Ukrainian 'MasterChef' serves free meals to refugees fleeing Russian bombs

After Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his bloody invasion of Ukraine just over a month ago, Ukrainians from across the world came together to support the war effort – taking up arms, stuffing sandbags and even preparing free meals for the millions of internal refugees who were forced to flee as Russian bombs fell on civilian targets.

Although famed Ukrainian Chef Ievgen Klopotenko says he is not one to pick up a gun, he recently opened up a restaurant called “Inshni” (Ukrainian for “Others”) in the western city of Lyiv where he serves free meals to anyone who asks for “Menu no. 2,” Reuters reported.

"I understood that I'm not very good with the guns... but I know that I'm a very nice warrior with a knife," said Klopotenko. "My aim and my mission in life is to feed the people."

According to the winner of Ukraine’s version of MasterChef, the majority of those eating for free at Inshni are internal refugees who have been forced to leave their homes amid the Russian invasion.

Although Klopotenko opened his restaurant with his own funds, he says he is being supported by donations and by paying customers who eat from a separate menu.

Olena Severinova is one of the many Ukrainians who was forced to leave her home in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and says she has been eating at “Inshni” since she first arrived in Lyiv.

"I was forced to resettle because of the war," said the 73-year-old. "Thank you to everyone for actively taking part in saving our lives... He fed us for free."