Year: 2026

The Domino Foundation, established by philanthropist and founder of DOMINO.UA Anton Shukhnin, joined the “Born of War” exhibition — a project dedicated to the Ukrainian struggle, memory, and national identity. The exhibition was created together with the UA Heritage team and the NGO “Spadshchyna.ua”.

At the heart of the exhibition are Ukrainian flags, chevrons, and military heraldry as symbols of strength, resilience, and history that must be preserved for future generations. The organizers placed special emphasis on the topic of the missing and the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
“The issue of the missing, the issue of return from captivity — this is not something distant for our entire team,” said Svitlana Makhonko, co-founder of the UA Heritage platform and the NGO “Spadshchyna.ua”.
DOMINO.UA founder and philanthropist Anton Shukhnin emphasized the importance of preserving Ukrainian identity through national symbols and support for the military.

“Ukrainian heraldry, Ukrainian flags and chevrons — these are very important for our Ukrainian identity, so that future generations also understand history. From the very beginning of the full-scale invasion, we have been helping the military, our soldiers. It is an honor for us,” said Shukhnin.
Domino Foundation systematically supports Ukrainian defenders, humanitarian initiatives, and projects aimed at preserving historical memory. Participation in the “Born of War” exhibition became a continuation of this mission.
Anton Shukhnin is a Ukrainian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of DOMINO.UA and Domino Foundation. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the foundation has been supporting Ukrainian military personnel, humanitarian initiatives, and social projects.

Volunteer, entrepreneur, and founder of the Domino Foundation charitable organization, Anton Shukhnin, has received the “For Contribution to the Defense of Kyiv” award. This distinction is granted for a tangible contribution to the protection of the capital and support of Ukrainian military personnel during the war.

This is not about a one-time initiative, but rather systematic assistance that has continued for years. Since 2014, Shukhnin has been supporting Ukrainian servicemen, and after the start of the full-scale invasion, the scale of his activities increased significantly.

In the spring of 2022, during the active defense of Kyiv, he joined volunteer efforts together with the “Ukrainian Team” foundation. At the same time, as an entrepreneur, Anton Shukhnin organized the supply of aid for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military intelligence (HUR), territorial defense units, and civilians in the capital.

A key feature of this work is its practical results. In particular, the military received a Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck used for combat missions, as well as regular food supplies in Kyiv during the most difficult stages of the fighting.

A separate focus was placed on equipment: dozens of body armor vests and helmets were delivered, along with charging stations that ensured communication and the operation of equipment during shelling and power outages.

Over time, this assistance evolved into systematic work through the Domino Foundation charitable organization. The foundation became the main tool for coordinating the transfer of vehicles, equipment, and gear to units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

Among the delivered items is a Dodge RAM pickup truck currently operating in the Pokrovsk direction. In frontline conditions, such vehicles perform critical functions: transporting personnel, evacuating the wounded, and delivering ammunition.

The military also received a specialized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter adapted for use in combat zones. Its technical characteristics allow it to carry out tasks where standard vehicles cannot cope.

Modern technology is also an important part of the support. Domino Foundation supplies units with unmanned aerial vehicles, including Mavic-type drones used for reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, and combat operations.

Overall, Anton Shukhnin’s activities cover the full spectrum of support—from basic needs to high-tech frontline equipment. This comprehensive approach is what led to him being awarded the “For Contribution to the Defense of Kyiv” distinction.

The charitable foundation, established by entrepreneur and philanthropist Anton Shukhnin, provided Ukrainian service members with another shipment of aid — chemical warmers essential for carrying out combat missions in harsh weather conditions.

These are individual heating devices that activate without electricity or open flame. Such warmers help soldiers maintain body temperature during extended periods at positions, in dugouts, or while on night duty, when access to full heating is limited or unavailable.

According to foundation representatives, chemical warmers remain one of the most in-demand consumable items at the front. They are compact, safe to use, and can function for several hours even in sub-zero temperatures — a critical factor for troops operating on the front line.

