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Ukraine recorded 1,293 insolvency cases involving individual entrepreneurs in the first nine months of 2026, a 37% increase compared with the same period last year, according to Opendatabot. The number of cases has risen for four consecutive years.
Since the beginning of 2021, Ukraine has recorded 5,014 insolvency cases involving sole proprietors. The annual totals were 496 in 2021, 374 in 2022, 576 in 2023, 927 in 2024 and 1,348 in 2025.
The 1,293 cases recorded in the first nine months of 2026 already exceed the total for 2024 and approach the full-year figure for 2025.
Women make up the majority
Women accounted for 685 cases this year, compared with 608 involving men. This means women represented approximately 53% of all cases, a pattern not previously seen in the reported figures.
People aged 25–45 accounted for the largest share, with 876 cases, or 67.7% of the total. Another 304 cases, or 23.5%, involved people over 45, while 113 cases, or 8.7%, concerned those under 25. The youngest person involved was 20, and the oldest was 77.
Kyiv leads by region
Kyiv recorded the highest number of cases, at 228, followed by Kyiv region with 130 and Lviv region with 109. Together, these three areas accounted for more than one-third of all cases.
The sharpest increase occurred in Kirovohrad region, where cases rose from 20 in January–September 2025 to 43 in the same period of 2026, an increase of 115%.
Separately, Ukrainian farmers have warned that falling purchase prices and rising costs are putting pressure on their businesses. Some fear they may be unable to continue operating after the current season.
