Saved from Irpin, he now makes tactical wear for Ukraine's defenders
In his host Rivne region, displaced man Mykhailo Khomych received a grant from the state and opened a sewing shop that makes tactical clothing for the military. The Ukrainian army already wears it.
The Rivne Regional Military Administration reported on Facebook that before the invasion started, Mykhailo and his family lived in Irpin, the city in the Kyiv region severely damaged by russian shelling, which was also under occupation for one month. At home, he headed the legal department of the construction company. But last year, on February 24, when russian launched a full-scale war with bombardment and terror, he took his wife and two-month-old daughter away from the explosions. The family moved to the Rivne region, a safer area in Ukraine's northwest.
Mykhailo communicated with many friends who joined the ranks of the armed forces as volunteers. At that time, among other things, they needed warm clothes.
"Besides plate carriers, bulletproof vests, and other equipment, the boys needed peacoats. I started looking for someone in Rivne who could sew them. And it turned out to be quite a difficult task," says Mykhailo. "I tried different options. Ultimately, I realized this problem needed a different solution, and organizing such production independently would be easier and more effective."
That's how Mykhailo Khomych got the idea to start his own business. And then, he learned about the possibility of receiving a grant from the state for its development and used the government program "YeRobota." He says that his legal experience played a role here. After all, he is used to tracking and studying information about various innovations.
Mykhailo received consultations from specialists at the Rivne Regional Employment Center, underwent training, wrote a business plan, and submitted an online application through the Diia governmental portal. And the project was supported. Mykhailo received 250,000 hryvnias from the state to develop his business. He directed the money to the equipment and arrangement of the workshop. He hired people.
Nowadays, everyday tactical clothing is sewn in the shop. These are suits, insulated pants, summer versions, fleece jackets, and more. Volunteers also buy products and send them to the military.
