Proceeds from New Online Store Benefit Sophisticated Demining Efforts in Ukraine  

A new online store offers merchandise that enables people to register support for Ukraine and celebrate connections to that war-torn country. 

AltruTek, a humanitarian nonprofit dedicated to using emerging technologies to combat problems resulting from human activity, created the store — altrutekstore.org — to help fund demining efforts in Ukraine. Russian forces have laced an estimated 30 percent of Ukrainian territory with landmines and unexploded ordnance. 

Ukraine is more heavily infected with these deadly, unattended weapons of war than any other nation in the world. 

The AltruTek Store offers T-shirts and stickers that champion Ukraine and its culture, promote the cause of autonomy and freedom and give shout-outs to Ukrainian cities. Store proceeds will be devoted exclusively to restoring Ukrainian lands to safety. 

AltruTek is closely aligned with ArroTech, a technology company based in the U.S. and Germany that has developed an autonomous drone and metal-detecting system capable of pinpointing the locations of landmines and UXO for removal by detonation teams. 

ArroTech is currently working to enlarge its presence in Ukraine as a supplier of land scanning services. 

AltruTek founder and president Dr. Steve Dunnivant led the AltruTek Store project and was assisted by three women from Ukraine now living in the United States. All have family and close friends who remain in Ukraine.   

Anastasiia Khudiaieva, ArroTech’s special projects coordinator, described the experience of working on the store as “incredibly rewarding.” 

She said Dunnivant immediately endorsed her suggestion that an online platform be created where people could buy pro-Ukrainian items at any time. 
 
“The beauty of the AltruTek Store is that it goes beyond a simple ‘donate now’ button,” Khudiaieva said. “Customers get something they can wear or display, and proceeds from sales go to the organization.” 

She is excited by plans to expand the store’s offerings to include handmade crafts and other wares produced by Ukrainian artisans and small businesses.  

Nadiia Shyrobokova built the store’s website and is driving traffic to it via search engine optimization. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference in the future of Ukraine,” she said. “It was very inspiring.”   

The shirt and sticker designs are the creations of graphic artist Valeriia Radchenko. 

“Creating the T-shirt designs gave me the opportunity to express ideas that had been living in my mind for a long time,” she said. “I believe that art can be a powerful way to support Ukraine. Now, people have the chance not only to stand with the country, but also to receive a meaningful symbol and a gift in the spirit of Ukraine.”