Veteran Yaroslav Drachuk dedicated six years of his life to military service. He joined the army after his father was killed in the Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone. Upon returning to civilian life, he expanded his business in partnership with the military community to support Ukrainian defenders.
Since March 2024, Yaroslav has been enrolled in the MBA program at KSE Graduate Business School, aiming to make his business more efficient and, in turn, provide even greater support to the army.
Yaroslav was able to advance his management skills thanks to a grant from FUIB, a bank that consistently supports the scholarship program initiated by the KSE Foundation. FUIB’s support allows both bachelor’s and master’s students at KSE University, as well as veterans who own companies or hold C-level management to receive education at KSE GBS. Since 2018, over 60 professionals have benefited from this partnership.
In 2014, when his father went to Donbas, Yaroslav was still in school. His father’s death motivated him to pursue a military career, and he enrolled at the Bohdan Khmelnytsky National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. His mother Olena also followed in his footsteps, joining the military after years of volunteering since the start of theAnti-Terrorist Operation. Today, she serves in the Air Force, helping to protect Ukraine’s skies.
After graduating from the academy, Yaroslav served in Mohyliv-Podilskyi near the Moldovan border. Later, he expressed a desire to continue his service in Mariupol, where he was promoted to senior lieutenant and received combatant status.
“They say the army turns boys into men. That’s not entirely true. The army reveals and strengthens the qualities you already have. If someone is disciplined, well-mannered, and has leadership potential, the army will enhance those traits. But it can also reinforce any negative qualities you might have. And, of course, the army teaches the art of war,” he explains.
Yaroslav experienced the full-scale Russian invasion while in Mariupol. By then, he had already left the army as a veteran, but he continued to support his comrades. After consulting with the military community, he decided to focus on developing logistics infrastructure to support the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
In a short period of time, Yaroslav, alongside other veterans and active service members, successfully launched and grew several business projects. Together, they formed the Company Group Team (CGT), a military community dedicated to elevating the prestige of the army, advocating for the interests of Ukrainian military personnel, and providing essential supplies to units.
Yaroslav is now focused on building commercial enterprises, with profits going directly to support the army. His primary activity involves creating and selling CGT merchandise.
The company offers hoodies, T-shirts, patches, thermal underwear, and more. Several collections are available, and they’re popular across Ukraine. The proceeds are used to fund supplies for the military.
“We produce T-shirts and hoodies, print them, and sell them. We run multiple businesses and have diversified production. The money we save from manufacturing is reinvested into producing new items, while the profits are used to buy vehicles, equipment, military gear, and thermal imagers. Our business isn’t about making money; it’s about supporting the military units by meeting their needs,” says Yaroslav.
Currently, about 30 people work under his leadership. He is eager to expand existing ventures, launch new business projects, and improve his leadership skills, which is why he joined the MBA program.
After his initial business successes, Yaroslav realized that he lacked the theoretical knowledge to organize his practical experience. His desire for deeper knowledge in management and business development led him to KSE Graduate Business School.
“I have practical skills developed through chaotic actions during the war. Intuition is good, but it will only take you so far. You need to structure your skills, and that requires theoretical knowledge. It will help you act methodically, not randomly. With practical experience, you understand how to apply theory,” he says.
The MBA program began in March and runs for 20 months. Yaroslav is pleased with the educational process, though he acknowledges that it’s not easy.
“If something feels easy, you’re probably not doing it right. You can’t grow by staying comfortable. Only by overcoming challenges can you truly learn something new,” he says.
Yaroslav’s opportunity to study was made possible by FUIB. He compares business support for education to investing in ideas that have the potential to thrive and persist.
“Time passes, money comes and goes, people die, but ideas remain. It’s important not just to adapt to events, but to learn how to influence them. By investing in people and their development, we invest in the ability to shape the course of events. That’s what FUIB’s investment in the scholarship program and my grant represents. Everyone has their own value, and it’s not always about money. It’s essential that we cultivate high-quality human capital. Once we’re mature and capable enough, we’ll be able to influence events in ways that serve the Ukrainian nation,” he concludes.