Kyiv hotels are expanding their range of services for corporate clients by offering long-term accommodations for employees that ensure conditions for uninterrupted work. Against the backdrop of risks of power and water outages, companies are increasingly turning to hotels as an alternative to traditional offices.
In particular, the Kyiv hotels “Ukraine” and “Dnipro,” which are part of the ARS Capital investment holding, are developing a format that combines accommodations, workspace, and self-sufficient infrastructure. This model allows for the temporary accommodation of both individual specialists and entire corporate teams.
Both hotels are equipped with powerful generators, electric boilers for heating, autonomous water supplies, and fiber-optic internet. According to the holding company, this allows them to maintain the operation of essential life-support systems and create conditions for professional work even during disruptions in the centralized supply of utilities.
The new format is primarily aimed at companies for which stable access to electricity and the internet, as well as the ability to organize work processes in a single location, remain critically important.
Instead of renting separate office space and searching for housing for employees, companies can accommodate their teams in hotels, combining work and living needs. This is particularly relevant for businesses that require uninterrupted operations or are forced to temporarily relocate due to infrastructure issues.
ARS Capital reports growing interest in long-term accommodations from corporate clients. In particular, business representatives are considering the possibility of temporarily relocating entire teams to hotels.
“We are already seeing growing interest in this format from businesses seeking to provide their employees with stable, safe, and comfortable conditions for work and rest,” said Maxim Krippa, CEO of the investment holding company ARS Capital.
According to him, the development of this trend meets the new needs of the corporate segment amid the war, when infrastructure autonomy and the ability to quickly set up workspaces have come to the forefront.
The “Ukraine” and “Dnipro” hotels are open to long-term contracts with corporate clients. Accommodation conditions and workspace arrangements are expected to be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the number of employees, the duration of stay, and the specific needs of each company.
The development of this format could become an additional source of occupancy for the capital’s hotel infrastructure. Alongside traditional temporary lodging services, hotels gain the opportunity to work with corporate clients who require comprehensive solutions for staff accommodation and work organization.
At the same time, for Ukrainian businesses, using hotel infrastructure as a temporary office could be one way to ensure business continuity amid energy and other infrastructure risks.
ARS Capital is an investment holding company that owns the “Ukraine” and “Dnipro” hotels in Kyiv. The company is developing a line of business focused on long-term accommodations for corporate clients using the self-contained infrastructure of its hotel complexes.
More than 50 speakers on two stages discussed the economics of broadcasting, soccer, padel, mass sports, and the reintegration of veterans into active life.
On October 28, the Barvy Event Hall in Lviv hosted the 6th All-Ukrainian Sports Marketing Conference, SBC Summit Ukraine 2026 Lviv. For the first time in the summit’s history, the organizers held the event outside of Kyiv, and Lviv responded with a full house.
More than 50 speakers took the stage across two venues, and 673 participants spent the entire day discussing funding, audiences, and the infrastructure of Ukrainian sports. The event was co-organized by the Ukrainian Mass Sports Agency and the Lviv City Council’s Sports Office.
BETKING served as the summit’s general sponsor, RIEL as the construction partner, and GGBET as the premium sponsor. Other partners included Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack, Kappa, Play Vision, Lviv’s premium sports club UNI FORCE, and PRAVDA beer, which brewed a special batch of Blanche for the participants. The social sector was represented by HeroCar, the 15th “Kara-Dag” Special Operations Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, and the KNUBA Institute of Veterans.
Guests included representatives of clubs, leagues, and federations, as well as company executives, marketers, media professionals, and athletes. Participants were welcomed by Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv Regional State Administration, and Mayor Andriy Sadovyi.
The main stage opened with a conversation between Matviy Bidnyi and ICTV host Andriy Kovalskyi about sports in a time of transformation. They discussed how to encourage children to participate in regular training and how to distribute responsibility among the state, communities, federations, and the business sector.
The regional dimension of the summit was most fully explored during the panel discussion “Sports as an Investment in the Future of the Lviv Region.” Anton Nikulin, Director of the Lviv City Council’s Sports Office, and Roman Khimyak, Director of the Department of Sports, Youth, and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration, spoke about sports as a tool for regional development, which requires modern infrastructure, systematic work by sports organizations, and full-fledged cooperation with the business community. Yuriy Turyansky, head of the Lviv Regional Branch of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, and Petro Adamyk, president of the Lviv Region Rugby Federation, joined the discussion, which was moderated by Mykola Matrosov.
