Ukraine S Millionaires Vow To Fight For The Existence Of Our Nation

Vsevolod Kozemiako is facing one of the biggest fights of his life, caught in the crossfire as much of his grain business’ farmland in Kharkiv has become a battleground for Ukrainian and Russian troops fighting for control of the region. “It is our land and we will fight for it,” said the 50-year-old businessman. The multi-millionaire, whose $100 million fortune earned him 88th place on Forbes’ list of the 100 richest Ukrainians, started his own battalion, leading 200 volunteers in the war effort. Mr Kozemiako is proud of the unit and says it will fight until Ukraine emerges victorious. The Ukrainian authorities have provided his battalion’s volunteers with military equipment, but everything else – vehicles, food, medical supplies, even salaries – is financed by Mr Kozemiakos and his business partners. His partners “can’t fight alone, but they can help those who are fighting,” said the businessman, who has spent about $1 million of his own money so far. Mr. Kozemiako is among hundreds of Ukrainian businessmen helping the war effort. According to a poll by the Union of Ukrainian Businessmen, the country’s largest business lobby, 94 percent of its 800 member companies provide support to the country’s armed forces in the fight against Russia. Moreover, according to Ekaterina Glazkova, the agency’s CEO, only a third of the companies surveyed are operating at pre-war levels. “Despite the fact that many businesses have been hit hard, support for the military and civilians does not stop. Some entrepreneurs buy thermal imaging and drones, others supply hot food to territorial defense fighters,” said Ms. Glazkova. Before the war began on February 24, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had fewer than 250,000 soldiers. That number had risen to 700,000 in June – a huge increase in military personnel that required more funding. The state could not always cover it, so support from Ukrainian businesses played a vital role. Andriy Mitchenko, the chief executive of Ecosoft, which makes water purification filters, sent about a dozen of the company’s Oasis systems when the water supply to Mykolaiv was turned off by Russian bombing. Each installation can produce 300 liters of drinking water per hour, and now the Ukrainian military has ordered 50 of the systems. Six months of war in Ukraine: five keys to understanding what has happened so far But providing any kind of support to the military is becoming more dangerous. On July 31, the home of Ukrainian businessman Oleksiy Vadaturskyy in Mykolaiv was hit by three Russian missiles. The 74-year-old businessman died together with his wife under the debris of his house. His company, Nibulon, is one of Ukraine’s largest grain producers and exporters, and Mr Vadaturskyy’s fortune was estimated by Forbes at around US$450 million before his death. He had bought medical supplies and armored vehicles for the military, and his company even repaired military equipment. Moscow admitted that his support for the Ukrainian military was the main reason for his assassination. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state television network RT, wrote on her telegraph channel that Mr. Vadaturskyy died because he had allegedly supported “punitive orders” and that a direct hit on his home was “a call to action.” “What Russian propaganda said about Mr. Vadaturskyy can be said not only about every Ukrainian businessman but about every adult in the country. Now we do not have those who do not help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are all now fighting for the existence of our nation,” Mr Kozemiako said. Many business people don’t want to discuss what they do to help the military. “We help a lot, but we don’t talk about it openly – otherwise Russian missiles will hit our factory,” explained one of the owners of a major pharmaceutical company, whom The Globe and Mail did not identify. Support from businessmen is part of a large-scale effort that includes all Ukrainians, regardless of economic status, says famous TV presenter and volunteer Serhiy Pritula. In July, his charitable foundation launched a fundraising campaign to buy Bayraktar unmanned combat aircraft for the Ukrainian military. Within three days, the campaign raised 600 million hryvnias (almost US$20 million) – four times its original goal – and went on to raise more than two billion hryvnias, money that has been used to deliver 2,400 radio sets, more than a thousand drones, 480 cars, 125 buses and thousands of generators for the army. “We, the volunteers, are often much more efficient and flexible than the state. We don’t need to go through competitive procurement to buy the necessary equipment for the army,” Mr. Pritula explained. Another famous Ukrainian businessman, Vladyslav Chechotkin, the founder of online retailer Rozetka, is ranked No. 20 on the Forbes list of richest Ukrainians, with an estimated net worth of US$470 million. His company supplied