As the war in Ukraine stretches towards the end of its second month, efforts to help support Ukrainian civilians caught up in the conflict continue. This week, we’ve seen the release of the most creative one yet: the UK launch of a new charity vodka called Vodka Zelensky, which was founded by a Ukrainian refugee in a bid to raise money for non-governmental organisations helping to get food, aid, and medicine to Ukraine.
Fashion designer Anastasiia Rosinina is the brains behind the outfit; having fled Kyiv in March as the military advance on the city continued, she turned her attention to creating a large-scale aid project to help Ukraine. Partnering with Dr Tobias Reichmuth, an investor and entrepreneur who’s appeared on the Swiss version of ‘Shark Tank’, they hit upon the idea of a charity vodka, with 100% of the profits donated until 2026 to aid efforts.
The NGOs chosen for the work have been carefully selected, with the intent to get the money to where its most needed. Rosinina has co-ordinated with the former head of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, to ensure the funds are being allocated responsibly. As Rosinina adds, “As help is urgently needed now, a minimum of 5 pounds per bottle sold will be immediately donated to humanitarian aid organisations in Ukraine.” The company was built in just eight days, and has already raised enough funds to donate almost £30,000 to a children’s hospital in Kyiv and an organisation that supports low-income Ukrainian families.
The bottle’s design clearly reflects the intent; the label is sleekly designed with the colours of the Ukrainian flag and features the outline of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who’s become an internationally-known figure for his courageous and tireless leadership in a time of crisis. The wheat-based vodka has been sourced from distilleries in Germany and Switzerland, and has already gone on sale in those two nations, with the UK following now.
Vodka Zelensky’s aim is to sell a million bottles by the end of 2022, and deliver much needed-funds to aid agencies in Ukraine. You can order the vodka from the brand’s website, and it’s expected to start making appearances in select UK stores soon. Oh, and they’ve also launched a #DrinkForPeace campaign, so once you’ve poured out a glass of Vodka Zelensky, you can raise a glass and express a wish for global peace.