It has been a year since the life of every Ukrainian changed dramatically. A full-scale war against Ukraine was unleashed by russia exactly one year ago. All Ukrainian cities were under missile strikes at 5 a.m. on February 24, 2022. 

We had a lot of plans, ideas, and development scenarios for the year 2022. So despite the enemy attacks, we managed to resume production and sales. Here’s the way it happened.

The troops of the aggressor nation were advancing toward the Kyiv Region. Pictures from Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, as well as other cities and towns of the Kyiv Region circled the globe. Brovary, a city where we have our manufacture facilities, was also affected by the russians. 

More than four thousand knives had been manufactured and stored in our facilities by the time the war broke out. They were ready to be shipped out. However, at the same time, the operations were stopped, and the employees had no possibility to get to work safely. With the understanding that the enemy was advancing, a decision was made. Our knives would not be left to the enemy, and we would ship them out as soon as it was possible. Some of our staff joined the territorial defense, and some went to the front line. Still, there were those who teamed up to pack more than 4,000 knives. Serhiy Bondarenko, co-founder of the company, together with our knife enthusiasts undertook to pack and ship the products. We managed to send the products to Amazon despite all the circumstances. Unfortunately, we were unable to resume further production of the knives.

March 2022 was the hardest month. A missile launched by Russian terrorists hit the area about 200 meters (656 feet) away from our production facility. It struck a neighboring factory. Thus, our plant was damaged by shrapnel alone. On March 9, there was also a tank battle near Brovary. Our soldiers managed to repulse the invaders. 

Yes, March 2022 was the toughest month. Yet, it was the time when we received hundreds of letters of support and offers of help from all over the world. Warm words from our customers and partners from Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Korea provided us with invaluable encouragement. All of the above, in turn, helped us to stay strong and support each other, as well as those who were in the flashpoint areas – our army. 

We were able to gradually resume production in April after our forces had succeeded in clearing the Kyiv Region of the enemy. Our customers all over the world supported us, and they continue to do so. 

We manufactured a charity lot dedicated to the Independence Day of Ukraine. There were 100 “Independence” Knives released and all the proceeds were donated to the Come Back Alive Foundation. The whole lot was sold out almost within a day. 

This is just one form of support that we have provided to our army. Hundreds of our knives have been sent to the front line. We respond to requests from military units on a regular basis by helping with fundraising and buying thermal imaging cameras and other equipment, body armor, and vehicles.

We will continue to support those who defend us, who make the day of our victory closer, and who bring independence back to all regions of Ukraine. Today we are also one day closer to victory – we sincerely believe in the victory over the invaders. 

After the closure of the Independence Knife sale, we received quite a few requests to have the charity lot back. Now each of you can join our battle with the enemy. We are opening the sale of the Stand with Ukraine knife with a unique engraving and embossing of the Coat of Arms of Ukraine on the sheath. Each knife comes with a lanyard featuring the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Moreover, we will donate 50% of the cost of the knife to the “Zerna Dobra” Foundation, which supports people from the frontline territories and our soldiers. 

Now everyone can get a unique bushcraft knife, and thus support Ukraine in the battle against the enemy trying to seize our land by force. However, we won’t let it happen. Right?