Damage Assessment, Insurance, and Grants: Business Support Case Studies from the BusinessLink Pro...

September 28, 2026

Businesses in Kharkiv region operate under constant security risks. In addition to standard development challenges, companies regularly face critical questions: how to properly document damage after shelling, where to find preferential financing for recovery, and whether it is possible to insure property against war-related risks.

Ukraine already has government programs, bank financing products, and advisory services in place. However, information about them is fragmented, and the requirements are often unclear to entrepreneurs who find themselves in a crisis situation. On top of that, businesses simply do not have enough time to independently search for and analyze available support instruments.

That is why Kharkiv IT Cluster launched the BusinessLink project. Our key principle is not to duplicate existing services, but to route businesses to the support they need.

We do not aim to replace banks, insurance companies, or government institutions. Instead, BusinessLink works as a navigation project: it helps a business quickly identify its actual needs, determine the most appropriate next steps, and immediately connect with partners who have the relevant expertise.

The practical value of this approach is well demonstrated by two recent cases our team has worked on.

Case of a Fuel and Energy Sector Enterprise

The first case involved a fuel and energy sector company in Kharkiv region that operates a network of gas stations.

As a result of Russian shelling, the company’s facilities were damaged, and the business faced the urgent need to restore operations. The company turned to the BusinessLink project for support and guidance on further steps.

The enterprise faced a threefold challenge: its facilities had been damaged, but without official documentation of the destruction, it would be impossible to apply for compensation; funding was needed for recovery, while the company’s own resources were limited; at the same time, there was a risk of further shelling, creating a need to insure the property.

To ensure that the company did not have to spend valuable time searching for solutions on its own during a crisis, the project team developed a clear action plan and directly connected the business with relevant experts.

• For the legal documentation of the damage, we connected the company with the Kharkiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry — an officially authorized institution in the region that conducts professional inspections of facilities, documents destroyed or damaged property, and issues certified damage assessment reports required for future compensation claims or legal proceedings.
  
  
• To identify financing opportunities for recovery, we recommended exploring the “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%” program for small and medium-sized businesses, supported by the President and the Government of Ukraine, including contacting VST Bank, which actively works with businesses in frontline regions and participates in the program.
  
  
• To protect the property against future risks, we provided contacts of specialists from VUSO, one of the major players in Ukraine’s insurance market, who develop and offer practical war-risk insurance solutions for businesses in Kharkiv region.

What did this mean in practice?

The company received a clear roadmap and direct access to the specialists it needed. This allowed the business to move immediately to practical steps: the company is currently preparing the necessary documents and compiling evidence of the damage for subsequent applications for financial support and compensation programs.

Case of a Carpentry Workshop: Navigating Grants and Property Insurance

A completely different request came from an entrepreneur in Kharkiv region who runs a carpentry workshop producing decorative items from wood and plywood. The entrepreneur was looking for opportunities to develop the business and was also trying to insure the property against war-related risks, but had already been rejected by one insurance company due to the high level of risk in the region.

The BusinessLink team developed a route to address these needs.

• To secure funding for expanding production, we directed the entrepreneur to the regional “Made in Ukraine” office and provided a direct contact for a consultant who could help clarify the terms of the “Vlasna Sprava” (Own Business) grant program.
  
  
• To address the insurance issue, we arranged an individual consultation with an insurance market specialist. The entrepreneur received an objective assessment: commercial war-risk insurance for microbusinesses in Kharkiv is currently extremely limited or economically unfeasible. As a practical alternative, the expert recommended considering mechanisms offered by the Export Credit Agency (ECA).

Result

The entrepreneur received a direct contact for applying for a government grant, as well as professional market analysis. The key value was fast access to expertise: this saved the craftsperson time and allowed them to focus only on instruments that can realistically work in their situation.

These cases clearly demonstrate why the BusinessLink navigation project is an effective link within the business support ecosystem. We do not create bureaucratic barriers or duplicate existing government or private-sector programs.

Our goal is to ensure that businesses in frontline communities have a single point of entry, understand the actual situation in the market, and can confidently move from a challenge to the next practical step.

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The BusinessLink project is implemented with the support of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Fund, financed by the governments of the United Kingdom, Estonia, Canada, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden.