Editors Note: Both MacPaw’s website and employee amount were published initially incorrectly, and both have been corrected. We’ve also included an additional link to the MacPaw Foundation, where donations are accepted. 

Kent State PRSSA welcomed Public Relations (PR) Specialist Nina Bohush to discuss her experiences working in public relations amidst the Ukrainian invasion Monday.

Bohush works for MacPaw, a software development company that started in 2008. Located in Kyiv, Ukraine, this corporation contains roughly 500 team members and is prominent internationally. 

MacPaw decided to format a company emergency plan consisting of a first aid course, backpacks with supplies, and a hotline. 

“Until the very moment … I refused to believe that [the Russian invasion] would happen,” Bohush said. 

When MacPaw concluded a declared invasion was incoming, they immediately reached out to their audience, sharing publicly the company member’s and user’s data were safe, their services remained stable and ways to help Ukraine. 

Oleksandr Kosovan, CEO of MacPaw, tweeted out that the company will stand with Ukraine to fight for justice.

Overall, Bohush believed MacPaw was prepared and ready to take on the hardships of the invasion.

“In terms of the company, we had to communicate … and we were ready,” Bohush said. 

MacPaw took it upon themselves to share the updates on the Ukrainian invasion to their audiences through every available channel.

One of the lessons Bohush stressed was that safety is the main priority for any individual.

“Even though you have to do your work […] you have to think about yourself, your safety, your mental health […] this is like number one,” Bohush said. 

Throughout the invasion of Ukraine, the MacPaw PR team achieved some extraordinary milestones. They successfully published eight news releases in the first five weeks of the invasion. Not to mention, their audience was 4.2 times higher than in 2021. 

Another takeaway was to take care of one’s mental health despite intense circumstances.

“Of course, working in such stressful conditions, it really impacts how you really feel,” Bohush said.

One of her closing points was to do your best and that all donations make a huge impact.

Through the MacPaw Foundation, you can support individuals in Ukraine. The MacPaw Foundation collects external donations and directs its own funds to support the individuals who protect Ukraine.

Sarah Petrovich is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected]