Rebuild Ukraine Forum 2026 / Panel VIIa / 22 October 2026

The discussions centered on the severe demographic crisis, human capital challenges and strategies for retaining and recovering the workforce amid the ongoing war. Opening the panel, it was noted that 5.6 million refugees have left Ukraine since the war began, with a very small share planning an immediate return, which raises critical questions about the skills available in the country. Marharyta Chelakova described the psychological toll on Ukrainians, noting that over a third suffer from mental health issues and PTSD caused by sleepless nights and disrupted daily routines. She stressed that human resilience has limits, that security is the foundation of recovery, and that closing workforce gaps goes beyond the physical return of everyone abroad. From a labor market perspective, Olena Boichenko highlighted the large gap between employers’ needs and available skills, suggesting that artificial intelligence could ease part of the shortage.

In the logistics and port sector, Oleksandr Patryk explained that Chornomorsk Port is operating below full capacity because of a shortage of specialists, many of whom are at the front, have died or have moved abroad. He emphasized the need for intensive training, digitalization and inclusive hiring, including women and internally displaced persons. Nazarii Khrystiuk outlined Metinvest’s efforts to preserve industrial talent in a sector that accounts for 20% of Ukraine’s GDP, noting that around 12,000 employees, one in six, have joined the military. He presented Metinvest’s programs for young Ukrainians studying abroad, launched in the UK and expanding in 2026 to Romania, Bulgaria, Italy and Poland, as well as the creation of a private technical university.

Finally, Yevhen Medianyk described the HR effort at Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), which has kept its 180,000 employees to ensure social stability, even though the railways are a prime target of Russian strikes. He underscored the importance of reintegrating veterans, with over 1,500 veterans now working at Ukrzaliznytsia, along with retraining programs, bringing more women into the workforce and graduate initiatives that keep the economy running and prepare the ground for reconstruction.