Dignity. She has 4 degrees, and speaking both English and French, she tells the foreigners all the truth about the bloody war in Ukraine at every opportunity. She worked in crisis management and attracting foreign investments into Ukraine. At the beginning of the war, she left the business and devoted herself completely to aiding the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Nataliia Zhukovska: Oresta, you have been volunteering for over 10 years now. What do soldiers ask for most often? What does the frontline need the most today?
Oresta Brit: If I were to summarise my activities over the past 10 years, from 2014 to 2016 I was exclusively focused on helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Later, the number of requests from them decreased because the state began to take over the process of supplying the military. And, of course, the accompanying needs of the civilian population were also taken into account by us. In general, the charity foundation was a hobby for me in my free time from work and business. Since 2014, we, the volunteers, have become adaptable to changes and challenges and have even learned to anticipate needs. Overall, our work extends to many different areas that we initiated simultaneously at the start of the large-scale war.
We try our best to support the country in its difficult times. We cover «gaps» and needs until all the relevant state institutions get on a military footing and work like clockwork
However, this charitable activity should not reach the point where the state openly leeches on it. After all, we should have already shifted to a military footing a long time ago. The only things preventing this are corruption and unhealthy competition. As for needs, the largest portion of expenses goes towards purchasing electronic warfare equipment and microchips for FPV drones. This is what saves our military on the frontlines. There are constant requests for vehicles - they are expendable items. It must be acknowledged that the Russian army is launching on an industrial scale what we are doing on our knees. And in this, we are indeed losing.
What is the goal and the mission of the BON Charity Foundation that you founded?
Today, we help both the army and the civilian population. The mission of our foundation is to accelerate Ukraine's victory and to begin cultural and educational activities around the world. You know, the Charity Union of the Nation (Благодійне Об’єднання Нації - BON) is like a community. It is not a foundation of a single person. Every volunteer feels their responsibility and knows their sphere of authority.
We give many interviews to foreign media in English and French. We try to instil the correct narratives abroad. We show that this genocide has been going on not for 11 years, but for hundreds of years, and the methodology of exterminating the Ukrainian people is not much different nowadays. It's just that this time we are lucky that the world is becoming globalised and we have the opportunity to call attention to this, among other means, through the internet.
Concepts such as «fatigue» and «burnout» are familiar to many volunteers. Do you manage to avoid them?
Physical and moral fatigue, burnout - all of this is present, but I can not afford to stop because I am doing what inspires me and gives me energy. Charity is the best niche you could possibly preoccupy in modern Ukraine, especially in recent years. As for physiological burnout, it can happen. Therefore, we have a programme within which we send volunteers for health check-ups. But this need exists for civilians even during peaceful times.
As long as we have adrenalin, we hold on. Once the acute phase subsides though, it will be really hard for us
Do you have to visit the frontlines a lot?
Now my trips to the frontline involve solving crisis issues or delivering items not accepted by mail. I travel on my own, without an escort. Only I know where and when I am going.
There was an incident in 2022 when you almost died during a trip to the front. It was near Bakhmut. What happened then?
While I was driving to the military, Russians began to break through on that section of the frontline. As soon as I reached my destination, a close-range battle began - tank and rifle. It was a miracle that I was not shot not only by the Russians but also by our own military. I saw our guys shooting along the road. I asked: «Where should I jump out of the car?». And they shouted: «What do you mean jump out? Just drive away from here». These were assault troops near Bakhmut's industrial area. It took me 20 minutes to return to the city under fire. And then another 40 minutes to drive to Kostiantynivka from there.
Has this situation changed your desire to visit the frontlines?
I am still afraid of thinking about that story. The question of whether or not I should come to the frontline appears in my head every time. If there is no need, I do not go there.
Which stories from your trips to the frontline have been the most memorable to you?
Honestly, nothing surprises or impresses me anymore. My body has switched to self-preservation mode. I've lost so many brothers and sisters-in-arms that I just find joy in everything there is to find joy in. I cherish every meeting, knowing it could be the last.
My body only reacts to joy and positivity. It's some kind of protective function
If you look through my social media, you'll see that I don't share any sad stories there. I confess it is my volunteers who go to the de-occupied territories where there are no intense battles. While I don't let them go to the frontline, they are the ones delivering humanitarian aid to those areas. I have distanced myself from such practices because I know I wouldn't be useful to the affected people. I would just cry and be anxious.
How does your family react to your trips to the frontline? Do they try to dissuade you or support you?
I have absolute support from my family. They are patient and respect everything I do. There is no resistance. My first trip to the frontline was in July 2014. My mother didn't know I had gone. Honestly, I didn't really understand where I was going either. My task was to deliver humanitarian aid to the Aidar unit and the 12th battalion. No one told me it was war. I realised everything when I reached the Luhansk region. I was a little scared, but it was too late.
Previously, you studied in Paris and planned to tie your life to the runway, but you chose volunteering instead. What influenced your decision to drastically change your life?
Let me say right away - there were no sacrifices. I had a great time marching on the runway from 14 to 22 years old. I worked for very prestigious agencies in Paris. However, at 22, I chose education because pursuing a degree at the Sorbonne (a public university in Paris. - Author) and working as a model was an impossible combination. Thanks to my parents, I learned to set priorities correctly.
Moreover, I never planned to become French or to stay in France. You know, everything in my life happens very timely. Studying abroad gave me a quality education and contacts that are now very useful. I am a crisis manager. My profile is in public relations and mediation. Now I am successfully using the knowledge I gained to fight against the aggressor.
I have never regretted returning to Ukraine. Over the years, I have acquired a wonderful new hobby called «charity»
Everyone was surprised why I returned, and no one realised how beautiful this country is, how wonderful our way of life is, and how diverse our regions are. You can go to both the mountains and the sea without leaving Ukraine.
You often communicate with foreigners. What do you try to tell and convey to them? How do they react to what they hear?
We are still losing the information warfare. When communicating with foreign businesses and on a diplomatic level, I try to convey to them the scale of the tragedy we are experiencing. So that everyone not only knows how heroic Ukraine is but also understands from our experience how to avoid this tragedy in their own country. Because this gangrene called Russia will only continue to spread if it is not amputated right now, at these stages.
Everyone must understand that the war is close by, not somewhere far away. Today, Ukrainians are protecting the world from great evil and terror
And this is precisely the message I manage to convey all the way from Washington to the Netherlands and France. I am often invited to various French channels because the French want to hear the opinion of an unbiased Ukrainian who does not belong to any political party.
Did you foresee a full-scale war in the middle of Europe? Where were you when it started?
On February 24, I was in Lithuania, registering our foundation. I immediately bought a car for the Armed Forces and headed towards Ukraine. We didn't know exactly when it would start, but we clearly understood that something was going to happen. And I feel the same now, realising the catastrophe that could happen in Europe. Because, in reality, there is no war in Ukraine; we have a special state of events. I predict the same special state in Europe. It's not about an invasion but about conducting remote military actions, including missile attacks.
You were an advisor to the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. How did you assist him without being a military person?
I am a person to whom the tactics of waging war are distant, but I have been closely communicating with the army for quite some time. Over the years, I have gained unprecedented trust among the military. In our times, this is worth its weight in gold. It was my international administrative resources and the unprecedented trust of the army that led the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to the idea that it might be worthwhile to take me on as an advisor. But in fact, these were not pieces of advice from my side. I very rarely communicated with him because I understood the level of his busyness. But at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he did a very appropriate thing - he connected me with the responsible persons for different areas. And it was with them, side by side, for two years, that we kept our fingers on the pulse, synchronised our efforts and resolved pressing issues. As a result, I reported on our achievements, trips to the front and some weak points to the Commander-in-Chief. So, I was more of a reporter. If the level of the problem that needed to be solved was below the Commander-in-Chief, we did not take it to him. If his help was needed, then, of course, I went to him.
Do you still maintain contact with Valerii Zaluzhnyi?
Yes, of course. I was friends with Valerii Fedorovych, not just with the Commander-in-Chief. I am acquainted with his wife and have great respect and affection for the couple. Olena is a very worthy woman with a sense of dignity. She has stood side by side with her husband throughout the full-scale war. She is a true general's wife. I wouldn't wish on anyone the things they have gone through during this time. The level of responsibility and both psychological and physical stress they have endured is something not everyone can withstand.
How has the war changed you?
I wouldn't say the war has changed me. Maybe it has revealed my resilience. I can't say that I have flourished over these two years. The war has definitely taken a physical and psychological toll on all of us. Unlike myself, I feel sorry for those who had an awakening, who had to break themselves one morning. Those who used to love the Russians but now fiercely hate them. Because hatred is a feeling that destroys. I have never compared Ukrainians and Russians. They have always been a completely foreign nation to me.
I was born in 1990, and my conscious life has been spent in a whole, independent Ukraine. I am not ready to change that
What do you think we should prepare for? How long will the war last?
You know, we are prone to forgetfulness. We will begin to forget what is happening today, and it must not be allowed. Today's events should be etched in memory of many generations. We must write history correctly, monitor it, and ensure that heroism is not attributed to those who do not deserve it. We must do everything to ensure that Russians, on a genetic level, understand that Ukraine is a taboo territory, better left untouched. We must end this war ourselves. I don't want my children and grandchildren to experience anything like this.
I don't want to live in constant anticipation of our neighbour attacking us again. We must change this
Have you thought about the future? Do you plan to live abroad, where you successfully established yourself at one time, or in Ukraine?
I can live anywhere. The main thing for me is that there is order in Ukraine. Today, I cannot leave Ukraine for long periods of time. My maximum is two weeks. Last year, I went to the sea just to get some sleep, and after two weeks, I was literally running back. I want my children to see the world and feel at home everywhere. So, I don't think I will limit myself to just Ukraine. I have a rather international family, and wherever it is warm and nice, that's where I will be. But all this will only be after our victory.
How would you like to see Ukraine after the war ends?
I would like to see Ukraine with an idea, self-identification and without an inferiority complex. I would like it to be Ukrainian-speaking, with a decent level of education, and not a victim of populism. In other words, just like in all civilised countries, we shouldn't bother ourselves with questions like who our ministers are and where they are vacationing. I truly want to see Ukraine as civilised and accomplished. We have prosperous resources, and I would like to see them utilised. And I want this right of utilisation to be in the hands of Ukrainians, not those who are now, in these difficult times, trying to come in and seize a monopoly. I am confident that most Ukrainians will return home, and Ukraine will once again become a prosperous, peaceful state. But this will take time. Today, we need to unite and help the country not only to endure but to win.
«We are the people who have to end this war. I do not want my children and grandchildren to experience anything like this. I do not want to live in constant anticipation of our neighbour attacking us again», - head of BON Charity foundation Oresta Brit on helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteers’ fatigue and Ukraine after the victory
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