In response to a full-scale invasion, in March 2022, the Lviv IT Cluster initiated a series of projects referred to as Victory projects. These initiatives are aimed at providing support to businesses, the military and critical infrastructure, as well as strengthening the security of the region.

As of October 2023, the community of the Lviv IT Cluster donated nearly $2 693 000 to the Victory projects. These funds, which were generously contributed by IT companies, reflect the companies’ commitment to social responsibility.

Shahedbusters project aims to protect the critical infrastructure of the Lviv region, ensuring uninterrupted operation against the potential shahed drone attacks. The initial phase of the project is currently underway. It encompasses the procurement, refurbishment, and technical outfitting of ten vehicles with essential equipment. This includes night vision devices, thermal imaging cameras, spotlights, and a single automated turret. The total cost of this phase is approximately UAH 12,000,000, a sum entirely funded by the Lviv IT Cluster community.

The goal of the Guardian project is to improve working conditions for border personnel, enhance their training level and work efficiency. The Lviv IT Cluster launched the project in May 2023 and has already completed the fourth procurement stage of equipment and supplies to the Western Regional Border Guard Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The military received multimedia equipment and components for online border monitoring, 3D printers, Starlink terminals, FPV drones, and equipment for training personnel sent to combat zones.

The Nezlamni Online project aims to provide access to communication in Lviv in critical situations. It emerged in response to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Lviv IT Cluster, in collaboration with partners, installed five towers with Starlink terminals near five district administrations in Lviv. All towers are equipped with generators and lighting, and anyone interested can connect to the internet via Starlink terminals.

Within the UNBROKEN Kids project, the Mental Health Center for Children and Teenagers will be established. Its goal is to provide quality medical, psychological, speech therapy, psychotherapeutic, and rehabilitation services to children affected by the hostilities. The center’s total area will be 420 square meters, including a room for group sessions, sensory therapy, six medical rooms, and staff facilities.

The Shark drone, manufactured by Ukrspecsystems, is a multifunctional unmanned aerial system for a wide range of tasks. The Lviv IT Cluster community procured the Shark unmanned aerial system for the reconnaissance needs of an artillery brigade. It provides the possibility for fully autonomous reconnaissance, surveillance, clear identification, and recognition from long distances at considerable altitudes.

The Second Home project was established at the onset of the war as a means to provide temporary accommodation for internally displaced people. To achieve this goal, the Lviv IT Cluster team set up 7 centers for displaced people, which provided a total of 1,200 sleeping places. These efforts were successful in helping a total of 11,000 people, including over 4,000 IT specialists, to find a safe haven in the Second Home centers.

Additionally, the project organized 25,000 free meals to support those who were seeking shelter. 

The Armor project was created with the objective of providing individual protection to defenders on the front line. To accomplish this goal, the Lviv IT Cluster team worked to purchase and distribute bulletproof vests to those in need. The team was able to successfully deliver 1000 bulletproof vests to defenders in various cities, including Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Odesa, and Kramatorsk. The priority was to get the vests to the most crucial directions at the front line and to protect as many people as possible.

The Starlink project aims to provide backup communication for critical infrastructure and companies in western regions of Ukraine. The project was carried out in three stages, during which the Lviv IT Cluster provided over 1,300 Starlink terminals to critical infrastructure facilities, districts, “Invincibility Points” and tech companies.

The Vision project aims to modernize the video surveillance system in the Lviv region, with the goal of preventing crimes and quickly providing investigations to capture law violators. With the ongoing war, the project’s objective became even more critical, as it aims to reveal diversion groups of the enemy and prevent any actions that could cause harm. Within the project, the Lviv IT Cluster implemented several key changes to the surveillance system, in particular, procured new servers, initiated a complete system update, and set up 1500+ additional cameras. Additionally, new face recognition and car recognition features were added. 

The Sky project was created to modernize the air defense systems in eight regions in the western part of Ukraine with the goal of increasing their effectiveness. The project was implemented in several stages. The first stage focused on technical modernization and includes the replacement of existing computer equipment, network equipment, and screens for navigation display systems in the command and analytical centers of the Air Command West. The second stage focuses on personnel training and includes the purchase and installation of a VR simulator for MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems) operators. The project began in May and since then, the Lviv IT Cluster community has generously donated more than 13,000,000 UAH towards the modernization of the Air Command West. This has led to a 40% improvement in the efficiency of the air defense system.

As part of the Dracarys project, the separate mechanized brigade named after King Danylo received reinforcements in the form of Starlink terminals, drones, 3D printers, and laptops. All the equipment, valued at nearly 2,000,000 UAH, was sent to the soldiers fighting in the east.

The Mental Health Center, initiated by the Lviv IT Cluster in October, is a facility dedicated to providing expert psychological help to those in need. Based at the First Medical Association of Lviv, the center is open to the military, internally displaced people, and anyone else who requires support during difficult times. The center is staffed by professional psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists who are trained to provide a wide range of services to help individuals cope with mental health issues. The project’s cost reached over 5,500,000 UAH, which covered expenses related to renovation and the necessary equipment to equip comfortable rooms for individual and group therapy. 

The Shelter Link project aims to provide internet access to schools and daycares during air raids. The project has provided over 1200 routers, worth 1,718,417 UAH, to shelters in the city. The goal of the initiative is to provide a stable internet connection to schools and daycares, so that parents can stay connected with their children and continue to work without interruption during air alarms. The community effort and investment in this project are aimed at providing a sense of safety and continuity for families in times of crisis.

Within the humanitarian aid initiative, Lviv IT Cluster provides support to civilians in hot spots, as well as soldiers on the front line and individuals affected by war. Over the course of several months, the community was able to collect and transfer a total of 30 tonnes of food, 2 tonnes of medical drugs and equipment, 5 trucks for transporting the injured, and 15 tonnes of hygienic supplies. The total cost of the project amounted to 2,000,000 UAH. The project is aimed at providing vital support and aid to those affected by war.

The Boryviter project is an initiative led by the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation and supported by the Lviv IT Cluster community. The goal of the project is to provide training for drone pilots through the Boryviter school, which trains military personnel. The Lviv IT Cluster community donated 2,000,000 UAH to the Boryviter school at the IT Arena 2022 Opening Ceremony to support the initiative. As a result of the project, a thousand students have already been trained in controlling drones and are ready to apply their knowledge in the army. The project aims to provide the military with skilled drone pilots, utilizing the latest technology in warfare.