Stanislav Zavertailo, the co-owner of a popular family-run cafe in Kyiv, Ukraine, spoke with NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben about what it is like to live and operate a business amid ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks.
In May, Zavertailo’s cafe storefront was severely damaged in an overnight attack, leaving behind shattered glass and ruins. However, the entire team—including manufacturing, office, marketing, sales, and logistics staff—rallied together to clear the debris, allowing the cafe to reopen within a few days.
During the interview, conducted from a shelter during a bomb alert, Zavertailo noted that the hardest part of the relentless bombardments is the loss of innocent civilian lives. Because air raid alerts disrupt public transit and prevent some employees from reaching work, Zavertailo personally went to the cafe at 7:00 a.m. after a sleepless night of protecting his daughter from explosions to bake croissants.
As a family-owned business that opened before the war with his wife, Zavertailo and his family decided to stay in Ukraine with their three children to maintain a semblance of normal life. Following particularly difficult nights of rocket attacks, the cafe follows a tradition of offering small complimentary sweets, such as small eclairs, to morning guests to provide a moment of comfort and normalcy.
When asked about his hopes for the future, Zavertailo shared that he prefers not to look too far ahead to avoid the exhaustion of unmet timelines. Instead, his main dream is for his friends and workers currently serving in the army to return safely so they can be reunited and celebrate together. Rather than stopping or resting, he remains focused on walking the road toward victory every single day.