The commercial core of the program was the panel discussion “Who Pays for Sports.” Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) President Yevhen Dykyi, along with representatives from MEGOGO, Kyivstar TV, Tribuna.com, and 1+1 Media, analyzed the economics of broadcasts, advertising, and sponsorship—from broadcasting rights to models of collaboration with brands.
GGBET CEO Serhiy Mishchenko and commentator Vitaliy Volochay looked at the 2026 World Cup through the eyes of a bookmaker.
UAF Secretary General Ihor Hryshchenko called fans the main asset of the soccer industry. Andriy Rebrina, Director of the Mass Sports Agency, spoke about the barriers that prevent people from taking their first step into sports.
Entrepreneurs discussed the role of business in the country’s sustainability during a panel moderated by Oleksiy Braga, CEO of Sport Business Media Agency.
Padel received special attention. Oleksiy Dniprov, President of the Ukrainian Padel Federation and Vice President of the NOC, answered questions about how this new sport is developing its own market in Ukraine. The federation brought a miniature court to the summit, where Zalizko Courts explained the investment rationale behind padel infrastructure.
One of the most important discussions of the day centered on veterans. The panel “Human Potential Without Barriers” featured two-time Paralympic champion Viktor Didukh, Roman Gapachilo, president of the “Nezlamni” para-hockey club, as well as representatives from the Institute of “Architecture of Sustainability,” the “Veteran Spirit of Lviv” club, and the Shakhtar Social Charitable Foundation.
They discussed rehabilitation and the return to an active life through sports. The topic had a very specific Lviv dimension. The day before, on October 27, the city opened the “Hakivka” ice rink, equipped for people with disabilities, where the “Unbreakables” sledge hockey players will train. The Lviv City Council’s Sports Office presented the new facility at its booth.
The main stage program concluded with a discussion on Lviv’s sports identity. Participants included Olympic medalist Stanislav Horuna, “Karpaty” CEO Andriy Rusol, and UEFA Cup winner Artem Fedetskyi.
At the same time, discussions on the Best Practice Stage focused on media partnerships, creativity, and the digital transformation of Ukrainian soccer.
Switzerland is investing approximately $36 million (30 million Swiss francs) in the development of a competitive and sustainable private sector in Ukraine as part of the “CORE: Competitiveness for Ukraine’s Recovery 2026–2031” program, with Ukrainian businesses and organizations receiving the majority of these funds in the form of grants.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine following the program’s presentation in Kyiv on November 4, funding is provided through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the program is implemented by a consortium of Helvetas and NIRAS in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Grant support is provided under four main components: the development of regulatory solutions and public-private dialogue; the development of priority economic sectors and business associations; co-investment grants for the modernization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and the improvement of labor policy and labor productivity.
In addition, the program provides for the launch of the “Strategic Advice Window,” which will provide the Ministry of Economy and Environment, business associations, and SMEs with access to international and Swiss experts. Most of the grant funds will be allocated based on the results of competitive selection processes following preliminary consultations with potential applicants.
As noted, the CORE program is part of a broader support package for Ukraine from Switzerland totaling 5 billion Swiss francs through 2036 (of which 1.5 billion francs are earmarked for 2025–2028). The parties signed a memorandum on the implementation of the initiative in Davos in January 2026.
The model for reforming the military conscription system proposed by the Cabinet of Ministers in late October of this year requires significant refinement, as it does not align with either economic or security logic, stated Andriy Dligach, founder and chairman of the Advanter Group.
“Reserves are a tool for preserving the human capital necessary for the country’s defense capability. The economy does not compete with the military; it finances it. It is business that ensures production, pays taxes, and generates resources for defense,” he emphasized in a post on his Facebook page.
According to him, Ukrainian businesses are currently on the brink of collapse: average corporate revenue stands at about 85% of the 2025 level, financial reserves are running out, and further draft calls for critically important personnel could bring business operations to a halt.
Dligach is convinced that reforming the system should begin with an audit of human resource utilization in the Defense Forces, as well as an assessment of opportunities for rotation and optimization. As one promising model, he proposes introducing the “2+2” principle (two years of military service and two years of civilian work), while simultaneously developing recruitment efforts and boosting motivation.
Commenting on the fight against corruption in the area of personnel reserving, the expert noted that this problem should be solved not by destroying businesses, but by creating the possibility of reserving at least 15% of key personnel. According to his calculations, this would reduce the demand for corruption, contribute to bringing salaries out of the shadows, and could bring the economy approximately 250 billion UAH.
“The military and the economy are not competitors, but two components of national security. Without a strong economy, there will be no resources for a strong military. Therefore, Ukraine needs a comprehensive human capital management strategy that will ensure defense capability, preserve businesses, and enable the country to withstand a protracted war,” Dligach concluded.
As previously reported, on October 23, the Cabinet of Ministers completed the implementation of changes to the reservation system, decoupling the criticality of enterprises from economic indicators and updating sectoral and regional criteria. The government also lowered the maximum reservation rate for the energy and defense industries from 100% to 95%, with the option to submit a substantiated request to a special Coordination Center if an increase in the quota is necessary, and announced a mechanism for 100-percent reserving, provided that the mobilization obligation regarding the regular voluntary enlistment of employees into military service is fulfilled.
The government has also established a Coordination Center for organizing the reserving of conscripts during periods of mobilization and martial law, in accordance with Resolution No. 1328 of October 23. The Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment and the Deputy Minister of Defense have been appointed co-chairs of the Coordination Center, and the center’s main tasks include reviewing proposals from government agencies regarding the determination of the criticality of enterprises, increasing the volume of reservations, and providing recommendations on the revocation of relevant decisions within one month or within seven business days in cases requiring urgent consideration.
Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi explained that the changes are necessary due to the high rate at which deferrals are being granted and the need to prevent abuse, where companies are artificially created for mass reservations without actually participating in the fulfillment of critical tasks.
The Federation of Employers’ Unions (FEU) and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (UIE) put forward a number of proposals regarding the resolution. In particular, the FEU proposed establishing a two-month transition period in the event the “criticality” criterion is abolished, extending the validity of current decisions set to expire in November–December, and removing the limited list of industries to ensure equal access for businesses. For its part, the SUP called for retaining the current criticality criterion until its expiration for enterprises that meet the requirements, shortening the document review periods, clarifying the concept of “involvement in production processes” for employees in the defense industry and the energy sector, and ensuring that the liability of managers for violations of military registration is proportionate.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19GUkU4VLU/
Ukraine could reduce the costs incurred by citizens and businesses for international transfers in euros by EUR70–100 million annually after joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). At the same time, to begin the integration process, the Verkhovna Rada must adopt a package of legislative amendments that will bring Ukrainian financial legislation into compliance with European requirements.
According to a special report by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency published on October 30, 2026, parliament has until mid-November to consider the necessary bills so that Ukraine can submit an application to the European Payments Council (EPC).
According to estimates by the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, joining SEPA will reduce the cost of cross-border payments, speed up settlements with European counterparties, and lower financial costs for Ukrainian exporters.
The main bill is No. 14327-d, registered on April 6, 2026. Along with it, parliament must consider bills No. 15501 and No. 15503, which concern bringing legislation into compliance with European Union requirements and EPC criteria. As of early November, the main bill is awaiting consideration, Bill No. 15501 is being reviewed by a committee, and Bill No. 15503 is also awaiting consideration.
SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a unified European payments area that provides standardized bank transfers in euros between participating countries. It allows cross-border payments to be made under rules similar to those for domestic banking transactions.
As of fall 2026, the SEPA area covers 41 countries and territories, including all EU member states, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, as well as a number of Balkan countries and Moldova.
Businesses that regularly conduct transactions with European partners stand to benefit the most from Ukraine’s accession to SEPA. This primarily applies to IT companies, service exporters, logistics operators, e-commerce businesses, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Currently, international transfers often pass through several correspondent banks, which increases fees and makes it difficult to predict when funds will be received. Using SEPA will reduce the number of intermediaries and make fees more predictable.
As noted by Olga Vasilevska-Smaglyuk, deputy chair of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax, and customs policy, even a fee of 20–50 euros per international payment represents a significant expense for companies that carry out dozens or hundreds of such transactions.
For individuals, SEPA can simplify money transfers between Ukraine and EU countries, as well as payments for tuition, rent, and services, and the receipt of income from foreign clients.
A telling example is Moldova, which joined the SEPA geographical area in March 2025, and whose banks began corresponding operations on October 6 of that same year. According to estimates by the National Bank of Moldova, the average cost of a cross-border transfer in euros fell from EUR20–150 to approximately EUR1. The total savings for citizens and businesses over 12 months are estimated at EUR16.4 million.
At the same time, for Ukraine, joining SEPA requires not only the technological modernization of banks but also strengthened financial monitoring, transparency regarding information on the ultimate beneficial owners of companies, and compliance with international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
Once the legislative changes are adopted, Ukraine must undergo an assessment by the European Payments Council. If the decision is positive, individual banks and payment institutions will be able to begin the technical integration process with the relevant payment schemes.
However, integration with SEPA will not mean Ukraine’s transition to the euro or the automatic lifting of currency restrictions imposed by the National Bank during martial law. Bank fees will also not necessarily be reduced to zero, although a significant reduction in the cost of international payments in euros is expected.
The National Bank of Ukraine has already implemented a series of technological changes in preparation for future integration. Specifically, in April 2023, the Electronic Payments System transitioned to the international ISO 20022 standard and began operating 24 hours a day, and since December 2024, it has supported instant credit transfers.
Further accession to SEPA will mark another stage in Ukraine’s financial integration with the European Union and may help boost the competitiveness of Ukrainian companies in the European market.
Source: “Interfax-Ukraine,” special report dated October 30, 2026.
bank transfer, BUSINESS, EUROPEAN UNION, financial integration, SEPA, UKRAINE
Kyiv hosted the 12th Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF), dedicated to the performance of the Ukrainian economy amid escalating war risks. Discussions centered on how businesses can adapt to new threats, maintain production, and find resources for recovery and development.
Opening the forum, Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi stated that Russia has intensified its attacks on the Ukrainian economy. According to his estimates, direct losses exceeded $7.7 billion, and more than 1 million square meters of real estate have been damaged or destroyed. By the end of the year, the prime minister said, the budget will fall short of planned revenues by about $1.5 billion.
At the same time, he emphasized that despite the consequences of the war, the economy continues to function thanks to the resilience of entrepreneurs and their teams, and support for business remains one of the government’s priorities.
“We realize how important it is right now to support Ukrainian businesses in return for this resilience, in return for this dedicated work,” noted Serhiy Koretskyi.
Despite limited budgetary resources, the government is continuing its lending programs and developing mechanisms to insure against war risks. Under the “5–7–9%” program, 580 billion hryvnia in loans have already been issued since the program’s inception. 457 companies have already insured their property under the loss compensation program administered by the Export-Credit Agency, with a potential payout of over 9 billion hryvnia. The next step is a broader system of war risk insurance, to which the state plans to allocate $1 billion and attract an additional $3 billion from international partners.
Among the external challenges are the tightening of EU trade restrictions on Ukrainian exporters, particularly producers of metallurgical and agricultural products. Business representatives spoke of reduced access to the European market, while Ukraine’s representative to the EU, Taras Kachka, discussed accelerating integration into the EU’s internal market and expanding the industrial visa-free regime.
The labor shortage also remains acute. Experts estimate migration losses at approximately 5 million people, while businesses are facing a shortage of skilled workers. Among possible solutions, participants discussed dual education and creating conditions to encourage Ukrainians to return by offering jobs and affordable housing.
The overall business sentiment at KIEF is cautious but pragmatic. The impact of the attacks varies by industry, but companies agree on the need to hope for the best while remaining prepared for various scenarios. Companies are reviewing safety protocols, setting up shelters, and developing their own response systems. In particular, Vyacheslav Klimov, co-owner of the NOVA Group, said that “Nova Poshta” has implemented its own air defense project, which has already shot down Russian drones. Companies are also developing their own fire departments.
“The top priority for Ukrainian businesses is how to adapt to the new challenges of the war and get through this winter. It’s not easy for anyone, so it’s especially important to support one another. If I need services or partners, I turn first and foremost
to Ukrainian companies. This is a matter of principle: by buying goods and services from one another, we support businesses, preserve jobs, and help our economy survive,” emphasized Vasyl Khmelnytsky, initiator of the Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) and founder of the UFuture holding company.
The business community’s main requests to the government are predictable regulations, insurance against war risks, and solutions to the labor shortage. Businesses have learned to operate amid constant threats, but the costs of security and recovery are limiting opportunities for new investments.
“We have held the KIEF both under pandemic restrictions and after the start of the full-scale invasion. This year, the question of how not only to keep businesses running during the war but also to avoid losing opportunities for development has become particularly acute. There are no ready-made solutions to all problems, so it is important to combine business expertise with the capabilities of the government and international partners,” said KMEF CEO Yuriy Pivovarov.
Title partners of the forum: UFuture, Mastercard, AEQUO, PrivatBank, Kyivstar
Forum partners: Sense Bank, NEQSOL Holding, PUMB, DTEK, Ajax Systems, Uklon, General Chereshnya, Biopharma, Eclectic Talents Group, TERWIN, CEO Club Ukraine, BALEX, Naftogaz Group.
Open4Business is the forum’s media partner.
