Charity Evening by Ruslan Baginskiy on St. Nicholas Eve
On December 5, Ruslan Baginskiy hosted a charity evening at the M17 space in Kyiv, blending Ukrainian tradition with contemporary culture. It was dedicated to supporting the «Children of Heroes» fund — an organization helping children who have lost one or both parents due to the full-scale war. The event raised around UAH 500,000, and the brand matched it — bringing the total contribution to UAH 1,000,000.
Ruslan Baginskiy created a visual universe inspired by traditional symbols of winter holidays. The facade of M17 was decorated with giant Christmas stars. Inside, guests found a communal table featuring a star map of Kyiv and a charity collection of Christmas art stars — contemporary interpretations of the traditional Ukrainian star.
Each star was handmade by artisan Mykhailo Shvets — a bearer of a centuries-old folk craft. Decorative elements created by Ruslan Baginskiy reflected Ukrainian aesthetics through the lens of contemporary design.
The highlight of the night was a performance by the children’s choir «Shchedryk» — voices carrying one of the most precious legacies of Ukrainian culture: singing. It was a reminder that carols and traditional songs have always served to unite people in winter and bring light to one another.
The venue also hosted the RB charity shop, where guests could buy art pieces and items from the winter collection, contributing to the fundraiser. Attendees included Jamala, Volodymyr Dantes, Lesia Nikitiuk, Ivan Uryvskyi, Oleksandra Zaritska (KAZKA), Oleksiy Durnyev, and other representatives of contemporary Ukrainian culture.
