Just over a week ago, Polina Boichuk and Tech Developer was busy helping organise a technology-awards ceremony in Ukraine – but life has changed dramatically.
“It’s awful. This can’t be happening – me, my family, my friends are all sitting in the basements around the country,” she told BBC News.
Consultancy company Truman had planned the awards ceremony for April and had invited press from around the world.
Now, technology companies have a new priority – how to help the war effort.
“We don’t think of tech conferences but only the safety and independence of our country,” Ms Boichuk told BBC News.
“All the tech companies and start-ups that were nominated for our project are fighting on the cyber-front now.”
Via a Google Meet, Stepan Veselovskyi, chief executive of Lviv IT Cluster, a tech community that unites nearly 200 companies in the city in western Ukraine, showed BBC News around his office – now full of key supplies such as medicines, bedding and food.
“Before the war we were a business organisation – but now we have transformed into a volunteer organisation,” he said.
“Everyone has become a volunteer.
“Anyone who has a car is taking supplies to other cities, at their own risk.”
Find shelter
Many technology companies were relocating to the west of the country, fleeing the Russian advance, Mr Veselovskyi told BBC News.
“It has saved many lives but also helps companies continue to sell their services,” he said.
“We can’t just sit and be afraid.
“And it is important for the Ukrainian economy if companies are able to deliver.” Lviv IT Cluster is helping those who have left cities hit by bombing find shelter and supplies.
Mr Veselovskyi is also working with 200 cyber-security experts.
Lots of people have left Ukraine for the safety of Poland Meanwhile, Western technology companies have pledged to look after their employees in Ukraine.
“Many other companies are pulling out of Ukraine and fleeing Ukraine – but that’s exactly what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants,” Mr Kurtzig said.
