According to WHO standards, Ukraine needs at least 33 donors per 1,000 people. Even before the full-scale war, the country faced a severe shortfall, with the actual number of donors being three times lower. To ensure timely access to blood and its components, Ukraine needs a reserve of two million regular donors. That’s why systematic, not situational or episodic, blood donation is crucial — and this is the core goal of Avrora’s corporate blood donation initiative.

Before the full-scale invasion, donation requests at Avrora were occasional and typically tied to individual needs. Annual donation numbers were low. But as the war escalated, the need for blood surged — and with it, the realization that donation efforts needed to be scaled and systematized.

Today, Avrora runs one of the most developed corporate blood donation programs in Ukraine:

• Employees have already made 1,500 donations, potentially saving 4,500 lives.
• Blood Donation Days are held every two months, allowing staff to donate directly at the Poltava headquarters or via mobile teams in Vinnytsia.
• The company’s donor registry now includes over 540 individuals.
• A regular donor at Avrora donates up to 4 times a year.

Donating as a Family: The Story of Yevhen and Yuliia Pronchenko

Yevhen and Yuliia Pronchenko — a couple, coworkers, and regular donors — shared their experience:

What motivates you to donate blood?

“I want to be useful to society — and above all, to our military. At the start of the full-scale war, we helped the army directly from our workplace, which was close to a volunteer hub. That’s when we realized that donating blood was another important way to help.”

Did the war change your attitude toward donation?

“We’re from Luhansk, and for us, the war began back in 2014. We’ve seen the horrors firsthand. When the full-scale invasion began, we knew what needed to be done. Meeting soldiers and understanding their sacrifices pushed us to act however we could. Blood donation became one of those ways.”

Did your wife follow your example?

“Yes. She joined thanks to my encouragement, though it took her three attempts due to low body weight. We now donate together — and hope to inspire our colleagues to join us.”

In spring 2023, Avrora became a partner of the civic organization Blood Agents (Агенти крові) — an NGO that has been promoting regular, conscious, and voluntary blood donation in Ukraine since 2015.

With a vast volunteer network, in-hospital coordination, corporate donation programs, and thematic art projects, Blood Agents have transformed blood donation into a powerful social movement.

Thanks to institutional support from Avrora, the organization achieved a great deal:

• Launched the campaign “Donation is the Norm”, bringing in over 6,000 new donors;
• Carried out the “We Send Our Best” initiative in cooperation with Kyiv’s restaurant network, organizing monthly donation days on the 14th;
• Held two editions of the “ArtDonation” competition:
• 2023 Theme: “Systematic Donation as a Cultural Norm” – with 122 participants from 12 countries, and 11 exhibitions;
• 2024 Theme: “Care Begins With Yourself” – with 128 participants, 162 accepted works, and 26 exhibitions. A branded merchandise collection based on participating illustrators’ works is currently in the works;
• Sent 73,313 thank-you SMS messages to blood donors;
• Volunteers completed 512 in-clinic support shifts and 102 mobile blood drive events;
• Supplied 4 blood centers with essential materials.

In addition, Blood Agents developed the “Blood Cells” pin collection — a gamified incentive program to encourage repeat donation through positive motivation. The collection includes 18 different types of blood cell pins, inspiring donors to return for up to 18 donations.

With Avrora’s support, 7,800 pins were produced and distributed — including to Avrora employees.

Blood donation is an invaluable contribution to saving lives, especially during wartime.
It is one of the most vital forms of support for Ukraine and its people in these challenging times.