Real Ukrainians: Tata Kepler

Tata Kepler is one of the key figures in the volunteer movement in Ukraine. Until 2014, she was better known as an art activist, producer, and restaurateur. Today, she is a volunteer and police officer, recognized not only in Ukraine but also beyond its borders. Thanks to Tata Kepler, a series of significant projects have been implemented, assisting the military, medics, people living in the "grey zone," and residents of the de-occupied territories. Often, Tata Kepler and her colleagues are the only ones providing assistance and communication to these people, as no one else reaches "there."

"It's a constant work with death, blood, mud, and sorrow. In all of this, we try to find light and miracles because that's the only thing that helps to remember why we do all this," wrote Tata Kepler on her Instagram on Volunteer Day.

From Poems and Cocktail Bars...

In the pre-war era, Tata became known for art projects and the hospitality of establishments like "Barmen Dictat," "Torf," and "Sklad," which hosted thousands of guests every month. In 2014, Tata, along with her colleague, the renowned Ukrainian poet and writer Katerina Babkina, decided to organize "Night Verses," a poetic project to support the "Tabletochki" fund, which helps sick children. However, on the designated day, Russian terrorists shot down a Boeing 747 over the territory of the captured Donetsk region, known for the tragic MH17 flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

"We thought about canceling the event. But a few people gathered, and it was important for us to be together," Tata recalled. The project survived and became known also for substantial fundraising for "Tabletochki." Businessmen, cultural figures, musicians, and actors joined the charitable readings.

...to Tactical Medicine

Photo: Tata Kepler with TacMed Packs, Source: Instagram

In 2014, Tata Kepler began practicing tactical medicine. It all started with a box of bandages from Israel, requested because Tata knows Hebrew. One box after another, Tata began assisting the military involved in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in eastern Ukraine, countering the grotesque ambitions of Russians and their sponsored proxies. However, after Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Tata's discreet volunteering turned into daily work and communication with donors, funds, and media.

At the end of February 2022, when Russians were advancing towards Kyiv and attempting to capture the Ukrainian capital, Tata joined the patrol police unit "Sofia." The unit was created for citizens who wanted to legitimately take up arms and defend their homes. "The police badge allowed me and my colleagues to travel with humanitarian or medical aid where civilians were not allowed," Tata explained.

"Birds" Take Flight 

Photo: With Her Favorite Actor Stephen Fry, Source: Instagram

Later, Tata and her friends' activities scaled up, evolving into a separate independent project called "Birds" ("Ptahy"),  around which like-minded individuals and experts gathered. Ukrainian businesses, international patrons, and even Pink Floyd's leader, David Gilmour, are currently collaborating with the project. As of November 2023, "Birds" have visited over 700 settlements across the affected territory of Ukraine and brought various aid worth almost $5 million to Ukraine by January 2023. One of the project's focuses is providing assistance in the "grey zones," liberated and remote villages and towns, where doctors may not always reach.

Another crucial aspect of their work is identifying substandard batches and samples of tactical medicine. Unfortunately, fraudulent manufacturers and suppliers, utilizing either corrupt schemes or the sheer incompetence of medical professionals, continue to supply unusable tourniquets, bandages, and first aid kits. Tata was one of the first to expose such fraud in the spring of 2022. According to volunteer organizations, overcoming this dangerous trend is challenging but crucial.

On the Shield

In June 2022, Leonid Ostaltsev, a veteran since 2014 and today an active participant in combat, volunteer, and founder of the Veterans network "Veterano," suggested replacing the Soviet code "Cargo 200," used to denote the transportation of a fallen warrior, with the phrase "On the Shield." Other veterans supported the idea, and Tata Kepler took on the initiative. She simply asked her mother, an artist, to write the phrase on a white van, and later, others began using this marker. Through joint efforts and with the support of the Armed Forces leadership, the humanitarian project "Evacuation 200" was reformed into the "On the Shield" project. Another step away from the barracks-style Soviet aesthetics and mentality.

In the summer of 2022, Tata Kepler received the "National Legend of Ukraine" presidential award.

Face-to-face with Evil

But the most challenging aspect, according to the experience of all witnesses to the war in Ukraine, is witnessing the inhuman cruelty of Russian soldiers. The global understanding of war between states, armies against armies, is inadequate. Russians organize torture chambers in occupied territories, kill hundreds of civilians, commit acts of violence, and destroy.

In an interview with Ukrainian Playboy, Tata couldn't hold back: 

"Millions of people already have evidence: about executions, about pouring current on genitals, about burying people alive... It's so incomprehensible that you can't explain it to yourself. Our brain is constantly searching for some explanation because there must be an explanation, but there is none here."

Restoring Happiness to the "Land of Superheroes"

Photo: "National Legend of Ukraine", Source: Instagram

In December 2023, celebrating International Volunteer Day, the National Bank of Ukraine introduced a commemorative coin into circulation, titled "Land of Superheroes. Thank you, Volunteers!" The NBU team decided to acknowledge the coin's issuance by joining Tata Kepler's team and help promptly gather a batch of tactical military medical kits, which were immediately sent to the frontlines. The first coins were handed over to the "Birds." The obverse features symbolic hands weaving a camouflage net. It's unclear whose hands they are—whether they are female, male, or children's.

"But that's not important," noted the head of the bank, Andriy Pyshny: "Because if you think about it, it seems that every Ukrainian has already contributed to volunteering in one way or another. It's so deeply ingrained in our DNA that one can confidently say Ukrainians are a nation of volunteers."

Tata believes that this colossal and very difficult experience will stay with Ukrainians forever: "No one will return from this war. It is with us forever. We are forever people who have lived through and continue to live through this war." However, undoubtedly, when the war recedes, Tata plans to channel her energy into returning to peaceful life, as she once said and aspired to: "Everyone is created for happiness, I sincerely believe in that. And you need to know how to multiply and produce that happiness."