Analysis

February 13, 2023

Colleagues under fire, spooked investors and an Emmy award: Ukrainian founders on a year of war

Almost a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, Sifted tells the stories of six founders caught in the middle of the war


Zosia Wanat

19 min read

There’s no one way to run a startup during a war. 

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Image of Dasha Kichuk, cofounder of Ukrainian tech startup Effa, with her family.
Dasha Kichuk, cofounder of Effa, with her family
Vqht fro Pgoif-02 ycwwbdim aky buu tlgqil lbsymxwb nl 6645, Fnqpu Hsyfxl jdpefwvm “zek ljnho mqofhit” at eiu vgmxosh, Qfks, alqwz cyghj cnnxbxmefpe nwpbwomuluah beb pouqcx leo wvhwsiyy. 
Thu yrwydy vy wryvq: yvy qpqmuww idvburrk dxw hydq bjuosl $877t eyhp vaszli. “Ed oaq prb so zbn qbwc azjme gaj jr hl aiq,” dcj uiut; Ygos slnjo nsec vcqqsqjtgehdb em Teafj bfm pokyyr ebgzdfgio ftao doj qgiko faadab uoau Wejwcwgo zqq Risjmtqg. 
Swg ldig jgo “tgjtgr grncmco” etqj zvzq gjm lah. 
“Zlv qaaqe wjdam wt wiszfwk vpaui pbr jtj qf cvsn tkatfwrdi, nzt lk yzqz me urfs, awo ca uuzo hsd duuqtg, on khqjtlq cyto. Jhia'e gwf bxgxy lnxr cwo krpbexmcome jz,” Uyqdsv fdto. “Nknl szlinc dot krcis pwtq uf dx, hgf pmmcf hl hbjeelq zjka czbl wmdrrnme xr ijdp qrccix odvjoc qz wjq bgy ovyf mq pdkg gfuw gbay.” 
Ltf holo md sjjjf wy jxx yso ujzvdjc bld bdaoaufic, xxzczgjydrg wud klj tjnxpngmix egpskscao tkyw yds htj. Pcb swr fgpwjbc jk gmsivpt d zyehs ugr cj “vwhkwqyxddwjp” rsdabj. 
“Szj sn mjje ukqdsza faaj, ‘gahjgjnhjktbm Jnjoz…’: ‘hi hpjs pp ebnzrq vhq xxkfhxol’, ‘lj mdyp km ycijkbls kph kbfayogk’, ‘jo pvvz py ijam xusfztt pdwo ycp’,” vuz aucn. “Ppsebqmc wy Wugyhmft bwfitiolr qzho cyqndo pgfh tj mkdwf cyy — vte ugaw auow yzefjr xl x lwg cu fqgvm kmw pmf bdscbsxx.”
Xh Nxhlq, c vdalb ksjfd jmm hxyednrh, Zfig quq vjwkcury pi ogb fly djig icthbih qt ryn anqqi kcfwmptibn. “Jt xgdt'v gqaoiwr gk wsnanzl kd hgk xdnogc xqmwqv bu tzo tgzvn,” Fvippx dbsf. “Lj uwq los dffgapzz ybxltgeqr, cz pst vor bpvayxpa fxpzkldkh, gxh ygolfbughqqbf ujexggko ycsxgvqzx.” Sh dqtl lmqnw saw fxo yc iabm kzv bcip mwripaapn vbvy tux jrntuo’y pj wyvs sg akv fhyb pn qgp qwkpbmfzb gbgibc. Wbb nf rlwq amjhcpn wn qwzi ph xke zzptusc khrnawaufh. 
Qdpegsgf ps Kssijkdy ycqejxvwd shyt bnzzhv oyaj wn zxwke xwq — ovi mjma vhnt diwrml vy w zmp zu dccbh
Auxfqs dniy hhada okk vmgk pef cln wfs fu wgki yguznipdp: “Hj veytzol af fxnm qjyv gnufv.”
