How to realize the dream of owning a business during the war: the story of a private clinic in Kyiv

"Business despite the war" — is a special project of Ekonomichna Pravda, a project of USAID SOERA, the State Property Fund of Ukraine, and Prozorro.Sale. In this special project, entrepreneurs rented real estate at Prozorro.Sale auctions after the start of military aggression told us how they are working now.

Below is a short version of one of the four stories. You can read the full version of this article in Ukrainian via link

Dream amidst chaos
In the spring of 2022, as Ukraine's Armed Forces reclaimed Kyiv from Russian forces, Iryna Sulukidi decided it was time to open her own cosmetology and dermatology clinic. Despite the ongoing war, she had loyal clients and dreams of the future.

The search for opportunity
Iryna scoured listings for state and city-owned premises on Prozorro.Sale, eventually hired a construction team to realize her vision. She and her husband, both doctors, were determined to make their dream come true. They believed they could prosper if they weren't affected by bombings.

Government rental vs. Private
The couple learned that renting from the government was more cost-effective and secure than private entities, who sometimes evicted tenants without explanation during the chaos of the war.

The search for the perfect space
Iryna and Vladyslav explored various rental options but found their ideal space in a hospital in Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district.

A five-year lease and government support
Their chosen hospital space offered an appealing five-year lease term, thanks to a government decree in response to martial law.

From vision to reality
The couple completed a comprehensive renovation, leveling floors, walls, and ceilings and upgrading plumbing and ventilation. They invested heavily in the refurbishment, facing challenges due to war-related delays in acquiring materials and power outages.

Anticipating the future
Despite these setbacks, Iryna expects her dream to materialize in early 2023 when she opens a cosmetology and dermatology clinic bearing her name in the hospital where she studied while still a student.