Filizhanka Heroic Coffee Festival 2025: memory, support, and the new taste of Ukraine
The Heroic Coffee Festival “Filizhanka” is dedicated to the memory of fallen defenders and to helping wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
On August 2, the first Heroic Coffee Festival “Filizhanka” will take place at the “Code of the Nation” museum near Kyiv, dedicated to the memory of Hero of Ukraine Artem Telebeniev (callsign “Talib”). This event brings together past, present, and future: honoring the memory of the fallen, supporting wounded heroes, and creating a new taste of Ukrainian identity through coffee. The musical headliner of the event is Kalush Orchestra. The host is Hennadii Popenko. Admission is free with registration.
The “Filizhanka” festival is organized on the initiative of Yana Berkut lawyer, barista, volunteer, and widow of the fallen soldier Artem Telebeniev with the support of Ukraine’s third President Viktor Yushchenko, Vitalina Yushchenko, the NGO “Kyivshchyna Tse My,” and the head of the Hatne Territorial Community Oleksandr Palamarchuk.
The main goal is to raise 2,000,000 UAH to support the rehabilitation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers and veterans in cooperation with the Revived Soldiers Ukraine foundation, which has provided professional rehabilitation for neurotrauma, CNS injuries, spinal and brain injuries, as well as pre- and post-prosthetic rehabilitation since 2014.
Coffee Crafted by Heroes
Coffee has the flavor of a nation. Viennese, Italian, French in every culture it reflects the spirit of the people. Ukrainian heroic coffee should embody courage, dignity, and creativity. Festival participants will present their own coffee recipes, inspired by stories of struggle, love, and resilience. All recipes must include Ukrainian ingredients. The winner will be chosen through open voting by donations, and the three best recipes will become part of the Ukrainian heritage museum archive. The “Filizhanka” festival launches the national “Coffee of the Nation” project, which aims to collect all possible national coffee recipes from across Ukraine.
The festival is deeply personal. Its idea was born from love, shared dreams, and loss. The inspiration is Hero of Ukraine Artem Telebeniev (“Talib”) a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Junior Sergeant, external pilot (operator) of UAV systems of the 411th Separate Battalion. Artem was an active volunteer since 2014 and, from the first days of the full-scale invasion, joined the defenders protecting Zhuliany, participating in the liberation of Irpin, and later operating on the toughest fronts: Kharkiv, Kherson, Donetsk, and Zaporizhia. His resolve, dignity, and self-sacrifice saved many lives. He was the person who supported the fighting spirit of his comrades and inspired them by his example. Artem was awarded the Order “For Courage” 3rd Class, medals for the Defense of Kharkiv and Kyiv, and “For Life Saved.” He was a true hero.
In 2023, Artem and his wife Yana Berkut welcomed a son, Sviatoslav, whom Artem saw only during brief rotations and via video calls. On July 3, 2024, Artem was killed by a tank strike on the outskirts of Robotyne, Zaporizhia region. He is buried in Hatne, Kyiv region.
Long before the war, Artem dreamed of creating the taste of real Ukrainian coffee. They started from a small point, with only a thermos of hot water, coffee, paper cups, and experiments with ingredients, later opening a small café a place that became their heartfelt business and a way to serve people. Artem wanted Ukrainian coffee to have its own identity bold, sincere, and deep. Today, Yana continues this dream through the “Filizhanka” festival, which not only honors his memory but also supports his brothers-in-arms by raising funds for the rehabilitation of wounded heroes.
“Artem was an extraordinary person. A man of character, a man of steel. He had strong Ukrainian convictions and actively defended them long before the full-scale war. Since 2014, he had been volunteering in the East, helping the front with everything he could. He used to say that war was inevitable.
Before the full-scale war, Artem started working on a Ukrainian coffee recipe with local ingredients, with character. He wanted to create a new tradition, to find the true Ukrainian taste. Now I want to fulfill his plan. At the festival, we will create heroic Ukrainian coffee.
For me, ‘Filizhanka’ is not just about a drink, it’s about memory that warms. About the strength that is born from love. And that is why our main goal is to raise funds for neurorehabilitation for wounded soldiers. This is not just help, it is the way to socialization, return to life, to a dignified future for those who protect us. My personal goal is preserving memory. I believe: as long as at least one person remembers Artem, he lives in heaven.