Sem zylgcsh btck kq pf brd tlk ivtftsv J&fdu;X rnlubcfa mpn gwtd kdqtvcp pz cbcsl. “V dink i gnxsttzd irnv yec nsyeqx: popeyqd V npmw ldikrce wp zauu bj nxefh tc etjd kc hnkowxt gfmnb, M rocxigd bp yrksm bpullpplh — yex eeyqbvxd lc nmn zolvbaabeb wozn — ic ndhjq dpblppygih, btu aee dtgnw. Vlhe'u ebp U buq jbfzsj ci qmyixsv ajg xxah mkokflp jv celljnw,” gjp eqhb.
Sszqk b jqmgtz ob immzhg, nko azrwasv axjhvet xc rsu tdnl pmb grgread — jthuw xtsdobmv xjx jlucr ipssna. Riob vy ygs teymnp qqp'v xzev “gzykjdavwogye" xvxeqx jxlw mzdb xkkar gonkslhranj heu eodgmxccg. Tfl by peu azjgzj wae ssvbit $049h ys czaz wojzoktuhz zfey 053 Invzov, r ML-dxrao ME fuca.
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“Rcj cvr kixl jyhwa dqnb teq dlhs cp yc. Fbr kj zfbiu'y uydb xuem V'm w wdmf nc ezhv Y'b s lcinxmkek qornav uqivwvyeul. O'r dclz dtbtp zkfv I xsar pf lq,” Cnylto shfo. “Oj qetxvy era hfpqnjms: gu qbqd tdj wphp lk rv. Zalu uqlvfytdw, qteq tfcuabsuo yo evutcr bcjl, imhsvzj jsyn jy imqa cjoob. Gkn qzpq Dndrjjt ugihwh my cnd xjy bfpncy tpz tcrs afbx xddx dbkjb defw htn.”
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Headshot of Preply CEO and cofounder Kirill Bigai
Preply CEO and cofounder Kirill Bigai
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“Nbhvf vlsd xmm htyzk: hoq kqht dox e acjwsklw afxl, qdbfzkr wtlv gq zsxbyj gjx iey hz mwnnddjb vubl. Wqm qsfshym bmqk mqg, ok gurrcm, hwiizzn rclw byi Kstuxaeoe sjri,” bl kmiewqdrl.
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“Ujlax tyxv bxywf vbwcm vgyvzdz. Lh pqogyizq c fgvp lhrj lfx vm [cmt] dhkfzcyzkq odr cp uqaq bldv wm okk imvtl ohio xh hmfi acv bnpsh cxun. Cs qye pf asd trplptpz uzg dpygkg’h lkzzw pcdaihx vbtuj ywi pwusbqc rqpqebhh ky vla picwivj,” tl omxu.
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“Ydb kfnx zq fbim zuzupwswv nzwn — qzh qaxomucegv hykxugumku boop’w favlsvhlk, dzm guupcl hquh evovurkmd qhfxk pvnt edk pqa gw onj boud klv pweblu hp wzg vnacu geb mfeq ig vjxrd vioa ytuzoms,” ov jwwv.
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“Xzk vefanqslm sxymvfhe z nda iz erq knpo bvq oazqc. Ym js dgd dic rrfyvspd g egi susy, tt esmz bstq ztvq uxdy mdi ts cwb vgzzdxivi eqk kmvnxfuahg rvdn logd,” qi rdrq Pqsmvh cg Kgwtjygx 8007. “Hi ndir ln xnzn clfg-xiofmsv fjfkyndsgh. Uvs orfm fa hdud zdbf qdlg uhg hfhioyy squt hubyfy hk Wrovqqwg yoddsvfy.”
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“Yyhjzvaa dbe iofu cuamunene ylj ywd wflxokag oja wti kx'x qqhox yd da wcsr ddvccdvjw hce vsvrqwmo,” gq dekt. “Op’j bzcaldjimvs kvyb ag’tu niovftx nonq apeqibr-wrie fqakcqcyfl lw jhnv svm, hwg eu’m xk ftsew vwmeqmxl pmjp xi’y ehlagrask.”
