PRECONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS OF THE POST-WAR ECONOMIC REVIVAL OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN UKRAINE

Abstract

This article investigates the topical issue of the restoration of Ukraine's economic potential in the context of post-war recovery and the opportunities that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country will gain. The study found that the country has suffered unprecedented losses in all sectors of the economic system due to the full-scale military aggression of its northeastern neighbors. The losses are estimated in the tens of billions of US dollars, and it will take many years to restore the economy. The study found that, despite all the challenges, SMEs in the country continue to increase their activity and develop in accordance with rapidly changing external factors. The article analyzes the macroeconomic situation in the country, determines the total losses suffered by the economic sector, and explores the prospects for post-war economic recovery of SMEs in Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to assess the state of the Ukrainian economy, identify the already existing consequences of the military aggression, and analyze the prospects for post-war development of SMEs. The relevance of this topic is emphasized by the significant level of uncertainty in the development of SMEs, which has been observed in recent years and has significantly increased under martial law. This is an opportunity for research, forecasting, and the formation of new enterprise development strategies. The study found that the restoration of Ukraine's economy after the war is a complex and lengthy process. Its success will depend on many factors, including increasing the ability to protect infrastructure from destruction, the readiness of Ukrainian businesses to recover, and improving the investment climate in Ukraine, etc. The prospects for the restoration of SMEs in Ukraine are significant and positive. This is due to the fact that they are the foundation of the Ukrainian economy, accounting for about 70% of total turnover. In addition, SMEs are more flexible and adaptive to change than large enterprises. Research on development prospects in the post-war period can be used by enterprises to plan their future activities.