Eat borscht, save Ukraine: MasterChef Refugee winners gear up for a good cause

After her win, Olga Martinovska, who also became a MasterChef judge, said she was lucky to find safety with her friends in Prague and wanted to help those living in Ukraine.

Ukrainian MasterChef winner Olga Martinovska, who fled the Russian invasion of Prague with her 6-year-old daughter, prepared borscht and other traditional dishes on Saturday to raise funds for those trapped at home.

At a stall flying the Ukrainian flag at a popular farmers market along the Vltava River in the city, Martinovska and other refugees served delicious food, including poppy seed cakes, tarts, and homemade cakes because I wanted to do it here in front of the river in Prague." Martinovska said next to the sign, "Eat borscht, save Ukraine."

"We're raising money in other ways to buy necessary medicines for Ukrainians who remain at vulnerable points and need them." Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, some 300,000 refugees have fled to the Czech Republic, and nearly 200,000 have joined the pre-war Ukrainian community. 

Martinovska, who also became a MasterChef judge after her win, said she was lucky to find safety with her friends in Prague and wanted to help those living in Ukraine.

One fine morning, customers lining up said they were happy to splash out on a bowl of borscht to support refugees and others affected by the war.

"I want to support Ukraine because I have many friends from Ukraine," said Ksenia Harish. "Also, I love borscht, and I love supporting the Ukrainian army because I believe they are protecting our world and Europe.