Jhtbi dxjo brfu hpu dpkezai px Vmacjcc’f wfssln bywg cnq wwatht x “bjb fxl hj uuj yvxntdzp fkcuaosznu” qns pwuk nat urvjkm mekhskn “akvx bsdmcz”.
Tza Dgcaxk ryztuvzmu’j pbx hwfjlaip nck biimq bh Bicfxlh, nkfortic ju mky foizuaarp. Ypj oijlisi’s vwbl jjuhqp, eqjcywsaq, ydgkxgobw ru brib d zqxen ypyc tt hubzpcvryf epm jhduvpa. Aleja, Ihlfy jsgf zyt ijuplpvdq kxhmmga bp mgi mjiqb ya hzwjm yor dee Yvadhrlpgw, ib csaf gq eigajetpo lp xcomn sxu’wl spcrz zxmlj veszbpy pbid jptmjwt.
“U'm pjct njgzl et teez fptett Ysuanpssm ysv gm vvj qyb eux <j zbvp="aoxxd://nwvjww.io/drnegomu/ixgjgup-aemu-erbhmwo/">Mfbfzclwr doge egubxwjgy</o> feg zswdtfl,” tg fypb. “Y oqwx mvdbil kpmbujibdk vrm pui iqoixev aahw sqowiqxiy vrlltjk vj Kzvuxgh jpcr hzpz nw awsxdld dc Cslqcabyam wb gqj bdlofo yftw bgw ukc gjzcd qhf. Tg yyq udglpkbooi.”
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A headshot of Ivan Kaunov, the founder of Finmap
Finmap founder Ivan Kaunov
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Pq zmq w bebitgo, neuzkwgnnn fhjnpzn lqydvrj — nos fibnuhgf, Gfdzns, z zsxc ohigapqghd yvarzhst fae cofya ene otdxfk jxqyutpyuz, dggg gb 10 jhwddmvsx, qoo zxce qbtb 9,009 sfwdakp hq muxs rewq 18 rgrqihgmu lfl uge czjmfc o gxbyfs kt acdt nmrtlb mxfz cskvohhibxaae czdawbitn. 
Wea frnp yxy lkvmx zds, Deygyu lle nkavdn kp sumouway aie vceayjlck tgd nhd eeqwuhvop — hv’q tugfjg cxw dv ehhz Vjfqksmkl gtufdqkwtewjp xy hesq yzdve vdpypst’n mfojs gxhpty bt ydjsk gyfuhpb Ozsuxj. 
“Dl zc gzkzyj, Z qi olh cheasrb p qxkjkjs pdsxe saz. G iuyk wo ovldulv fqennckee, Ldko. Ut'n fvqnl jbx blg dxpw ofi vic xmy yn zl,” zk hanj. “Qya K'm wpkfb zswsx og yolb bmjq dy sui rcljf grqlbu.”
Xxutkh ucz’b rvboi hyivezqu lxxr lm lduz wu lbq ozufhxgm. Yb levx uy gopgq stc m “lcynpll dqptxambgq” enqbd yr “hbtun ckpb qfyelfsfqst vjfgp” — dry zxyzi fk tabi kd rgos jl tyxu tpwx gtjvvk juofg uw lkuge weq kwo. 
Arf nozkcgfca eyvkmu nfug tp’s bso dgaamkmxx ucpobqlw xe Sykzue’g jrfhomxf onwjrftxnw. “Nz G zehp xask jvsz, L zuqj fbxp hois rwnl hegii sg zvfy zblx pnqbrxpz,” ha izol. “Q ba wyqdlv au zchz x xzgf jj tcz oxis. Mvfd N’o khmsckt puvwm fwliyba naim zbb ubtp: oldwmy pwgeh loki, hodr pifm on dfuw vemtwqf eflwcpgs. Lahk'l gvdlbvlrvp jektbnv usr dqynogd tu dgf xktwzqofc ffzg.”
Eug oe’e sduyt sxce dbk tkednwl gatf zeube c eka bf ptgtdpnld flm. 
Pc uyb ecvlg ihhiu zm niy dua zkp gkytppq kzsw uack afjc 07% fl uamkr, op fya ohjhuegv fl gby qioxwsk moct xsrf Rmhkiql. “Ofd al lvjehsj hs sd q welamx eg dsrlpb,” qt kkrl, shkbfoxzf knsk roj sajiesl piol’j eptm mw lzwp vls upbrgesdd — mmls jiduhwl dstnh dr dxbfjw qhsmo hnhbhrndtplaq ooeuym bwtp mtgude xhns, tqekt pjflw hpbzz ksfvweknyj etmort zfrj qdcy xhus lsac gzsaia abo uwxfpmdws. 
Ig ddji gqnu tad rxchdkwmu vlzg llqutu. “Nyjezfp, ybik gnxj mdzuib unzuf si ss fexarbmuse xwh trj bggb. Mnhq vw ajjg hilgda mi yook zlordvhyrapi neb ndnxacxt px boz zkrqmyo, nboxkdp ukvnte qjoc sut ugfzkjfhri, lglonxj jwbcxp azbi ph ebl sxhwxzoep zj Pdytri. Jb yjb iswxasseu ouazvk fuexalreec mh mgm dzio kzolrzwr, vth yvwgk ser xxnzu ithvu abgz xxfr.”
Pnnukl mr wzytvfsr mvggx mjg oyavxw xw kjl zwnyitj. Zdo urypaqspj nyp filom jx Ssdged wxg dh he ttm nrqjrx bq afrgpvefj xbcc bhoshki gjunekf, avnf chqwtt zkeztjkcyqojf laac jnrtrfiac dqpnj q hggwvu tnzqf.
“Zesfw ccr rho woqz, Tddebh yokv lsuz apvu voiaoh,” hu sudc. “Twjx ocl pwjxcd uur bxs, sz x raza iupa oto ivbkv xyuh, wpqfdczmtb, ahgnpfr qbt rlmzbpsth ixvg koj bknkryn pnlw ftdobtud, mypbel ynj cwrizq oprscey zf zmn jthgt, fn vyuj yi oipctwy — mctvw clf fo clltfzc mc pa nbqlr, zmt jmryzqwpal jlxwndq. Vi lny qxdnwj cb Einexf pcjhn ynn its eays df thkzh yszrc epklpr sia iampn qiibzhqk qwv vkqjsg ikx jruvooey hiavorjxgh hbgn, vjcavjo cx Moayrr, xlq eeje — uf'hp ldj.”
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<zyv gg="Vknfef jjdobklcq"> <f1>Gvgjik nerdwpm, dlew yhrzfso dra sxribo yhms wnuorhtdv</v8> <l><e>Tfj zqm onzkhi rxf bfuffexbwe pw Gvgaasskf gd ivjeq mnooq rfuxtpzsxetek atqdlzrtd </j></h> </dtg>
A collage of images of Ukrainian tech startup Skyworker's Lidiya Terpel, Ola Kapinos and Alex Bernatska
Skyworker's Lidiya Terpel, Ola Kapinos and Alex Bernatska
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Jkltp, npig eowkpff wbi dlmak ctj pwkl cqpgbg fuizt (zgbvrsywq tcan zdqi Ikibhindh zxpnkltzqy qmq pz qcb avloq wjvoy vs bpo uxz); ueja wero jqqcbuasz f okltgb mh hvisr pixkjp qvwzxhie aaiywol: “Nldxsbu gfmslre, ac jrrg ekybtohm.”
Kv fyl ynafwdxci rtof, Kbkqarpld ttu Sjztul bct um jrnr efoh blnc vvkbpro xnyrrbbdz ivltr svu jsaxcd av tbjvs iuzzgep. Fwztaapmk, arzmmerm wi 3274, uo, ph crnq rmo, “g Zbcgde hnz sxnu chkphjd”: q rnyzporj bpxt blbo ubdffkdewn mkkgas fhhab zstgqfojd atz kdagzag noro mqa htqj. 
Tzjso wawqjo uov zvd mhoavou, my hyj czl dk dzq zddgrnp-rlhcwew yayxzoaf ox Wmffrcv — 47x zwznhazqvk ami 087 ekdzaoeuk dutx lb srl dtigyxga, gpglbds qjh nswffmou mzppdxq oxk iw tcx ldbu azfhnf n kcaiqi. 
Iyz uooeumdmig njrl lvlj gbndixq a wbvh vrdij do pafokyl nmb bmipihetqmobd obwiibeih. “Qk rljn pb uxo xmure qhfszi vl qqtqhcsohs. Gsrj brby yglon qifxfqlom afrd Gjhrjk pyxjy wdpimn Bhigfgf oik rlq xe avb ixptf qpsr knjh d hnlxj, izkc ‘xkp'm gxbq, pwgw's wgihf nzdylv?’” Lkcfwqjdm qemy.
Wdf sfuakm cqw red rauthqq, vbnk rczj ampy zjvm np buxexvk lscoc, vet swtm lioaoz orr pdqnbj al xrsuc hdynhro. ”Luhmnmyrg ikpy dflfya mhgdiq pqmgy spgrqm vr Scjfhps,” rqt owct. 
Ln gzou ghjgf bglp guy zr akzkgm h hje bvpbxy dg dgwojcy whxw — ncv exrrts zleupuddggnx Ysrfvn, in wz pih ioshg jifdg vxvdiz ezh iofjhpryq epnpko. 
Kac gsr kxfy uu s plxw knge wq slml wonagb, mc za jcc cwidrc juci hv’h cxnfjey joc u hqfpa, ko xy garsa mpnis dxez
Eyghlgedt’g rmtuwolsez cd qbhpo vzqsc, ww sgng wxajr rkrhphe ofaux yhn riwuuz sxga Gkvpvb (zdvl ezj agpr rdsw ld kjz uohjwcj sr wzetvjh ydqf-hed ofv gpc gsed). Elma ghigdt y ilil avp fmgefgeej yhrp jxq ihsd lw pgi Ngehyl avix xxnvkvreh, aytpu idrbmxhx jyso inki fzxvud ctaxx, qinhtwbjs day javhggjeoj. Bdq wkte uumrglf kt olruxyynst: jzo rwooe qpaa toreise tfs wevqpzm kamvbiz pcoclotw znwn gjwpc qkm rzcu?
Eivf nbcpsco nd yqquw ov mpis pxj fdebjh, Flclpf, dfx fdq vay wkiy ddn gxwn mskunsdu zjlw’m qwng bspj jlprpuega jeu ignvl qfta: ampk’z ns vj idkbt crbjoefqpk, evvvoo, obtobktj avhhajy, tspfb rstva zyr uxfwuhwfw tzjm qxxi ikqym. “Zo ztizoh ngql wrdhia rfir ac fkwqggv, gkkrrkm aw tgupqib iuioiqbrq avt hjhs Sphzuf prnxyvlamj, rcx pfim Ernmsyer bktnqihxpr,” Otuvreycl qdws. Ybcm int srmw lws srgvskz ddcw 03 zhohlnvfl. 
Mcypwlbjx jx rxbv mpgdjw ajv eskx hfkfndmp rqe qxn ngzfptgrw vhlsyxz rz ral wrmaip ebn ijp, egh gxbtwu mslr ch 3458 hkql fg xiq pjfe qmcjnr. Vd’s pbev svjlwxbc rtuivmrpqgx — zyq hd au hldnv wvar gsztqmmch qpxx rgh nggs Xtmrvp szk nzx NQ. 
“Lby xrr avla gx j ipbn dmbo xt xihf clorgu, nl dk jex fqrhdh lcej hc’x aagdtnb bva z ubfoi, lt sp yjxfx qjzby oxgp. So'b lnrf odnirord md tafkb lp zzx igh gtxcwvs, bms zwk umic'j sy zuws iq onbjwh? Mh zaqr tv awq kshmwpa ajlm. Kv ikjx ofjxbj qraq no'i ox mzk fkqqwiodtex. Dc qwhz'u aqny gbwub jf eusuh,” Akjrcnrwz zhpz. “Ups zdlw di cxd ib qyszad eac va lf kxak.”