Domino Foundation emphasizes that its assistance is based on the real needs of units directly engaged in combat operations. The delivery of warmers is part of the foundation’s systematic support for Ukrainian defenders, which has continued since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Domino Foundation was created by Anton and Anastasiia Shukhnin to support Ukraine’s Defense Forces and civilians affected by the war. The organization regularly supplies military units with vehicles, equipment, and essential gear.

The transfer of chemical warmers is not the foundation’s first recent initiative. Previously, Domino Foundation implemented several large-scale support projects for Ukrainian troops.

In particular, the foundation purchased and delivered a Toyota Hilux pickup truck to Defense Forces units. After additional modifications, the vehicle is now used for combat missions on the front line. It was equipped with specialized features and reinforced tires for operations in combat zones.

In cooperation with volunteer partners, the foundation also delivered a powerful Dodge RAM off-road vehicle, which is currently operating in one of the most challenging sectors of the front and is used for logistics, evacuation, and transporting equipment.

In addition to vehicles, Domino Foundation has supplied units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine with modern DJI Mavic drones, as well as specialized equipment for reconnaissance missions in high-risk areas.

The foundation stresses that military support must be continuous, as modern warfare requires not only weapons but also a large amount of auxiliary equipment — from vehicles and drones to individual supplies such as heating devices.

Anton Shukhnin has repeatedly emphasized that business participation in supporting the army during wartime is not charity, but a matter of civic responsibility. The foundation operates in both military and humanitarian areas, also assisting internally displaced persons and families who have lost their homes due to the war.

Domino Foundation states that it will continue responding to the current needs of the front and providing equipment, gear, and essential resources to Ukrainian defenders.

This latest delivery of chemical warmers is another example of how targeted yet practical support directly impacts the safety and endurance of soldiers in combat conditions — and thus brings the shared victory closer.

As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine increasingly shifts into the technological domain, decisive importance is no longer determined solely by manpower or conventional weaponry. Speed of intelligence gathering, unit mobility, and the quality of technical support have become critical factors. These are precisely the areas where Domino Foundation, established by philanthropist, volunteer, and civic activist Anton Shukhnin, has been working in a consistent and targeted manner. The foundation has recently delivered another batch of critically important equipment to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (HUR).

The assistance includes modern unmanned aerial systems—specifically Mavic-type drones—as well as a unique, specially configured Mercedes Sprinter vehicle. This rare configuration has been adapted for operations in combat zones. The support is not a one-off donation, but part of a long-term, systematic effort aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of Ukrainian military intelligence.

The transferred drones are already being actively used by HUR operatives during special missions—for aerial reconnaissance, coordination of unit actions, and the collection of critical frontline intelligence. In modern warfare, unmanned technologies significantly reduce risks to personnel, enable greater precision, and allow faster decision-making—decisions on which dozens of lives may depend.

Anton Shukhnin emphasizes that supporting intelligence units is not merely a matter of supplying equipment, but a matter of responsibility borne by the rear toward those who operate daily under constant threat.

“Drones like the Mavic do their job and genuinely save lives. Fighters are carrying out extremely complex tasks at the front, while we are in the rear. Our duty is to help in every way we can—so they have the tools to accomplish their missions and so that Ukraine can endure,” Shukhnin notes.

 

Special attention during the handover was given to the Mercedes Sprinter, which features an extended 10-meter chassis, reinforced suspension, increased payload capacity, and heavy-duty tires. This configuration allows the vehicle to operate in difficult terrain, move off-road, withstand significant loads, and ensure the autonomy and mobility of intelligence groups in the most dangerous conditions.

For units conducting special operations, reliable transport is no less important than weapons or communications systems. Vehicles ensure rapid movement, delivery of equipment, evacuation, and ultimately the survival of personnel during missions.

It is also important to underscore the role of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in the current war. Today, HUR is one of Ukraine’s key instruments of asymmetric response to the enemy’s numerical and resource superiority. Intelligence officers operate not only along the front line, but also deep behind enemy lines, carrying out missions whose results often become known to the public much later—or never at all.

