“Kitchen of Friendship” in the Sumy Region: Four Days of Warmth, Thousands of Portions of Pilaf, and the Resilience of Communities

This time, the team behind the “Kitchen of Friendship” initiative, operating within the international project “Yurt of Invincibility”, worked in the Sumy region. Over four days, from March 14 to 17, we visited Sumy, Trostianets, and Okhtyrka to support residents of a region that demonstrates its courage to the world every day.

Sumy: Two Days of Unity in the Heart of the City

Our visit to the Sumy region began in the regional center. On March 14 and 15, we set up our kitchen right in the heart of the city. During these two days, we treated residents of Sumy to authentic Kazakh pilaf, cooked over an open fire, as well as traditional Kazakh tea and baursaks.

As noted by Acting Mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar:

“This is not just about food — it is about support, friendship, and warmth, which are so important for our people during these challenging times. We thank everyone who stands with Sumy and Ukraine.”

Trostianets: 600 Portions for an Unbreakable City

On March 16, the “Kitchen of Friendship” arrived in Trostianets — a city that endured severe испытания and occupation but remained unbroken. In the city center, we prepared around 600 portions of hot pilaf. In addition to the main dish, residents enjoyed traditional Kazakh baursaks and warmed themselves with hot Kazakh tea.

Okhtyrka: The Final Stop of the Regional Stage

The final destination of our route in the Sumy region was Okhtyrka, where the team arrived on March 17. The city welcomed us with sincere smiles. Local residents had the opportunity to enjoy a hot meal and connect with the volunteers. This stop became a natural conclusion of our mission in the region, confirming the strong demand for such initiatives, especially in communities that remain under constant pressure from the enemy.

About the “Kitchen of Friendship” Initiative

The initiator and driving force behind the project is Member of Parliament of Ukraine and Head of the Interparliamentary Relations Group with the Republic of Kazakhstan, Serhii Nahorniak. The implementation of such large-scale support became possible thanks to strong partnership with a major Kazakh benefactor — the “BI Group” holding.

Together, we have joined efforts to systematically support Ukrainian communities and strengthen ties between our nations.

The Sumy region became a vivid and emotional chapter of our broader plan to prepare 15,000 portions of pilaf across the country. Behind the team are thousands of grateful smiles and warmed communities — and ahead lie new routes to frontline cities, where our support is needed the most today.