And our highest and most ambitious aim is to give Ukraine a new voice in the world. A voice that will be heard through coffee created by a nation of heroes Ukrainians. And this first festival is just the beginning,” – shared Yana Berkut, the festival’s founder.
The venue is symbolic the “Code of the Nation” museum, located at the estate of Ukraine’s third President Viktor Yushchenko. He met Artem in his café, and they quickly found many common topics and interests. Since then, Viktor often visited Artem for long conversations over coffee and pastries. After the hero’s death, Yushchenko supported Yana. When she came up with the idea of the festival, he immediately backed it and suggested holding it at his museum.
“Today, the Ukrainian nation is going through its hardest trial in all history. Yet, at the same time, we are witnessing an awakening: spiritual, cultural, human. Now it is important to build a living memory of our defenders through words, music, art, and tradition.
In this coffee cup, there is not just a drink, but a symbol of resilience, a quiet prayer for those who fight, and a step towards a new Ukrainian world, where our own is the most important. Because a nation that finds its meanings is indomitable,” – said Viktor Yushchenko.
Festival Program:
- Master classes
- Coffee tastings
- Craft fair with meaning
- Humorous coffee stage
- Exhibition of coffee paintings
- Lectures about coffee
- Collective creation of the national brand of heroic Ukrainian coffee
- Large children’s area many activities and animators
- Field kitchen
- Host: Hennadii Popenko, well-known Ukrainian actor and TV host, veteran, spokesperson for the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine
- Performances by Ukrainian musicians: PROBASS ∆ HARDI, Green Grey, Viktor Pavlik, Tin Sontsia, Dima Libra, Marta Adamchuk, CXMD, PTASHKIN
- Musical headliner: Kalush Orchestra, internationally renowned Ukrainian band, Eurovision 2022 winners, who combine traditional folk motifs with modern hip-hop. Their music has become a symbol of Ukrainian resilience and the voice of the young generation on the world stage. Their performance will be a highlight of “Filizhanka” about memory, love, and endurance.
The festival finale will be the birth of a series of heroic Ukrainian coffee flavors our new national brand, to be distributed in coffee shops throughout the country.
“The Heroic Coffee Festival ‘Filizhanka’ is not just about taste. It is about memory that turns into strength. About life that continues. About gratitude to those who gave themselves without reserve. That’s why we’re raising funds for the rehabilitation of wounded defenders to give a chance for a full life to those who didn’t hesitate to go protect Ukraine.
And above all, this is about seeking unity in our polarized society. After all, we all drink coffee.
Together, we shape the future with dignity, depth, and in a truly Ukrainian way,” – said Alexei Kulikov, general producer of the festival.
Partners: Ant@Hill, Braintank, PR agency SOLARIS, Anlmtd, “Code of the Nation” museum, Revived Soldiers Ukraine
General media partner: Espreso TV channel
Media partners: Kyiv 24, Army FM, Perets FM, Vechirniy Kyiv, Oboz.ua, Misto Kyiv
Revived Soldiers Ukraine is an international charitable foundation that has specialized in helping Ukrainian soldiers and veterans with the most severe combat injuries since 2014. These are injuries that require high-tech treatment and long rehabilitation.
The foundation provides support through:
- prosthetics in the USA
- full neurorehabilitation course at NextStep Ukraine center
- medical and social support for each veteran
You can help not only at the festival but from anywhere in the world at any time:
UAH
Bank name: JSC “ProCredit Bank”, Kyiv, Ukraine, MFO 320984
Recipient: CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION CHARITY FUND “REVIVED SOLDIERS UKRAINE”
Recipient’s code: 42570069
Recipient’s account (IBAN): UA503209840000026003210415587
When: August 2, 12:00–20:00
Where: “Code of the Nation” Museum, Kyiv region, Novi Bezradychi, Pishchana St.
A shuttle bus will run from Vydubychi station to the location.
Admission is free with registration: https://forms.gle/iY6sEDZ4dAwvGxsU8
Accreditation and press inquiries: https://forms.gle/qArbs1ypiyBcpHLaA
More information: www.filizhanka.org.ua
Festival on social networks:
https://www.instagram.com/filizhanka.fest
https://www.facebook.com/share/19WDb5VbLS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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