Serhii is 23 years old and comes from Sumy. He belongs to the young generation whose destiny has been upended by the Russian aggression. Enlisting in the army at 18, he defended Mariupol in 2022 before being taken prisoner. He spent several months in captivity, tortured in the Russian Olenivka prison, which was later bombed by Russian forces themselves, resulting in 53 casualties, all Ukrainian soldiers like Serhii.
Demobilized since 2023, this experience has profoundly marked his life. Today, he is seeking a new path to rebuild himself.
He was one of the 11 trainees of the 2025 cohort, trained this summer by Cuisine Mode d’Emploi-S-, the school of Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx, in partnership with the instructors from the Jules Lecesne Hotel and Catering High School in Le Havre. This training is part of the La Cantine de Marioupol program, which supports veterans and displaced people from Mariupol towards sustainable professional reintegration.
During the ten weeks of training in Le Havre, his discipline and precision impressed the teams. Chef Thierry Marx then offered him the opportunity to continue a one-year apprenticeship in France, divided between the school and a Michelin-starred kitchen. But Serhii’s goal is clear: he wants to stay in Ukraine and contribute to the reconstruction of the culinary and hospitality sector.
We had the pleasure of seeing him again on Monday, December 1, at the Quai d’Orsay, during the launch of the Ukrainian Season, in the presence of the First Ladies of France and Ukraine, as well as numerous political and cultural figures. On this occasion, the teams of Cuisine Mode d’Emploi(e), accompanied by Thierry Marx, prepared a sweet tasting combining French and Ukrainian creations.
This moment allowed Serhii to meet with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Thierry Marx. All praised the strength of his journey, his commitment, and his ambition to participate in the reconstruction of his country through gastronomy.
Serhii’s path perfectly illustrates the objective of the La Cantine de Marioupol program: to create human bridges, offer professional opportunities to displaced people and veterans, and remind us that the reconstruction of Ukraine also passes through the reconstruction of its citizens.
