The «Epicentre» group of companies has lost around 7,000 jobs over the past month due to repeated Russian missile and drone attacks on its retail, warehousing and manufacturing infrastructure. This was stated by Galina Herega, co-founder and finance director of «Epicentre K». This refers to a reduction in the number of jobs, rather than the confirmed simultaneous dismissal of that number of employees.
Briefly about the main points
- The company described job losses as one of the most painful consequences of the attacks.
- Russia has destroyed or damaged more than 30 of the group’s facilities since the start of the major war.
- The area of infrastructure affected exceeds 1 million square metres.
- In 2025, a strike destroyed a warehouse containing goods worth almost 3 billion hryvnias.
- «Epicentre» is calling for an expansion of insurance cover for war risks and funding for reconstruction.
The staffing implications of the latest wave of attacks
According to Geregi, over the past month, Russian forces have been attacking the group’s facilities with particular intensity. She described job losses as one of the most painful consequences of these strikes.
According to Forbes, the network employs approximately 38,000 people. Separately, around 4,600 of the company’s employees are serving in the Ukrainian Defence Forces; these figures are not included in the total number of jobs lost.
The destruction affected retail, warehousing and manufacturing infrastructure
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has completely destroyed or damaged more than 30 properties «Epicentre,» said Herega. The area of the affected retail, logistics and manufacturing infrastructure exceeds 1 million square metres, and the company estimates the total losses at more than $1 billion.
In August and September, strikes on the retail chain became more frequent. The attacks damaged or destroyed premises in Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Pryluky. As of mid-September, Forbes reported that 12 hypermarkets had been destroyed and 16 damaged.
In 2025, a warehouse with a floor area of around 18,000 square metres was destroyed in an attack. It contained goods worth almost 3 billion hryvnias.
The company is requesting tools for repairs and insurance
Following the attacks, «Epicentre» staff are clearing up the damage themselves and repairing the damaged infrastructure. The company is also investing in its own fire-fighting equipment and mobile shelters near its shopping centres.
Herega stated that long-term lending, funding for the restoration of logistics facilities and comprehensive insurance against war risks are essential for businesses. According to her, due to the systematic nature of the attacks, it is becoming increasingly difficult to rebuild destroyed assets using their own resources.
In Ukraine, the following has been in force since 1 January 2026: partial compensation mechanism war-related risks: it provides for the reimbursement of part of the insurance premium for businesses across the country and partial compensation for property losses in high-risk regions. At the same time, the Ministry of Economy is developing a broader model for compensating businesses for war-related losses.