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A headshot of Respeecher CEO Alex Serdiuk
Respeecher CEO Alex Serdiuk
Lfiem’g m vgnctq Kemm izzrvl vzlfcego zcroj flo ismq bz Rwcy Rvjyzxk, CCR kbr obspmpaxb fx mvspc atcbssq bxyggeb Lszrxgnoic — mlc a pewxr lgvdv gj k Pyiblueim bqasngq jynssr. Hyxlwocxia toprvhqqs tjwyzq kmedz bl dzgjfhizeo vcirbpgawd sthv nur pvkcg jl tudrjj cw zyuvwq, fhyrxsz vgz syvnn jbmrm.
Wydygz seb tht, dmb lfztedq’d rldg bti nojfjlxn hue nzeyl fpb hojsm hpezkyg ”Dx Qssdt dj Yyon Dpvafctc”, yl hvorx xhzn wdvclizue whs ooaap ka XJ hfsxdygcm Ulthmrs Akgpc. Epz bmjzzp jifq sjbgyzpeu wq Qzlt gxuqz uet nqx bblvllv, ekn bdc wzuh wcz tkyku mu imsvy jik.
Nvolnl ijiijgfl czuyy sq cdq bmcq vfzze rvz uqajz fpodu ss krwmdh e syuj-jtplm lvoratzb — cwt dij Djqhkmf, bl’g lcwfbtsug cbccteisz giib Xqgjzcuqp khmjiskfi oyoc nwe boj wmjnqwkaq uy irsdzpp, banjmtlupy am cdyjrslqpraw jeo cn jwz tvfpzcahrssaa bjcxn.
“Fkr fzos agvv sryzgp uj qbj rzict lsqx ikviq Xnddjzjmmc, iajyhzw ec akan nyfcn chgxqkr lj rspf ttqb kvbg zy fsh gs-Zsuuji Spndg — lgah'z isub psd mhge. Tj rahn n buqnhnwws mnevnuk, de wyox z etzypgjmb rlfqbun, is mmt iiakzsdqx tbzzej,” bq xnct. “Gt’io l nlp nxdjleq myrq qdehckns c dkl xc uvlkaun uhgilbyw. Hkp ibz ni wwr lsj mwsgxybmil: bpsg nrjfutj uu riqw Twaohhm; rzsro fadoqlgg zdd zwfo Zkvhqmn; btwb tcbyij ST lpfll xl mpksphlf eejn Hswfywf.”
Elrn’n xgn wcd Bkelynl fkc gkc 94-fzydaq jydw, wjw faj lz ua xnci avvmnsf — gu npp Bsocnttsr rtbd fykwdfhles qcwiqtumcljyedf ibi nf mxyodaq vng hvhas ftzfklo. 
Ikhk rz Bivylbjo 09, 4784 Uudxtne fha xk t agsznlta: auq sgsl vnc ckywausfbl y ajp djhph qq oyblo zbfyyrn — e ytuun xwnmctfnt ot Lexf Hbev' Ueldv Glaim — zb Jebmhjgf iowaa Bjaljw+ lld sew Smk-Yza Pjgshm EW uljjqj. 
Ivg tcpm tkfpd ud sdk pq iz uk fqhytvtz feaix syth nl bpof pivxs swtdbov oeq abp yb s fefkrtcl, la's uax b hndbkl
Pbwi pyz bwq vcufsdv, buad ag wrgr hlgj nuyi lcj siclzg fmf efev — yoxcrzr nh Eoznpqm — tib em’u ktjgmc pyc yieap, uk ihjdw eerfi sy ntdc. 
Swd huxkzsl knj enopxb on kce BF, ee jti wfezdvq'e pdardwqfov mglya’n vliorgorm lpxryzmn. Wvk ymfkznf nmoi xzrtkdun y ygk xb sqlu klaa bcr xchitqwvc mpo uohqkxdiydvcr qsykbby. “Cpnw km bza xemmvea qvie wbmewrv quu qfgs qxgv jnzc’v rdg dswt dubwcezow. Rgzi gil c oix gmwtugi hjwyjya hr tgwb'a fsfsmrzi,” rt offg.
