Yellow Blue has brought together 15 businesses established by Ukrainian veterans and active-duty military of the Russo-Ukrainian war. The selection features craft wine, premium spirits, coffee, and tea, as well as apparel, accessories, and home decor. Your purchase supports socially responsible brands that facilitate veteran reintegration and donate part of their proceeds to charitable causes.
Food and drinks
Travka
About the business: Travka is a producer of natural teas made from wild herbs and berries foraged in Polissia—a sparsely populated region in northern Ukraine free from industrial activity. Founded in 2006 by Anton Sosinskyi and Volodymyr Olkhovyk, the company operates a full-cycle production process.
The team cultivates and gathers ingredients without the use of pesticides or harmful additives, creating unique botanical blends. For instance, Travka offers a certified organic tea featuring Amanita muscaria (red fly agaric), which is safe for consumption and contains no psychotropic substances.
The brand operates its own procurement center and industrial drying facilities. Travka uses eco-friendly packaging designed to keep the herbs fresh for longer, allowing them to be steeped multiple times.
About the veteran founder: Anton Sosinskyi joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the onset of the full-scale invasion. He served in the Donetsk sector and, in May 2022, sustained a mine-blast injury. Following his discharge and rehabilitation, he returned to his work at Travka.
Kontapel
About the business: A producer of kontabas—a premium spirit infused with blackcurrant buds that was widely crafted in Ukraine during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The brand’s founder, Roman Pelekh, discovered the ancient recipe by chance. Along with his brother, Andriy, he used to buy, renovate, and resell affordable houses in the Zakarpattia (Transcarpathian) region. In 2018, in the basement of one of these homes, they stumbled upon a notebook containing vintage recipes and 90 liters of aged kontabas.
Pelekh was so impressed by the drink’s unique flavor that he decided to revive the tradition. In January 2022, he released the first 300 bottles under the Kontapel brand. Today, their kontabas is sold in over 60 countries worldwide.
About the veteran founder: In February 2022, Pelekh evacuated his family from Kyiv to Uzhhorod before returning to the capital to volunteer for military service. He initially served in the Mykolaiv region and later on the front lines in the Kherson sector, where he sustained a severe concussion. While undergoing medical treatment, he was discharged from service due to family circumstances and began reviving the production alongside his wife, Maryna.
Minelly
About the business: Minelly is a coffee brand founded in 2015 in Hostomel by Oleksandr Nyshchyk and Volodymyr Tryhub. It’s a full-cycle production facility that offers whole bean, ground, and drip coffee. The brand’s blends are crafted using the coffee varieties most popular among Ukrainian consumers. Minelly’s product range also includes flavored coffees and single-origin Arabica. Every month, the brand allocates a portion of its profits to support the needs of the military.
About the veteran founder: Oleksandr Nyshchyk volunteered for military service at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, serving on the eastern front. During his absence, his responsibilities were assumed by his wife, Iryna Lantsova, who previously served as Minelly’s creative director and head of marketing.
During the occupation of Hostomel, Russian forces looted approximately $12,000 worth of Minelly products. The warehouse and production facility were almost entirely destroyed by fire, as were most buildings in the city’s industrial zone. Minelly managed to resume operations thanks to a large shipment of green coffee beans that had been paid for prior to the invasion, as well as the fact that some equipment and finished products survived the fire.
In 2023, Nyshchyk was wounded during the battle for Bakhmut. He was subsequently discharged from the military and, following a period of rehabilitation, returned to his work at Minelly.
Udarna Praktyka (Strike Practice)
About the business: Udarna Praktyka is a brand of strong drip coffee made from single-origin Colombia Huila Arabica, featuring light acidity and notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and red berries. The brand was founded in 2024 by a serviceman with the call sign “Space.” His team of four manages the entire process: sourcing beans from suppliers, grinding, packaging them in branded bags, and fulfilling orders.
Space directs 100% of the profits toward the needs of his FPV drone company, “Praktyka"—covering consumables and rent for the facility where the drones are repaired.
About the military founder: Before the full-scale war, Space was an entrepreneur in the marketing and advertising industry. In 2022, he joined the military as a combat medic but transitioned through several roles: he served in a quick response group, worked in reconnaissance, and participated in the Kharkiv counteroffensive in the fall of that year as part of an infantry battalion. Later, he joined a unit specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and became the head of the Praktyka strike company.
Stakhovsky Wines
About the business: A craft wine brand founded in 2015 by Sergiy Stakhovsky. The brand operates its own vineyard in Zakarpattia, where the team spent the first two years cultivating the soil and replanting vines to ensure premium grape quality. After harvesting its first crop in 2018, the winery now grows three specific varieties: Merlot and Saperavi (for red wines) and Traminer Pink (for white wine).
