A café initiative founded by Ukrainian refugees in Wales has opened a new location in Swansea, backed by a £25,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales.
Ruta Kitchen was set up in Neath by founders Vladimir Pavliiciuc, Volodymyr Iliev and Ihor Tertyshnyi in January, 2025, with the aim of supporting displaced Ukrainians and fostering community integration. The café brings together Welsh and Ukrainian food and culture, while also providing work for refugees following the invasion of Ukraine. Its first premises on Orchard Street, Neath, has proven popular with locals. It provides a range of Ukrainian and British food, from borscht to traditional breakfasts.
The popularity of their Neath venue encouraged founders to look further afield to open their next café. They have now opened a second venue on Nelson Street in Swansea, with the refit and opening of the café supported by a £25,000 micro loan via the Wales Flexible Investment Fund.
Vladimir Paviliiciuc, one of the founders of Ruta Kitchen, said: “When we started the business, we wanted to create somewhere which would bring together Welsh and Ukrainian culture through food – but we also wanted to create job opportunities for Ukrainian families in the area. We’ve received a lot of support in Neath and earned a lot of experience in running the café, and we decided it was the right time for us to look for somewhere to open another café in Swansea.
“The site we have in Swansea is fantastic, and we couldn’t have gone for that opportunity without the support from the Development Bank of Wales. We didn’t have the funds needed to take over and refurbish the venue on our own and supply it with a fresh inventory. The funding from the Development Bank means that we’ve now got a growing business that is creating jobs and benefitting local communities.”
Charlotte Price, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said: “The work Ruta Kitchen has done in supporting Ukrainian families locally has been fantastic, and they’ve received a very warm welcome from the community in Neath. This investment, via the Wales Flexible Investment Fund, has allowed them to take the next step on their journey as a business, combined with the excellent reputation they’ve already built up in Neath.”
The micro loan for Ruta Kitchen came from the £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund. Financed by the Welsh Government, the fund offers Welsh businesses loans, mezzanine finance and equity investments between £25,000 and £10 million with terms up to 15 years.
