Before the full-scale invasion, entrepreneur Fedir Prusenok had been developing his own business in Selydove for over 30 years. His children’s goods store “Leleka” was well known and loved by more than one generation of families. The hostilities forced him to relocate his business to safer communities and essentially start from scratch.
In the new location, Fedir gradually restored the store’s operations, preserving its warm atmosphere and care for the youngest customers. An important source of support along the way was cooperation with the employment service. With its assistance, the entrepreneur hired a saleswoman who had also relocated from a dangerous area of the region and received compensation for her employment.
Today, the business faces new challenges — in particular, power outages. To prevent downtime, loss of customers, and income, the entrepreneur took advantage of the “Energy Support for Sole Proprietors” program, which he learned about from employment service specialists.
The funds received were used by Fedir Prusenok to purchase fuel for a generator, allowing the store to operate without interruption even during electricity outages.
“Today, operational stability is no longer just an advantage — it is a necessity. Thanks to this support, I can feel more confident about tomorrow and not let my customers down,” the entrepreneur notes.
The state program supporting the energy resilience of micro and small businesses in Ukraine helps ensure uninterrupted operations even amid energy challenges, maintain customer trust, and enables businesses to adapt to new conditions.
The program funds can be used to purchase essential equipment (generators, batteries, inverters, solar panels, and other energy equipment, as well as consumables such as fuel, cables, mounting materials, etc.).
Program duration: until May 31, 2026
You can apply via the Diia portal: https://diia.gov.ua/services/dopomoha-fop-na-enerhostiikist
Call center of the Donetsk Regional Employment Center: 0-800-219-713.