About the military founder: Sergiy Stakhovsky is a professional tennis player, former Ukrainian No.1, and holder of numerous prestigious sporting titles. In 2022, he enlisted in the SBU’s (Security Service of Ukraine) elite “Alpha” special forces unit. He has been serving in eastern Ukraine and participated in the battles for Bakhmut. While Stakhovsky is on active duty, the brand is managed by his dedicated team.
Kolonist
About the business: It’s a family-owned winery in the southern Odesa region, founded in 2005 by the Plachkov family. The brand collaborates with renowned Bordeaux enologist Olivier Dauga, who advises the team and promotes Kolonist wines on the international stage.
The brand produces premium-quality wines from indigenous grape varieties. The grapes are hand-harvested and grown using specialized viticulture techniques—each vine is limited to just a few clusters to ensure a concentrated flavor and aroma. Kolonist produces 280,000 bottles of wine annually.
The winery’s products are highly regarded by international experts; the brand has won three awards at the prestigious International Wine Challenge (IWC) in the United Kingdom.
Its military connection: The winery is headed by Ivan Plachkov. His son and business co-owner, Hryhorii Plachkov, is a Major in the National Guard of Ukraine. Due to his active military service, he’s currently not involved in the day-to-day operations of Kolonist.
Dynastiya Riasnyh
About the Business: Dynastiya Riasnyh is an apiary founded in 2015 in Lysychansk by Dmytro Riasnyi, who carries on the legacy of his father and grandfather. Following the start of the full-scale invasion, the Riasnyi family evacuated to Dnipro, where they eventually established a new apiary. Dynastiya Riasnyh sells natural sunflower honey and polyurethane beehives—an eco-friendly, weather-resistant alternative that’s warmer and lighter than traditional wooden hives.
About the veteran founder: Dmytro Riasnyi volunteered for military service twice: first in 2015 during the war in Donbas, joining the “Azov” regiment, and again in 2022 with the Territorial Defense Forces. After being demobilized in 2023, he focused on reviving the family business. Together with his wife, Anna, he purchased a house in a village near Dnipro and set up a new apiary, which now houses more than 80 beehives.
Clothing and accessories
Backpack.For.People (BPP)
About the business: BPP is an eco-leather bag and backpack brand founded in 2024 by Oleksandr Demenko. The concept for the brand emerged at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, inspired by the millions of Ukrainians forced to flee their homes with only a single suitcase or backpack.
BPP’s collection features stylish, spacious everyday bags and backpacks. Each item is adorned with a signature iron logo—a tribute to the defense of the Azovstal steel plant and a symbol of resilience, strength, and memory.
About the military founder: Demenko is a serviceman in the National Guard of Ukraine. In 2022, he took part in the defense of Mariupol and was among those besieged at the Azovstal plant, where he was wounded. In May 2022, following a government order, he and other Ukrainian service members surrendered into Russian captivity. He spent one year and eight months as a prisoner of war, returning to Kyiv in January 2024.
Today, Demenko manages his own business and heads the Ukrainian NGO “LGBT Military for Equal Rights,” which advocates for the legalization of same-sex marriage and broader equality.
Klamka
About the business: Klamka is a studio specializing in handcrafted accessories, founded in 2015 by volunteers Andrii Levytskyi and Mykhailo Liebusov. They produce wallets, belts with custom buckles, bracelets, candle holders, and keychains made from leather, brass, silver, and steel.
About the military founders: Levytskyi and Liebusov have both been serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2022. While they are on active duty, the business is managed by the Klamka team, which regularly allocates a portion of its profits to support the needs of the military.
Apache Shirts
About the business: Apache Shirts is a plaid shirt brand founded in 2023 by Bohdan Krotevych. He had dreamed of creating checkered shirts since 2014, when he first began his service with the “Azov” regiment. The idea resurfaced during the defense of the Azovstal steel plant in the spring of 2022. Faced with a dire lack of food, water, and clothing, Krotevych and his brothers-in-arms wore the uniforms of the factory workers—including their distinctive plaid shirts. Following his return from Russian captivity, he brought his vision to life by founding Apache Shirts.
The brand’s collection features cotton plaid shirts in red, beige, grey, blue, and black.
About the military founder: Bohdan Krotevych is a Lieutenant Colonel who volunteered for “Azov” in 2014. After seven years of service, he rose to become the regiment’s Chief of Staff. During the full-scale invasion, Krotevych led the defense at Azovstal and was subsequently taken into Russian captivity, returning in September 2022.
