The Ukrainian entrepreneur continues to actively invest in the development of Kharkiv and even opened an Honorary Consulate of one of the EU countries there
Mykola Udyanskyi, a crypto-businessman from Kharkiv, invested a lot in Ukraine - he built facilities for IT specialists, developed a tennis academy, and engaged in the restaurant business. Due to full-scale Russian aggression, most of his gains on the territory of the country were destroyed. However, the entrepreneur continues to invest in his hometown - Kharkiv, and in 2022 his cyber institute Cyberport opened. It is also known that Udyansky helps the army and war victims a lot.
Journalists talked to Mykola Udyanskyi and found out what the businessman lives for today.
- Mr. Mykola, tell me, has your life changed after the start of Russia's war against Ukraine?
- For the last eight years, as you know, I have been living abroad. However, the war still made adjustments in my life, the life of my family, friends and work colleagues. Let's start with the fact that I invested all the money I earned in the development of my hometown, Kharkiv. Unfortunately, much of what has been achieved over the years has been destroyed by the occupying country. I built housing for IT workers, developed a tennis academy in the city, built residential and commercial real estate. He worked on the creation of Cyberport, the first cyber institute in Ukraine, which began its work in Kharkiv and Uzhhorod in 2022. All objects of commercial real estate, restaurant and sports business are currently destroyed by Russian missiles. The Cyberport Institute, fortunately, remained intact and fully operational.
Moreover, on February 28 of last year, when Kharkiv was mercilessly shelled by "Gradas", my apartment in the city and the suburban complex were completely destroyed. There was nothing left at all. everything is destroyed.
- Tell us a little more about your investments...
- From 2020, I directed all the earned funds to investments in the development of Kharkiv. In particular, in the same year in Kharkiv, EVO Country Club launched the construction of a residential complex for IT workers. 2021 – developed a tennis academy in the city, built residential and commercial real estate, enlarged the offices of IT companies.
He worked on the creation of the first cyber institute in Ukraine, Cyberport (from the State Biotechnology University), which began its work in Kharkiv and Uzhhorod in 2022. This is a fundamentally new quality of education and approaches to teaching. Cyberport graduates will defend Ukraine's cyberspace.
Unfortunately, most of the objects are now destroyed. I believe that these were targeted strikes on the objects of my investment, and the reason for such strikes was my active pro-Ukrainian position, which I openly express in the media and social networks.
- Despite this, do you continue to invest in the restoration of Kharkiv?
- Yes, this is my basic position. I not only finance individual charitable initiatives, but also at the international level communicate with embassies, public organizations, talk about the war in Ukraine on open platforms, on social networks, and on television. I try to unite like-minded communities abroad. to increase aid to Ukraine.
- One of the projects. in which you took an active part, is the opening of the Romanian consulate in Kharkiv.
- Indeed, the second Honorary Consulate of Romania opened in Ukraine this spring. It is especially nice to note that this is the first Honorary Consulate that was opened during the war in Ukraine, and it is especially important that it happened in Kharkiv! The opening of the consulate showed. that Europe is close to us and now it is actively working both to help civilians and to meet the needs of the Armed Forces.
- It is known that together with Yuriy Gordienko, a well-known philanthropist in Kharkiv, you organized the removal of children from orphanages to safe regions of Ukraine.
- This problem arose at the beginning of the war, so Yuriy performed the technical part of this work, and I provided financing. It was necessary to find buses, to develop safe routes, to find where to place the children, and the children were different - big and small, healthy and sick. I'm glad we were able to do that.
In addition to transporting children, we also constantly finance free lunches for needy Kharkiv residents, most often in completely destroyed areas of Kharkiv, for example, in Northern Saltivka. More than 40,000 hot lunches and food kits have already been issued. We carried out this work even before the war, and after February 24, it became more relevant than ever. The need for products has grown exponentially, because many people have lost their homes, incomes, plus take into account price increases and meager pensions for old women, the disabled, and families with many children. This project is financed and implemented at my expense in cooperation with local Kharkiv businessmen.
- Please tell us about your assistance to the army
- Basically, I already told journalists about it. I am constantly in touch with the commanders of individual army units, I am aware of the needs of both the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, and I try to help them. In particular, we bought shoes, walkie-talkies, cartridges and body armor, weapons, fuel, and also repaired cars for the Armed Forces and security forces. It is nice that for his volunteer activities he received several awards from the defense forces for helping in this war.
In addition, together with one of the deputies, the repair of cars and the repair of electricity supply in houses for military personnel in the direction of Donetsk region were financed
Together with the people's deputy from the "Servant of the People" party, they bought 50 bulletproof vests for volunteers and members of the Kharkiv Regional Military Police. Also, for our region, 100 generators and 7 ambulances were purchased for Kupyansk, Izyum and Vovchansk.
- I know that you help rebuild destroyed churches
- It's true. I am a person of faith and it hurts me to look at the ruins of temples. My colleagues and I are working to support the functioning and reconstruction of destroyed churches in the cities of Kharkiv and Kamiansk. I want people to have a place to come for peace of mind during this difficult time.
What charity projects are you currently working on?
- There are several of them. First, the purchase of quadcopters for aerial reconnaissance is constantly financed. Secondly, financial assistance is provided to the families of fallen soldiers of the Azov Regiment. And thirdly, we are working on a large-scale purchase of "ambulance" vehicles for hot spots in Ukraine. I want to deliver 20 ambulances from Romania to Kharkiv in the next 3-4 months. It is planned that these vehicles will go to the contact line and provide assistance to civilians. and will also help in transporting soldiers to hospitals.
- You are a public person. Agree, this adds duties and responsibilities to one's country
- Absolutely agree. As a public person, I try to set an example of how you can express your civic position, how you can help your homeland. I reduced communication to zero with all my Russian acquaintances and friends who support the Kremlin's aggression. In my posts on social networks, I openly express my respect for the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, because these people are worthy of support and respect. I represent our country at prestigious international events. Last year in May at the Cannes Film Festival, I received the World Influencers and Bloggers Awards and called on everyone to help Ukraine from the stage.
- Currently, on some Internet resources you can find so-called "information dumps". which spoil your reputation. Can you comment on this in any way?
- Unfortunately, no one has canceled unfair competition in business so far. Someone is trying to develop their business and help Ukraine, and someone is trying to slander the other in order to stay afloat. I am calm about it, in the end time will put everything in its place and show who is really worth what.
