Interview: How Ukrainian women entrepreneurs are keeping businesses alive amid Russia’s war
“That first year of the full-scale invasion was the hardest period of my life,” said Roksolana Rosolovska. “I was completely burned out.”
In the quiet village of Chesnyky, in western Ukraine, Rosolovska had built a family business specializing in cold-pressed cooking oils. When Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, her thriving business faced unprecedented challenges and was forced to halt production as the war disrupted supply chains and devastated key agricultural regions.
The impact of war on Ukrainian women-led businesses
“Because of the Russian full-scale invasion, we lost access to high-quality seeds from regions like Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia in the south,” Rosolovska said. “Some of our farming suppliers were displaced, others were killed, and Russian forces even burned the fields in the summer of 2022 to prevent Ukrainians from using them. We had no choice but to stop production for six months.”
During this period, Roksolana and her family turned their efforts toward volunteering, sending more than 10,000 cans of meat to the Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline, along with dry borsch packages, preserved cabbage, condensed milk, and other non-perishable food items.
“We invested all the money we had into producing canned food for soldiers, with support from family members and others who had relocated from Kharkiv to our village,” she said.
Nevertheless, the strain of the war took a toll on Roksolana.
“At one point, I considered closing the business and moving to the Czech Republic for a job opportunity,” she said. “I knew my parents wouldn’t be able to keep the business going without me.”
How women entrepreneurs in Ukraine are driving economic resilience
A turning point came when Roksolana accepted an invitation to attend an event organized by the Rural Women’s Business Network, a local organization supported by UN Women.
“It was there that I met women from all over Ukraine, each with a story of resilience,” she said. “Many men are absent in rural areas and villages because of the war. Women are now the sole providers for their families.”
Rebuilding businesses in Ukraine: The power of women’s leadership and support networks
With support from UN Women and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, the Rural Women’s Business Network provided grants to women entrepreneurs, including Roksolana. Since 2022, the network has provided grants, training, and mentorship to help women rebuild their lives and communities. A vital boost for women-led businesses and a strong example of resilience amidst war.
Roksolana’s company resumed production by mid-2023, and she said the support she received helped her business survive and opened doors to new collaborations and training opportunities.
“The business forum was a real salvation for me,” she says. “It supported me at a critical time and reminded me that cold-pressed oils are my greatest inspiration and vocation. With the grant, we rebranded our oils, improved the packaging, and invested in new equipment.”
Today, Roksolana has become a strong advocate for resilience and entrepreneurship, particularly among rural women. “Don’t listen to those who doubt you,” she said. “Just keep going. Learning and hard work always bear fruit.”
