Entrepreneurship in Ukraine: Snapshot from April 2026
As of mid-April 2026, 4,389 business owners in Ukraine are still using Russian email providers, representing roughly 0.5% of all active sole proprietors (known as FOPs) who have listed an email address. Of these, 2,628 entrepreneurs use mail.ru, 472 use rambler.ru, and 424 use yandex.ru. In contrast, the vast majority of Ukrainian entrepreneurs—approximately 73%, or 626,000 individuals—prefer international and domestic email services. The most popular choices are:
- gmail.com — about 626,000 entrepreneurs
- ukr.net — 161,100
- icloud.com — 14,700
- i.ua — 11,800
- meta.ua — 5,900
FOP Growth Trends
During the first quarter of 2026, Ukraine saw 11,297 more new FOPs registered than closed. Between January and March 2026, 63,920 entrepreneurs launched their businesses, while 52,623 FOPs ceased operations. In 2025, 302,260 FOPs employed over 817,000 Ukrainians, highlighting the critical role small businesses play in job creation. On average, each entrepreneur with employees hires three workers, and 14% of FOPs are actively hiring staff.
These figures point to a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape in Ukraine, despite the challenges facing the business environment.
The choice of email services among Ukrainian entrepreneurs—including the continued use of Russian platforms—reflects certain trends in digital communication, but a strong majority of businesses remain loyal to international and local providers. This may stem from concerns about security and reliability, which are especially pressing for Ukrainian businesses given the current geopolitical climate. The steady rise in new FOP registrations and their contribution to employment signal a growing entrepreneurial drive that could bolster the country's economic outlook.
As the number of Ukrainian sole proprietorships continues to grow, understanding the leading sectors and regions driving this surge can provide valuable insights into the entrepreneurial landscape. For a deeper look at the recent increase of 11,000 new FOPs in the first quarter of 2026 and the sectors that are thriving, read more about the growth of Ukrainian sole proprietorships.