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[Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, millions of people have left their hometowns to move to safety — either to western Ukraine or to neighboring countries like Poland. Many took just a few belongings, but some others brought their businesses. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script Kharkiv Entrepreneurs in Lviv – Kosstutschenko
HEADLINE: Entrepreneurs From Kharkiv, Ukraine, Find Refuge in Lviv
Teaser:
PUBLISHED: 05/17/2022 at 12PM
BYLINE: Anna Kosstutschenko
DATELINE: Lviv, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Yuriy Dankevych
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA & News Agencies TBA
PLATFORMS: TV only
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE; Reifenrath
TRT: 3:28
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: Return edited script to Anna Rice, and copy to HFR))
((INTRO))
[[Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, millions of people have left their hometowns to move to safety — either to western Ukraine or to neighboring countries like Poland. Many took just a few belongings, but some others brought their businesses. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
All these people are entrepreneurs who once had their own offices in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
((Serhiy Savitsky, Kharkiv Entrepreneur)) (In Ukrainian)
“My business started as a small travel company. Then it was transformed into an educational center where we were teaching German, Polish and English.”
((NARRATION))
For 15 years, Serhiy Savitsky worked to establish his business.
But when Kharkiv became a Russian target, he had to stop operations, and many of his employees fled abroad. Savitsky also evacuated his family members, who went abroad. He eventually settled in Lviv, where he became a volunteer.
((Serhiy Savitsky, Kharkiv Entrepreneur)) ((in Ukrainian))
“As we were evacuating, we heard explosions. We were panicking. … But I knew that if I was not a member of the Armed Forces and was not there holding a gun, I should find another way to be useful to my country. I am good at connecting people, so it was not hard. All the entrepreneurs there were looking for something like this!”
((NARRATION))
Savitsky united Kharkiv’s entrepreneurs and set up a humanitarian center designed to help people from eastern Ukraine.
Maxym Udovychenko owns a chain of supermarkets in Kharkiv. His own house was destroyed by a Russian missile.
Now he helps evacuate people. In many cases, he has to persuade them to leave.
((Maxym Udovychenko, Kharkiv Entrepreneur)) ((In Russian))
“Constant bombings interfere with people’s ability to think, so they believe they are safe. But I see the whole picture, and I understand that soon this zone will be cut off, and then even volunteers won’t be able to evacuate people — as was the case in Mariupol.”
((NARRATION))
Entrepreneurs at this center also collect humanitarian aid and organize targeted assistance to over a thousand people a day. Aid comes from the United States and all over Europe, says Pavlo Pismenkov, the manager of this project.
((Pavlo Pismenskov, Kharkiv Entrepreneur)) ((in Ukrainian))
“We establish contacts with international and Ukrainian donors in order to collect and send humanitarian aid to Kharkiv. We organize targeted deliveries to those who cannot reach the delivery point. We receive groceries, diapers for children and adults, and equipment and gear for rescuers.”
((NARRATION))
Years of business experience allows these entrepreneurs to quickly organize deliveries, figure out logistics and keep things under control.
((Serhiy Sereda, Kharkiv Entrepreneur)) ((in Ukrainian))
“I control the logistics hub and the activities of volunteers who work with residents, territorial defense, the armed forces — who work hard to make sure they are doing what’s most needed.”
((NARRATION))
All the people in this pop-up humanitarian center say they have same goal.
((Serhiy Savitsky, Kharkiv Entrepreneur)) ((in Ukrainian))
“Happy smiles of all children, not just mine, of all Ukrainians, are important to me. It is very difficult for me to see the children under tremendous stress, sitting in basements.”
((NARRATION))
This unusual business center is operating practically around the clock, seven days a week.
((Anna Kosstutschenko, for VOA News, Lviv, Ukraine))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Lviv, Ukraine
Embargo DateMay 17, 2022 16:13 EDT
Byline((Anna Kosstutschenko, for VOA News, Lviv, Ukraine))
