Oksana Dubyk, an internally displaced person from Mariupol, opened a shop called “The Dubyk Family’s Recipes” in the Lviv region in memory of her husband, who was killed in 2023 in the Donetsk region. There, she bakes bread and her husband’s favorite cake by hand.
Oksana’s husband, Ihor Dubyk, stood up to defend his native Mariupol back in 2014. As part of the Azov Regiment, he helped liberate the city and took part in the Shyrokyne operation. In 2022, he once again defended Mariupol against a full-scale invasion and survived eight months of harsh enemy captivity, only to return to the front lines. Unfortunately, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of New York in Donetsk Oblast, the soldier was killed, giving his life for Ukraine’s freedom.
Suspilne Donbas tells Oksana Dubyk’s story.
“The idea to open a family-run mini-bakery came to my husband while he was in captivity in Olenivka, after being evacuated from the Azovstal plant. After enduring hunger and inhumane conditions, Ihor dreamed of a place where they would bake bread and his favorite cake, the ‘Napoleon.’ Upon his return from captivity, he shared his dream, but, unfortunately, he didn’t have time to make it a reality. To honor my husband’s memory, we decided to bring his dream to life. “The bakery wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Igor’s dream. The very idea of a bakery is something bright... In Ukraine, bread has long been considered a talisman and a gift from God!” says Oksana.
Family history and traditions inspired the idea. Igor’s great-grandfather once worked as a cook for an aristocratic family, and his mother, Yevdokia Ivanivna, compiled a large collection of recipes, which formed the basis of the bakery’s assortment.
To open her own bakery, the engineer by training had to learn a great deal. As the wife of a fallen hero, in April 2025 she became a participant in—and later the winner of—the “Courage to Do Business” veteran project organized by the Lviv City Council and the program run by the Czech NGO “People in Need.” During her training from 2025 to March 2026, Oksana successfully defended her business plan and received a grant. The administration of the village of Porshna allocated land for lease for three years completely free of charge. The result is the “Dubyk Family Recipes” bakery.
Oksana infuses her baking with the knowledge of several generations, but she keeps no secrets: a board hangs in the bakery with her granddaughter’s recipes and poems written on it. Today, the bakery bakes fragrant bread, fluffy rolls, pizza, cheesecakes, croissants, delicious pies with various fillings, and unforgettable cherry bagels. And the display case always features “Napoleon”—Igor’s favorite cake.
“Every day we bake bread, cakes, and buns. We make everything with love for people. At the bakery, I do literally everything: I’m the baker, the loader, the cleaner, the salesperson, the manager, and the director,” Oksana shares.
If you happen to visit the village of Porshni, located 15 km from Lviv, stop by Oksana Dubyk’s bakery—you won’t regret it. You can also find the products of this indomitable woman’s bakery in Lviv at the Veterans’ Fair on Rynok Square. Every Sunday, veterans and veteran-owned businesses showcase their own products there.
Oksana Dubyk’s story is a story of Ukrainian resilience. She lost her home in Mariupol and endured the most devastating loss—that of her heroic husband—yet found the strength to carry on, learn new things, start a business, and bring light and fresh bread to people. The war did not break Oksana, because her heart was guided by love and the promise to fulfill her husband’s dream.
The Ukrainian people are hardworking and unyielding!
Together to Victory!