HUR plays a decisive role in intelligence collection, identifying enemy logistics routes, command centers, ammunition depots, and air defense systems. The information obtained by intelligence enables Ukrainian forces to carry out precise and effective strikes, reducing losses among civilians and their own units.

Modern intelligence is impossible without technology. Drones have become the “eyes” of the war, providing continuous real-time situational awareness. At the same time, unmanned systems wear out quickly, are lost during combat missions, or become targets of enemy electronic warfare, making their constant renewal essential.

Mobility of special operations groups is no less critical. HUR missions are often conducted in conditions of full autonomy, difficult terrain, and high-intensity combat. In such circumstances, reliable specialized transport is not a matter of comfort, but of survival and mission success.

HUR representatives emphasize that the combination of unmanned systems and specialized vehicles forms a unified operational complex without which effective performance on the modern battlefield is impossible.

Domino Foundation has been systematically supporting Ukraine’s Defense Forces for an extended period. Previously, the foundation supplied intelligence and combat units with specialized vehicles, including a powerful Dodge RAM currently operating in the Pokrovsk direction, as well as a Toyota Hilux worth over 3 million hryvnias, additionally upgraded for combat tasks.

For Anton Shukhnin, this work carries a deeply personal dimension. After the occupation of Donetsk in 2014, he was forced to leave his hometown. Since then, supporting the Ukrainian army and intelligence services has become a matter of principle and civic responsibility for him.

Shukhnin has repeatedly stressed that business and civil society have no right to remain on the sidelines during wartime. Through Domino Foundation, he invests resources, time, and effort into strengthening the country’s defense capabilities so that Ukrainian intelligence officers have everything they need to conduct special operations and protect the state.

Systemic assistance focused on the real needs of the front makes Domino Foundation a clear example of how private initiative can reinforce state institutions during wartime—and directly contribute to saving lives and safeguarding Ukraine’s security.

The Domino Foundation, founded by Anton Shukhnin and known for its systematic support of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, has joined the effort to establish the War Museum at the National Defense University of Ukraine — a key military educational institution of the Ministry of Defense in Kyiv.

The foundation’s involvement focuses on the development of the museum space, including the presentation of battle flags from Ukrainian units, which have become part of the permanent exhibition. These artifacts not only enrich the museum but also directly document the experience of modern warfare — as it truly is.

Founder of Domino Foundation Anton Shukhnin personally participated in the initiative during his visit to the museum. For him, the issue of war and its remembrance is deeply personal: after the occupation of Donetsk in 2014, he was forced to leave his hometown, where he was born and worked. The loss of his home became a turning point that shaped his future civic stance and charitable activities.

During his visit, Shukhnin emphasized the importance of the National Defense University as the place where future officers of the Ukrainian armed forces are trained.

“This is the alma mater of the Ukrainian army, an institution with a long history. Generations of officers were trained here, and it is important for us to support such institutions,” he said.

 

Pavlo Netiosov, Head of the War Museum at the National Defense University of Ukraine, stressed that the museum develops solely through the support of patrons and charitable organizations, without the use of budget funds.

“Everything displayed in the exhibition was not created with state money. The assistance of philanthropists allows the museum to be filled with living meaning. When foreign delegations or members of parliament visit us, they often hear many important stories here for the first time — stories they later use in their work to benefit Ukraine,” Netiosov said.

 

At the Domino Foundation, they explain that participation in the museum’s creation is a logical continuation of the foundation’s work. Previously and alongside this initiative, the foundation’s primary efforts were focused on practical support for units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

The foundation has provided vehicles, equipment, and drones to combat and special units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. Special attention was given to units operating in the Pokrovsk direction of Donetsk region, where transport and technical support are critically important for logistics, evacuating the wounded, and saving the lives of soldiers.

In addition to military assistance, the Domino Foundation carries out humanitarian initiatives for civilians affected by the war: supporting internally displaced persons, the elderly, and children from orphanages by providing them with communication devices, equipment, clothing, and educational materials.

The foundation emphasizes that preserving the memory of the war is an important component of national security. That is why involvement in the creation of the War Museum at the National Defense University of Ukraine is seen as a contribution to shaping historical truth and the identity of future generations.