On February 24, 2022, everything changed for me and my country. The war simmering in Eastern Ukraine expanded overnight, challenging every aspect of our lives. The new reality demanded that businesses and individuals reassess their operations fast. Those first chaotic days were overwhelming.
But if there’s one thing to know about Ukrainians, it is that we’re incredibly resilient. As sirens blared and cities became targets for missiles, businesses, institutions, and the government were pooling their efforts to keep life going as best as we could. The IT sector, already a crucial part of our economy, became a symbol of endurance.
Engineers, developers, and cybersecurity specialists quickly found ways to keep working and support Ukraine’s economy and defences while providing for their families scattered across the world. Today, despite everything we’ve been through, Ukraine still stands as a solid and innovative place for tech talent. I’m proud to share why that’s the case.
Ukraine’s tech industry holds its ground, no matter what
Before the war, Ukraine’s IT industry was thriving. It comprised 4.4% of GDP and 38% of total service exports. With over 5,000 companies serving global clients across fintech, AI, and cybersecurity, the country was recognised as a leading global tech hub. Our developers were in demand and recognised for their technical expertise, strong tech problem-solving skills, and adaptability.
Then, as the war escalated, our economy suffered a massive blow, declining by one-third – the worst recession in our history. IT companies faced contract terminations and increased cybersecurity threats. On top of that, 43% of IT specialists were ready to relocate abroad. Naturally, many questions began to surface: Will our productivity suffer? Can our teams maintain the high standards we’re so celebrated for? What will happen with the IT job market?
Despite this devastating shot, our tech sector managed to keep on its feet. With pride.
Government’s share in future-proofing the Ukrainian tech workforce
As an immediate response, companies started moving employees to safer places, and we embraced alternative power sources to keep things running. We also strengthened cyber defences; after all, Ukraine has some of the most adept cybersecurity experts.
To keep companies in our IT sector, we had to double up on transparency, business continuity, resilience, and build trust despite the devastating reality around us. The government also provided support.
One way I’ve seen real change is through the Diia City initiative. The special legal regime introduced a preferential tax system for tech businesses and professionals, reducing tax burdens and lowering social contributions. Another great project was the Diia.Digital Education platform, born to help people in Ukraine improve their skills so they can get better jobs in IT and tech. It offers free hands-on blockchain, cybersecurity, and career tips courses. Over 2 million students have benefited from it so far!
Our Ministry of Digital Transformation also launched the IT Generation Project. It provided free training programmes in emerging IT and tech skills to nearly 2,000 Ukrainians, enabling them to find online work during the war.
We lead and succeed through the chaos
And how did companies protect their Ukraine-based teams? Let me share my experience firsthand.
Before the pandemic, Ukraine was already a strong player in nearshoring, and remote work was already a big part of our IT sector. When the whole world shifted to working from home, we were ready. At Pwrteams, in particular, we had remote work systems in place long before lockdowns and the war started. Our whole business was founded on the principle of expanding your capabilities and competitiveness by tapping into distributed teams.
That approach gave us an advantage during tough times. However, working remotely during a war is different. We had to take extra steps to keep things running smoothly for our global clients.
- Our management quickly supported employees in relocating from frontline cities to safer western regions of Ukraine.
- We set up our workspaces with backup power to handle blackouts and meet SLA agreements.
- We also got satellite internet through Starlink for a strong connection (42,000 Starlink terminals are used collectively across our countries by authorities, hospitals, and businesses).
- And if there’s an air raid alert, we have designated shelters where we can work safely.
- Beyond that, we’ve adapted our home offices, too, investing in portable power stations and UPS systems to stay online during outages.
These measures have really worked out well.
Today, 302,000 IT specialists remain in Ukraine, with 238,000 actively working here. Clients concerned about continuity now see that we haven’t skipped a beat. Flexible work and good crisis management have reinforced Ukraine’s spot as a top IT outsourcing destination. Even with the challenges, we’re delivering high-quality solutions and proving we can meet deadlines and deliver quality under pressure that nothing can compare.
Ukrainian tech and IT experts are more motivated than ever
I've been thinking about a question that comes up a lot: can Ukrainian IT specialists stay motivated when they're facing daily threats?
I asked my colleagues about this. These people write code, solve problems, and manage product launches while sirens wail and missiles roar in the background. Most of them told me that the war has actually made them more dedicated than ever.
Extreme circumstances often bring out the best in people, and for many, professional life has become a source of stability in an unpredictable world. With a greater sense of purpose, their performance has reached new heights.
Global businesses rely on Ukraine's brainpower
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine’s IT sector keeps attracting global clients. The demand for Ukrainian expertise remains strong and for a good reason.
Take AI, for example. Ukraine ranks second in Central and Eastern Europe in the number of AI companies. In cybersecurity, Ukrainian specialists have a strong track record of safeguarding private and public infrastructure. Our specialists also excel in big data, particularly in analytics and machine learning, ranking 27th globally for combining business and data analytics skills (Global Skills Index). Over 82% of Ukrainian IT professionals hold senior roles, and 43% have over six years of experience in high-demand areas like AI, cybersecurity, and fintech. This makes Ukraine a valuable asset in the tech world.
Companies with a vision understand that, and we don’t have to look far for examples. Our parent organisation, Nortal, made a visionary move to acquire Skelia (now Pwrteams) soon after the war broke out, a statement of faith in Ukraine’s future. As Nortal’s CEO, Priit Alamäe, put it: “Some companies have been downscaling their operations in Ukraine or even pulling out. But quite on the contrary, we believe in Ukraine's unique future and its people's strength.”
Our clients share this optimism. Companies like TUI, which began working with our Ukrainian teams before the war, stay by us. Since 2007, we’ve hired over 1,000 tech experts. We choose only the best, and businesses appreciate that, even in tough times. In July 2022, The New York Times reported that Ukrainian IT firms managed to maintain 95% of their contracts despite the war. It shows that Ukrainian teams have remained unfazed by the terrors they face.
Resilient teams for challenging times
That winter night in 2022 marked a turning point, a moment that challenged us to redefine what stability and productivity mean in difficult times.
But within weeks, the tech scene showed what we always knew: Ukrainians never back down. We rally forces, adapt, and keep pushing. The IT sector has proven we can handle tough times and stay strong.
That’s why Ukraine might be your best choice for nearshoring. We offer great tech skills with a strong, can-do attitude despite all the challenges. That’s a rare mix.
So, if you’re interested in building your dedicated tech team of AI experts, cybersecurity pros, DevOps, and software developers who thrive under pressure, let’s chat!
