Business under pressure from war: the story of EVA and VARUS’s development in 2025
13 February 16:03
Ukrainian businesses continue to demonstrate resilience and the ability to grow even in the most difficult conditions. Ruslan Shostak, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, founder, and co-owner of the national retail chains EVA and VARUS, shared his thoughts on the results of 2025 on social media, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“This month, my businesses summed up the results of 2025. The figures are strong. I am proud of the team and the result. And yet, the phrase ‘could have done better’ keeps running through my head,” the entrepreneur notes.
2025 was another challenging year for business: shelling, power outages, risks for employees, and complex logistics. Despite this, the companies not only maintained their positions but also continued to grow.
“We didn’t just survive. We grew, scaled up, and invested. And I believe we passed this test with flying colors,” Shostak emphasizes.
In 2025, VARUS increased its turnover by almost 20% to UAH 28.8 billion, opened seven new stores, and paid almost UAH 2 billion in taxes. The online division VARUS.UA grew by 97.2%. The company also launched new distribution centers in Dnipro and Odesa, strengthening logistics and product availability.
By the end of the year, the EVA chain had over 1,160 stores. New formats are being developed — EVA Nearby and EVA BEAUTY. Premium stores have been opened in Dnipro and Chernivtsi, and EVA BEAUTY is now represented in five cities across the country. The company is included in the ratings of the largest taxpayers and best employers, and for the sixth year in a row, EVA has been recognized as the retailer of the year in its segment.
Energy independence has become an important focus. VARUS has installed nearly 4,000 solar panels: in the summer, stores can cover up to 95% of their daily electricity consumption with solar power. In 2026, it plans to install stations at 18 more locations. All stores are equipped with generators and serve as points of resilience during power outages.
EVA has launched three solar power plants in Lviv, Dnipro, and Brovary. “This is an investment not only in savings but also in stability. In customer peace of mind. In the confidence that the store will operate under any circumstances,” the entrepreneur emphasizes.
Separately, Shostak notes that VARUS has received the first tranche of a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development — almost UAH 630 million as part of a project to improve food security.
“For me, this is not just money. It is a marker of the trust of international financial institutions in Ukrainian business and in our strategy,” he notes.
Significant resources of the company were directed to support the Defense Forces and social initiatives. In 2025, EVA implemented four large-scale CSR projects, bringing together over 1 million customers. In particular, UAH 9.2 million was allocated together with the Zemlyachki NGO to equip combat medics, and UAH 4.7 million was raised in conjunction with the HeroCar program to purchase 119 motorcycles for the military. Since the start of the full-scale war, EVA has implemented 29 social initiatives and allocated over UAH 124 million to aid efforts.
VARUS invested about UAH 60 million in social projects, including the transfer of 50 pickup trucks to the Defense Forces in cooperation with partners and clients.
“I am proud of these results. But even more so of the people behind them. Because business is not a showcase. It is a system of decisions under pressure. It is the ability to withstand the blow and continue to build,” Shostak concludes.
The year 2025 has proven that Ukrainian business is not only surviving — it is investing, scaling up, and becoming a pillar of the state.
