Ukraine's tech community rises to challenges of war

Just over a week ago, Polina Boichuk 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."

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.

With a thriving technology scene, Ukraine was fast becoming a key hub in Eastern Europe and last year recorded its first "decacorns" - start-ups valued above $10bn (£7.5bn).

Now, many are focused on raising funds for the army.

Ukraine-based start-up Adwisely has launched a website showing how to donate to the Ukrainian army

Mobile app Diia is enabling Ukrainians to donate government grants for Covid-19 vaccinations to the military instead.

And millions of dollars have been donated.

Yelzaveta Semko, who also works for Truman, told BBC News internet connectivity remained pretty stable in most cities, with some providers setting up connections in shelters and underground bunkers.

But the Russians were trying to "misinform Ukrainians and spread fakes online", including bogus messages, pretending to be from Ukraine's security service about evacuation plans, and telling them Kyiv was surrounded.

It is frightening - but some Ukrainian businesses are fighting back.

In an attempt to combat the disinformation, Ukraine-based face-swapping app Reface now sends push notifications about the invasion to its 200 million Russian users, as well as watermarking all its videos with the hashtag #StandWithUkraine.

And Ukrainian security company Ajax Systems is developing an app to notify citizens about air-raid sirens.

Meanwhile, Western technology companies have pledged to look after their employees in Ukraine.

Uber has paused operations in the country and offered its Kyiv-based employees and families relocation to other parts of Ukraine or abroad.

And rival Lyft has offered financial support to those wishing to temporarily leave.

But Andy Kurtzig, chief executive of JustAnswer, a website where people can quiz from doctors, lawyers, mechanics and other professionals, has no plans to evacuate his 87 Ukrainian employees.

Instead, he has promised to continue to pay them 50% of their salaries if they sign up to fight for Ukraine, as well as guaranteeing their employment when they return.

"Many other companies are pulling out of Ukraine and feeling Ukraine - but that's exactly what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants," Mr Kurtzig said.

"We're not going to run away."

For now, work is at a standstill, with the company giving employees five days' paid leave.

And JustAnswer is working hard to keep its infrastructure stable and information safe by:

Other companies are helping evacuate employees, though.

Website-building company Wix said its employees based in Lithuania had driven to the Poland-Ukraine border to help their Ukrainian team members and families.

"These people have never met before," chief executive Avishai Abrahami tweeted.

"I'm extremely moved and proud."

Wix president Nir Zohar said:: "Being an employer has deep layers and we can't shy away from our responsibility in desperate times.

"We have the resources and the ability to help.

"It's not just the right thing to do, it's the only thing to do."

Meanwhile, Ms Boichuk hopes one day the international press will return to press conferences in Ukraine "and see this very beautiful, fantastic and free country with your own eyes".