Olena Briukhovets, an entrepreneur from Myrnohrad (Donetsk Oblast), together with other members of an eastern Ukraine food cluster moved their facilities to Ivano-Frankivsk. Now several businesses from the east are already operating in a new location.

Until February, Olena Briukhovets was developing her business in Myrnohrad. Her company produced frozen semi-finished products – varenyky (dumplings), pancakes, stuffed cabbage rolls and cutlets. These were sold in shops in several cities of the region. She also had a hot food selling point in the local hospital.

Briukhovets made the decision to relocate her business after participating in online dialogue platforms for small and medium-sized businesses held since April by USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA). Several entrepreneurs agreed to relocate their production along with her.

“Under the relocation program, I was offered a railway carriage with a lot of space, so I invited other entrepreneurs. They are all members of Donetsk Oblast Food Cluster, which was created in 2019. I took everything I needed to make semi-finished products; entrepreneurs from Sloviansk moved their coffee shop and confectionery production, and a cheese producer moved from Kramatorsk.”

The three businesses from Donetsk Oblast moved to Ivano-Frankivsk in early June. Briukhovets looked for a place in other regions, traveling around Ukraine checking premises, conditions, and prices. Finally she decided on Ivano-Frankivsk as it is a long way from active fighting, and there is potential for business development.

For several months, the entrepreneurs repaired the rented premises to meet food production conditions: water, tiles, and stainless surfaces for cooking.

Recently, one of the relocated businesses – a coffee and confectionery shop – started working. Briukhovets is completing preparatory work and plans to start manufacturing her products in December. She will sell both frozen semi-finished products and ready meals such as hot sandwiches and pitas. She also plans to produce dried soups and borshch, which just need hot water for a finished dish to be ready in minutes. She believes that during long power and water cuts, such a fast food product can be very popular.

“During these few months that I have been here, I have been studying local demand. I see that there is a higher culture of food consumption. People do not need just a quick meal at an affordable price, they also want it to be tasty and beautiful,” says the entrepreneur.

Briukhovets is not afraid of competition. She does not know when she will return home, but she believes that both Myrnohrad and Donetsk, which she left in 2014, will be free and live under the Ukrainian flag

ERA purchased water clean equipment (water filtration stations) for Myrnohrad, the city in Donetsk Oblast. The water filtration stations will be installed in two municipal schools and purify water in existing wells. This will serve as an alternative source of drinking water for the citizens.

It is expected that each of the water filtration stations will produce 10 cubic meters (m3) of water or 10,000 liters of water per day.

Since the beginning of the war, the city experiences a tremendous lack of drinking water – the South Donbas water pipeline that supplied water was damaged. As a result, Myrnohrad, along with other cities in the region, was connected to Karliv water reservoir, an alternative source of water supply. Unfortunately, the water is not suitable for drinking and has been supplied only three days per week. Therefore installation of the station will improve the quality of life for locals and partially solve the problem with drinking water in Myrnohrad.

A team from Ukraine took first place at Robotex International, one of the world’s largest international robotics festivals held on November 25–26 in Tallinn.  A group of young Ukrainians became the best robotics team in Europe, among more than 30 countries participating in the competition.

The Ukrainian national team Op[ti]mum & Roboclub Vugledar united participants from Vuhledar (Donetsk Oblast) and Kamianka-Dniprovska (Zaporizhzhia Oblast). The children were trained by Hanna Telychko, an IDP entrepreneur from Donetsk Oblast.

At the competition in Tallinn, contestants had to design and program an autonomous robot weighing up to 3 kg, whose task was to find and push the opponent’s robot outside a playing field with a diameter of 154 cm. The Ukrainian team mastered this task quickly, winning an absolute victory among 47 teams to take first place.

“During the war, such victories are very inspiring for Ukrainian schoolchildren who are hiding in bomb shelters and deprived of many basic things such as electricity, heat, Internet, and communication with other teenagers. Therefore, our displaced robotics team will continue to master the technologies of the future in order to participate in the recovery of Ukraine in the nearest future,” said Telychko.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Hanna and her husband Serhii developed a network of robotics centers in Donetsk Oblast, which were attended by more than 200 children. All the centers, created with USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) support, were destroyed by Russian shelling.

Telychko told the President of Estonia about her experience. Such competitions are another chance to talk about Ukraine, where children want to learn, develop and create technologies of the future even during wartime, she says.

On November 17–19, children from Ukraine took part in the World Robot Olympiad International Final 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. ERA covered travel costs, participation in the competition and accommodation for children and trainers.

Two robotics teams brought by the Telychko family successfully represented Ukraine among 73 countries. Over three days, the participants programmed robots to perform tasks on a special field. They also communicated with teams from around the world, telling them about the war in Ukraine, the destroyed educational centers, and the resilience of Ukraine and children who, despite the difficulties, continue to study, participate in championships and prepare to build an innovative future.

Telychko is convinced that even during the war children need to develop, so she is looking for different educational opportunities by participating in various grant programs. In the summer, the family held free robotics workshops for more than 1,500 children in the western regions of Ukraine.

At the request of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk Oblast Military Administrations, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) purchased chainsaws, water tanks and fuel canisters, and delivered them to the warehouses of oblast administrations.

“We plan to set up 173 so-called Invincibility Points (centers) in Donetsk Oblast, where water tanks and fuel canisters will be installed. In these centers people will be able to warm up, drink tea and charge their phones during long power outages. Canisters will also be transferred to hospitals for the needs of doctors and to arrange shelters there, so that in case of power cuts people can come and get a place to spend the night and warm up for a few days,” said Oksana Holovko, Director of the Investment Department of Donetsk Oblast State Administration.

In Donetsk Oblast, chainsaws have been handed over to newly liberated communities such as Lyman and Sviatohirsk, where they are currently being used to clear fallen trees. Forestry enterprises received several chainsaws to cut firewood for locals.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, chainsaws will be handed over to communities and will be used to cut firewood for local residents, as well as to clear debris in case of shelling.

“Chainsaws are very important for our region, as we are currently gathering firewood for the winter, and municipal services need such tools. In the coming days, we will deliver chainsaws to urban and rural communities near the contact line,” said Artur Boiko, Head of the External Relations Department, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Administration.

In Luhansk Oblast, the equipment will be transferred to de-occupied territories. As of November 23, there are 12 liberated villages in the region.

“People in newly liberated territories lack many basic things, so chainsaws, water tanks, and fuel cans are vital for them. In the future, we will deliver equipment to liberated communities where it will be distributed among local residents or used in such places as police stations, and post and public offices,” said Denys Denyshchenko, Director of the International Technical Assistance Department, Luhansk Oblast Military Administration.

Fuel canisters (20 liters) and 250-liter water tanks will be installed in Invincibility Points, which are being opened in all regions of Ukraine. Water tanks will also be transferred to communities for installation in bomb shelters.

By February 2023, ERA will purchase and transfer generators, lanterns, radios, fire extinguishers, and motor pumps to oblast administrations. The total amount of assistance to the three oblasts is over UAH 27 million.

On November 29, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) held the seventh online dialogue platform “Support for Business in Wartime: Relocation and Recovery” in cooperation with the Reform team under the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. The event was attended by 33 participants: entrepreneurs, representatives of the Ukrainian Bank Association, the banking sector and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.

Representatives of Oschadbank spoke about business support through “Affordable Loans 5–7–9%” state program. In 2022, Oschadbank provided more than UAH 10 billion in loans, with 80% of clients –  representatives of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises – receiving loans under the 5–7–9%  program. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, business has received 15,000 loans, and the demand for concessional lending remains very high. Most entrepreneurs receive loans to replenish working capital.

Representatives of First Ukrainian International Bank and ESKA Capital leasing company updated participants on “Affordable Financial Leasing 5–7–9%” program. Most requests for financing come from agricultural and logistics sectors. Due to problems with logistics (air transport and seaports are not fully operational) many goods are now delivered by truck. The agricultural sector accounts for 30% of leasing requests. Leasing conditions are: advance payment of 40—50%, good business reputation, availability of equipment by the client (already have a fleet; not a startup), and geography – the center and west of Ukraine.

Entrepreneurs received answers to questions about who can apply for loans, whether collateral is required, and which regions are included in the “green zone”.

29 листопада за сприяння Проєкту USAID «Економічна підтримка України»,  Команди підтримки реформ Мінекономіки України, участі Асоціації українських банків, представників державних та недержавних банків

відбувся сьомий інформаційно-діалоговий майданчик «Допомога бізнесу в умовах війни: релокація та відновлення». До заходу долучилися 33 учасники – підприємці, представники банківської сфери, Мінекономіки України.

Представники акціонерного товариства “Ощадбанк” розповіли про підтримку бізнесу через державні програми «Доступні кредити 5-7-9%». У 2022 році Ощадбанк надав кредитів на понад 10 мільярдів гривень. 80% клієнтів – представників мікро-, малого та середнього бізнесу – отримують кредити за програмою 5 – 7 – 9%. Від початку повномасштабного вторгнення бізнес отримав 15 000 кредитів, запит на пільгове кредитування залишається дуже високим. Найбільше підприємці отримують кредити на поповнення обігових коштів.

Представники Першого Українського Міжнародного Банку та лізингової компанії «ЕСКА Капітал» розповіли про можливості програми «Доступний фінансовий лізинг 5-7-9%». Наприклад, найчастіше агросектор та логістична галузь подають запити на таке фінансування. Через те, що логістика перевезення товарів ускладнена (не працюють авіаперевезення та повною мірою морські порти), багато товарів доставляються вантажівками. Також 30% запитів на лізинг складає агросектор. Умови для отримання лізингу – аванс 40-50%, гарна ділова репутація, наявність техніки у клієнта (щоб вже був певний парк, а не стартап), географія – центр та захід України.

Підприємці отримали відповіді на питання про те, хто може подавати заявки на кредитування, чи потрібна застава для цього та які регіони входять до “зеленої зони”.