Because Guristrimba, 48, has five children, he is not subject to military conscription that applies to all Ukrainian men under 60. He could have crossed the border to safety. Instead, he turned back, intent on helping people fleeing the war, many driving west from Kharkiv, Kyiv and other cities under bombardment but with no destination or plan — as well as rescuing more of his own relatives.  Guristrimba’s father-in-law drove him back to Letychiv, where he has a small factory. A colleague quickly transformed an office, which normally serves as a kind of company museum filled with photos and awards, into a boarding house.  Letychiv is located on a main east-west highway, in a no-man’s-land between the cities of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi. Often, motorists find themselves arriving there exhausted, in need of food and a place to sleep. Guristrimba set up shop for the day in a roadside restaurant, where he asked families with out-of-town license plates where they were headed and if they needed assistance.  Working the extensive contacts on his iPhone, Guristrimba helped them chart escape routes, trying to avert traffic and backups at clogged checkpoints, and plotting to circumvent long queues at various border crossings.  “I help people to leave Kyiv, to leave Dnipro, to leave Kharkiv and get to Moldova, to get to Poland,” Guristrimba said. “I talked to many people who were on the highway in the restaurant … People just come somewhere they don’t know.” Guristrimba described his evacuation assistance efforts at a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, where he had spent the night while traveling east — the opposite direction of those who are fleeing. He was headed to his native city of Dnipro, where his 70-year-old mother, ex-wife, son and brother all live. His plan was to evacuate them and their families — eight people in total. The mission is urgent. Russia is stepping up its air bombing campaign and pushing hard in its quest to capture Ukrainian territory east of the Dnieper River. If Russian forces succeed in surrounding Ukrainian troops in the eastern Donbas region, they will turn back toward Dnipro as a likely next target.  “I need to move them,” Guristrimba said.  Guristrimba said he had secured a safe house in Kropyvnytskyi, about 250 kilometers west of Dnipro, to stay on the first night of their journey, though in truth no house is safe in Ukraine these days. On Tuesday, there were reports of Russian planes bombing the airport in Kropyvnytskyi.  “Tomorrow we will move them to Kropyvnytskyi — maybe,” Guristrimba said. “Maybe. It depends. You know, everyday news, you see news, you see the situation and the decision is changing immediately.” Uncertainty is one challenge. Another will be convincing his mother to leave her home city. It’s the same dilemma facing thousands of Ukrainian families debating whether to stay or go and the head-spinning questions that discussion entails. If they go, then where to? Will it be safer or more dangerous on the open road? Where are the Russians? What will they do if — or rather when — they arrive?  Contemplating what the future might hold is virtually impossible.  Guristrimba’s situation illustrates how the urban, globally connected Kyiv professionals have suddenly found themselves thrust into scenes that seem to jump from the pages of World War II history books — hiding in basement bomb shelters, helping to build roadblocks against invading tanks, packing emergency provisions, and fleeing as war refugees, albeit with the modern essentials of mobile phones, tablets and laptops in tow.  Guristrimba wasn’t supposed to be in Kyiv when the war started. His company had a big show taking place at the Javits Convention Center in New York. The company, which has 50 employees, sells its underwear to 30 countries worldwide.  Even during the pandemic, Guristrimba visited the U.S. for work five times. His vaccination certificates were issued by the CVS pharmacy chain — his first dose in New Jersey; the second in Los Angeles. His oldest daughter lives in Chicago. Until last week, his twin sons attended an international school in Kyiv, where they studied in English.  Guristrimba’s wife, who works in luxury travel, is using her own work contacts to try to find housing for Ukrainian war refugees in neighboring countries.  As is it for so many others, the idea of a major war in Europe in 2022 strikes Guristrimba as absurd. “You know in 1940 — Hitler — it was a big idea for many people. He inspired many people — a real idea, fascism. It was a bad idea but it was real. Now, only Putin and his people on TV believe in this idea. Everybody, they just don’t understand what’s happening.”  Guristrimba’s instinct to help isn’t new. When Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, Guristrimba said he drove his Range Rover to the area, loaded with food, toilet paper and other supplies for Ukrainian military personnel trapped on their bases by invading Russian forces wearing uniforms without insignia. “I’m not going to fight, because I’m not military,” he said. “My value is as a manager. I can be a manager in a military system or a volunteer system.” He said he had put out the word that he is available for evacuation consulting. “If somebody needs help, I’m here. I can help,” he said. “I worked two nights and one day without stopping.” Three families stayed at his makeshift boarding house the first night. A small bus of children is expected to arrive there from Kharkiv on Tuesday.  Whatever Vladimir Putin is thinking, he said, even if the Russian president captures some territory, it will never work, he said. Ukrainians will not surrender their desire for democracy. “You can’t occupy minds,” Guristrimba said. Once upon a time, Alexey Navalny wanted to be a normal politician in a normal country. Now that’s just a fantasy. There is growing international pressure not to back treaty that would allow Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their sentences in Iran. Leaders grapple with new threats and challenges. Reporting by Anna Voitenko and Valentyn Ogirenko; Writing by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Cynthia Osterman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account a modest village of 11,000 with a brickworks He spent his childhood competing in track and field and earned a place on Ukraine’s national team Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience Article contentHe was training for the 2024 Olympics in Paris in the decathlon the