How to Ensure Access to Financing for Businesses Operating in Frontline Territories

17/ 08/ 2026

Access to financing remains one of the key factors underpinning the resilience and recovery of Ukrainian businesses amid the full-scale war. This is particularly relevant for companies operating in de-occupied and frontline areas, restoring damaged facilities, investing in production, and maintaining their operations. This issue was the focus of a working online meeting organized by the Southern Ukrainian Office of the European Business Association together with the EBA Recovery Committee. Representatives of EBA member companies and the banking sector joined the discussion. The meeting focused on the practical challenges businesses face when seeking financing. In particular, participants discussed approaches to assessing the creditworthiness of companies operating under heightened war-related risks, as well as situations where businesses demonstrate positive performance, pay taxes, and restore production, while still facing financing limitations due to the high-risk status of the territory where they operate. Business representatives also shared their experience of restoring damaged production facilities and energy infrastructure, as well as maintaining jobs. In this context, participants highlighted the need for a more differentiated approach to assessing companies — one that takes into account not only formal financial indicators but also the actual ability of a business to operate, recover, and meet its financial obligations. Among the potential support instruments discussed were state guarantees, a review of approaches to collateral assessment, loan restructuring mechanisms for businesses operating in frontline areas, and the expansion of certain programmes to include working capital financing. Particular attention was paid to financing energy resilience, including the purchase of generators and other equipment for autonomous power supply, the use of leasing mechanisms, and the possibility of applying more flexible financing terms. The meeting also covered the existing opportunities for bank financing and guarantee instruments. At the same time, participants noted that the available support mechanisms are currently insufficient to fully address the needs of businesses operating under heightened war-related risks. The need to further develop and adapt financial instruments to the actual operating conditions of businesses was also highlighted. Another issue discussed was the need to take into account the specific needs of large businesses, for which the range of available support instruments remains more limited. Participants also emphasized the importance of considering tax compliance, the absence of outstanding liabilities, and companies’ long-term development plans when making lending decisions. Overall, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the key barriers businesses face when seeking financing and possible ways to improve existing financial instruments. For companies operating in frontline and war-affected regions, access to financing remains an important factor in maintaining operations, restoring capacity, and supporting further development. The Southern Ukrainian Office of the European Business Association thanks the representatives of the banking sector and business community who joined the meeting and contributed to the discussion by sharing their practical experience.

Access to financing remains one of the key factors underpinning the resilience and recovery of Ukrainian businesses amid the full-scale war. This is particularly relevant for companies operating in de-occupied and frontline areas, restoring damaged facilities, investing in production, and maintaining their operations.

This issue was the focus of a working online meeting organized by the Southern Ukrainian Office of the European Business Association together with the EBA Recovery Committee. Representatives of EBA member companies and the banking sector joined the discussion.

The meeting focused on the practical challenges businesses face when seeking financing. In particular, participants discussed approaches to assessing the creditworthiness of companies operating under heightened war-related risks, as well as situations where businesses demonstrate positive performance, pay taxes, and restore production, while still facing financing limitations due to the high-risk status of the territory where they operate.

Business representatives also shared their experience of restoring damaged production facilities and energy infrastructure, as well as maintaining jobs. In this context, participants highlighted the need for a more differentiated approach to assessing companies — one that takes into account not only formal financial indicators but also the actual ability of a business to operate, recover, and meet its financial obligations.

Among the potential support instruments discussed were state guarantees, a review of approaches to collateral assessment, loan restructuring mechanisms for businesses operating in frontline areas, and the expansion of certain programmes to include working capital financing. Particular attention was paid to financing energy resilience, including the purchase of generators and other equipment for autonomous power supply, the use of leasing mechanisms, and the possibility of applying more flexible financing terms.

The meeting also covered the existing opportunities for bank financing and guarantee instruments. At the same time, participants noted that the available support mechanisms are currently insufficient to fully address the needs of businesses operating under heightened war-related risks. The need to further develop and adapt financial instruments to the actual operating conditions of businesses was also highlighted.

Another issue discussed was the need to take into account the specific needs of large businesses, for which the range of available support instruments remains more limited. Participants also emphasized the importance of considering tax compliance, the absence of outstanding liabilities, and companies’ long-term development plans when making lending decisions.

Overall, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the key barriers businesses face when seeking financing and possible ways to improve existing financial instruments. For companies operating in frontline and war-affected regions, access to financing remains an important factor in maintaining operations, restoring capacity, and supporting further development.

The Southern Ukrainian Office of the European Business Association thanks the representatives of the banking sector and business community who joined the meeting and contributed to the discussion by sharing their practical experience.