We are Roman and Iryna, a Ukrainian couple living in Karlsruhe, Germany since 2013. We are dedicating ourselves to supporting Ukraine through volunteer projects, fundraising, and humanitarian aid. 

We discovered the Camino in 2023, walking the Portuguese Coastal route from Viana do Castelo. In 2024, we shared the English Way from Ferrol with two fellow Ukrainian women from Karlsruhe.

Now, in 2025, we embark on our third Camino, the Portuguese Central route, starting May 31st from Porto, including the Variante Espiritual, and aiming to reach Santiago de Compostela by June 15th.

Camino Podolico - the Saint James Way of Podillya in Ukraine, is a cultural and pilgrim route, that extends over 250 km from Vinnytsia—Karlsruhe's partner city—to Kamianets-Podilskyi. Modeled after the Camino de Santiago, it connects 14 significant points in the region and takes 14-16 days to complete. 

In May 2024 it was officially recognized as part of the European cultural route of the Camino de Santiago and is a member of the European Federation of Saint James Way. In its inaugural year, 300 pilgrims walked this Ukrainian route.

Since 2024 we, Iryna and Roman are official Ambassadors of Camino Podolico.

In May-June 2024, we launched a Ukrainian flag relay from Vinnytsia, via Karlsruhe to Santiago de Compostela. Students and activists carried two flags along the Camino Podolico in Ukraine, passing them to us in Germany. We then continued from Ferrol to Santiago in Spain. Walking in a small group of 4 Ukrainians, we were so grateful to feel a lot of support from locals and pilgrims.

Covering 4 000 km, one flag was donated to the Museum of Pilgrimage in Santiago, while the other returned to Ukraine and is now on display in the museum of Vinnytsia. This initiative promoted the Camino Podolico and helped to strengthen its connection to the European cultural landscape.

In 2025, we are organizing another unique initiative. Ukrainian artist Inna Bondarchyk from Karlsruhe created an icon of Saint James. The icon will accompany us on the Portuguese Way, be consecrated in Santiago de Compostela, and then travel to Ukraine - starting point of Camino Podolico route in Vinnytsia.

This project highlights cities cooperation, support for Ukrainian art abroad, with the creation of a powerful visual attribute. The icon will not only become a spiritual symbol for Camino Podolico but also a vibrant representation of the Ukrainian route on the European Camino ways.

Following our departure from Karlsruhe on the Camino Portugues and the blessing in Santiago de Compostela, we will donate the Saint James icon to Vinnytsia. This vibrant city in central Ukraine, where you can find Europe's easternmost Camino de Santiago milestone, will house the icon in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels, which belongs to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. 

As the starting point of the Camino Podolico, the church, along with the icon and installed in 2023 statue of Saint James, will provide pilgrims with a spiritual send-off into the picturesque Podolian landscape. 

The NGO "Association of Friends of the Way of St. James in Ukraine," established in Vinnytsia last October, operating across Ukraine. Publicly launched on October 25th during a workshop on European cultural routes.

The plans focus on improving and enhancing the Camino Podolico route, including better accommodation and dining options. They're also actively recruiting new members both locally and internationally to support its growth. Throughout the summer, the Association will organize various events, often in partnership with other NGOs, local governments, and partners, all working to develop and promote this vital new pilgrimage path.