Co-founder of Monomakh speaks about the attack on the business

Ukrainian tea producer Monomakh has found itself at the center of an information attack – publications have appeared online linking the company to trade with the aggressor country. In an interview with oboz.ua, the company’s co-founder Taras Barabash argues why such accusations are baseless, shares about the charity program “Tea for Heroes,” and explains how the business operates in the fourth year of full-scale war.

oboz.ua

– What has changed in your company during almost four years of the major war?

Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, our production facilities were under occupation – the enemy entered Velyka Dymerka. Our workshops, warehouse, and fleet were damaged. But already in April 2022, after Kyiv region was liberated, we quickly restored the damaged property at our factory and fully relaunched production.

We managed to preserve the team, retain our people, and return to work. Now we pay increased attention to the physical safety of our employees, given the frequent missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.

We understand that we are able to work thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since 2022, we have been daily donating tea to the frontlines under the “Tea for Heroes” program. Already, 56 million servings of tea have been sent to Ukrainian soldiers by our company. We will continue this program until our shared Victory. We are also ramping up other charitable support to the front – providing vehicles, drones, and equipment.

We support the families of our employees. We pay decent salaries and provide social guarantees. We support the state and continue to increase tax payments – in 2024, the company paid about UAH 300 million in taxes to state and local budgets in Ukraine. In the first half of 2025 – UAH 171 million.

Over these years, Monomakh has become the market leader. We understand this responsibility and thank consumers for their trust with the consistently high quality of our products.

– What rules and principles do you follow for yourself and the company during wartime?

The main principle is the full fulfilment of obligations without exceptions. This is especially important for us during times of constant force majeure. To do this, we simplify administrative processes in the company and remove bureaucracy. We support each other, our partners, clients, and colleagues.

Monomakh takes a very active social stance. Since the times of the ATO, we have helped our defenders greatly. With the start of the major war, we significantly expanded our social and humanitarian initiatives. We are maximally open to cooperation with volunteers, military units, charitable, and humanitarian organisations. Every day we send tea to the front.

Ukraine is fighting for its future, and Monomakh aligns with this aspiration and vision. Our factory operates according to European quality standards. We have European certificates and undergo the relevant audits. Export for us is a way to demonstrate that Ukraine can be a strong player in the global market.

– What is the priority for the company during the full-scale war?

The first priority is supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The second is supporting our employees.

The time of the major war has once again shown that people are extremely important for business and the country. We constantly speak about this in the team, with our partners, and with entrepreneurs from other sectors of the economy.

Some employees are tired and emotionally exhausted. Therefore, it is important for us to create an environment where we can hold on together, work with dignity, and believe in the future. We do a lot in this regard, as we continue developing new products and improving business processes.

– How do information attacks affect your market position?

We have always worked honestly, kept our word, and proved our reputation with good deeds. That is why we have the support of friends, partners, and volunteers. All employees and the management continue to work as usual.

None of our key buyers or suppliers has announced stopping cooperation due to the publication of negative information. They believe in justice, trust us, and support our position. This shows that our reputation as a reliable partner is truly earned.

In such a difficult period, when the war with Russia enters its fourth year, it is very easy to manipulate topics about alleged assistance to the aggressor. People are very sensitive to such information. We consider the negative information spread about us to be manipulative. It seems like a targeted attack on the reputation of a company that has worked honestly in Ukraine for decades. We are ready to defend our name exclusively within the legal framework.

At the same time, the question arises: why, under the moratorium on inspections proposed by the President, is pressure being exerted on our business? This contradicts the state policy of supporting Ukrainian entrepreneurship. Such actions are unacceptable – especially during wartime.

In my opinion, perhaps we were too focused on our work, professional excellence, and social projects, which we always wanted to keep low-profile. Therefore, we did not pay enough attention to widely communicating our achievements and social and humanitarian programs. And only now do we have such a crisis occasion to loudly tell about ourselves and our position, our support for Ukraine and Ukrainians.

We have a clear position: we do not cooperate with Russia or Belarus. No supplies to Russia or Belarus – neither directly nor through third countries – exist or will ever exist. Our contracts with buyers from post-Soviet countries clearly prohibit the sale or re-export of goods to Russia and Belarus. The legislation of EU countries independently regulates the ban on trade with Russia/Belarus within the EU sanctions policy.

We scrutinise each counterparty before starting cooperation: analysing ownership structure, distribution channels, reputation, and real connections. If any links to Russia or Belarus are discovered, cooperation is immediately terminated.

All our partners are informed in advance of Monomakh’s official stance – cooperation with companies connected to Russia or Belarus is unacceptable. If such facts are revealed, supply and cooperation are terminated. This is our principle.

– Who do you think is interested in discrediting Monomakh?

Since the start of the major war, there has been a very active redistribution in the tea market. We are one of the leaders in this market. Therefore, of course, our achievements and capabilities annoy some competitors.

As you know, some Russian companies and brands left the Ukrainian market. But some of them simply “repackaged”: changed names, packaging, owners on paper. They first enter small local trade – markets, bazaars, small shops. We see that now they are trying to enter the shelves of large retail chains under new names.

It seems that some unscrupulous players are focusing their efforts not on improving their products, logistics, distribution, and relationships with partners, but on trying to capture the market by discrediting competitors.

Therefore, we will defend our company, our reputation, the Ukrainian market, and the principle of fair competition. There will be no compromises here.

– What do you dream about after Victory?

Like all Ukrainians, first and foremost, we dream of Victory – for it to come as soon as possible. All other dreams will come after that. Right now, our efforts are directed towards supporting the Armed Forces, the state, our employees, and their families. The main thing today is to stand strong in the fight against the enemy.

And after Victory, we will brew many millions more cups of real Ukrainian tea. And we will raise them to those who hold this country on their shoulders.