How can foreign contractors take part in Ukraine's reconstruction?
By Bruce Talley, Destination Ukraine · Updated
Foreign contractors take part in Ukraine's reconstruction through three channels: Ukrainian public tenders on the Prozorro platform, projects funded by international lenders and donors, and subcontracting or supply to companies already working there. Foreign bidders compete on the same legal terms as Ukrainian ones. The practical barriers are documents, bank guarantees and finding reliable local partners.
The three channels
| Channel | Who pays | Where tenders appear |
|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian public procurement | State and municipal budgets | Prozorro |
| Lender and donor projects | World Bank, EBRD, EIB, Council of Europe Development Bank, UN agencies, EU programmes | Each funder's own portal; smaller tenders on Prozorro |
| Private work and subcontracting | Ukrainian and foreign companies, developers, prime contractors | Direct relationships, trade fairs, partners |
The four development banks agreed in 2023 to align their procurement in Ukraine. They use Prozorro for smaller tenders, up to €130,000 for goods and €5 million for works. Larger contracts follow each bank's own rules.
Source: Government of Ukraine.
To see what is coming, use DREAM, the government's digital system for recovery projects. Communities publish projects there and present them to funders.
Where to find tenders
- Prozorro — Ukrainian public procurement
- DREAM — Ukraine recovery project pipeline
- World Bank — project procurement notices
- EBRD — client e-procurement portal (ECEPP)
- European Investment Bank — procurement
- Council of Europe Development Bank
- UN Global Marketplace — UN agency tenders
- EU Funding & Tenders Portal
- Ukraine Investment Framework (EU)
Bidding on Prozorro as a foreign company
Ukrainian law gives non-resident bidders the same rights as local ones, and you can bid without a Ukrainian entity. You will need:
- An account on one of the authorised electronic platforms connected to Prozorro.
- A qualified electronic signature, or an accepted foreign equivalent.
- Company documents apostilled, translated into Ukrainian by a certified translator, and notarised.
- Proof of qualification: equipment, qualified staff, similar completed contracts, and financial statements.
- Bid security, usually a bank guarantee: up to 0.5% of the expected value for works and up to 3% for goods and services. A foreign bank's guarantee must be confirmed by a Ukrainian bank.
- Performance security of up to 5% of the contract value if you win.
- No tax arrears, and a declaration that neither the company nor its owners are under sanctions or tied to Russia or Belarus.
You must name any subcontractor doing 20% or more of the contract, and they are checked against the same exclusion rules. The prime contractor stays fully liable.
Source: Ilyashev & Partners in Chambers and Partners, October 2025.
Why most foreign firms start with a local partner
Ukrainian subcontractors hold the local licences and permits, know the building standards, and have logistics in place. A buyer may count a partner's experience and equipment toward your qualification. Many foreign firms therefore enter as a supplier or technology partner to a Ukrainian contractor, then bid directly once they have a track record.
Check the partner before you sign. See how to verify a Ukrainian company.
A practical sequence
- Pick a sector and region where your product or method has an edge: housing, energy, water, roads, building materials.
- Watch the pipeline on Prozorro, DREAM and the lenders' portals for three months before bidding.
- Visit. Meet buyers, municipalities and potential partners, and see sites.
- Attend the trade events. ReBuild Ukraine ran in November 2026, KyivBuild is held in Kyiv, and the next Ukraine Recovery Conference is URC-2027.
- Prepare documents early. Apostilles, translations and the bank guarantee take longer than the bid itself.
- Bid small first, or supply a Ukrainian prime contractor, to build local references.
How Destination Ukraine helps
Destination Ukraine puts contractors and suppliers on the ground: site visits, meetings with municipalities and buyers, partner verification, legal setup through our partners, staffing, and logistics. Bruce Talley has more than 20 years of experience running operations across Eastern Europe. Contact us or take the 3-minute readiness assessment.
General information, not legal advice. Wartime rules change; confirm current requirements with Ukrainian counsel before acting.