armored vehicles, thermal imaging technology and military uniforms. “We also delivered baby food, hygiene and everything needed to civilians hiding in bomb shelters,” he said. Valery Yakovenko, founder of Drone.Ua, which before the invasion supplied drones to the Ukrainian market, said that in the first two days of the war he handed over all his equipment to the Armed Forces. In the first five months of the war, his company spent more than 40 million hryvnias on the purchase of defense equipment. The company’s staff trains reconnaissance drone operators, and its partner Fevza Ametov serves in the army and is constantly on the front lines. “Our drones are used not only for aerial reconnaissance but also for recording war crimes of the Russian military,” Mr. Yakovenko explained, calling the unmanned vehicles “the eyes of the military.” All of them have strong reasons to support the military. “We have no other choice. If Ukraine loses this war, there will be no Ukraine and no business,” Mr. Chechotkin said. “We must help win the war as soon as possible and get back to rebuilding everything we love and dream about now.” The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Ukraine S Millionaires Vow To Fight For The Existence Of Our Nation Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-13” author: “Berta Carpenter”

Vsevolod Kozemiako is facing one of the biggest fights of his life, caught in the crossfire as much of his grain business’ farmland in Kharkiv has become a battleground for Ukrainian and Russian troops fighting for control of the region. “It is our land and we will fight for it,” said the 50-year-old businessman. The multi-millionaire, whose $100 million fortune earned him 88th place on Forbes’ list of the 100 richest Ukrainians, started his own battalion, leading 200 volunteers in the war effort. Mr Kozemiako is proud of the unit and says it will fight until Ukraine emerges victorious. The Ukrainian authorities have provided his battalion’s volunteers with military equipment, but everything else – vehicles, food, medical supplies, even salaries – is financed by Mr Kozemiakos and his business partners. His partners “can’t fight alone, but they can help those who are fighting,” said the businessman, who has spent about $1 million of his own money so far. Mr. Kozemiako is among hundreds of Ukrainian businessmen helping the war effort. According to a poll by the Union of Ukrainian Businessmen, the country’s largest business lobby, 94 percent of its 800 member companies provide support to the country’s armed forces in the fight against Russia. Moreover, according to Ekaterina Glazkova, the agency’s CEO, only a third of the companies surveyed are operating at pre-war levels. “Despite the fact that many businesses have been hit hard, support for the military and civilians does not stop. Some entrepreneurs buy thermal imaging and drones, others supply hot food to territorial defense fighters,” said Ms. Glazkova. Before the war began on February 24, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had fewer than 250,000 soldiers. That number had risen to 700,000 in June – a huge increase in military personnel that required more funding. The state could not always cover it, so support from Ukrainian businesses played a vital role. Andriy Mitchenko, the chief executive of Ecosoft, which makes water purification filters, sent about a dozen of the company’s Oasis systems when the water supply to Mykolaiv was turned off by Russian bombing. Each installation can produce 300 liters of drinking water per hour, and now the Ukrainian military has ordered 50 of the systems. Six months of war in Ukraine: five keys to understanding what has happened so far But providing any kind of support to the military is becoming more dangerous. On July 31, the home of Ukrainian businessman Oleksiy Vadaturskyy in Mykolaiv was hit by three Russian missiles. The 74-year-old businessman died together with his wife under the debris of his house. His company, Nibulon, is one of Ukraine’s largest grain producers and exporters, and Mr Vadaturskyy’s fortune was estimated by Forbes at around US$450 million before his death. He had bought medical supplies and armored vehicles for the military, and his company even repaired military equipment. Moscow admitted that his support for the Ukrainian military was the main reason for his assassination. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state television network RT, wrote on her telegraph channel that Mr. Vadaturskyy died because he had allegedly supported “punitive orders” and that a direct hit on his home was “a call to action.” “What Russian propaganda said about Mr. Vadaturskyy can be said not only about every Ukrainian businessman but about every adult in the country. Now we do not have those who do not help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are all now fighting for the existence of our nation,” Mr Kozemiako said. Many business people don’t want to discuss what they do to help the military. “We help a lot, but we don’t talk about it openly – otherwise Russian missiles will hit our factory,” explained one of the owners of a major pharmaceutical company, whom The Globe and Mail did not identify. Support from businessmen is part of a large-scale effort that includes all Ukrainians, regardless of economic status, says famous TV presenter and volunteer Serhiy Pritula. In July, his charitable foundation launched a fundraising campaign to buy Bayraktar unmanned combat aircraft for the Ukrainian military. Within three days, the campaign raised 600 million hryvnias (almost US$20 million) – four times its original goal – and went on to raise more than two billion hryvnias, money that has been used to deliver 2,400 radio sets, more than a thousand drones, 480 cars, 125 buses and thousands of generators for the army. “We, the volunteers, are often much more efficient and flexible than the state. We don’t need to go through competitive procurement to buy the necessary equipment for the army,” Mr. Pritula explained. Another famous Ukrainian businessman, Vladyslav Chechotkin, the founder of online retailer Rozetka, is ranked No. 20 on the Forbes list of richest Ukrainians, with an estimated net worth of US$470 million. His company supplied armored vehicles, thermal imaging technology and military uniforms. “We also delivered baby food, hygiene and everything needed to civilians hiding in bomb shelters,” he said. Valery Yakovenko, founder of Drone.Ua, which before the invasion supplied drones to the Ukrainian market, said that in the first two days of the war he handed over all his equipment to the Armed Forces. In the first five months of the war, his company spent more than 40 million hryvnias on the purchase of defense equipment. The company’s staff trains reconnaissance drone operators, and its partner Fevza Ametov serves in the army and is constantly on the front lines. “Our drones are used not only for aerial reconnaissance but also for recording war crimes of the Russian military,” Mr. Yakovenko explained, calling the unmanned vehicles “the eyes of the military.” All of them have strong reasons to support the military. “We have no other choice. If Ukraine loses this war, there will be no Ukraine and no business,” Mr. Chechotkin said. “We must help win the war as soon as possible and get back to rebuilding everything we love and dream about now.” The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Ukraine S Millionaires Vow To Fight For The Existence Of Our Nation Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-16” author: “Denise Lopez”

Vsevolod Kozemiako is facing one of the biggest fights of his life, caught in the crossfire as much of his grain business’ farmland in Kharkiv has become a battleground for Ukrainian and Russian troops fighting for control of the region. “It is our land and we will fight for it,” said the 50-year-old businessman. The multi-millionaire, whose $100 million fortune earned him 88th place on Forbes’ list of the 100 richest Ukrainians, started his own battalion, leading 200 volunteers in the war effort. Mr Kozemiako is proud of the unit and says it will fight until Ukraine emerges victorious. The Ukrainian authorities have provided his battalion’s volunteers with military equipment, but everything else – vehicles, food, medical supplies, even salaries – is financed by Mr Kozemiakos and his business partners. His partners “can’t fight alone, but they can help those who are fighting,” said the businessman, who has spent about $1 million of his own money so far. Mr. Kozemiako is among hundreds of Ukrainian businessmen helping the war effort. According to a poll by the Union of Ukrainian Businessmen, the country’s largest business lobby, 94 percent of its 800 member companies provide support to the country’s armed forces in the fight against Russia. Moreover, according to Ekaterina Glazkova, the agency’s CEO, only a third of the companies surveyed are operating at pre-war levels. “Despite the fact that many businesses have been hit hard, support for the military and civilians does not stop. Some entrepreneurs buy thermal imaging and drones, others supply hot food to territorial defense fighters,” said Ms. Glazkova. Before the war began on February 24, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had fewer than 250,000 soldiers. That number had risen to 700,000 in June – a huge increase in military personnel that required more funding. The state could not always cover it, so support from Ukrainian businesses played a vital role. Andriy Mitchenko, the chief executive of Ecosoft, which makes water purification filters, sent about a dozen of the company’s Oasis systems when the water supply to Mykolaiv was turned off by Russian bombing. Each installation can produce 300 liters of drinking water per hour, and now the Ukrainian military has ordered 50 of the systems. Six months of war in Ukraine: five keys to understanding what has happened so far But providing any kind of support to the military is becoming more dangerous. On July 31, the home of Ukrainian businessman Oleksiy Vadaturskyy in Mykolaiv was hit by three Russian missiles. The 74-year-old businessman died together with his wife under the debris of his house. His company, Nibulon, is one of Ukraine’s largest grain producers and exporters, and Mr Vadaturskyy’s fortune was estimated by Forbes at around US$450 million before his death. He had bought medical supplies and armored vehicles for the military, and his company even repaired military equipment. Moscow admitted that his support for the Ukrainian military was the main reason for his assassination. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state television network RT, wrote on her telegraph channel that Mr. Vadaturskyy died because he had allegedly supported “punitive orders” and that a direct hit on his home was “a call to action.” “What Russian propaganda said about Mr. Vadaturskyy can be said not only about every Ukrainian businessman but about every adult in the country. Now we do not have those who do not help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are all now fighting for the existence of our nation,” Mr Kozemiako said. Many business people don’t want to discuss what they do to help the military. “We help a lot, but we don’t talk about it openly – otherwise Russian missiles will hit our factory,” explained one of the owners of a major pharmaceutical company, whom The Globe and Mail did not identify. Support from businessmen is part of a large-scale effort that includes all Ukrainians, regardless of economic status, says famous TV presenter and volunteer Serhiy Pritula. In July, his charitable foundation launched a fundraising campaign to buy Bayraktar unmanned combat aircraft for the Ukrainian military. Within three days, the campaign raised 600 million hryvnias (almost US$20 million) – four times its original goal – and went on to raise more than two billion hryvnias, money that has been used to deliver 2,400 radio sets, more than a thousand drones, 480 cars, 125 buses and thousands of generators for the army. “We, the volunteers, are often much more efficient and flexible than the state. We don’t need to go through competitive procurement to buy the necessary equipment for the army,” Mr. Pritula explained. Another famous Ukrainian businessman, Vladyslav Chechotkin, the founder of online retailer Rozetka, is ranked No. 20 on the Forbes list of richest Ukrainians, with an estimated net worth of US$470 million. His company supplied armored vehicles, thermal imaging technology and military uniforms. “We also delivered baby food, hygiene and everything needed to civilians hiding in bomb shelters,” he said. Valery Yakovenko, founder of Drone.Ua, which before the invasion supplied drones to the Ukrainian market, said that in the first two days of the war he handed over all his equipment to the Armed Forces. In the first five months of the war, his company spent more than 40 million hryvnias on the purchase of defense equipment. The company’s staff trains reconnaissance drone operators, and its partner Fevza Ametov serves in the army and is constantly on the front lines. “Our drones are used not only for aerial reconnaissance but also for recording war crimes of the Russian military,” Mr. Yakovenko explained, calling the unmanned vehicles “the eyes of the military.” All of them have strong reasons to support the military. “We have no other choice. If Ukraine loses this war, there will be no Ukraine and no business,” Mr. Chechotkin said. “We must help win the war as soon as possible and get back to rebuilding everything we love and dream about now.” The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Ukraine S Millionaires Vow To Fight For The Existence Of Our Nation Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-10” author: “Nicole Crowder”

Vsevolod Kozemiako is facing one of the biggest fights of his life, caught in the crossfire as much of his grain business’ farmland in Kharkiv has become a battleground for Ukrainian and Russian troops fighting for control of the region. “It is our land and we will fight for it,” said the 50-year-old businessman. The multi-millionaire, whose $100 million fortune earned him 88th place on Forbes’ list of the 100 richest Ukrainians, started his own battalion, leading 200 volunteers in the war effort. Mr Kozemiako is proud of the unit and says it will fight until Ukraine emerges victorious. The Ukrainian authorities have provided his battalion’s volunteers with military equipment, but everything else – vehicles, food, medical supplies, even salaries – is financed by Mr Kozemiakos and his business partners. His partners “can’t fight alone, but they can help those who are fighting,” said the businessman, who has spent about $1 million of his own money so far. Mr. Kozemiako is among hundreds of Ukrainian businessmen helping the war effort. According to a poll by the Union of Ukrainian Businessmen, the country’s