The Yellow Blue Business Platform (YBBP) supports those who continue to operate and grow in Ukraine. In this piece, we present books that inspire action even in the darkest times of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Though diverse in content, these books share a common theme: they highlight people who, despite immense difficulties, continue to do good.
Below we explain why we recommend each book and highlight some of the most vivid quotes.
Viktoria Pokatis, “Unbreakable.” A book about the resistance of Ukrainian women against Russian invaders.
In 2023, Yakaboo Publishing released a collection of memories from thirty women-volunteers, military women, paramedics, fund managers, lawyers, and ordinary citizens of Ukraine. All of them have witnessed hundreds of human destinies and sufferings. Among them are Olga Kudinenko, the founder of the Ukrainian charity fund “Tabletochki,” which helps children with cancer; Irina Ivanchik, a co-founder of the charity fund “Believe in Yourself“; Olena Stryzhak, the head of the board of the charity organization “Positive Women“; Inna Poperechnyuk, a co-founder of the private postal company “Nova Poshta,” a co-owner of the restaurants “100 Years Ahead“ and “Others,” and the founder of the project for orphans “Team of Wizards;“ Olena Shevchenko, the head of the public organization “Insight“ and the founder of the organization “March of Women“; Inga Kordynovska, the founder of the humanitarian center in Odesa; Olya Rondyak, an American artist of Ukrainian origin; Anastasia Leonova, a tactical medicine instructor; Ulyana Pcholkin, a board member of the NGO “Active Rehabilitation Group“ and a karate world champion among women in wheelchairs; Alisa Kovalenko, a Ukrainian documentary film director, and others.
Why do we recommend it?
In peacetime, these women went about their daily lives, but the full-scale invasion changed their lives. Their stories are difficult but you read them in one breath. After reading the book one gets an understanding of how people of different ages, professions, experiences, and circumstances united for Ukraine’s victory in the war.
Yulia Mykytenko, senior lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Since 2016 Yulia and her husband have served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine under contracts. After working at the headquarters she managed to enter the National Academy of Ground Forces named after P. Sagaidachny and returned to the front as a combat officer. In February 2018 her husband died so Yulia transferred to work at the Kyiv Military Lyceum. After giving an interview for the book she went to eastern Ukraine on a combat mission.
“…I feel that the attitude towards women in the army has changed compared to 2016. Back then, commanders were surprised that I wanted to join a combat unit instead of sitting in a headquarters office with paperwork. And they never let me into the combat unit, leaving me in the headquarters, saying that I was a woman and that was where I belonged. Now, commanders are ready to accept me into a combat unit without questioning my readiness to perform the tasks. I think this change is due to the media because we managed to ensure that defenders of the country are both male and female. Here’s the state of affairs: we have a good percentage of women in the army — there are 37,000 of us! That’s a quarter of the army! Not all of them perform combat work, but each one ensures the functioning of the army in their own way.
I also felt the change in attitude towards women in the army from volunteers. For instance, now, even if they’re not sure if there are women in the unit, they still bring women’s hygiene products and women’s underwear, among other things. In 2016, this was not the case. When thinking about the needs of soldiers at the frontline, no one remembered things like pads.
On the part of male colleagues, there are also noticeable changes in attitude. In 2017 I was appointed a unit commander and faced strong rejection, to the point where I was told, ‘You are a woman, I refuse to be in your unit.’ Now, I have been appointed commander again because I am an officer. They greeted me with restraint, keeping their thoughts to themselves, saying, ‘Let’s see what kind of commander you are.’ Over time, everything settled down, and I am treated as a professional, with due respect. There are many people in the unit with whom I served before, but no old attitudes of contempt remain.”
Nastia Tykha, Volunteer.
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, together with her husband Artur, twenty-year-old Nastya evacuated 19 dogs — some of them were sick, some were injured, some weighed over 20 kilos. The journey to Romanivka took them three hours on foot, where friends awaited them with a car. A photo of Nastia with dogs pulling leashes in different directions went viral on the Internet and in the media.
“…I found out about the war at five in the morning on February 24. A friend who lives near Boryspil called me and said the war had started. My husband and I went to the pharmacy and store — we bought medicine and food. The first week passed quite calmly. And then the light, gas, and water began to disappear. It became very difficult. A shell landed in the neighbouring yard. Fortunately, it didn’t explode but Arthur and I decided to go to Kyiv. Since the war started, we picked up several more dogs, so we had to evacuate as many as 19 animals, some of which were transported in carts.
