In early 2022, Chernihiv became one of the first Ukrainian cities to face Russia’s invasion. Residential neighborhoods were hit by airstrikes and artillery. Electricity, water, and communications were frequently down, and many residents spent weeks sheltering in basements.

It was then that Dmytro—who had spent more than ten years in Ukraine’s restaurant business—turned his kitchen into a lifeline.

Before the war, he and a close friend had built a small, family-style restaurant, opening it in 2019. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Dmytro says the first day was about getting loved ones to safety and checking in with his team. Almost everyone made the decision to stay and help.

“From the second day of the full-scale invasion, we launched the kitchen. We had supplies. Even when there was no electricity, we had a large grill where we could cook everything,” he said.

Reaching The Hardest-Hit Regions

After Chernihiv was de-occupied in May 2022, Dmytro and his team began working with World Central Kitchen. Almost immediately, we  set out to understand where the need was greatest.

“We drove through the city ourselves,” he says. “We chose the most destroyed buildings—places where people were living in basements.”

The team documented each location, made lists, and delivered hot meals daily to 11 locations across Chernihiv. During this time, WCK supported Dmytro’s work by helping his team scale up.

“We understood the value of every hot portion,” he says. “It had to reach the people who needed it most.”At the start of the partnership, the team prepared around 400 meals a day. As they monitored needs and adjusted logistics, that number more than doubled—eventually reaching up to 1,000 meals daily.

“That Was the Moment Life Came Back”

One of the moments Dmytro remembers most clearly came early on—after days of exhaustion, confusion, and constant work.

“I went outside just to breathe,” he says. “And I saw a little girl and a boy run past—brother and sister.”

Families were returning to Chernihiv. Children were back on the streets.

“That’s when I understood: life was coming back to the city,” he says. “It felt like a second life for Chernihiv.”

Today: Steady Support for Displaced Families

As attacks on Chernihiv continued, emergency response became a critical part of the work.

Dmytro’s team has responded to dozens of emergencies—serving hot meals, drinks, and coffee to people affected by strikes, as well as to emergency crews working on-site.

“When people see our flag and our food, it helps them come back to themselves,” he says. “They can eat, drink something warm, and breathe.”

More than three years later, the situation in Chernihiv has changed—but the need remains. The city continues to host people displaced from border communities in the region, where attacks have continued. Today, Dmytro’s team focuses on supporting internally displaced people living in modular towns. 

Although Dmytro’s work has supported so many of his neighbors, he says that his business was itself supported by WCK.

“If not for WCK, we would have closed almost immediately,” he says. “There was no way to keep salaries, rent—anything.”

The broader food business in Chernihiv continues to struggle. Ongoing attacks, pressure on border communities, and outward migration have made recovery slow and fragile.

Still, Dmytro’s plans remain rooted in Chernihiv.

“I love this city,” he says. “I’m staying here.”

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