Today, on 17 November, more than two dozen veteran-owned businesses had the opportunity to present their products to Lviv residents and visitors at Rynok Square in Lviv.
This is the third time the city has hosted the fair, which provides an opportunity to support the cause of veterans and their families.
This is the first time Serhii and Anna Petchenko have attended the fair. Soon after, the couple opened their own cafe at 26 Staroyevreiska Street, “Impressive!” and today they sell desserts and coffee to treat guests.
“We had a business in the Kharkiv region. We had two pizzerias. So here we can say that we are resuming our own business and at the same time starting something new. We are opening a café here. We used to serve fast food there, but here we will serve breakfast,” says Serhii.
The man is a veteran. He first joined the army back in 2015 as a volunteer, and since the beginning of the great war, he has rejoined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“After the start of the full-scale war, I sent my wife abroad and went to serve. Back in 2015, I was in the 28th reconnaissance brigade. After being wounded, I was discharged and unfit for military service. But when the full-scale invasion began, I could not stay away. I served for almost a year and a half in the 24th Brigade until I was wounded,” the veteran says.
The man was severely injured, his arms were amputated and he uses prostheses. Serhiy says he is inspired by his wife and son, who will soon turn 4, so he and his wife decided to start their own business again in Lviv.
The couple participated in a competition for grant support from the Lviv City Council and received UAH 300,000 for their business. They also eagerly joined the fair to attract future visitors.
“It’s a very good idea to have a fair like this, because you can show yourself to people and let them try your products. We have never had a kitchen before, so today we are presenting our delicious cheesecakes and desserts for the first time at the fair,” said Anna Petchenko.
The first veterans’ fair, held in early October, was attended by 22 participants. The second fair has already attracted 37 veteran businesses not only from Lviv but also from Kyiv, Irpin, Chernihiv and Ivano-Frankivsk. Here you can buy a variety of goods: baked goods, souvenirs, embroidered shirts, books, jams, jerky and much more.
As a reminder, Lviv City Council actively supports businesses run by veterans and their families. The city has already issued more than 90 certificates of voucher support (up to UAH 300,000 each) for the development of veteran businesses.
The businesses of veterans and their families in Lviv are also marked with special stickers “Support a Veteran’s Business” to attract the attention of consumers and residents and to promote the businesses run by the families of defenders. They also created a special map of veteran businesses in Lviv and the region.