The first morning in Kyiv, we met up with Andrii Krutyi*, our operational team leader.
*Little fun fact: Krutyi means something like “Cool” in English, so obviously, Derek and I now just call him “Cool.” (Which he definitely is 😉)
We got to meet the gang in our beautiful office. Had a wonderful Georgian lunch (for all you Americans who don’t know, not the state of Georgia. Georgia is a country in that part of the world that has AMAZING food 🤪).
Derek and I had a chance to spend some time and to tell them how proud we are of the work they do. In the middle of this war, making sure our customers still get served. Having to deal not only with the threat of bombs and missiles every day, but having rolling blackouts, having to find ingenious ways to stay in communication with the rest of the LP team, with the job sites and the customers, even when the power is down for 6-10-14 hours a day. Not easy.
Luckily for us and for the world, Ukrainians are not only smart and tough and resilient, but they are also very CREATIVE and tend to overcome any obstacles this Russian aggression puts in their way. Like we always say–they find a way or make one.
We used this opportunity to let them know that our entire LP family is behind them, that they have great leadership and a great team, and we hope to bring more and more products into their country, not only to support Ukraine’s resistance and reconstruction but so that they get to work with more and more of our offices, as they have done so well with the Vorex pipe we have been delivering. Connecting dots and knitting the company even closer together.
I think they were happy to see us and to feel the love. It’s funny, we did not talk any specific “business.” Just to get to know each other, that we care, that we have their backs and that we will continue to do everything we can to support their fight. To let them know that their fight is our fight.
To me (and Derek, I’m sure), it was truly humbling and an honor to meet them, shake their hands, and say thank you.
Tomorrow, we drive down to Odesa to visit our team there and to see the latest load of pipe that is being unloaded at the Port of Chonomorsk.
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is a beautiful, historic city
Not many signs that there is a war going on elsewhere in the country. Other than the lack of consistent electricity, (which sucks/no doubt) people lead a pretty normal life.
Was great meeting the terrific Kyiv team. Staying strong. Getting the job done. Heroes!
Onward!
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