Five Inventions from Young Ukrainians that Are Changing the World

Leaf Cellulose and Paper (Valentyn Frechka) 

After learning that traditional paper production harms the environment, Valentyn Frechka set out to refine the process by repurposing fallen leaves from city parks and urban areas. He developed a method that softens leaves and uses sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid to extract cellulose while preserving its structure. The cellulose is then combined with bio-fillers to produce paper. The process is highly efficient; 2.3 tons of leaves produce one ton of cellulose, the equivalent of approximately 17 trees. Besides reducing deforestation, the method minimizes waste. Leaves that would otherwise be burned or composted—both costly processes that would emit carbon dioxide—are instead reused. As a result, Frechka’s innovative technology supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals by lowering CO₂ emissions, conserving water, and reducing reliance on trees.

In 2020, Frechka co-founded Releaf Paper, which has already acquired major clients such as L’Oreal, Chanel, and Samsung by offering sustainable packaging alternatives. The company aims to expand production across Europe to help transform the packaging industry.

Autonomous Hand Warming Gloves (Taisia Chursina)

Raynaud’s disease is an incurable circulatory disorder in which small blood vessels in the fingers, toes, ears, and nose constrict in response to cold temperatures or emotional stress, significantly reducing blood flow. This can cause numbness, skin discoloration, pain, and, in severe cases, finger sores. Management typically relies on layering clothing and wearing insulated gloves.

Taisia won a silver medal at the International Conference of Young Scientists for developing autonomous hand-warming gloves that help people with Raynaud’s disease maintain hand warmth. The gloves weigh only 250 grams and are made from thin materials to allow full mobility. Sensors embedded in the globes continuously monitor temperature and humidity, ensuring consistent comfort. Chursina also developed a mobile app that enables doctors to adjust settings and remotely monitor patients’ conditions, providing a more feasible way of managing Raynaud’s symptoms.

Sign Language Dictionary (Mykyta Telychko)

Mykyta Telychko won the Intermediate Technology Award 2025 at The Big Bang Competition for developing an interactive dictionary to help both hearing and hearing-impaired people learn sign language. He was inspired by his younger brother, Makar, who has a hearing impairment and struggles to communicate in Ukrainian because he cannot hear certain sound frequencies. The challenge became even greater when the family moved to Northern Ireland, where Makar found it difficult to learn English due to its high-frequency sounds. Makar is not alone; over 400 million people worldwide experience significant hearing difficulties.

Telychko’s device addresses this challenge with practical applications for hearing-impaired people and anyone who communicates with them, such as sign-language interpreters. Unlike most sign-language learning applications, his program provides real-time feedback. In “Practice Mode,” users select a country’s sign language (such as Ukrainian, British, or American Sign Language) and enter a word. The device displays a video of the corresponding sign, and as the learner performs the sign in front of a camera, the program gives immediate feedback using green, yellow, and red markings to indicate which finger positions need improvement. Telychko plans to develop a web-based version to reach a global audience and test the dictionary with learners of all ages.

Dentistry for Astronauts (Sofiia Davydova, Mykhailo Harkavets, Yelyzaveta Sadychkova, Vladyslav Volkov)

Young Ukrainians developed a miniature laboratory of dental materials that was sent to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon rocket. Dentists rely on ultraviolet lamps to install fillings, but these cannot be used in space because of fire risk. This presents a serious challenge, as prolonged spacecraft cause teeth to decalcify and become more brittle, increasing the need for fillings.

The team (WAR). After February 2022, the team was forced to move to different countries, losing access to their laboratory. In the summer of 2022, their school building was destroyed by Russian rockets, yet their teacher managed to save the laboratory and relocate it to Poland. 

Laser 3D Scanner (Danil Arabadzhi)

At the international innovation show, INOVA, Danil Arabadzhi won gold for developing a laser 3D scanner for architects and builders. The device calculates the coordinates of every point in a room or on an object, which is transferred to a computer to create a virtual model or scan.