French billionaire Xavier Niel’s investment company, NJJ Capital, recently closed a deal to merge two telecom companies in Ukraine, Lifecell and Datagroup-Volia, in one of the largest M&A deals in the country’s history. This marks a significant milestone in Ukraine’s business landscape, with the deal estimated to be worth over $650 million. Niel, known for his telecom investments in Europe, Africa, and Latin America, sees great potential in Ukraine’s telecom sector. Despite this positive development, Ukraine is still struggling to attract foreign investment, especially in defense technology. With only $9 million invested in defense tech startups last year, compared to…

**The Ukraine Business Roundup: Aug. 13, 2024 Edition** The latest edition of the Ukraine Business Roundup highlights the ongoing challenges faced by businesses in Ukraine amidst Russia’s prolonged war. From missile attacks to labor shortages, the war’s impacts are multiplying across the country. Recent attacks on a supermarket and a postal company have further exacerbated the situation, leading to concerns about the exodus of skilled workers and potential investors. The labor market crunch is intensifying, with companies struggling to find and retain talent. As the conflict persists, uncertainty looms over the economic and social fabric of Ukraine. The stress and…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once The Ukrainian government is proposing a tax hike to fund its fight against Russia, sparking controversies with businesses. The plan includes war taxes on individuals and businesses to raise funds for defense spending. While the government argues it’s necessary, major business associations oppose the move, fearing it will strain struggling businesses and fuel tax evasion. Amidst the debate, the American Chamber of Commerce criticized the tax hike as discriminatory against honest taxpayers. On another front, KPMG Ukraine reports a rise in mergers and…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once Editor’s note: This article is part of a series of profiles highlighting Ukrainian businesses and is funded by the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund and created in partnership with Spend with Ukraine, a non-profit organization that launched a platform to showcase brands with Ukrainian roots. The series’ sponsors are not involved in the editorial process of the writing of these profiles. Discover the incredible story of Esper Bionics, a U.S.-Ukraine startup, revolutionizing prosthetics for Ukrainian soldiers. Known for their cyborg-like robotic prosthetic hand, Esper…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once The government of Ukraine is proposing a tax hike to fund its defense against Russia, sparking a public debate with businesses. The plan includes increasing defense spending by Hr 500 billion and raising $3.3 billion through higher taxes and duties. Major business associations oppose the move, arguing it will burden struggling businesses and encourage tax evasion. Key figures like Oleg Gorokhovsky of Monobank and outgoing U.S. Trade Representative Penny Pritzker have criticized the tax hike, suggesting alternative revenue sources. Tech associations and think…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once The July 16, 2024 edition of Ukraine Business Roundup is here. With Ukraine facing a looming deadline to restructure its foreign debt, the nation is at a critical crossroads. Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko is confident a resolution will be reached before the Aug. 1 deadline, but negotiations show a gap in positions. Additionally, criminal cases against businesses in Ukraine have reached an all-time high, with many cases being deemed as bogus by experts. The economy is showing signs of growth, despite challenges, and…

Key Highlights from June 12, 2024 Edition Ukraine recently hosted its annual recovery conference in Berlin, focusing on rebuilding the country’s energy infrastructure. President Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for air defense amid ongoing Russian attacks that have severely damaged energy systems. While aid and support were pledged at the conference, concerns were raised about the country’s political stability following the resignation of key officials. Ukraine’s banking sector, however, is flourishing due to foreign aid and central bank policies. Latest Developments: Italy prepares $150 million aid package for Ukraine’s infrastructure. Ukraine to receive 3.4 billion euros from the EU this…

Last week, Russia launched missile attacks at a publishing house and a building materials hypermarket in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The attacks targeted Ukraine’s largest printing presses and Epicenter, a popular building materials store, resulting in casualties and significant damage. The strike destroyed over 50,000 books in the printing house, owned by Faktor-Druk. This attack on cultural institutions signifies Russia’s long history of targeting Ukrainian culture. Furthermore, Ukrainian drone companies are facing challenges due to a funding shortfall, prompting some to seek partnerships abroad. The government is working to secure foreign funding to support domestic defense production. In other news, there are…