Ukrainian businesses in Regina trying to help families back home

Euro Deli Kiev, a Regina business specializing in products from Ukraine, Poland and formerly Russia, has found itself in an unfortunate position less than two weeks after opening its doors.

After opening its doors on Feb. 19, the business has already begun to see intense product delays because of the war in Ukraine, as shipping companies in the country are either overloaded or not operational at all.

“We obviously didn’t know this would be how it would play out. We didn’t expect it at all,” said the store’s manager, Daniyil Lytvynenko. “We were hoping there would be better ways to resolve this instead of the military conflict.”

Russian products, which the store intended to sell, have also become an afterthought.

“We are not trying to buy anything from Russian providers, no matter what,” Lytvynenko said. “We refuse to purchase them because obviously any Russian company that currently is located in Russian territory, they are essentially a part of (the attack on Ukraine).

“We cannot support that right now.”

Opening a business is challenging at the best of times, but Lytvynenko notes the owners’ priorities have changed as their family faces a great deal of uncertainty in Ukraine.

“I dedicated most of my life in this country versus my parents who dedicated most of their life back home,” Lytvynenko said. “I have lots of family I love and care about that are currently in the situation they are.

“Everyone I care and love for, they’re in danger. And it’s a tough moment because it’s hard to go to sleep knowing that someone else might not wake up. We are fortunate to be here.”

Euro Deli Kiev and other businesses in Regina are finding a way to help their loved ones from more than 8,000 kilometres away.

Canned goods, diapers, non-perishables and other items are getting collected and shipped out from multiple locations in the city.

Some of these include Beauty Code Studio, the Ukrainian Co-op, the Winners on Prince of Wales and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress branch in Regina (UCC).

“Everything is getting documented and we will provide all the donations whether it’s money or items to the UCC,” Lytvynenko said. “We currently are gathering tonnes of items in one of the local studios here.”

Some of the items being collected at Beauty Code Studio on Dewdney Avenue in Regina. (Daniyil Lytvynenko/Submitted)

The first batch of items was shipped out Tuesday, but there are plans to do many more shipments in the weeks ahead.

“It is getting shipped to Ontario before it gets shipped to Poland,” he said. “From Poland, it will be distributed across the country via vehicles and volunteers.

“There are thousands of them. So don’t think it’s a small-time operation. People are willing to help people (and) willing to risk their lives to provide those in need with things that can be gathered for them.”

Officials in Poland are saying more than 377,000 Ukrainians had entered Poland since Russia’s invasion began last Thursday.

Most people have very few possessions with them, and are waiting hours just for the chance to cross the border.

Lytvynenko says even though people in Regina aren’t there in person to help those they care about, they know they can try to make a difference from Saskatchewan.

“The No. 1 priority for us is to make sure that everyone’s fed, everyone’s safe and everyone’s warm because those are things that make our life easier back home,” he said. “People know Canada is one of the safest places in the world to be.

“I would just ask: Help any possible way you can. Any dollar helps. Any diaper helps. Anything will help; they just need a little bit of assistance.”

Local distillery pitching in

Last Mountain Distillery is pitching in to help those in need in Ukraine.

It’s donating 10 per cent of the March profits from one of its vodkas to aid for the country.

It’s the company’s lōk(ə)l Vodka, pronounced ‘local.’

Co-founder Meredith Schmidt joined the Greg Morgan Morning Show to discuss why Last Mountain Distillery felt the need to help.

It would normally donate a portion of the sales from this particular vodka to a different charity every month.

“Usually we’re pretty particular about our charity being a 100 per cent Saskatchewan charity, where all funds stay in Saskatchewan and benefit Saskatchewan people, but considering the crisis that’s going on in the world, we actually decided to deviate a little bit this month,” she said.

“For the month of March, 10 per cent of the profits from every bottle of lōk(ə)l Vodka purchased are going towards the Red Cross’ Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Dominick Lucyk