A former front-line soldier shares his business story
Another network of veteran pizzerias may emerge and flourish in the capital, as many veterans possess ideas and a strong desire to bring such a concept to life.
This and more was shared with journalists from the YouTube project "Kashtan. Business" by Mykhailo Roschuk, a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war and one of the founders of the Pizza BRO pizzeria.
“There is an idea to open more similar establishments and develop them into a chain. There are many veteran comrades who also want to open similar pizzerias,” said Roschuk.
3 He recounted that prior to the Russian aggression that began in 2014, he worked in the Kyiv metro, earned a higher education, and became an engineer specializing in train repairs. He joined the Ukrainian military in 2015, serving in the 11th Separate Infantry Battalion "Kyivska Rus," which participated in battles in Eastern Ukraine. He returned to civilian life in 2016.
4 “The idea of opening a pizzeria came to me when my comrades implemented the same idea in Obolon,” Mykhailo Roschuk reminisced.
Thanks to his comrades, the veteran noted, Pizza BRO was opened in 2023 and welcomed its first visitor.
5 According to Mykhailo Roschuk, the main idea behind the pizzeria was to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for veterans.
The front-line soldier admitted that many veterans, even those he does not know, frequently visit the pizzeria, living nearby.
6 Almost every visiting veteran brings flags, patches from the units they served in, and other memorabilia to the restaurant. These items are used to decorate the establishment.
We even have a flag that was brought by a British soldier serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, revealed the interviewee.
7 “We have very delicious pizza! We offer a huge selection—over 20 types! And when it comes to the ratio of dough to filling, about 30 percent is dough, while the rest is filling. So we don’t have a 50-50 ratio or even more dough than filling. We have more filling!” Roschuk boasted.
8 At the same time, he advised comrades who have returned from war and decided to start their own business to reach out to the Ukrainian Veteran Fund. Its staff, Roschuk noted, are eager to provide guidance on how to proceed. Additionally, all advice is thoroughly detailed on the Fund's website.
For more details, check out the latest episode of the YouTube project "Kashtan. Business" at this link.