A café founded by Ukrainian refugees has opened a new venue in Swansea, backed by a £25,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales.

Ruta Kitchen, first launched in Neath in January 2025, was set up by founders Vladimir Pavliiciuc, Volodymyr Iliev and Ihor Tertyshnyi. Their aim was to support displaced Ukrainians, foster community integration, and bring together Welsh and Ukrainian food and culture.

The Orchard Street café in Neath quickly became popular with locals, serving everything from traditional Ukrainian borscht to full British breakfasts. Its success encouraged the team to expand further, opening a second site on Nelson Street in Swansea.

Community and culture

Founder Vladimir Pavliiciuc said the business was always about more than food:

“We wanted to create somewhere that 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 open another café in Swansea.”

He added that the Swansea site would not have been possible without the Development Bank’s support:

“We didn’t have the funds needed to take over and refurbish the venue on our own. The funding means we’ve now got a growing business that is creating jobs and benefitting local communities.”

Backing from the Development Bank

The £25,000 micro loan came via the Wales Flexible Investment Fund, a £500 million programme financed by the Welsh Government. The fund offers loans, mezzanine finance and equity investments between £25,000 and £10 million, with terms of up to 15 years.

Charlotte Price, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, praised the café’s impact:

“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 has allowed them to take the next step on their journey as a business, combined with the excellent reputation they’ve already built up.”

Supporting Welsh businesses

Since its launch in 2017, the Development Bank of Wales has invested £959 million in small businesses and property developers. It now manages £2 billion in funds and supports more than 3,600 small business customers. In 2024/25 alone, debt and equity funding totalling £152 million helped 502 businesses to create and safeguard 6,185 jobs across Wales.

Local impact

The new Swansea café is expected to create jobs and provide a welcoming space for both locals and Ukrainian families. By blending cultures through food, Ruta Kitchen is building bridges while contributing to the regional economy.