Analysis of key problems and needs of SMEs in Ukraine in a year after Russian invasion

Research commissioned by the EBRD and financed by the United States of America and Sweden* shows that a majority of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) surveyed in Ukraine had stabilised their activity almost a year after the Russian invasion, demonstrating resilience despite the devastating impact on the economy.

The survey showed that:

57%

37%

6%

Of SME respondents had maintained their pre-war activity

Were operating, but had reduced their output

Had suspended their operations

The SME research provides an assessment of the business environment in two sectors, production and services, as of the end of December 2022. It identified the negative and positive trends, key problems and needs of businesses.

The research provides an assessment of the business environment and has been conducted in two stages: qualitative survey (16 expert interviews) and quantitative representative research (150 telephone interviews) of SMEs in production and service sectors, covering all regions of Ukraine, except those temporarily occupied. The results were obtained as of the end of December 2022 and identified the negative and positive trends, key problems and needs of businesses.

Comparisons with research findings from before the war were not possible, as the methodology used had changed since the pre-war survey. The current survey looks solely at the two sectors in which the EBRD is working most actively in wartime.