Economic Models
In peacetime, established market principles govern the exchange of goods, services, and other essential components of an economy. For instance, if I were a plumber and you called me early on a Sunday morning because you accidentally punctured a pipe while attempting DIY work, I would expect fair compensation for my services. As the recipient of the service, you would reasonably accept this expectation. This system of value exchange defines how society operates in times of peace, rather than in a state of war.
In Ukraine, where violent Russian aggression has persisted for eleven years, business operates differently from what most Westerners consider the norm. While free-market principles still function—without them, Ukraine would struggle to engage with the global economy and acquire essential items such as tanks, missiles, mortar shells, drones, and ammunition to support its defence—the ongoing conflict has drastically altered the economic landscape.
Community Economy
Thousands of men, women, and children of various ages and skill levels dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to support their soldiers and communities without expecting anything in return. This effort has created an alternative system, which I call the community economy, operating independently of transactional expectations.
During my time in Ukraine, I have met many individuals who strengthen the community economy by supporting the war effort in this national crisis. Avoiding these remarkable people is nearly impossible unless you spend all your time in a basement. They appear everywhere—leaders who set a shining example for the more complacent citizens in both Ukraine and broader Europe. Their presence underscores the urgency for the general public to recognize what is truly at stake.
Sergii The Surgeon
One particularly compassionate and remarkable individual is Sergii Gryshai, a plastic surgeon based in Kyiv. He treats military personnel and civilians affected by the war. Working at the private hospital HB Medical, he welcomes anyone in need of cosmetic procedures, microsurgery, and nerve repair to address injuries inflicted by a ruthless regime attempting to drag the country and its people back behind an iron curtain.
Raising Funds
I met Sergii at a fundraising event near Kyiv that featured music, good food, and a chance to relax amid the ongoing stress of war. The event aimed to raise funds for essential civilian vehicles needed to transport troops along the frontline. Andriy, who managed vehicle procurement at the event, emphasized, “Many units have no mechanized transport and must move on foot.” This reality challenges the understanding of those familiar with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He further explained, “When soldiers, after losing many comrades, receive orders to retreat, they must use the roads. The fields and treelines remain too dangerous due to mines, making them easy targets for drones, snipers, and artillery fire.”
Sergii acknowledges this grim reality. In addition to offering his medical expertise, he allocates a significant portion of his salary to support the war effort. The connection between the botox-filled lips and foreheads of leopard print-wearing women in Podil’s bars on a Saturday night and the war campaign may seem distant. Still, their vanity serves a purpose if they choose Sergii for their procedures. He believes, “It is better to donate money than for me to volunteer. However, I don’t donate to large NGOs because you can never be sure where the money actually goes.”
A Career Of Altruism
Sergii began his medical career in 2009 and has spent 13 of his 18 years as a medical professional treating soldiers and civilians wounded in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The conflict began with Russia’s first invasion in 2014, and hospitals across the country have since filled with wounded individuals in desperate need of care.
During our meeting in his tidy office on the second floor of the hospital—where a few sample breast implants lay casually on his desk—Sergii chuckled as he recalled, “At the start of the war, I worked as an assistant in the state hospital. I saw my position as both a job and a hobby, working all day and into the early morning hours to treat the large number of wounded we received.”
For The Cause
State surgeons earned only five hundred dollars a month for their demanding schedules filled with high-intensity and high-concentration work. Their assistants, a mere eye-watering one hundred. This harsh financial reality led Sergii to switch to the private sector in 2017, where he found a renewed incentive to continue his practice. Although he considered leaving the country for a more prosperous financial future, he ultimately chose to stay and continue supporting his Ukrainian brothers and sisters. Firmly believing it is a common duty of all Ukrainian citizens to contribute towards the military campaign. A sentiment widely shared throughout the community economy. Sergii Gryshai: Cosmetic Surgeon. Sergii Gryshai: Cosmetic Surgeon, Sergii Gryshai: Cosmetic Surgeon.
