Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is often treated as charity, but the bar rises when national capacity is at risk. During wartime, Ukraine requires more strategic, KPI-driven investments aligned with new realities, where businesses commit to the country's future.

Freedom Holding Corp., an investment bank, and the venture builder CLUST are jointly creating CLUST SPACE — certified shelters that keep classes running during air alerts and power outages — developing a repeatable model of learning continuity. By combining their efforts, the partners manage the strategy and operating model behind CLUST SPACE, measure outcomes, and the near-term roadmap of the project.

How to Align Corporate Social Responsibility with Wartime Realities

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) means a company takes accountability for its social and environmental impact and, beyond compliance, applies policies, investments, and practices to produce measurable public value alongside business results. In many cases, corporate social responsibility stops at surface-level gestures or one-off donations, but, done well, it’s strategic. In particular, CSR can address material social problems connected to the company’s capabilities and set clear goals and KPIs. CSR typically provides grants, develops educational and workforce programs, supports healthcare initiatives and programs for displaced individuals, and advances climate action.

The war changed everything in Ukraine: the needs are systemic, and so must be the response. In this context, Freedom Holding Corp. demonstrates how CSR becomes nation-building when anchored in long-term goals: keeping education running, restoring critical infrastructure, and safeguarding human capital. Specifically, the company has supported Ukrainian foundations by providing emergency medical equipment, assistance for displaced people, necessities, and funding to restore critical infrastructure.

The CLUST SPACE Project: Smart Shelter as a Model of Strategic CSR

One of Freedom Holding Corp.’s key projects is CLUST SPACE: a network of smart university shelters that keep classes running during missile alerts and power outages. It’s developed by the venture builder CLUST, its founder, Ruslan Tymofieiev, and the charitable organization TYMOFIEIEV FOUNDATION. Two working smart shelters — CLUST SPACE KYIV and CLUST SPACE DNIPRO — are fully functional, tech-enabled, and human-centered. Both hubs prioritize ergonomics, well-defined zones, and inclusive access. Therefore, these spaces are equally suitable for study, events, and relaxation. They also comply with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine’s standards, so the design choices directly serve the goal of uninterrupted learning. The spaces serve a dual role: during periods of calm, they host student events and provide coworking, and during air raids, they are open to everyone as shelters. This drives strong uptake — in their first year, CLUST SPACE KYIV hosted approximately 73,000 visitors and over 185 events.

The effort is framed as protection of Ukraine’s intellectual capital: students shouldn’t have to choose between safety and education. Ruslan Tymofieiev argues that the education issue requires immediate action: unsafe and uncomfortable conditions push teenagers abroad, weakening Ukraine’s near-term talent pipeline. Freedom Holding Corp., the lead donor, shares this priority, so the company’s CEO, Timur Turlov, has emphasized that education is the foundation of national development and that the company is committed to a tangible, measurable impact. He claimed: «By investing in safe spaces for students, we are not only ensuring uninterrupted learning during challenging times but also strengthening Ukraine’s intellectual potential».

Looking ahead, Freedom Holding Corp. will deepen its partnership with CLUST by prioritizing 2 immediate steps: launching CLUST SPACE ODESA and strengthening student communities. The Odesa smart shelter will extend the proven model, and community development will turn into active hubs with events and peer networks that keep students learning and connected.