In brief
As the conflict rages, kitchens are operating at military bases where culinary skills merge with necessity. Chefs like Pvt. Yaroslav Breus are reclaiming their passion for cooking, ensuring that their comrades are fed with warmth and love, despite the challenges they face.
June 23, 2025 – Cooking for Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield presents unique challenges, especially amid the backdrop of ongoing Russian offensives. On a recent day, a surprise Russian strike shattered windows and damaged the oven door in a military kitchen located in the eastern region of Ukraine. But Pvt. Yaroslav Breus and his kitchen team quickly tidied up and resumed their duties. “Given our circumstances, this meal could be the last one,” the 31-year-old Private shared while whipping up pork steaks and a classic borscht, serving a few hundred hungry troops. His menu also included beetroot salad garnished with roasted walnuts and boiled potatoes slathered in melted butter, enhanced by a sprinkle of fresh parsley.Despite facing unrelenting assaults from Russian forces, the soldiers of the First Assault Battalion of the Third Assault Brigade count themselves fortunate in one aspect—they are enjoying relatively wholesome meals. Prior to joining the military, Breus was a renowned chef in Kyiv, earning raves for his borscht on the popular cooking show “MasterChef.” The ongoing war has shifted his culinary talent from entertaining judges to nourishing his fellow soldiers on the frontline. His story reflects not just resilience but the enduring spirit of camaraderie among those serving in these trying conditions.
