The Bristol University graduate helping thousands of Ukrainian refugees

When Yegor Lanovenko saw the devastation being wrecked on Ukraine by Russian forces, he new he had to act quickly to help those affected.

The Bristol University graduate, who was born in Odessa, launched a platform that is currently helping thousands of people seeking to flee the war-torn country resettle in the UK, with 700 already in receipt of visas from the Home Office.

Yegor set up a charity called Opora in what he has described as a “whirlwind response” to the outbreak of war and, through this, is supporting Ukrainians to resettle and rebuild their lives in sustainable ways for the long-term.

Using their networks, the entrepreneur along with Opora trustees brought together a team of specialists including a law firm, global travel company, software development firms, infrastructure security experts and community volunteers to create a support network for Ukrainians looking to relocate to the UK under various Government schemes.

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“I had to channel my energy into something constructive,” said Yegor, who moved to London after leaving university with a degree in history and a masters in philosophy.

“I’d rather be engaging with people directly rather than hearing about it all on the news.”

Sensing the situation in Ukraine was escalating, Yegor convinced his mother to extend her stay in the UK rather than go back to Odessa at Christmas. She is now safe with his sister in Prague.

But Yegor wanted to help others still in Ukraine and seeking to escape.

“These atrocities aren’t close to home, they are home,” he said. “I have members of my extended family or friends fighting, others that can’t leave and others, such as elderly relatives, that won’t leave. They think ‘we were born here, so we will die here’.”

The online platform that launched in March has signed up 15,000 active users, both Ukrainian refugees and UK sponsors, leading to more than 1,500 self-reported matches already being made between Ukrainian and British households.

Speaking about the weeks since the launch, Yegor said: “I started off thinking ‘if we can just help five or ten people’ and then before I knew it, we had developed and launched an online platform in under 48 hours, raised tens of thousands of pounds and were organising journeys through our travel partners for hundreds of families who had received visas to reach safety. It’s been a whirlwind.

“If you’re in the right place at the right time with the right resources and skills then you’re obliged to help.”

Yegor lived in Prague before coming to Bristol to study, where he met his partner, Sophie. He has worked in senior strategy and product development roles in banking and financial services, as well as advisory roles to student-led startups.

Yegor Lanovenko as a baby in Odessa – photo: Yegor Lanovenko/ Bristol University

Opora is designed to provide a structured way for both communities to connect, while also funding emergency travel and providing practical advice to refugees fleeing the war. The platform’s main function is to facilitate access to employment opportunities, business grants for refugee-led businesses and other resources for successful integration and resettlement.

Yegor added: “We have UK employers pledging to hire Ukrainian refugees, but how do they reach the right communities, with the right skillsets to benefit from these opportunities? That’s where we come in, leveraging the platform and the data to ensure people can receive relevant, tailored employment opportunities.

“It’s not only about finding a suitable sponsor or guest, it’s about the community support throughout the complicated process, before, during and after arrival. Through the platform, guests can access assistance such as fully funded travel from our partners, supplies for babies and mothers, employment opportunities, and more to come.”

Main photo: Yegor Lanovenko/ Bristol University 

Read more: First Ukrainian refugees are welcomed into the city 

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