Despite all the difficulties, Kherson residents continue to pursue their work – opening establishments, traveling to work under drones, preparing food and waiting for their customers. People create spaces where one can, even for a short time, hide from anxiety and feel warmth.
One of these places is a small establishment «Faini Cheburechky». They fry chebureks here, organize parties for children and prove every day that life in the city goes on.
Owner Lyudmyla ran a cheburek shop before the full-scale invasion. After Kherson’s de-occupation she bought the premises and opened an establishment here called «Faini Cheburechky». She says it was not a spontaneous decision.
«People themselves asked me to restore the establishment’s operation», – she says. The city, she adds, lacked places where one could simply eat something hot and feel at least a little of normal life.
On St. Nicholas Day Lyudmyla organized a celebration for Kherson children – a magician visited the little ones, music played, and children laughed and played. Gifts and bright emotions made that day special.
Working in Kherson now means making difficult decisions every day. Highway M14, which connects the city with Mykolaiv, is under constant drone attacks. Because of this suppliers often refuse to travel, so Lyudmyla purchases ingredients for the kitchen herself. She goes to Mykolaiv alone or waits there for deliveries. Some items are sent by mail.
«Sometimes we have to go to Mykolaiv and wait there. For example, we also take high-temperature oil for the fryer only there, because in Kherson it simply isn’t available», – the owner says.
At «Faini Cheburechky» they do not use semi-finished products. Everything is prepared from scratch here.
«We buy the meat ourselves and make all the preparations by hand», – says Lyudmyla. According to her, it’s difficult, but she cannot imagine running the establishment any other way.
Another challenge – a shortage of staff. Many people have left the city, many are afraid to return. Despite this, a close-knit team has gathered at «Faini Cheburechky». People who support Lyudmyla and are ready to work together even in difficult conditions.
For example, Natalia had a business in this field even before the full-scale invasion. She recalls that she worked in the city center, which is now considered one of the most dangerous districts.
«It was very scary to work in the center, but you want to eat every day, so you had to take risks. When Lyudmyla called and asked if I was ready to return, I did not hesitate for a second. I immediately said I would work. I know her well and trust her. She is a very good manager; we call her ‘mom’», – smiles Natalia.
Owner Lyudmyla recalls the first working day after the opening as a real chaos. People had to wait two hours for chebureks. There were so many people. The influx was so great that they had to buy another fryer to reduce waiting time.
Even now customers sometimes have to wait 40 minutes. In addition to chebureks, the menu includes french fries, pancakes, shrimp and other dishes. People wait patiently because they know why they came.
Chef Ivan says he likes this job.
«I really enjoy working as a cook and interacting with people. This job suits me», – he says.
Before the winter holidays Ivan willingly transformed into a magician to greet the children and give them a good mood.
He admits that at first it was scary to go to work, but over time he got used to it.
«Oh, well, it’s hard to work in Kherson now, there are few people and little work, but I am very glad that I work at “Faini Cheburechky”. Now I get up in the morning, come here, and everything is as usual: we cook, make preparations, fry, boil and feed people. After work I often take a taxi home because minibuses don’t run; sometimes people encounter drones on the way, but thank God I’m lucky», – says Ivan.
So, despite the shelling, people come to «Faini Cheburechky» every day. Some have lunch on site, some take food with them. They even come from other districts of the city, including Shumenskyi and HBK.
Kherson residents are convinced that small business in the city is extremely important now.
«It needs to be developed. You should not be afraid, even despite the shelling», – says one of the visitors, who herself has a small business.
Lyudmyla builds plans for the future cautiously. She says that right now the main thing is to maintain service and create an atmosphere people want to return to. This business has always been close to her.
«I love interacting with people. I really like it when I am greeted with gratitude», – says Lyudmyla.
In a city where war has become part of daily reality, «Faini Cheburechky» remain a place of warmth. A place where, despite fear, fatigue and danger, they continue to cook, smile and feed people.