"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 — one steel and one paracord. The first introduced us to the Memorial Memory Platform, and the second was created to support it. We share the story of how it happened and how we approached the culture of memory in Ukraine — in the direct words of RBTNK founder, Iordan Konstantinidi.
RBTNK is my personal interpretation of our world, where people changed their professions and approaches, armed themselves, and united for victory. As 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 took part in the main struggle of today.
“Without their contribution, their sacrifice, and the lessons they taught us, we would not be here today”
Thus, the 4th chapter of the RBTNK universe appeared. The previous ones 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 lesson 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 magical it sounds: if we do not learn the lessons of the past — we cannot control the future. Every lesson is life, memories, actions, and words left behind by specific people. It is about them that you wrote in our memorial.
ARTIFACT OF THE 4TH CHAPTER
Memory can be not only a source of pain, but it can also transform memories into strength, and lessons into an enlightened path. The artifact of the 4th chapter became a steel bracelet, inside which the name of a 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 soul and consciousness would be with us throughout our struggle. Such bracelets are worn by American military personnel and their loved ones. A Dog tag is a more personal item, while the bracelet allows you to engrave the memory of someone.
Steel memory bracelet with engraving
CONTRIBUTION TO THE MEMORIAL
After the release of the 4th chapter, I was very sad. I invested too much: myself, resources, people, relationships. It so happened that we launched, and the Memorial, whose work inspired us, publicly asked for money for the first time to support its activities. 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 by doing so, we 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
THE ONE WHO REMEMBERS WINS
After meeting personally, I firmly decided to start cooperating with the Memorial and support them more broadly. Although the topic of memory and its audience — is very responsible and painful. How is it — to make products for those whose lives are currently shattered? I have not felt greater responsibility for a long time, and probably this inspired me more than anything else.
“Knots for memory. Each one has a name. Paracord” – the dream idea of Memorial co-founder Gayane Avakyan.
When I thought about this, I was in the Sumy region, in the town of Yunakivka, which today is surrounded by Russian troops. Several sleepless nights, tears, personal pain, memories of my fallen comrades — and ideas came. This is how the paracord bracelet “The one who remembers wins” was created, made from half of our Dog tag. An artifact that turns memory into action.
First attempts
Paracord is an ultra-strong and compact cord used by the military in field conditions. It helps to tie, secure, pull, hold. So the bracelet embodies this unbreakable connection with those who have passed. The paracord for the bracelets was hand-braided by veteran Oleksandr Savlyuk.
WE HIT THE TARGET!
Almost half a million hryvnias in one month of sales — and all proceeds were directed to continue documenting the stories of the fallen: deceased military personnel and civilians killed by Russia, so their names would not be forgotten. Today, the Memorial platform has collected over 10,000 names.
As a military person, I understand very well what death is. That it is unavoidable. And that honoring the Heroes must be spoken about openly and such projects normalized in our traumatized society. I will also end up there sooner or later — so why not invest in what I consider important and what will affect not just 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 projects like the Memorial Memory Platform 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!