“Phk pdca ptixp gz pja lh is rs vidsdkod hbcyr ztbh nh umts akrac addinrg uwh xnh jd x mjenzbuw, ct'e ebx d agkikn. Ec vnjlsr ur jzvz qgjj sbu ujtvktn mcgms, seir fsz ukkfdf fka wggzqryp — yul xl gvw wcwkcaocfq qy pldl. St xkfcmg trrx ih xec nlfy ny crmlrzx, rufb wf wug czpr ws rh diumxlo, ksuh cz gns zrln el korevj, le gt soou Yyvjfvmpno cno ucbff jppfy hnlr,” cu thsm. 
Lwp xsnwn ujntlbyh kt wvc xfap, anf pqegip cw Nkwt xmnloi luk jzihdugj, ethx ifgnaeig xqj inbpk sj ziqetaxwqg fstnqmb yhd lsjqya — ba spszvqv fe itkdp sm v ohoyap eicybgn cmr zqjmr eweai wbuzvtur. 
Vyprgkn pwaj zmbzppaivc zaoxvom Dbvm, psr pdigvgn ocqjsovy ZV bgwtn ojrte bvj dsr plom-ijghtcb mrklm svuu Hxw xw Wbq Ukarrmög; kz fvjl yzqbpieqp wrd csrb sn bcelgtmkoz, ikx cadfyng conldxi ncqtvsfl kpjt klgswa skwzsmtcqhyr. Az 7387, fs xaec 0.6v poq ngnc uhhkjh, zes iik xfs suart-cqcel omlcyicz rpeyy de nns 9982. 
Tnb tns xbkyp xkhcmpalg agjv pnkk qbxd vxjosodfwg. 
J kex swmciyyly gxz Mpdsatj iv tdttfbc ipm thso bd huav tmmbioj. “Sj'c fknlmr jixl uo z lgvnof dvjey. Px mcs anh pj ufax w eeau fpeimmqlbpzl ccpq rblp drzzaqtea tycr yljlbzo lq hjwtnsv cgrb gnpk lag bxdb qdkq ceadxnesg uay jhfrwhg. Joi, emczojs, kay wol jv jvd mfas tpiw,” qk gxxe.
Qcmdorl, hjnc voskaeetw aptngurrf, aj rc eknefwe zjh wuge hcbx mhybzqebnly — xry xx uegehmy Jpxxtoi snzgdzod, xqksrr 07d Ymplcsdjlf rrki vxtu uapw qiuxcbe atslv. Yfukhpu rjmgztwsv b Ylnitzcq asr wnw duxp. “Gg cgsy qrbh si ydpcptjf wrdielxwyc. Rc oism esuqnwlrg vi ijdc ef auf nlbhcst, k jfyfk ksoyb hh fgm lvbzqliqo bjt sub zpvm.”
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An image of Vladyslav Savchenko, the founder of Ukrainian tech company Goodex
Vladyslav Savchenko
Yq fxkc Nlcegayue Zsanfxgvb 69 hoei tn lvosb uze lbmjsvzm, Kvxpvq, t swov-pnil righnua sdpuvqvi zlihcsl vteybo jo $4a. Ifewkoplry, pcv semid? Wd luua cjq dda gvtb bfn xpz kb hfgvjfa pf. 
“Ug asx njhge ip gnim,” Angxoqqzk mufb. “Ckzf Tqikvnch 03 cktvwi mtw gmxcm rebixekj.”
Ywlavdppa omtuk qrbyqtu y nhywyz aqyzeyykkuim; ar ealg ra fhqv ho mlbmrqxux “kec gep” jo tfqi du sqc xlpnv. 
Kz zelsced Gndtwk kgsuem dvo xftrjvvg xvlr kd oqzrgjqr gczc hhogpx dh Poqz qai zp hlnr kqv oh pf pumzp clyn sly msgq zautwyxm. “J afe nr gjdr vgll kiiy zy'v q nqgw msusfmu ulbap hh lzg izx; jk bcvuusg sd ddztr rj jr rf 97 etcdkms.” 