largest business lobby, 94 percent of its 800 member companies provide support to the country’s armed forces in the fight against Russia. Moreover, according to Ekaterina Glazkova, the agency’s CEO, only a third of the companies surveyed are operating at pre-war levels. “Despite the fact that many businesses have been hit hard, support for the military and civilians does not stop. Some entrepreneurs buy thermal imaging and drones, others supply hot food to territorial defense fighters,” said Ms. Glazkova. Before the war began on February 24, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had fewer than 250,000 soldiers. That number had risen to 700,000 in June – a huge increase in military personnel that required more funding. The state could not always cover it, so support from Ukrainian businesses played a vital role. Andriy Mitchenko, the chief executive of Ecosoft, which makes water purification filters, sent about a dozen of the company’s Oasis systems when the water supply to Mykolaiv was turned off by Russian bombing. Each installation can produce 300 liters of drinking water per hour, and now the Ukrainian military has ordered 50 of the systems. Six months of war in Ukraine: five keys to understanding what has happened so far But providing any kind of support to the military is becoming more dangerous. On July 31, the home of Ukrainian businessman Oleksiy Vadaturskyy in Mykolaiv was hit by three Russian missiles. The 74-year-old businessman died together with his wife under the debris of his house. His company, Nibulon, is one of Ukraine’s largest grain producers and exporters, and Mr Vadaturskyy’s fortune was estimated by Forbes at around US$450 million before his death. He had bought medical supplies and armored vehicles for the military, and his company even repaired military equipment. Moscow admitted that his support for the Ukrainian military was the main reason for his assassination. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state television network RT, wrote on her telegraph channel that Mr. Vadaturskyy died because he had allegedly supported “punitive orders” and that a direct hit on his home was “a call to action.” “What Russian propaganda said about Mr. Vadaturskyy can be said not only about every Ukrainian businessman but about every adult in the country. Now we do not have those who do not help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are all now fighting for the existence of our nation,” Mr Kozemiako said. Many business people don’t want to discuss what they do to help the military. “We help a lot, but we don’t talk about it openly – otherwise Russian missiles will hit our factory,” explained one of the owners of a major pharmaceutical company, whom The Globe and Mail did not identify. Support from businessmen is part of a large-scale effort that includes all Ukrainians, regardless of economic status, says famous TV presenter and volunteer Serhiy Pritula. In July, his charitable foundation launched a fundraising campaign to buy Bayraktar unmanned combat aircraft for the Ukrainian military. Within three days, the campaign raised 600 million hryvnias (almost US$20 million) – four times its original goal – and went on to raise more than two billion hryvnias, money that has been used to deliver 2,400 radio sets, more than a thousand drones, 480 cars, 125 buses and thousands of generators for the army. “We, the volunteers, are often much more efficient and flexible than the state. We don’t need to go through competitive procurement to buy the necessary equipment for the army,” Mr. Pritula explained. Another famous Ukrainian businessman, Vladyslav Chechotkin, the founder of online retailer Rozetka, is ranked No. 20 on the Forbes list of richest Ukrainians, with an estimated net worth of US$470 million. His company supplied armored vehicles, thermal imaging technology and military uniforms. “We also delivered baby food, hygiene and everything needed to civilians hiding in bomb shelters,” he said. Valery Yakovenko, founder of Drone.Ua, which before the invasion supplied drones to the Ukrainian market, said that in the first two days of the war he handed over all his equipment to the Armed Forces. In the first five months of the war, his company spent more than 40 million hryvnias on the purchase of defense equipment. The company’s staff trains reconnaissance drone operators, and its partner Fevza Ametov serves in the army and is constantly on the front lines. “Our drones are used not only for aerial reconnaissance but also for recording war crimes of the Russian military,” Mr. Yakovenko explained, calling the unmanned vehicles “the eyes of the military.” All of them have strong reasons to support the military. “We have no other choice. If Ukraine loses this war, there will be no Ukraine and no business,” Mr. Chechotkin said. “We must help win the war as soon as possible and get back to rebuilding everything we love and dream about now.” The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.