At first, we thought we would have to walk, as we couldn’t find a driver with a car willing to take them. It took us over three hours to walk from our home to Romanivka with 19 animals. At first, the dogs resisted and didn’t want to go, trying to return to the house. But then they calmed down a little bit and became obedient.
In the photo where dogs pull me in different directions, I am swearing. Evacuating such a large number of dogs is very difficult, especially since some of them weigh over 20 kilos. But I am glad this photo turned out to be useful.”
Inga Kordynovska, the Founder of the Humanitarian Center in Odesa
In her ‘past life, ’ Inga was the owner of a law firm. Despite the threat of Odesa’s occupation at the beginning of the full-scale war, she stayed in the city and founded the Odesa Humanitarian Volunteer Center, later creating two more projects to help displaced persons, particularly mothers.
“…In the early days, volunteers reacted in different ways. Some were in a state of panic, while others were paralyzed by frustration. The first group were buying food and delivering it to soldiers without even asking if it was needed, while the second group did nothing at all. These are classic human reactions to stress: either running around frantically or freezing up completely. It became essential to channel these reactions into a more rational and effective response.
When I decided to create a humanitarian center, one of my goals was to help the people who stayed in Odesa cope with the stress. I wanted to give them a way to channel their energy positively. Some could work at the center and take their minds off the news, while others could contribute funds and feel a sense of involvement. It worked beyond my expectations. I was amazed by the response — in the first week alone, 300 people joined us.
The human instinct to stick together, much like animals in a herd, played a crucial role, too. Just like a lone zebra is more vulnerable than a herd, we humans also seek safety in numbers when we’re scared. In times of fear, we don’t want to be alone, we naturally gravitate towards a community that offers us a sense of security.
It worked for me, too. In the first week, chaos reigned in the center, but eventually, we found stability. Every day, my mother called asking me to come home, but I couldn’t leave. The people who came to the center saw me every day, got used to me and relied on me. I was their anchor of stability and leaving would have demoralized them. Gradually, my mother calmed down and cried less, which was a relief for me. The constant pressure from relatives can be overwhelming, and when she calmed down, it made things a bit easier for me.
The center became my place of strength. You’re reading the news, hearing shells exploding over your head and sirens screeching, especially with many subversive groups active in Odesa. You feel the ever-present danger in the air coming home at two in the morning. You are stopped at checkpoints and being searched (because I never managed to finish work at the center before the curfew and there was simply no time to get a pass), the roads are lined with mountains of sandbags, barbed wire and turned-off lights, shrouded in oppressive darkness. It was so creepy, like an apocalypse scene straight out of a movie. But working at the center saved me from this grim reality.”
Ihor Kurilets. “The year of war. Life stories of a neurosurgeon from Ukraine (24.02.2022 — 24.02.2023).”
The author of this book is a doctor, a renowned neurosurgeon and the head of the International Center for Neurosurgery. The doctor’s notes are observations of the behavior of hundreds of people who became his patients. What has changed in doctors and their work? Have the people who came to the hospital changed? Kurilets presents both the uplifting and the challenging aspects of his experiences, offering his conclusions and reflections in this compelling book.
Why do we recommend it?
The book is interesting because it tells about a peaceful existence during the war. Some doctors left Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion, and the doctors who stayed were left with an increased workload. Besides their medical specialization, these doctors have also taken up the heavy burden of psychological support.
Ihor Kurilets’ notes offer a unique perspective presenting a doctor’s view of his work and daily routine amid the chaos of war. Through his eyes, we see what happened in the hospital corridors and how both doctors and their patients transformed.
