Rebuilding Borodyanka: Lord Ashcroft Donates £1.3 Million to Ukraine Charity Project

During his 11th visit to Ukraine since the war began, British philanthropist Lord Ashcroft was welcomed by Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, to Borodyanka—a town left devastated by the Russian invasion in 2022. The First Lady guided Ashcroft through the ruins and unveiled the plans for a new Children’s Creative and Sports Centre. Ashcroft is funding this major charity project with a £1.3 million donation to the Olena Zelenska Foundation.

Borodyanka’s devastating history is marked by intense destruction during the early stages of Russia’s brutal invasion. According to a statement, the town endured bombings that killed 170 people for over 38 days, which reduced hundreds of buildings to rubble and displaced several residents.

“This is not just about rebuilding—it is an investment in the future of our children,” said Zelenska in a statement.

Ashcroft witnessed firsthand the progress of the project and stated, “She introduced me to the development of the children’s creative and sports centre and explained the impact this project will have on the town, which was so brutally bombed by Russian invaders three years ago.”

His donation will help rebuild the centre, which was once home to more than 2,000 children participating in sports and extracurricular activities before it was destroyed. Ashcroft added, “I am deeply grateful to the First Lady of Ukraine for inviting me to Borodianka during such difficult times for the country.”

Zelenska’s foundation has already made strides in helping the people of Ukraine, particularly children, through initiatives in healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid. Ashcroft also previously supported the modernisation of a bacteriological laboratory at the Lviv Children’s Medical Centre.

“This is already the second initiative of the Foundation supported by Lord Ashcroft,” said Nina Horbachova, the director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation. “Thanks to his financial assistance, we have already modernised the bacteriological laboratory at the Children’s Medical Centre in Lviv, which provides vital diagnostics for children from all over Ukraine.”

Construction is set to begin in March 2025, with plans to offer a range of activities from football and basketball to dance and robotics.

Zelenska expressed her deep appreciation for his partnership, stating, “Lord Ashcroft has become one of our partners, and we are grateful for his incredible support and understanding of the importance of such projects.”

2025 marks Ukraine’s fourth year of its war with Russia; the reconstruction of Borodyanka is a beacon of hope in a region torn apart by conflict.