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Rebuilding Ukraine, One Piece at a Time
Lutsk, Ukraine – “How can I be useful?”
Faced with a world turned upside down in the immediate wake of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Yaryna, a former stay-at-home mom with a business background, asked herself this simple yet powerful question.
Only one month after the attacks began, war was wreaking havoc all around her. Beyond the devastating human toll, the country’s cultural heritage also experienced immense losses as historic architecture, museums, and landmarks were reduced to rubble overnight.
Feeling helpless at the scale of destruction and loss of life, Yaryna felt she had only one choice: to take action.
Together with another Ukrainian woman, Vita, a designer, they sought to use their skills to contribute in a meaningful way. “That’s how, in March 2022, the idea for a puzzle business was born,” Yaryna explains. “Firstly, it was a contribution to Ukraine’s economy, and secondly, it was an unconventional yet deeply symbolic way to tell the world about the war and Ukraine as a whole.”
Yaryna and Vita created a variety of puzzles with images of Ukrainian landmarks that were destroyed by the war, allowing people to “rebuild” them, piece by piece. A small but significant symbol to help preserve their national identity. Through their company, “Ukrainian Puzzles,” they not only strive to raise awareness about Ukraine’s cultural destruction and heritage but are active in supporting reconstruction in a meaningful way. With each purchase, five per cent of the profits go directly toward restoring landmarks – transforming symbolic acts into tangible results.
People like Yaryna and Vita show that even in the face of destruction, recovery and rebuilding are a powerful testament of hope for a better future ahead. On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, their work underscores Ukrainians’ ability to be both resilient and self-reliant.
As the war rages on, the toll on Ukraine’s population, infrastructure and cultural heritage has been truly devastating. Since February 2022, 12,300 civilians, including more than 650 children, have been killed.* Over 700 medical facilities and 1,500 schools and colleges have also been damaged or completely destroyed.
Buildings destroyed by Russian missile attacks in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, 2024. Photo: IOM Ukraine/ Anna Tsybko
A 120-year-old regional youth library and museum of Ukrainian antiquities in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, was destroyed by a Russian airstrike in March 2022. Photo: GDIP Media Centre (top), Ukrainian Puzzles (bottom)
According to UNESCO estimates, over 470 Ukrainian cultural landmarks have been either damaged or destroyed over the past three years, including more than 140 religious sites, 32 museums, dozens of libraries and archives. From centuries-old churches to historical buildings and art museums, the country’s architectural identity has been marred by the war’s brutality.
Yaryna and Vita's company has also suffered as a result. In March 2024, a missile attack on Lutsk destroyed much of their inventory. The company pivoted right away, switching to wooden, as opposed to cardboard puzzles as an alternative. Wooden puzzles are easier to produce in lower quantities, which mitigates potential risks and allows Yaryna and Vita to sample cutouts in a more sustainable way.
The team’s resilience paid off. By the fall of 2024, they had secured a grant from IOM, allowing them to acquire new equipment and set up their own production facility, instead of relying on subcontractors, which proved difficult in times of war and uncertainty. This leap in capacity not only ensured quicker adjustments to meet demand but also helped to lower production costs.
Today, Yaryna and Vita also organize puzzle tournaments; the winners – those who put together the images of landmarks the fastest – win a monetary prize that is donated to reconstruction efforts.
The company’s reach extends beyond Ukraine. Their puzzles are now also popular internationally, and are sold in Europe, North America, and beyond.
Running a business during wartime is difficult, the pair shares – there is shelling, power outages, and an ever-present sense of uncertainty. Yet, through it all, Yaryna and Vita find strength in the unwavering support of their customers. “No matter the news, Ukrainians continue to place orders with us. This inspires and motivates us to keep going,” Yaryna shares.
As the war enters its fourth year, the success of this social initiative is proof that even when buildings and objects are reduced to rubble, the human spirit is hard to destroy. And as they continue their work, Yaryna and Vita – like millions of other Ukrainians across the country – play their part in rebuilding, one piece at a time.
“We, Ukrainians, have the ability to rebuild everything – even from tiny pieces,” Yaryna says. “Through puzzles, what has been destroyed comes back to life.”
Ukraine's "Mriya" (Dream), the worldslargest cargo plane, destroyed by Russian forces in 2022. Photo: Ukrainian Puzzles
IOM, together with its local and international partners, are committed to supporting those affected by the war in Ukraine, providing support ranging from critical humanitarian aid and emergency health services to livelihood, protection, mental health and infrastructure initiatives.
