When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one Ukrainian corporate charity rapidly reinvented itself to meet the crisis. Favbet Foundation, established in 2020, had originally focused on youth education and sports initiatives. But as war erupted, the foundation pivoted dramatically — redirecting majority of its projects and funds toward supporting Ukraine’s defense forces and aiding victims of the conflict.

Andrii Matiukha, the foundation’s president, is no stranger to bold initiatives. A successful tech and gambling industry executive, he founded Favbet Foundation with the mission of creating “an ecosystem of social impact” through projects in sports, health, education and science. When war struck, Matiukha saw no option but to leverage his business’s resources and international connections for Ukraine’s survival.

Andrii Matiukha: “Ukrainians should feel supported at home and beyond”

One of Favbet Foundation’s most impactful collaborations has emerged in an unlikely place: Croatia. With Favbet’s business operating in several European countries (including Croatia), Matiukha tapped into local networks to rally support for Ukraine. In partnership with Croatian volunteer organization Dobro Dobrim, Favbet Foundation organized a massive humanitarian supply line from Zagreb to Ukraine. In late 2023, this partnership delivered a landmark 150-ton convoy of relief supplies from Croatia to Ukraine. Packed into trucks were food, clothing for adults and children, hygiene products, and other essentials – even 13,000 kg of disinfectants for sterilizing surgical instruments in Ukrainian hospitals. This aid was a lifeline for thousands of war-displaced Ukrainians and strained medical facilities back home.

Matiukha openly credits these international partners for their enduring solidarity. “Despite all the hardships, Ukrainians have not forgotten the importance of unity and support. We thank the Dobro Dobrim association in Croatia that even after years of full-scale war, they continue to work selflessly for Ukraine and Ukrainians,” Favbet Foundation’s president noted, underscoring the spirit behind the aid convoys.

Supporting Ukrainian Refugees in Croatia

Beyond sending aid into Ukraine, Favbet Foundation has also focused on helping Ukrainians who fled abroad — particularly in Croatia, which hosts a significant community of Ukrainian refugees. In April 2022, just weeks after the invasion, the foundation helped open an Adaptation Center in Zagreb to assist Ukrainians displaced by the war. This center offers free courses in Croatian and English for adults, legal consultations, psychological counseling, and humanitarian assistance. The project’s success earned national recognition: in 2023, it won the “Responsible Country” award from Ukraine’s MMR portal as the year’s best original charitable initiative.

Favbet Foundation president’s support of Ukrainians in Croatia goes beyond the classroom. It also strives to nurture a sense of community and normalcy for Ukrainians abroad, especially children. In June 2023, with Andrii Matiukha’s personal involvement, Zagreb-based Ukrainian association Crvena Kalyna hosted a sports festival for Ukrainian families who had taken refuge in Croatia.

Uniting Through Sport: From London to Invictus

Favbet Foundation founder’s international efforts extend into the realm of sports, recognizing its power to heal and unite. In May 2023, Andrii Matiukha made it possible for a team of Ukrainian war veterans to participate in the RideLondon cycling challenge, one of the world’s top cycling events held annually in the UK. Thanks to his support, a trio of Ukrainian cyclists — two veterans and one active-duty serviceman — joined thousands of riders on the roads of London, proudly sporting Ukraine’s blue and yellow.

Matiukha’s passion for such initiatives has deep roots. Even before the war, Favbet Foundation had supported wounded Ukrainian soldiers in sports — befriending the Ukrainian Invictus Games team in 2021 and sponsoring rehabilitation programs through athletics. That experience, Matiukha says, inspired the foundation’s leadership in the first days after the invasion to create two dedicated assistance hubs: one focused on aiding civilians, and the other on military needs.

Andrii Matiukha's Favbet Foundation: A Model of Solidarity

Favbet Foundation’s experience offers a compelling case study in how private sector philanthropy can complement global aid efforts. In an era when governments and large NGOs shoulder much of the aid burden, Matiukha’s team has shown that a nimble corporate foundation can fill critical gaps. By leveraging business infrastructure and overseas contacts, Favbet Foundation has delivered tangible results: a refugee center that helped thousands find their footing; hundreds of tons of relief supplies funneled from Europe’s warehouses to Ukraine’s war zones; and countless smiles on the faces of Ukrainian children.

These initiatives may have started as ad-hoc responses to an emergency, but they are becoming institutionalized. As of 2025, Favbet Foundation is scaling up its programs with an eye on the long term. Andrii Matiukha’s plans include expanding rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers (the “Re:start” program), opening new free sports sections for kids, launching fresh educational courses, and continuing the flow of humanitarian aid from European partners.