Former serviceman Maksym Savenko founded the SavaKnife workshop, which produces handmade knives, swords, sabers, and even katanas.

In an interview with Army FM, he spoke about his service, rehabilitation, and the creation of his veteran-owned business.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Maksym Savenko voluntarily joined the Ukrainian Volunteer Army and served in the Volyn Battalion.

According to him, his motivation was to defend his native Nikopol district, located near Enerhodar. During the active phase of hostilities in the Zaporizhzhia direction, Savenko sustained an injury that made further service impossible.

After returning, he underwent rehabilitation and consulted a psychiatrist. The veteran says that medication therapy and work with specialists helped him return to civilian life. He emphasizes that one should not avoid seeking medical help due to stereotypes surrounding psychiatric care.

Over time, Savenko returned to an old hobby — knife making — which later grew into a business.

At first, he worked alone; now his team consists of five people. SavaKnife produces kitchen, hunting, and tactical knives, as well as long-bladed items such as katanas, sabers, swords, and shashkas. Part of the work is done by his father.

According to Maksym, the workshop provides a lifetime warranty on its products, except in cases of mechanical damage.

He notes that different knife series have different budgets and are made from different steels, but even basic models retain sharpness for a long time and require only periodic honing.

SavaKnife offers a 10% discount for servicemen and veterans. The workshop also donates knives free of charge to kitchens in rehabilitation centers.