Vadym Novynskyi has a long history of service to the Ukrainian people. Although he was born in Russia, he’s a highly involved Ukrainian citizen who has served his beloved country for two elected terms as a member of parliament. He also holds a 3rd Class Order of Merit from the Ukrainian federal government in recognition of his significant contributions to the nation. And he’s been living up to his reputation as a generous philanthropist, aiding in Ukrainian war efforts and directing yet another shipment of refugee relief kits through his charitable arm, the Vadym Novynskyi Foundation.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Novynskyi has been steadfast in his commitment to stay in his adopted home and his insistence that there are simply no excuses for this act of foreign aggression.
True to the spirit of its eponymous founder and leader, the Vadym Novynskyi Foundation has supported Ukraine’s defense forces as well as the people of occupied spaces. Most recently, the organization sent 250 food relief kits, weighing roughly 55 pounds apiece, to domestic refugees in Ukraine’s Zakarpattya oblast.
“We will remind that for the period from Feb. 24, 2022, to today, the Vadym Novynskyi Foundation has already sent more than 80,000 food kits to the regions of Ukraine to support the population in conditions of full-scale military operations,” explains the organization’s website.
‘Handing Over a Piece of Our Heart’
Fleeing from Russian military forces, these refugees are living temporarily in Zakarpattya following their displacement from Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Distributed in partnership with the charity program of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Mission of Mercy, each Vadym Novynskyi Foundation relief kit contains a range of durable food items with easy storage capabilities and long shelf lives.
“We continue to deliver aid to the most affected regions of our country,” said Archpriest Andriy Dvorovi, head of the department of social service and charity of the Kyiv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “This time, the humanitarian cargo is heading to the city of Kherson, to the Ostriv district, which is currently being shelled more than anything else. We are handing over 250 food kits from the Vadym Novynskyi Foundation with a total weight of 2.5 tons, and most importantly, we are handing over a piece of our heart to our brothers and sisters who are suffering from the war.”
This was far from the first delivery of humanitarian cargo from the Vadym Novynskyi Foundation. The organization has also donated emergency support in the form of ambulances and fuel to provide emergency transportation and evacuation assistance to Ukrainians who are most severely impacted by the unrest in war-torn areas.
Novynskyi’s policy-making decisions are rooted in his firm Christian faith and lifelong membership in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. His devotion, as well as his acts of kindness, have earned him admittance to both the Order of the UOC The Nativity of Christ and the UOC’s Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The UOC has also bestowed its prestigious Chest Cross of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark upon Novynskyi in recognition of his Christian service.
Vadym Novynskyi’s Large-Scale Humanitarian Endeavors
Novynskyi launched his large-scale humanitarian endeavors after rising to prominence in the business world. As the owner of the multifaceted investment conglomerate Smart Holding Group, he controls an investment portfolio that includes a 24% stake in the international iron ore production giant Metinvest. His position with Smart Holding Group has made Novynskyi one of the wealthiest people in the world. As reported by Forbes in March 2023, he ranked 1978th among the richest individuals alive today with a total estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.
Smart Holding Group has doubled down on its commitment to transparency during the Russian conflict to deliver an accurate reflection of the war’s tragic toll. “Throughout our portfolio,” said Smart Holding Group CEO Julia Kiryanova, “we see more than 50% down in production.” However, Kiryanova voiced considerable optimism while speaking on a panel titled “Spirit of Resilience: Ukrainian Voices” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “However, there is good news — we are alive. By saying that, I do not mean only that we are struggling every day and keep going with all our employees. I am saying that we are looking in the future.”