Insights
The Untold Story of Ukraine’s Resilience
24. February 2026
Today marks four years since Ukraine was invaded by Russia. Most headlines in the news focus on frontline movements, missile and drone attacks, and geopolitical developments.
What we rarely hear about is the sustained effort behind the scenes; the thousands of Ukrainians who volunteer quietly, consistently, and systematically to support a free and independent Ukraine.
In our Tech Hub in Lviv, we have many colleagues who contribute in their spare time both financially and with practical tasks. We have many customers, who have supported and kept their IT team in Ukraine, despite the country being at war. Some customers have even expanded their Ukrainian IT team during the war and also visited their team in Lviv.
We want to honor our colleagues’ contributions and tell their untold stories about the Ukrainian people’s resilience.
This is their story.
A Culture of Giving in Ukraine’s Tech Sector
Most people employed in the Ukrainian tech industry support various fundraising initiatives by making donations or volunteers. Many even donate a significant share of their monthly income. Charitable giving in Ukraine’s tech sector is not symbolic; it is systematic, regular, and deeply personal. Therefore, for many IT professionals, supporting the army and humanitarian causes has become part of everyday financial planning.
According to IT Research Ukraine 2025:
- The average monthly charitable donation of a tech specialist is $243
- 90% of tech professionals allocate part of their income to charity
- 4.3% donate more than a quarter of their income
Donating is treated with the same seriousness as rent, family expenses, and savings. A stable income from the tech sector makes it possible to contribute from a distance, and many do so consistently.
General Manager at our Tech Hub in Lviv in Ukraine, Iryna Kosareva, states;
“We highly appreciate our customers commitment to their IT teams in Ukraine, as it supports us and Ukraine in these troubled times.”
When Volunteering Becomes Personal
Volunteering in Ukraine is one of the key forces that truly supports the country during the war. In areas where the state is less flexible, volunteers can act quickly, finding what is needed, coordinating purchases, and delivering support exactly where it is most urgently required.
For many of our Ukrainian colleagues, it was impossible not to act when their country was invaded. Many different contributions and practical actions were needed, and the hard part was not being able to help with every request.
The strong belief is that even small contributions matter, and that collective effort creates strength. They soon learned that it was possible to make a difference, even from Lviv in the western part of Ukraine.
Bought a bus in two days
Our colleague Olha Ivankiv’s volunteering has mostly been request-based from friends and relatives. E.g. when she helped a relative’s brigade by purchasing practical things like tools and equipment. Olha is driven by a strong sense of responsibility, and by a wish to express gratitude for the fight for liberty, her friends and relatives are doing on the front line.
Olha especially remembers one strong action;
Olha hopes that after the war people will keep this habit of caring, continuing to donate and support others in need, whether it’s veterans, displaced people, animal shelters, or social initiatives.
“We managed to organize the purchase of a bus for our medic friend in just two days.
More than a year later, knowing that the same bus was still being used to transport wounded soldiers from the front line to medical care, made everything feel very real and meaningful.”
Bought a bus in two days
Our colleague Olha Ivankiv’s volunteering has mostly been request-based from friends and relatives. E.g. when she helped a relative’s brigade by purchasing practical things like tools and equipment. Olha is driven by a strong sense of responsibility, and by a wish to express gratitude for the fight for liberty, her friends and relatives are doing on the front line.
Olha especially remembers one strong action;
“We managed to organize the purchase of a bus for our medic friend in just two days. More than a year later, knowing that the same bus was still being used to transport wounded soldiers from the front line to medical care, made everything feel very real and meaningful.”
Olha hopes that after the war people will keep this habit of caring, continuing to donate and support others in need, whether it’s veterans, displaced people, animal shelters, or social initiatives.
Volunteering as psychological stability
Our colleague Daria Pushynska joined a volunteer community, which primarily focuses on tactical medicine. Their activities include fundraising for individual first aid kits and tactical medical supplies, assembling and distributing these kits, and supporting stabilization points. In addition, they have procured generators, charging stations, and heaters for military hospitals. All their contributions are supported by fundraising.
Daria explains why she volunteers;
“Volunteering serves as a strong source of psychological support.
War brings fear, anger, and a sense of uncertainty and loss of control.
Volunteering, however, provides an opportunity for concrete action, visible outcomes, and the understanding that
“I can actually make a difference”.
