Ukrainian entrepreneurship today is holding the economic frontline literally with its own hands. However, the realities of wartime present businesses with a new challenge: how to withstand systemic pressure when even those enterprises that have not suffered physical damage from direct strikes are facing losses?
This was stated in a Facebook post by Ukrainian entrepreneur and public figure Ihor Dobrutskyi, who called for an open dialogue on introducing the program “6 Months of Economic Oxygen for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses.”
Constant air raid alerts, forced closures of shopping centers, electricity outages, and logistical disruptions drain working capital every day. A store, manufacturing facility, or service provider may remain undamaged, yet find itself facing the risk of bankruptcy due to fixed costs—rent, taxes, loans, and payroll.
One of those publicly addressing the need for systemic solutions to preserve Ukrainian entrepreneurship today is Ihor Dobrutskyi—a Ukrainian entrepreneur and public figure with years of experience in business, public administration, and the implementation of large-scale public projects. He is the founder and director of “Folk Ukraine,” as well as the founder of the private arboretum “Dobropark.” Over the years, Dobrutskyi has worked in public administration, served as a deputy of the Kyiv City Council, and held the position of Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration (KMDA).
Today, he directs his experience, in particular, toward identifying mechanisms that will help Ukrainian business survive the most difficult periods of the war. That is why Ihor Dobrutskyi initiated an open dialogue on introducing the program “6 Months of Economic Oxygen for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses.”
“This is neither a request to support business at the state’s expense nor a handout to entrepreneurs. This is a partnership agreement: the state provides time and resources, while business guarantees the retention of jobs, specialists, and future tax payments,” the author of the initiative emphasizes.
This refers to a comprehensive set of measures designed to grant entrepreneurs a temporary economic breathing space, allowing them to retain their teams, restore working capital, and continue operations.
Among the key directions of the proposed solutions:
Tax restructuring. Deferral of a portion of tax liabilities for six months with the option of their gradual repayment over two to three years without fines or penalties. Such an approach would prevent entrepreneurs from falling into an additional debt trap once the crisis period ends.
Financial stability. Introduction of loan payment holidays and accessible targeted loans to sustain operational activities and preserve teams.
Retaining talent. Reduction of the fiscal burden on the payroll fund for employers who continue to maintain staff and do not lay off employees.
Adaptation to wartime downtime. Tax-based compromise mechanisms regarding rent, revision of land and property fees in high-risk zones, as well as protective mechanisms for manufacturers and importers suffering losses due to non-payments or damaged goods.
Risk insurance. Development of accessible insurance instruments for property, raw materials, and equipment against war risks as a cornerstone for future recovery.
Supporting small and medium-sized businesses in this context is not merely an economic issue. Behind every enterprise stand people, their families, suppliers, landlords, banks, and entire manufacturing and service supply chains.
Preserving a single enterprise means preserving jobs, tax revenues, and economic activity. In wartime conditions, it also means sustaining the resilience of the home front.
Ukrainian business has already proven its ability to adapt to the harshest circumstances. However, to endure over the long haul, it requires not only its own stamina and entrepreneurial courage, but also predictable rules and effective state support mechanisms.
That is why the discussion on “6 Months of Economic Oxygen” is far more than a conversation about tax holidays or credit relief.
It is a question of what Ukraine’s economy will look like tomorrow and how strong its home front will be today.
Photo: Canva, Igor Dobrutsky’s profile on Facebook