"The one who remembers wins": how RBTNK and the Memorial Platform created a community artifact that preserves memory

In the world of RBTNK, there are two special artifacts dedicated to memory. These are bracelets — a steel one and a paracord one. The first introduced us to the Memorial Memory Platform, while the second was created to support them. We share how it was and how we approached the culture of memory in Ukraine — in the words of RBTNK founder, Iordan Konstantinidi.

RBTNK is my personal interpretation of our world, where people have changed their professions and approaches, armed themselves, and united for victory. Just like in the real world, the war against evil does not come without sacrifices, so a logical continuation of the story was to honor everyone who participated in the main struggle of our time.

«Without their contribution, their sacrifice, and the lessons they taught us, we would not be here today»

This is how Chapter 4 of the RBTNK universe came to be. The previous chapters were about characters, their superpowers, and artifacts. In the fourth chapter, we turned to Memory.

WHAT IS AT THE CENTER OF MEMORY

Inside this section, our own small digital memorial appeared. Here you left stories about your heroes, and most importantly — about the lessons they taught you in life. This emphasis became key. Once in childhood, my sister and I loved the service Gives me hope, where users shared short stories about humanity that inspired them and supported their faith in people and goodness.

Screenshot of the RBTNK digital memorial

I sincerely believe, no matter how fantastical it may sound: if we do not learn the lessons of the past — we cannot control the future. Each lesson is a life, memories, actions, and words left by specific people. It is about them that you wrote in our memorial.

ARTIFACT OF CHAPTER 4

Memory can be not only a source of pain, it can also transform memories into strength, and lessons into an educated path. The artifact of Chapter 4 became a steel bracelet, into which the name of the person taken by war was engraved. To give memory a physical form in everyday life. So that those who left their mark and lesson in our souls and consciousness would be with us throughout our struggle. Such bracelets are worn by American soldiers and their loved ones. A Dog tag is a more personal item, while a bracelet allows you to immortalize the memory of someone.

Steel memory bracelet with engraving

CONTRIBUTION TO THE MEMORIAL

After the release of Chapter 4, I felt very sad. I invested too much into it: myself, resources, people, relationships. It coincided that we launched, and the Memorial, whose work inspired us, publicly asked for money for its activities for the first time. I made a donation from the profits of the first two weeks of sales. Later, Gayane Avakyan, co-founder of the Memorial, said that we became the first business to publicly support the Memorial. And this showed others that you can donate not only for weapons or medicine but also for Memory.

Gayane Avakyan – co-founder of the Memorial and Iordan Konstantinidi, founder of RBTNK

HE WHO REMEMBERS WINS

After a personal acquaintance, I firmly decided to start collaborating with the Memorial and support them more broadly. Although the topic of memory, its audience — is very responsible and painful. What is it like — to make products for those whose lives are currently destroyed? I have not felt such responsibility for a long time, and probably that is what inspired me the most.

“Knots for memory. In each – a name. Paracord” – the dream idea of the co-founder of the Memorial Gayane Avakyan.

When I thought about this, I was in the Sumy region, in the city of Yunakivka, which is currently surrounded by Russian troops. A few sleepless nights, tears, personal pain, memories of my fallen comrades — and the ideas came. This is how the paracord bracelet “He who remembers wins” was created, made from half of our Dog tag. An artifact that transforms memory into action.

First attempts

Paracord is an extremely strong and compact cord, used by the military in field conditions. It helps to bind, secure, pull, hold. So the bracelet embodies this unbreakable connection with those who have gone. The paracord for the bracelets was hand-woven by veteran Oleksandr Savliuk.

WE HIT THE TARGET!

Almost half a million hryvnias in a month of sales — and all the funds raised were directed to continue documenting the stories of the fallen: the deceased soldiers and civilians killed by Russia, so that their names would not be forgotten. Today, over 10,000 names have already been collected on the Memorial platform.

As a military person, I understand very well what death is. That it is unavoidable. And that we need to speak out loud about honoring Heroes and normalize such projects in our traumatized society. I too will end up there sooner or later — so why not invest in what I consider important and what will impact more than one generation of Ukrainians and the world.

Today, both RBTNK and the Memorial Platform continue to build a culture of memory in Ukraine. And I am proud to support such projects as the Memory Platform Memorial and the people behind it. This is exactly why I created RBTNK.

Founder of RBTNK – Iordan Konstantinidi, personal archive

Thank you for your support and sharing! Create your own memory artifacts: steel or paracord bracelet, so that memory becomes a source of strength and inspiration!