Russian strikes will cost Ukraine’s economy up to $10 billion this year, ministry says

Ukraine's Economy Ministry expects losses from Russian strikes to reach up to $10 billion this year and plans to submit a three-part business support package to the Cabinet next week, Economy Minister Oleksandr Kravchenko said on 12 September.

Russia has escalated its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine through 2026, striking first at power plants, substations, and residential blocks, then widening the target list to trains, factories, retailer warehouses, and medicine depots. Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky said on 28 August that Russia had destroyed about 90% of retail chains' food logistics, but that supply would shift to direct deliveries, with no shortage of basic foods expected.

Kravchenko said business is an absolutely important source of funding for the defense forces, and that it ensures critical goods are supplied and communities can function.

Three-part package aims to support businesses affected by Russian strikes

• The package has three elements, Kravchenko said. The first would extend the geographic coverage of existing damage compensation programs to include Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, and simplify the application process so affected companies do not wait months for support.
• The second would expand subsidized lending for large businesses, with loans of up to about $22 million (UAH 1 billion) and an interest-rate subsidy of about 5 percentage points. The loans could fund investment projects, including fortification and protection, as well as working capital.
• The third would expand the state's 5-7-9 lending program, which sets the borrower's rate at 5%, 7%, or 9% depending on the purpose of the loan and the size of the business, to suppliers whose large retail clients are losing money to strikes.

He said all three programs had been finalized and hoped businesses would begin receiving substantial support within the coming weeks. The package followed a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussions with businesses, he said.

Russian strikes have damaged logistics networks and businesses across Ukraine

An overnight strike on Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast on 5 August killed 17 people and destroyed or damaged warehouses and distribution centers belonging to Rozetka, Epicentr, Nova Poshta, Silpo, and other major companies. Co-founder Iryna Chechotkina described Rozetka's warehouse complex in Brovary, valued at $70 million, as beyond repair. The same strike killed six Silpo employees.

Further strikes through early September hit Auchan, Nova Poshta again, Varus, Dnipro-M, and Coca-Cola.