Taras Snizhkovsky from Sloviansk spent nearly ten years building his business: his souvenir ceramics were sold throughout Ukraine and abroad, including in the United States, and his production facility employed more than two dozen people.
In 2016, Taras launched his ceramics production: he purchased a building and set up a fully-fledged workshop there. The factory specialized in souvenir ceramics, particularly handmade candy jars and cast white clay items. His story is told by the publication “Svoi. City”
After the full-scale war began, white clay became a problem, as its main deposits are located in the Donetsk region, where extraction had effectively come to a halt.
Operations became significantly more difficult; the workshop suffered damage on multiple occasions, but Taras kept production going thanks to retail orders from across Ukraine. Foreign clients from Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria provided additional support.
However, the entrepreneur began to think more often about relocating. In early 2026, he purchased a facility in the village of Neterebka in the Cherkasy region. Six members of his team agreed to move with Taras, and he is helping them with housing and the move.
Taras’s main goal now is to launch production at the new location as quickly as possible. He says it’s important to get the workshop up and running quickly so he can resume production, integrate into the community, and support his employees.
At the same time, Taras wants to continue developing his social media presence and promoting the ceramics business. He also sees potential in retail sales, which have already helped keep production going.
Despite financial difficulties and the war, Taras wants not only to resume ceramic production at a new location but also to create a space for workshops for children and adults.
Taras dreams that when Sloviansk is safe again and the war ends, Snizhkovsky will have two production sites—one in Cherkasy Oblast and one in Donetsk Oblast.
The Ukrainian people are hardworking and indomitable!
Together toward Victory!