ultimate test of all-around athleticism and ability The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine issued a brief statement: “A promising athlete and a true hero He could have been able to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris Why do Russians still have this privilege?” By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. On the day Androshchuk was killed, the International Olympic Committee announced it would allow Russian athletes to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris under a neutral flag, as they have done before following doping scandals. Its decision represented an unjustifiable bow to a terrorist regime that has weaponized athletes for years as propaganda tools. Ukraine and several other countries now threaten to boycott the 2024 Games, and all nations should, unless Russians and Belarusians are banned. “The Russian state has chosen the path of terror, and that is why it has no place in the civilized world,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week to 35 international sports and government ministers who back a ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Olympics. “How many Russian athletes have spoken out to condemn the terror unleashed by their state? In fact, there is almost no such condemnation. There are only a few isolated voices that are fading away.” For years, Russia has made a mockery of the Olympics, and its values, by doping its athletes and using the Games as cover for their misdeeds and military invasions. All Russian athletes and artists must be asked to denounce this war or leave the playing field or the stage In 2008, Georgia was invaded during the Summer Olympics in Beijing. In 2014, Ukraine (Donbas and Crimea) was invaded during the Sochi Winter games, and in 2022, during the Beijing Winter Games, Russia prepared to launch a second invasion of Ukraine, which began just days after the Games ended. A group of Ukrainian athletes issued a statement as part of a coalition: “The Russian state will again use athletes to bolster the war effort and distract from the atrocities in Ukraine.” Androshchuk isn’t the only elite athlete murdered by Russia. Last March, the International Biathlon Union mourned the death of a 19-year-old Ukrainian athlete, Yevhen Malyshev, who died in battle. And Ukrainian Olympic figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, only 25, died near Bakhmut, the day after Androshchuk was killed. “The International Olympic Committee is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ukrainian figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, who had competed at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, and all the members of the Olympic Community in Ukraine who have lost their lives in this war,” the IOC statement said. “The IOC extends its most sincere condolences to their families and friends and the Ukrainian people.” The IOC has also stated that its decision to allow Russia and Belarus to compete under fake flags is “non negotiable.” That is why nations, participants, networks, sponsors and athletes should boycott the Games as well as all sporting and cultural events. Casualties now reach a peak. Putin’s generals send waves of untrained conscripts and convicts against artillery to try to penetrate Ukraine’s defences. On Feb. 10, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry reported killing roughly 1,000 Russian soldiers per day and hundreds of Ukrainians, while undisclosed, die daily. Meanwhile, Putin celebrated the 80th anniversary of the recapture of Stalingrad, now Saint Petersburg, in 1943 from the Nazis. At a recent ceremony, he praised that battle — the most barbaric in history — with casualties that approached two million. In recent weeks, Bakhmut has become an abattoir for propaganda purposes. Its population of 75,000 has already fled and the city has been reduced to ashes, but tens of thousands of soldiers die there because Putin hopes to celebrate the first year of his invasion on Feb. 24 with Bakhmut’s capture. Russia shows no sign of remorse, retreat, or willingness to negotiate and the West, by allowing its athletes and artists to perform around the world, sends a message that genocide, invasion and war crimes are somewhat tolerable. Worse, for the Olympics to exempt one nation from the rules, and let its athletes compete under fake flags, is a disservice to all others. It undermines the Olympic values of “excellence, friendship and respect,” not to mention that Russia’s serial drugging of athletes, young or old, endangers them and encourages others to do the same. Last year, a young Russian figure skater, Kamila Valieva, dazzled the world but tested positive in Beijing for a banned substance. But in 2024, as Zelenskyy said, the fake flag that will be hoisted for Russian athletes who win will be “stained with blood.” transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account rescue workers desperately search for trapped survivors after thousands are killed by a major earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria What China is trying to accomplish with repeated incursions into U.S while women in Afghanistan face intensifying oppression from the Taliban many still find ways to make their voices heard © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins By: UEF Charity Foundation | June 24 Surrounded by the noise of the feed production factory head of Ukrainian Operations for the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation proudly stands at the end of the production line to witness the first 90 tonnes of UEF-CF humanitarian feed for horses coming off the production line wrapped in its distinctive blue and yellow humanitarian aid packaging This has been the result of a long labour of love by the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation Their goal is to produce humanitarian horse feed in Ukraine to cut the costs on logistics from abroad use local raw materials to help the farmers and give work to the Ukrainian feed production enterprise to help the local economy About 100,000 Ukrainian horses are currently in difficulties the UEF-CF received kind humanitarian aid donations from abroad which partially solved the problem it also created some new ones as the donated food came from a wide variety of brands The timing and quantities of in-kind donations were unpredictable The frequent changes of food made the rehabilitation process of weak and starving horses difficult and under certain conditions even dangerous for horses’ health