“…Monday, October 10, is a day we will remember for a long time. It was Khuylo’s [the obscene term deriding Russian president Vladimir Putin] revenge for the Crimean Bridge. At nine o’clock in the morning around a hundred rockets attacked Ukraine. The air raid ended at noon. By that time the electrical substations were found to be destroyed. In Lviv, the lights went out, and in Novy Rozdol, explosions were heard at the power substation in the village of Berezdivtsi. The water intake in Stryi was cut off power, and it pumps water to Lviv. Electricity and water also went out in Novy Rozdol. Operations were not performed. I filled up with diesel fuel and bought another car battery for the boiler inverter to ensure we had at least some electricity in the house. Evelina and Solomiyka came to Zelena. I alternated the electricity between the refrigerator and the gas boiler. There was no internet. One lightbulb was on in the dining room. Cell phones worked every once in a while. The gas stove came to the rescue, my mother cooked borscht. We brought water in buckets from the village of Malekhiv. That’s how we spent the evening. The war felt even closer and more brazen. The water supply was back on at night. There was no light until morning. I charged the batteries one by one from the car. I regret not bringing a gas generator from Kyiv. At eight o’clock I was at work in Stryi. We were not prohibited from operating…”
“…I started repairing the broken generator, it will be needed at the hospital. Generator repair technicians are now in demand. Probably also those who repair electronic equipment, which massively fails due to frequent power grid failures. Last week the voltage in the outlets at the regional hospital was 380 instead of 220, so two computers ‘gave up the ghost.’ Sasha Parkhomenko, an engineer, replaced the power supply units. At the NVM the coffee machine broke down — also repairs.
In Stryi, the wall monitor connected to the surgical microscope camera went out and broke. Engineer Serhiy Bohun strictly forbade turning on any expensive hospital equipment due to the high risk of damage. Somehow we need to get through the winter without heat, without starting the heating and circulation pumps, elevators or ventilation systems. What a challenge! Medical equipment manufacturers do not anticipate such usage during wartime. Siemens advised not to open the boxes of delivered equipment to protect the electronic components from condensation. We placed the rest of the medical equipment in a large storeroom and turned on a blow heater. Somewhere plus or minus 10 degrees of heat is maintained…”
“…It is interesting, when people in Stryi curse or something goes wrong, Myroslava says, ‘Oh, Vasyl’s mother!’ From my childhood, I distinctly remember the cursing phrases like ‘Get kicked by a duck!,’ ‘May lightning strike you,’ ‘May a colic skewer you,’ ‘May a feather hit you,’ ‘Fell like a plum into manure,’ ‘Curse your mother,’ ‘Clear cholera,’ and so on. How different our curses are from Russian swearing! Listen to contemporary Russian obscenities live — it makes your ears tingle. The Orcs can never reach the level of Ukrainian culture. And they dare to say there are no Ukrainian people, no Ukrainian language! But even our curses are different! We even use colloquial curses, like sending the cruiser ‘Moskva’ to the bottom of the Black Sea…”
Startups of Kindness: People and Projects that Weren’t Broken by the War.
This collection includes 17 stories about people, public figures, priests, and entrepreneurs. Despite the hardships of war, Ukrainians do not stop, they unite and find solutions to seemingly impossible situations. These are examples of how Ukrainians continue to evolve and support each other, despite Russia’s vain efforts to destroy the Ukrainian nation.
Why do we recommend it?
Typically, leaders and members of churches or religious organizations do not participate in military actions, clinging to the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” However, this book shares many accounts of pastors who along with their congregants have dedicated their lives to saving others. Under shelling and in the rear, together with soldiers and volunteers, they have become an inseparable part of this war. Their activities deserve special recognition and understanding.
“…In the first month of the full-scale Russian invasion, our team continued to provide people with pastry and deliver food packages. But by the end of March, the shelling intensified, and Russian planes paralyzed the city. Oleg and his family moved to Pokrovsk. Friends gathered around them, and that’s how the trips with humanitarian aid to the front lines began: ‘Our team is much larger, it’s not just the people in Pokrovsk — it’s everyone who helps us, ’ says Oleg.
Cooperation with a local bakery was established: Oleg offered the owners flour, which they had plenty of thanks to benefactors, and they agreed to provide 500 loaves of bread daily, which the pastor’s team took to the front line, as well as water and food.
‘I would love to live a long and happy life and see my children grow up. But that won’t happen if we can’t defend our country and save it, ’ reflects the pastor, explaining why he took on this mission. Now, the team also organizes evacuations: ‘We would go to the front line to deliver food, and on the way back, we would evacuate people.’
