A Richmond resident and former native of Ukraine is auctioning off a rather unique – and slightly humorous – wood carving.
Sergey Khomenko, who used to live in the now war-torn Kyiv, spends his spare time in his adopted land carving pieces of wood into interesting designs.
Khomenko’s latest creation took about eight days, on and off, and is based on a painting that was inspired by an iconic image from the early stages of the Russian invasion of his homeland last year.
The 20-inch x 14-inch x one-inch acacia-wood carving shows a Ukrainian soldier “flipping the bird” at a Russian warship off the coast – an image that actually became a postage stamp in Ukraine.
As well as auctioning the carving on social media, Khomenko plans to show it off to potential bidders at a rally in support of Ukraine at Jack Poole Plaza in Vancouver this Sunday at 3 p.m.
“I personally know people who are fighting over there and I was talking to people raising money here, so I wanted to do something to help,” Khomenko told the Richmond News.
“I know these soldiers, so I know the money is going to get to the right places. I’m told they are purchasing drones and first aid kits.
“All the money will go directly to the soldiers in Ukraine.”
Khomenko said he has a couple of other designs in mind to raise more funds for the soldiers, including a chess board with military emblems on it.
To bid on the latest carving, go to