When the amount of humanitarian aid began to decrease and the cost of logistics increased a decision was made to use donor funds more efficiently and produce feed in Ukraine at one of the most technologically advanced feed processing factories – Letychiv feed mill The project was made possible thanks to cooperation with the Dutch premium horse feed manufacturer Horsefood (https://www.horsefoodthebest.nl/) which developed a special recipe of the core essential nutrients vitamins and supplements needed for horses after starvation or a period of restriction of the diet Horsefood’s formula provides 25% of the composition The other 75% of the feed consists of the Ukrainian sourced raw materials – barley The essence of the product is that it meets the current needs of horses in Ukraine which do not need high-energy fast release food frequent transportation and unusual lifestyle “Using a feed factory inside Ukraine solves several problems at once,” said Mykhaylo Parkhomchuk founder of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation and the Secretary General of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation “Local production reduces the variety and constant change of feed which exacerbates the risk of horse health problems the use of local raw materials and production enables the UEF-CF to use the financial donations we receive from around the world and use them in Ukraine to directly help not only the equestrian community but also to help the farmers and local companies in Ukraine not for sale.” According to the team of the UEF-CF this will help to avoid abuse and possible resale as well as other humanitarian aid from the Foundation can be received by any stable or equestrian club in Ukraine from a home with just one horse or pony to a large stable or racetrack the value or pedigree of a horse does not matter We assume that each horse is the most favorite for its owner – Most owners suffer from a lack of funds to keep their horses Our goal is to help them feed the horses during the most difficult time of adaptation to the new reality so that they do not make rash decisions about their animals.” The UEF-CF system that collects requests for humanitarian aid for horses has been working since the beginning of the war about 300 stables and clubs need assistance of which about 170 stables with a total population of more than 3,500 horses have received aid from the UEF-CF As the need for humanitarian aid is projected to increase it is hoped that the localization of feed production will help to feed horses in Ukraine is to help Ukrainian horses and horsemen to survive the terrible times and to help restore the equestrian sports industry of Ukraine The main three areas of the Fund’s work are: evacuation of horses from dangerous areas keeping horses in free shelters in Lviv and Rivne regions about 500 horses have been evacuated in Ukraine and abroad and about 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid for 3,500 horses have been delivered to more than 170 stables in Ukraine A transparent system of requests for humanitarian aid has been created through a chatbot and an application on the website along with an electronic queue for evacuation there is a logistics system for transporting feed to the stables and evacuation The work of the Foundation is provided by about 30 volunteers in Ukraine and about 40 volunteers abroad For over 50 years Horse Sport has been the voice of equestrian competition in Canada and breeders who are highly involved in the equine marketplace Developed by The Web Developer LLC Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard now — Khmelnytskyi Oblast (province)) is a linguist Candidate of Philological Sciences (Internal structural development of verbs denoting social relations in the modern Russian language Doctor of Philological Sciences (Russian verb in the functional-onomasiological aspect of the study He graduated from the Faculty of Philology of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (1977) He has been engaged as an Assistant Professor in 1984-88 a Chairperson of the Department of General Linguistics since 1993 and the Department of Russian for Foreign Citizens of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in 1984-88 Floriy Batsevych is the author of about 300 works among which Essays on functional lexicology (Lviv 1997; et al.); Fundamentals of communicative deviatology (Lviv 2000); Essays on communicative linguistics (Lviv 2003); Fundamentals of communicative linguistics (Kyiv 2004); Linguistic genealogy: problems and prospects (Lviv History of linguistic and philosophical doctrines (Kyiv 2008); Spiritual synergetics of native language: linguo-philosophical essays (Kyiv 2009); Essays on linguistic pragmatics (Lviv Literature: Master of the word play: Collection of articles in honor of prof Ukrainian linguist Floriy Batsevych: honoring on the occasion of the anniversary // Current issues of Ukrainian linguistics: theory and practice Services for Raising Capital & Sell a Business Get a monthly investment magazine in private equity and venture capital The antimonopoly committee authorized the Conditerinvest investment fund, one of UKRPROMINVEST companies, for the acquisition of 50% in the Letychiv-Agro company in Khmelnytsky region. “Closed non-diversified venture capital investment fund Conditerinvest (Kyiv) is authorized for the purchase of a share in the ownership capital of Letychiv-Agro (Snitivka village, Letychiv district, Khmelnytsky region), which provides an excess of 50% of the votes in the supreme management body of the company,” the Committee's decision states. Vyacheslav Moskalevsky owns 100% shares of the investment fund Conditerinvest. Letychiv Agro specializes in grains, legumes and oilseeds production. The primary beneficiaries are George Rohr and Maurice Tabasinik, owners of NCH Capital. In Ukraine, NCH Capital is presented by the Agroprosperis agroholding leasing more than 400 thou. hectares of farmland and the eponymous bank. The President of the Roshen confectionery corporation, Vyacheslav Moskalevsky, stated in a commentary for LIGA.net that the Letychiv-Agro facilities would strengthen the position in crop production and increase the number of cattle. “Such an acquisition will increase the capacity of livestock farming. Now there is about two thou. head of cattle on the Litinsky stud farm in Vinnytsya region. I plan to continue with grain production at Letychiv-Agro,” Vyacheslav Moskalevsky said. 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