Labor Market Crisis in Kyiv
Kyiv is facing a critical shortage of workers, and city officials are pointing to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war as a key untapped resource. Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for Self-Governance Powers, Maryna Khonda, made this announcement at the HR Wisdom Summit 2026. She emphasized that the labor deficit is worsening and will continue to grow as more veterans return and require support to successfully re-enter the workforce.
Proposed Solutions
To address the issue, the city has launched specialized training programs for employers and HR professionals to improve their ability to work with veterans. Khonda stressed the urgent need to integrate this group into the labor market:
'If we want to fully develop and involve veterans, we lack the resources—human resources are catastrophically insufficient.' Maryna Khonda
Also speaking at the HR Wisdom Summit 2026 was Maria Abdullina, head of the OLX Work platform and co-chair of the HR Committee at the European Business Association. She reported a rise in the number of men under 22 leaving the country, a trend that could further strain the capital's labor market.
By actively working to adapt veterans for employment, Kyiv aims to tackle its workforce deficit while also fostering social integration. This strategy not only addresses immediate labor needs but also has the potential to strengthen the city's overall economic outlook.