Amid intensifying Russian strikes on business, companies need deregulation — including simplified international logistics, construction and grid-connection permitting — as well as tax holidays for businesses hit by strikes and free economic zones in front-line territories, Nova Poshta co-founder Volodymyr Poperechnyuk said.
"The government can’t close the sky to enemy missiles. But freeing up our own businesses’ hands is entirely within its power. That’s the only way to keep the economy afloat," Poperechnyuk wrote on Facebook on Thursday.
He said the scale of destruction from the Aug. 5 Russian strike, which destroyed warehouse facilities belonging to many Ukrainian companies, has been unmatched since the start of the full-scale invasion.
"In this confrontation, whoever adapts faster wins. Free business finds new ways, instantly reconfigures logistics and rebuilds what’s destroyed, while officials are still coordinating the next government plan," the Nova Poshta co-founder said.
He recalled that in 2022 the government cut taxes, abolished duties and licenses, halted inspections and removed regulatory barriers, which he said saved the economy from collapse.
"We just need to repeat that," Poperechnyuk said.
In July, the Nova Poshta co-founder proposed that the government consider introducing a system to compensate businesses for losses from Russian missile and drone strikes by reducing their tax burden by the amount of losses incurred. He said that without such a system, further Russian attacks would affect not only individual companies but also Ukrainians’ and foreigners’ willingness to invest in and develop Ukraine’s economy.
Poperechnyuk has also called for abolishing fuel sales licenses to allow many new points of sale to open, ranging from small mobile stations to barrels and canisters.
He said that in a symmetrical exchange of strikes on logistics infrastructure and the economy, whoever rebuilds and adapts their business fastest will win.
As reported previously, following the overnight Russian attack, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky held an urgent meeting on Aug. 5 with representatives of business, retail and logistics companies on ensuring uninterrupted supply of food, medicine and other essential goods amid systematic Russian strikes on companies that supply goods to millions of Ukrainians.
He said the state is ready to give business priority access to available premises to disperse warehouse capacity. Koretsky instructed the Economy Ministry, the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) and the State Property Fund to prepare a list of such facilities within three days.
The government is also preparing decisions on decentralizing international logistics and expanding the customs corridor. War risk insurance is a separate area of work, where Ukraine is counting on the support of international partners in developing effective mechanisms.
As reported previously, Russian forces struck Ukrainian trade and logistics infrastructure overnight on Aug. 5. The attack destroyed Nova Poshta’s sorting center in Kyiv and Rozetka’s largest distribution center in Brovary, damaged the NOVUS logistics center, and destroyed two Fozzy Group distribution centers.
