Situation in Ukraine

Ukraine has been at war since 2022 - and the effects are being felt across Europe. The uncertainty of the gas supply and rising inflation rates are making themselves felt in many countries. HERZ, as an internationally active company, is also experiencing the effects directly. Natalia Chervona, Head of Marketing at HERZ Ukraine, reports directly from Ukraine for our HERZ News readers:

Everyday working life in war

In Ukraine, everyday working life adapts to the frequent air raid alerts. When the sirens sound, all employees have to go to a shelter. This applies to all companies in Ukraine and inevitably affects the quality and results of work.

The mobilisation law severely restricts the freedom of movement of men in Ukraine. Personal dialogue with our partners is hardly possible, especially in the western region. This has a noticeable impact on turnover. Greater efforts are required to achieve our goals. The search for female talent in the industry has increased significantly. We have a severe shortage of male labour throughout the country, especially in the logistics, construction and transport sectors.

The construction market in Ukraine is stagnating, especially in the east and south, where sales are falling noticeably. Transport costs have risen dramatically, in some cases doubling, and the reduced availability of transport is delaying delivery times by one to two weeks.

Since 2022, Ukraine's population has decreased by 10 million due to the migration of refugees, a decline in birth rates and war-related mortality. The HERZ team has not remained unaffected by this: Unfortunately, we lost the head of the technical department in the war. Many employees left the country or went to the front. Constant attacks on the energy infrastructure put additional strain on the country and exacerbate the energy crisis, especially in the cold winter months. Despite all these challenges, however, HERZ Ukraine remains determined to stick to its goals and adapt to the changing conditions.