A Kyiv Pizzeria Run by War Veterans Offers Up Relief, One Slice at a Time
Back in 2014, when pro-Russian protests in the East escalated into armed conflict, Ukraine wasn’t ready for a war. The Armed Forces had neither modern equipment nor adequate provisions for its soldiers. Civilians were frantically collecting money for bulletproof vests, clothes, food, and even ammunition to send to the front. The country didn’t have enough professional soldiers, so the government had to rely on conscripts and the patriotic fervor of numerous volunteer fighters, who “cried when there was no place for them on a register,” says Anton Kolumbet, a former volunteer and a present-day veteran. Nowadays, there are enough bulletproof vests and shoes, so volunteers and professionals are focused on helping the ex-servicemen restart their lives.