During his speech in Lviv, Serhiy Sternenko shared his experience in civic activism, volunteering and the role of youth in supporting the Ukrainian military. Despite being wounded in early May, Sternenko emphasized the importance of supporting the army and remaining civically active.
Sternenko described his activism starting from his school years and his participation in many protests, beginning with the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity. He stressed that empathy, initiative, and engagement from every individual are crucial to achieving societal change.
A key focus of the speech was Sternenko's volunteer community, which has become the largest non-governmental supplier of drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Over four years, the community has raised over UAH 5 billion for drones supplied to the frontline every day. In August 2023 alone, almost UAH 312 million were collected. Sternenko noted the flexibility and speed of volunteer logistics compared to government procedures.
Addressing the younger generation, Sternenko highlighted the importance of empathy, initiative and determination in solving key issues. He encouraged civic engagement, volunteering and innovation, noting how even small-scale fundraising can have a significant impact on the army.
The Q&A session addressed motivation, how to overcome discouragement, involving foreign donors, and the role of independent media. Sternenko emphasized the indispensable contribution of the volunteer community and pointed out the strategic importance of donations and public support for the Armed Forces.
He concluded that the main values for Ukraine's future are empathy, proactivity, unity and a demand for reforms. Military reform, stronger defense capabilities, and overcoming bureaucracy are vital for Ukraine's chance of victory, he said.