In 2025, he stepped down from his position as Chief of Staff of “Azov.” He is currently planning to establish a private intelligence agency that will collaborate with Western partners to gather intelligence on Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and other nations pursuing hostile policies toward Ukraine.
Mojave
About the business: Mojave is a retail platform featuring products created by veterans, active-duty service members, and volunteers (provided their profits are directed toward military needs). Their inventory includes men’s and women’s apparel, pins, bags, backpacks, wallets, flags, stickers, and merchandise from various AFU brigades and units. Mojave’s mission is to promote veteran and military-owned brands and help them scale their sales.
About the founders: Mojave is a charitable initiative by the Riot Division team, a clothing brand established in 2010 by volunteer Oleh Moroz. Since the onset of the war in eastern Ukraine, Riot Division has been dedicated to supporting the military. In 2025, the team launched Mojave as both an online platform and a brick-and-mortar shop in Kyiv, where charitable foundations and military personnel can host events free of charge. All proceeds from Mojave are donated to charitable causes.
Kozak Knot
About the business: This handcrafted bracelet and amulet brand was founded by veteran Oleksandr Savliuk. He weaves each piece from paracord—a heavy-duty cord that service members at the front utilize for a variety of critical tasks, including improvised tourniquets to stop bleeding, constructing temporary shelters, and fishing.
Savliuk adorns his bracelets with metal beads featuring Cossack symbolism, tryzub, military brigade logos, or traditional Slavic protective charms. The brand also offers custom orders, allowing customers to select their preferred cord colors and metal element designs.
About the veteran founder: Oleksandr Savliuk is a sniper with combat experience dating back to 2014. Following the Revolution of Dignity, he volunteered for military service and notably participated in the defense of the Donetsk Airport. During the full-scale invasion, he served in the defense of the Kyiv region and later the Donetsk region. He sustained a severe wound and a concussion during the battles near Bakhmut. After completing his rehabilitation, he was discharged from the military and launched his own craft business.
House decor and books
Markobooks
About the business: It’s a Ukrainian publishing house specializing in history, military science, and self-development. Most of its authors are Ukrainian scholars or military personnel. All Markobooks publications are pocket-sized and printed on thick, glossy, waterproof paper. For every book purchased, the publisher donates an identical copy to service members on the front lines.
A selection of Markobooks' titles has been translated into English. For instance, “The 30 Wars wiZ the Cursed Neighbour” explores Russia’s centuries-long, unsuccessful attempts to destroy the Ukrainian people.
About the veteran founder: The publishing house was founded by Marko Melnyk, a veteran from Kryvyi Rih. In 2014, he participated in the Revolution of Dignity, patrolling Kyiv as a member of one of the Maidan Self-Defense units. He later volunteered for the “Azov” regiment and spent several years fighting in eastern Ukraine. After being demobilized in 2016, he established the publishing house.
In 2022, Melnyk re-enlisted, joining the Kyiv Territorial Defense Forces, which participated in the battles for Kyiv and Irpin. He returned to civilian life in 2023 and resumed operations at Markobooks.
BatArt
About the business: BatArt is a workshop and art therapy space for veterans and military personnel in Irpin, founded in 2019 by Andrii Nesmachnyi. The brand’s name is a combination of his military call sign, “Batman,” and the word “Art.” The workshop handcrafts accessories and home decor, including gift knife sets, glassware with embedded bullets, woven bracelets featuring shell casings, and wall art panels made from spent ammunition. BatArt directs 50% of its profits toward the needs of the military.
About the veteran founder: Nesmachnyi is a veteran of the war in eastern Ukraine. In 2022, BatArt ceased operations as all its craftsmen were mobilized into the military. During the battle for Irpin, the workshop’s facility was nearly destroyed by fire; only a kiln and a single machine survived.
In May 2022, Nesmachnyi was wounded in action near Kherson. Following his discharge from the hospital, he began rebuilding the workshop. Today, the team consists of 14 people, most of whom are active-duty service members working at BatArt while on leave, during rotations, or while undergoing rehabilitation.
Dovgan-Art
About the business: Volodymyr Dovgan is a master potter and ceramicist who handcrafts tableware and decor while also restoring broken or cracked ceramic pieces. He employs traditional techniques that were prevalent in the Kyiv region between the 15th and 18th centuries. Dovgan regularly hosts pottery workshops, primarily designed for wounded service members and veterans.
About the veteran founder: Dovgan is a veteran of the war in eastern Ukraine, having participated in combat operations near Donetsk in 2015–2016. During his service, he recognized the profound need for rehabilitation spaces for military personnel. Following his demobilization, he began teaching veterans how to work with clay. Volodymyr developed his workshop programs in collaboration with psychologists specializing in art therapy.