Daria elaborates that volunteering is not limited to supporting the military. It also includes helping internally displaced people, providing food and medicine in frontline cities, supporting medical institutions, and offering psychological and legal assistance. For many people who have lost their homes or loved ones, volunteer support has become a lifeline.
Volunteering as psychological stability
Our colleague Daria Pushynska joined a volunteer community, which primarily focuses on tactical medicine. Their activities include fundraising for individual first aid kits and tactical medical supplies, assembling and distributing these kits, and supporting stabilization points. In addition, they have procured generators, charging stations, and heaters for military hospitals. All their contributions are supported by fundraising.
Daria explains why she volunteers;
“Volunteering serves as a strong source of psychological support. War brings fear, anger, and a sense of uncertainty and loss of control.Volunteering, however, provides an opportunity for concrete action, visible outcomes, and the understanding that “I can actually make a difference”.
Daria elaborates that volunteering is not limited to supporting the military. It also includes helping internally displaced people, providing food and medicine in frontline cities, supporting medical institutions, and offering psychological and legal assistance. For many people who have lost their homes or loved ones, volunteer support has become a lifeline.
Supporting friends at the front
For our colleague Serhiy Poliakov, the volunteering became very personal when his closest friends joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Through his volunteer community, he helps military units with technical and logistical needs.
Serhiy explains;
“This includes providing vehicles, which are a critical asset in the war, as well as electronic warfare equipment and drone detectors.
I also support a workshop that works with 3D printing and help supply them with everything needed. In addition, I help with smaller but important items, such as laptops that are especially valuable for FPV drone pilots.”
Volunteers in Ukraine have created a community of people, who truly cares and are ready to act to help their country. It can be emotionally demanding and takes a lot of time and energy. Serhiy has been volunteering for many years, supported by the stability of a strong base; a good job in the tech industry and a reliable income. This stability allows him to balance volunteering with everyday life without burning out.
Even people with modest incomes in Ukraine donate to support the army. Those who cannot give much financially contribute in other ways, e.g. weaving camouflage nets, repairing vehicles or volunteering their time and skills.
Supporting friends at the front
For our colleague Serhiy Poliakov, the volunteering became very personal when his closest friends joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Through his volunteer community, he helps military units with technical and logistical needs.
Serhiy explains;
“This includes providing vehicles, which are a critical asset in the war, as well as electronic warfare equipment and drone detectors.
I also support a workshop that works with 3D printing and help supply them with everything needed. In addition, I help with smaller but important items, such as laptops that are especially valuable for FPV drone pilots.”
Volunteers in Ukraine have created a community of people, who truly cares and are ready to act to help their country. It can be emotionally demanding and takes a lot of time and energy. Serhiy has been volunteering for many years, supported by the stability of a strong base; a good job in the tech industry and a reliable income. This stability allows him to balance volunteering with everyday life without burning out.
Even people with modest incomes in Ukraine donate to support the army. Those who cannot give much financially contribute in other ways, e.g. weaving camouflage nets, repairing vehicles or volunteering their time and skills.
Customers who chose commitment over uncertainty
Resilience is not only present within Ukraine, but also in business decisions outside Ukraine. Most of our European customers have chosen to keep their development teams in Lviv throughout the war.
Our Danish customer Saxo is one example.
Saxo has remained committed to its development and QA teams in Lviv, and they even chose to expand the team in 2023, as the daily cooperation, processes and output continued to be stable and valuable during the war.
Hear Saxo’s Digital Director, Rasmus Burkal, explain how he manages their development team in Ukraine during the war.
Rasmus Burkal’s video statements clearly shows that Saxo is dedicated to their teams in Ukraine. Rasmus Burkal elaborates; “We get exceptionally good output from our Ukrainian developers, also in times of uncertainty.” Rasmus Burkal has even visited his team in Lviv twice during the war. He has a strong bond and respect for the team, and it was important for him to invest in the deep relations and collaboration with his team.
Resilience will continue
Four years into the war, Ukraine’s resilience is not only measured by what happens at the frontline. It is visible in the determination of people, who continue to contribute and collaborate under extraordinary circumstances.
Iryna Kosareva, General Manager in Lviv, concludes
“At our Tech Hub in Lviv, work continues. Teams deliver. Volunteers organize. Customers invest in their IT teams and long-term partnerships, even though the situation is not easy or simple. Simply because commitment, support and trust are stronger than uncertainty.”
