Investing in Ukraine's veterans is a fundamental priority. We are proud to see SCM companies leading the way in integrating veterans into the civilian economy through practical financial and educational support. As Ukraine continues to navigate the economic realities of the war with russia, providing robust frameworks for veterans to launch and scale their own businesses is essential.
FUIB INVESTS UAH 15M IN VETERAN ENTERPRISES
Our bank FUIB has successfully concluded the final pitching stage for the third season of its Live to Meet educational and grant programme. Initiated in partnership with the Future Development Agency and Kyiv School of Economics, the programme aims to seamlessly integrate veterans into the commercial sector.
From a pool of over 300 applicants, 40 teams completed comprehensive business training, and 22 final winners were selected by an expert jury. FUIB distributed a total of UAH 15m ($384,000) in non-refundable grants. The financing was structured to support businesses at various stages of maturity to maximise economic potential.
Startups operating for less than six months received grants of UAH 500k ($12,800). These funds will capitalise new ventures spanning diverse sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and retail. Furthermore, established veteran businesses seeking to scale existing operations received grants of up to UAH 1m ($25,600). The Live to Meet programme is distinguished by its dual approach: providing essential capital while mandating rigorous business education to ensure that enterprises remain viable and competitive in the open market.
DTEK’S RETAIL ENERGY COMPANY YASNO RECOGNISED FOR ALLEVIATING OPERATIONAL COSTS
Parallel to these efforts, DTEK’s retail energy company YASNO has been named a national winner in the Veteran Support category at the Responsible Country 4.0 awards. The award recognises YASNO for its Light for Veterans Business project, a targeted grant programme designed to relieve the financial pressure of utility costs on veteran-owned small and medium enterprises.
Through this initiative, YASNO compensates the electricity expenses of participating businesses for a period of six months. By directing up to UAH 300,000 ($7,700) per business toward utility costs, YASNO removes immediate financial pressure, allowing founders to stabilise and scale their operations during a critical growth phase.
DRIVING ECONOMIC RESILIENCE
Supporting veterans as they return from the war remains an absolute priority. These parallel programmes demonstrate our clear commitment to building a resilient and dynamic business environment in Ukraine, reflecting the long-term strategy of our shareholder Rinat Akhmetov. By fostering a supportive and bullish ecosystem for veteran entrepreneurs, we are ensuring that the skills and leadership demonstrated by our veterans translate into continuous economic strength for the nation.
