"4.5.0" is set to become a brand. How business helps a serviceman from Mykolaiv integrate into civilian life.

Barbershop 4.5.0 opened in 2025 in the Lisky microdistrict of Mykolaiv. There are no other barbershops in this area — most similar establishments operate in the city center. So there is virtually no competition, says LIGA.net Founder Dmytro Zakharchuk.

Today, Dmytro is sitting at the administrator's desk. Here he is simultaneously the owner, a barber, and a repairman. In the chair opposite, barber Viktoriia is trimming a client's beard — she works almost throughout our entire conversation about business and future plans.

From military to entrepreneur

Dmytro is a serviceman in the airborne assault forces. He is currently undergoing long-term rehabilitation after a mine-blast injury: doctors removed most of the shrapnel, but one piece remained in his neck. Because of this, he cannot yet return to duty — and it was during this period that he decided to start his own business, returning to an idea he had even before the war.

The entrepreneur applied for the "Own Business" program from the employment center and received UAH 500,000 in grant funds. They automatically returned a portion of it — the unused balance at the end of the specified period.

The grant was used for equipment and furniture. Dmytro renovated the premises at his own expense and largely by himself.

"The program's terms stipulate three years of operation and the hiring of two employees. If I stick to the business plan, I'll manage," he says. The entrepreneur has to return half a million to the state in taxes. Zakharchuk developed the business plan himself, rewriting it several times to meet the requirements of various grant programs.

The name "4.5.0" in military slang means "all is calm." This is reflected in the barbershop's space: on the table are FPV drones without warheads, and on the wall is a patch board where clients leave their patches as a sign of belonging to the community.

Barbershop in a neighborhood with no competition: how "4.5.0" works

The space is located in the Lisky neighborhood, a large residential area of Mykolaiv. There was no barbershop there before. Dmytro says that this is a significant advantage for customers: they don't have to spend time traveling to the center and back.

Three barbers work at "4.5.0": Zakharuk himself, barber Viktoriia, and another barber. Dmytro met Viktoriia at a training course. Initially, he planned to form an "all-male" team, but due to a shortage of staff and high skill requirements, he changed his approach and was satisfied with the result.

Victoria explains the difference between hairdressers and barbers, and why more and more men are choosing barbershops:

"Hairdressing salons are universal — they want to do everything at once, but it doesn't work that way. A barber should have a narrow specialization, brought to perfection," she says.

According to Victoria, the profession requires constant practice and attentiveness:

"The most difficult thing for me is shaving. And the best thing is meeting new people, communicating with them, and honing my skills with each haircut."

The most popular service in the space is the "haircut + beard" package. A haircut alone costs 400 UAH, a beard trim is 350 UAH, and the package deal is 700 UAH. According to Dmytro, this is one of the lowest price points in the city. There is a permanent discount for military personnel, who make up about half of all clients.

"The workload is not high yet – we've only been working for three months. The main thing now is to stick to the business plan," says Zakharchuk.

The Psychology of Return: Why Owning a Business is Important for Veterans

Zakharuk says that after serving, it can be difficult to find oneself in civilian life. For the first three months after returning, he barely left his home. He says that the value of grant programs is not even in the money, but in the opportunity to reintegrate into society through one's own business.

"These are two completely different worlds. There (at war. — Ed.), people are fighting for Ukraine's freedom with their health and blood, and here a soldier returns and sees someone afraid to go to the store because of the TCC," Dmytro shares.

He adds that spaces created by veterans often become more comfortable for military personnel and those returning from service: it's easier to feel supported and not have to over-explain.

As we speak, Victoria is finishing a client's haircut. The man introduces himself as Sashko. He says he drove five kilometers and didn't encounter a single barbershop — only "4.5.0". He adds that regular hair salons are not an alternative for him: "They won't do it like that there."

Hearing this, Dmytro smiles: such feedback only confirms his idea. He wants to turn "4.5.0" into a brand and open similar spaces in other residential areas of the city.

Sashko is already heading for the exit, but he turns back for a few seconds: he approaches the patch board and leaves his chevron. Judging by the number of patches, a new panel will soon be needed.

The materials were created by LIGA.net with the support of the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia within the framework of the project "Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – Driver of Reforms and Democracy" with funding from Norway and Sweden. The content of the publication is the responsibility of LIGA.net and does not reflect the views of the governments of Norway, Sweden, or ISAR Ednannia.