Business under attack. What emergency measures the authorities are preparing to save the economy

Against the backdrop of daily massive Russian attacks on warehouses, supermarkets, ports, and transport infrastructure, the authorities are urgently preparing a package of measures to support the economy. Relevant ministries have announced round-the-clock assistance, decentralization of warehouses, simplification of tax control, and new security rules for operations.

Context Russia has been attacking Kyiv and the region daily with kamikaze drones for over a week, and dozens of businesses have come under enemy fire. Drones are striking food supermarket warehouses, marketplaces, book publishers, and pharmaceutical companies. Postal operators and international companies have been targeted. Almost daily Nova Poshta reports strikes, Epicenter stores across Ukraine have been damaged, and yesterday the Coca‑Cola plant in Brovary was attacked. In conditions of constant shelling and air raid alerts, businesses halt operations. Under current rules, work is prohibited during an alert, including shopping malls. In Kyiv, during an alert—which can be declared more than 10 times a day and last for hours—the metro operates with restrictions. Given the new tactic of enemy strikes, the Cabinet announced changes regarding alerts and business operations. In particular, the alert will be split into two types: yellow and red. During a “yellow” alert businesses will be allowed to continue operating, and Kyiv is proposed to fully restore metro service. During a red alert everything must close as before. Read more about the innovations in a separate RBC‑Ukraine piece. Zelensky met with retail representatives 2 September President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with business representatives—owners, managers, and directors of the largest grocery and home improvement supermarkets, hypermarkets, and marketplaces. The main topic was business operations and logistics amid new attacks by Russia. Main agreements and initiatives: Expansion of support: The Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, National Bank, and the President’s Office must prepare decisions to expand support programs for business, including concessional lending for large enterprises that currently do not qualify. Operational center: A separate center will be created at the Ministry of Economy and Environment to collect operational information about entrepreneurs’ problems. Logistics and warehouses: It was proposed to create customs warehouses in EU border countries for storing goods. It is also planned to simplify rental of municipal and state warehouses and to compile a list of logistics hubs. Protection and reservation: The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy must work out protection for critically important logistics hubs and the reservation of drivers. Safety and rules: The meeting discussed working conditions during alerts, including a new approach to notifications developed by the government, the military, and the State Emergency Service, as well as deregulation of restoring distribution complexes and addressing workforce shortages. Tax service on business support The State Tax Service has developed a package of tax measures to assist enterprises damaged by enemy attacks. According to the head of the agency, Lesia Karnaukh, some necessary initiatives require legislative regulation, but tax authorities have already formed a risk‑oriented approach to administration and control to simplify conditions for affected businesses. Main measures of the STS to support affected businesses: Clear identification: The tax systems will create a separate list of enterprises that have documented damage, with the corresponding mark “economic entity affected by Russian armed aggression.” The list will be formed based on data from the State Emergency Service, military administrations, local authorities, law enforcement, and state registers without requiring businesses to resubmit certificates. Assessment of tax risks: Reduced turnover, profitability, or tax burden due to shelling will not automatically trigger requests or audits—real causes of damage will be clarified first. Focused control: Audits of affected enterprises will be carried out only when real risks exist, and their scope will be narrowly focused on the specific issue. Minimization of paperwork: Interaction will be conducted through the Electronic Cabinet without demanding documents already in STS databases or available via interagency exchange. Tax debt: If debt arises, the STS will promptly notify the enterprise. Having debt will not automatically negate affected status, while legal procedures for repayment will apply. Personal support: For enterprises with critical damage, a responsible person will be assigned and Tax Advisory Offices will be engaged. Regional military administrations move to round‑the‑clock mode: “single windows” opening for business As Deputy Head of the President’s Office Viktor Mykyta reported, due to enemy threats in the regions of Ukraine a special response protocol for regional military administrations has been activated. Economic departments of regional military administrations are moving to round‑the‑clock operation to communicate with enterprises and preserve economic potential. Key steps and support for business from regional administrations: “Single window”: Each regional military administration will open a “single window” to process business requests (contact phone numbers will be published on administrations’ official resources). Decentralization of warehouses: Special working groups will help businesses decentralize product storage in communities, providing potential locations for rapid deployment. Support for relocation: Enterprises opening additional or backup locations in other regions will receive maximum assistance from the region and communities regarding land, utilities, and logistics. Logistics groups: Working groups have been created jointly with the Ministry for Restoration and regional administrations to ensure uninterrupted logistics. Regular consultations: On the “Government and Business Dialogue” platform, under the leadership of regional heads, weekly online consultations with entrepreneurs will be held (the number of meetings will be increased if necessary). Statement from the Ministry for Restoration As Minister for Restoration Mykola Kalashnyk stated, recent Russian attacks show a clear trend: Russia simultaneously strikes seaports, civilian vessels, railways, and border infrastructure, trying to stop exports, imports, and passenger transport. Main figures and consequences of the attacks: Maritime transport: Due to systematic shelling since 22 July, shipping through the ports of Greater Odesa has effectively stopped. In just 2026, 198 attacks on port infrastructure were recorded, 95 on vessels in ports and 69 in the maritime corridor. In one month Russia attacked 28 civilian merchant ships in the ports of Greater Odesa and off the coast. Railways: Since the start of the full‑scale invasion 6 125 attacks on rail infrastructure have been recorded (over 1,5 thousand this year), damaging 509 locomotives and 249 wagons. Despite this, Ukrzaliznytsia continues operations. Border crossings: Over the past week Russia attacked checkpoints in the south four times. On the Moldova border the “Vynohradivka–Vulcănești” crossing was damaged, the “Tabaki–Myrne” infrastructure was completely destroyed, and the service area near “Reni–Giurgiulești” was attacked (trucks of foreign carriers were affected). On the Romania border the “Orlivka–Isaccea” crossing was hit. Work at the crossings after the attacks was restored in emergency mode within 24–48 hours. Appeal to partners and steps for resilience: Locomotives and reserves: Partners were urged to provide locomotives for the railway. It is also planned to preassemble reserves of mobile infrastructure and equipment for rapid deployment at damage sites and to reroute flows jointly with neighboring states. Transport Support Fund: Partners are encouraged to join the newly established Transport Support Fund (administered by Lithuania) for targeted contributions to equipment, mobile infrastructure, and recovery. Kalashnyk noted that Russian strikes have direct effects beyond Ukraine, impacting foreign vessels, international carriers, European routes, and Ukrainian agricultural exports to more than 55 countries worldwide. Ukraine is working with partners on restoration, reserves, and alternative solutions.

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