Mala Oleksandrivka in the Kherson region endured Russian occupation and looting, after which life in the village had to be rebuilt almost from scratch. But today it smells of coffee and hot food again, cars stop, and people’s voices can be heard.
Behind this return to life stands the story of local entrepreneur Vadym Kovalchuk — a story of loss, persistence, and the desire to live on his land.
After the full-scale war began, the entrepreneur’s family was forced to leave for Kryvyi Rih, where they lived for several years as internally displaced persons. Returning home in 2024 did not bring relief — it became a new blow.
Traces of the occupation remained at the site of their small shop. Russian military first looted it, and later turned it into their own mess hall.
“The ‘liberators’ made a mess hall here, they scattered all the property…” — says Vadym.
The scene was depressing: broken windows, shattered displays, stolen goods.
“They literally smashed the window, went in and took ice cream and biscuits from the trays like that. Loaded it onto an APC and drove away. Right from the trays, as it was. They smashed the showcases and everything,” — says the entrepreneur.
But even after that, the Kovalchuk family decided to return and start again.
“Little by little we rebuilt,” — that is how Vadym describes the process.
There was plenty of work. They needed to clear the premises, carry out repairs and get operations running.
At the same time, the entrepreneur decided not to limit himself to rebuilding the previous business, and thanks to the state grant “Vlasna Sprava” (“Own Business”) there was an opportunity to open a new direction — a small food truck.
Today this food truck operates in Mala Oleksandrivka and has become a magnet for local residents.
On the menu — shawarma, panini, sandwiches, burgers, ciabatta with salmon.
Some dishes are prepared in-house, in particular the shawarma, which is assembled by hand, while frozen food is cooked on the grill. The format is simple but in demand, as it allows people to be provided with a hot snack quickly and affordably.
At the same time, this business is not only about food but also about supporting the local economy. They create jobs here, pay taxes and develop.
However, according to Vadym Kovalchuk, staffing difficulties remain — finding workers in such conditions is difficult. Some people are not ready to work due to security risks, others leave because of family decisions or move to safer regions. There are also those who choose to live on humanitarian aid instead of working. All of this creates a situation where businesses are forced to operate under constant staff shortages and limited resources.
To keep the business afloat in such realities, one has to think about stability. So last year they installed an energy station next to the shop to make the business more energy-independent.
At the same time, the entrepreneurs actively develop their social media presence. They created a TikTok page where they show new items, the preparation process, and talk about their plans.
“Young people really take to it,” — says Vadym.
This is no longer just advertising, but a way to speak to the world and prove that there is life here.
Together with his family he even went to Vinnytsia to a meeting of entrepreneurs to learn how to better promote his business.
Despite everything they’ve been through, the entrepreneurs’ family has plans for the future — next to the food truck they want to set up a children’s playground with trampolines and slides, put up additional tents, create a place where people will come not only for food but also for a sense of normal life.
Vadym Kovalchuk talks about his business simply, without pomp, but his words reveal a clear stance.
“We create jobs, pay taxes, promote Kherson region, promote business. If everyone did that — Kherson would certainly not fall silent, would not die out,” — the entrepreneur is convinced.