On September 1, 2026, as part of the regional platform “Dialogue Between Government and Business,” an online meeting was held on the topic “Protecting Business Rights in Interactions with Government Agencies: The Role of the Business Ombudsman Council.” More than 80 representatives of businesses and government agencies in the Donetsk region participated in the event.
During the meeting, business representatives learned about the activities of the Business Ombudsman Council—an advisory body under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine that promotes the protection of entrepreneurs’ legitimate interests and helps resolve disputes in interactions with government agencies.
Business Ombudsman Anka Feldhusen spoke about the Council’s main areas of work, including the review of business complaints, the provision of systematic recommendations to government agencies, and the promotion of good governance principles. The Business Ombudsman Council was established in 2014 under a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Union and the Government of Ukraine. Over the course of 11 years, the institution has received nearly 15,000 submissions; 62% of the cases it has taken on have been successfully resolved, and businesses have saved over 33 billion hryvnias.
Viktoria Solonenko, an inspector with the Business Ombudsman Council, provided entrepreneurs with practical information on filing complaints. In particular, she explained who can appeal to the Council, against which authorities complaints can be filed, what criteria a complaint must meet, and what tools the Council uses to resolve disputes.
Participants were also informed about the deadline for filing a complaint—up to one year from the date the rights were violated—as well as the need to first attempt to appeal the relevant decision or action on their own. Examples of successful appeals include issues related to the registration of tax invoices for businesses in areas where hostilities are taking place, the application of a special procedure in cases where primary documentation was lost due to shelling, and the reversal of the revocation of fuel licenses.
Olena Chorna, Senior Manager for Legal Issues of Recovery, presented the work of the Business Ombudsman Council’s Policy and Recovery Team. They discussed supporting the private sector in Ukraine’s recovery projects and overcoming the consequences of the war, assisting with access to financing and grant programs, as well as identifying systemic issues that hinder business operations and preparing recommendations for the Government of Ukraine.
Representatives of the Business Ombudsman Council emphasized that the institution’s services are free of charge and confidential, and urged entrepreneurs to make use of the available mechanisms to protect their rights.
Information about the activities of the Business Ombudsman Council, its policy recommendations, and the process for filing a complaint can be found on the official website: boi.org.ua.