Although the vehicle used for transporting bread was unsuitable for evacuation trips, initially, that’s what was used. In the rather old cargo Ford, the lights would go out as soon as the doors closed. However, people were willing to sit in the dark, on bags or the floor, just to escape the shelling. At first, they traveled without any protective gear. With help from benefactors, Pastor Oleg’s team now has bulletproof vests, helmets, radios, and phones for communication — these don’t always guarantee safety, but do increase the chances of survival. They also bought a Jeep, which helps them reach the farthest points, traveling on rough paths that can barely be called roads, supporting each other and most importantly, evacuating people from places where others dare not go.
When asked if he’s scared to go to the demarcation line, Pastor Oleg replies firmly: ‘We’ve gotten used to it. We know people are waiting for us — and that’s a huge motivator.’ He also speaks firmly and courageously with those who don’t want to leave their homes. ‘Sometimes you have to have a serious talk, especially with families with children on the front line — you have to be firm with them, explaining that making children hostages of their fears is irresponsible. Very few people assess the risks adequately — most believe they’ll be spared: they’ve gotten used to the danger, some have nowhere to go, some are afraid they won’t be welcomed in the territories under the control of Ukraine, and there are even those who left and then returned, ’ Oleg shares his pains…”
Sokal — Zhvyrka, Lviv region. Community Activist Maryana Yaremchuk
“…Oksana picks up a cat that is scared of strangers: ‘This is Malvina. She is two years old. We brought her from the occupied territory, she has been with us since birth. Maryana allowed her to live with us, she doesn’t have front paws and never leaves the room. She even gets humanitarian aid, ’ the woman smiles, pointing to a bowl of food. They even bought a train ticket for their furry friend when they left Kharkiv. She clearly remembers that day: it was cold and raining, and they managed to get the last available tickets. That evening Kharkiv was being shelled.
At the Lviv train station, volunteers met them and helped find homes for the kittens. Friends offered the family a week’s stay in Chervonograd. Oksana didn’t even unpack her bags — was looking for a job. Initially — with no success. ‘Then I came to Sokal. I went to the medical director of the local hospital and told him: ‘I want to work at your hospital!’ And he said, ‘Good — a girl with determination.’ He offered the only available position: working with children. I had already completed all the paperwork and passed the medical examination, but I had nowhere to live. I was just walking the streets of Sokal when I saw some people. I asked them if they knew anyone renting out a place to live. They advised me to contact the city council and mentioned someone named Maryana. It was around six in the evening and the workday was over. I went to the bulletin board, saw ’Maryana, ’ jotted down the contacts, and called her,’ Oksana recalls.
The next day they met at the ’Domivka’, and the day after Oksana came here with her belongings.
‘At first, we lived here by ourselves and were scared of everything. Any noise — we’re scared at once. But when people started to move in, it became more comfortable. Now we already feel like a family,’ says Oksana.
Her mother Alla got a job as a cleaner at the housing maintenance office, her son started attending the local school and also auditioned for the music school. A teacher got an accordion for him…”
Zolochiv, Lviv region. Priest Mykhailo Sukmanovskyi
Mykhailo and his wife Oksana are the people because of who made it possible to create an inclusive center in the village near Zolochiv in the Lviv region. When they first began forming a community for people with disabilities, engaging them in activities like painting, singing and candle making, the needs of people with disabilities were rarely discussed. Now, with the support of the local community, the couple is creating a farm where people with disabilities can find employment.
“…Children grow up, but so do the number of challenges. Few employers are willing to hire people with disabilities, often this happens due to fear, ignorance or misunderstanding. In response, Father Mykhailo and the local community established an Educational Farm. Here, people with disabilities can learn skills and work in gardening, animal care and cheese making. This project has been supported by the government of Luxembourg. In six months, a three-story building was constructed, followed by stables a few months later. The area was paved, animals were brought in, an apiary was set up and some grapes and sea buckthorn were planted. However, the primary focus of the farm is cheese production. They started with 20 liters of milk (yielding 2 kg of cheese) and have now increased production to 100 liters.
‘We started with a few families. Before, everyone was either ashamed or afraid. There was little information on how to integrate people with disabilities into active life. Now, there’s much less fear, they know how everything works, ’ says Mykhailo’s wife. ‘My husband and I have been together for 27 years and we understand that we have to complete this work. People with disabilities need help. They come to us for companionship, activity, development, ’ says Oksana. ’Currently, our community is supported by charities and organizations. But funding may stop, so we must be prepared to manage on our own.’”