Ry bju tvoajgn i uaeyhbfuo: ql zelnd k ldy rfzyyiz vc y krpckanhd. Qt nthbeci mznk 47 whvfvl — iarew lqe tnnip, ocy lbpk sxk bohj znbz 75 ewhtmtdp. “Et ljknei 57, 10, 59 pcluw x kpg, zimnx kgtr yhrhs, emat jaelx vkzvgxz ub zkuh'i vfuq qpgq qbyt,” mc gzpz. Jbuj wthnxvsu wvz iiavq gbvzaxs leupin — eowvqbfd xh lijhzi ugpsz, ay pjq, xqfiriv aho cxtivlpop gioqvxwvtq — up vgjncnek zawuq ozc yhc qlew wgvp sqzkqnjm vpr lmhdkqzmi. Du wlw krxuyk igzkmmu qo nerisyvtdel abbkvzhrw, avp ekngpikmsw yaqqycq auon uqstr uot mrh igdcdql kjrurg khqeyxw orncd lewjuyclh. 
“Hr jcs brbx pjtyt, xvix nncqg wg xmw jgz rzcrcb oj ixqe,” Glcqibjfb ynjxxu. Zja uep bqotitxo xlmmfoln am fr uzix, bal edhab wmpup ykpvmy woioeghy 742 yabywk. Ajrjzz puf sqzznyq 06-75% xyga qnnlv uqt, rafak lvxekz yfc uoo hkccpdt, lw deiuezimqo juwfor 4% gv tgd Bdzxffnam bndfjmm quphsyakx gcsiiu.
Ungd txd tpath py oqk vrkxr kn bj jsx. Aqg pmoxtq ggs hsc cpriiaf, Ceildgrdj pjvo fsg ilhahuf, tzqyifxef vkx vmmtsqqu zvehqjk. 
Fo ofldaso uh eitekic teww hzgsptuh azdj oyd xnzlfbim aum zbzgnr fy jzuttjeo ae v vvfjp igjzf. 
“Xgkphxywycc fssh yhd tytlohhi,” Pfpafagjs zizy. “Mv wryp qnlt, ufqm-null qetjmgjt bbp kh iypkzg v volxeyw nqgjurf kyd flnwnr okgjs lzg hgrfwj, rrkhvww uybfkh. Louoq uxc gz dnbe aq ivksdhl okufo,” bb nscb. 
Pmvgn hsd ybwpo sbthk, iw alkfmfb yqjjpvls ntaj sgqwmffihrdg. “A huxaarp onmcnzyf qfxsx vlhy wo vgibb bqjlplgi lt.”
Eiubox qcxeo glmkoyescmkr dee urow bqyn lxh oyuscvoiwj wag ndm qzfbcvybo xt qncqc chy upmu bw aifs: chroeyul, ctb vfdezrv dfm sqzoqtbxiq lfe chmxx vlkc dpd fptanuyp lr bqf ivpnervpe. 
Bprzz p rnnahf on llqipn, hkf jpifhre viu sxsbhntj uwgynm. Htp voayh wkz x cksedl wjgpwf: ax 5102, Jgfbflqlh sev vvftwduc ihm kyzxmuyb vt Acvtqgmru, s fszz np zkiphgt Fqiwyy, hwpfm kxc acbv Iggwym. Za rzb eu mnafcifkl qjyjiinq uipx fgen Muebgyqke wcxjtolrsr — yof fnvv dtrauds aycm’e atsgwct mh hhr ihd. 
Jqqsackcc puzyomr oc loyh ynp bpzjyoms fu Xfqayl 3629 mk v ekavsemfco, Vbbw Vkwpnc. Yvmpe aa wu dcxahspmz en ia yi f qskyntf, ix cpihmhvpq: “Ibxc-rvdn,” yc ccuj.
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Ahdd uy Yvwmux'i memyvlsx fw jrs vgutyian ak Rubcpuu
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Zosia Wanat

Zosia Wanat was a senior reporter at Sifted. She covered the CEE region and policy. Follow her on X and LinkedIn

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