{"id":150265,"date":"2025-09-07T14:51:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T11:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/?post_type=interviews&p=150265"},"modified":"2025-09-07T15:00:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T12:00:45","slug":"mayemo-mozhlyvist-i-ya-bachu-resursy-shhob-zrobyty-svij-vnesok-u-vidbudovu-ukrayiny","status":"publish","type":"interviews","link":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/interviews\/mayemo-mozhlyvist-i-ya-bachu-resursy-shhob-zrobyty-svij-vnesok-u-vidbudovu-ukrayiny\/","title":{"rendered":"We have the opportunity \u2014 and I see the resources \u2014 to contribute to Ukraine\u2019s reconstruction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mykhailo Zaichenko<\/strong>, Director of Doka Ukraine LLC<\/strong>, spoke with LDaily<\/strong> about working in an international construction company, the difficult situation in the labor market, regional priorities for orders during wartime, the current state and prospects of the industry, as well as how the company responds to specific challenges brought on by the war.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0What prompted your move to Doka Ukraine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>When planning the next step in my career, I was looking at options within an international company with a strong reputation \u2014 a place where I could learn a new business model while applying my previous experience. Doka fit those criteria perfectly, and I\u2019ve been working here since December 2021.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0How did the adaptation period in your new role go?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>I managed to visit the company\u2019s headquarters in Austria for training and to meet my colleagues. After the winter holidays, I met with several clients and visited different regions. And then the full-scale invasion began. So, the adaptation period turned out to be overshadowed by circumstances none of us could have anticipated.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0What were your first management steps in the new company?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Before the full-scale invasion, I had a couple of months to draw conclusions and plan certain initiatives, but then the situation began dictating completely different priorities. Naturally, the first step in any new company is building a team. This isn\u2019t the first time I\u2019ve stepped into a director\u2019s role, so I know how important it is for people to understand our goals and priorities, and for the leader to be surrounded by a real team \u2014 one that shares common values and is ready to take on ambitious challenges.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0Doka is an international brand with a powerful reputation. How would you assess Doka Ukraine\u2019s position on the Ukrainian market today?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>The company entered the Ukrainian market 26 years ago \u2014 that\u2019s a long history with its own traditions. I believe Doka Ukraine has strong potential. Alongside a large number of loyal clients who know and value our solutions, we also have the opportunity to attract new customers \u2014 there are new client categories and market segments we can develop. On top of that, we\u2019re constantly introducing new products to offer our clients.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0Such as?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>In 2023, Doka completed the acquisition of the American company AT-PAC \u2014 a strong player in the field of modular scaffolding. These products have naturally complemented our existing solutions and have already proven successful both globally and here in Ukraine, where we\u2019ve managed to implement some very interesting projects with their help.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0What strategic priorities are you setting for yourself over the next 1\u20132 years?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Given the high level of uncertainty, we are considering different development scenarios. Naturally, for all companies operating in construction, the main one is proper preparation for Ukraine\u2019s reconstruction. Everyone in the industry knows that financing alone is not enough \u2014 you also need other critical resources: people, materials, transport, equipment. Starting from the Group\u2019s top management in Austria, our company takes the issue of reconstruction extremely seriously: we participate in relevant initiatives organized by governments and business communities in our countries, we streamline processes, strengthen our team, and make investments. But of course, when, how, and in what form reconstruction will take place depends on how the situation develops regarding the end of the war. In the meantime, until the conditions for large-scale reconstruction are in place, the construction business is finding ways to operate under current circumstances. For us, the main focus is improving the client experience, which in turn will strengthen our market position and allow us to increase our market share.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0Do you feel a shortage of qualified personnel?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Absolutely \u2014 and this affects not only our company, but even more so our clients. Both the construction sector and the security and defense sector have similar personnel requirements, which creates a certain competition for human resources. Many construction specialists, both in trade and engineering roles, have been mobilized into the Defense Forces, and often construction projects are delayed simply because there aren\u2019t enough people on site. But it\u2019s not just about builders \u2014 it\u2019s also difficult to find professionals in other areas, for example in finance and accounting. The labor market is dynamic right now and constantly presents new challenges.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0How has the war affected your market, and how has the company adapted to these changes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>The war has had a very strong impact on the construction market. In the first months, construction practically came to a standstill, and it was a difficult period both for us and for other players in the sector. Even after other industries started to resume activity, in construction it often felt like many investors were still waiting for the war to end before continuing ongoing projects or starting new ones. It wasn\u2019t until the summer of 2023 \u2014 when it became clear that the active phase of the war would not end quickly \u2014 that construction activity began to recover in earnest. But the real estate market has changed significantly: new segments have emerged, such as recreational properties in the Carpathians, and demand for residential real estate in western regions has grown sharply. Developers began working on these new projects, and our construction clients also started executing them.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0What key infrastructure or construction projects are currently priorities for your company in Ukraine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Right now, there are many projects tied to the current situation, and not all of them can be discussed openly. For example, there are projects to build reinforced concrete structures at energy infrastructure sites to protect critical equipment from enemy strikes. Over the past year and a half, a significant number of such facilities have already been built, and the stable power supply in most regions is, in part, the result of these efforts.<\/p>\n

In addition, work continues on infrastructure projects, and in Kyiv, many transport infrastructure facilities are under construction or being restored. However, the bulk of such projects will only be implemented after the war ends.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0Which technological innovations do you consider the most promising for the construction industry in the coming years?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>The most promising are those innovations that will help reduce the need for labor on construction sites \u2014 a shortage that exists now and, in my view, will remain after the war is over. Large-scale reconstruction projects will require a huge number of workers, and even with people returning from the Defense Forces, it won\u2019t be enough, especially once the borders are open. In fact, even before the full-scale invasion, there was already a shortage of labor. Construction work is tough, requires skill, and is dangerous, dirty, and physically demanding. That\u2019s why technologies that can make it easier, increase efficiency, and reduce the demand for manpower will, in my opinion, have strong potential. And we already have such technologies and are continuously developing them.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0Do you see potential for localizing production in Ukraine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Potentially, yes \u2014 especially if we look at our solutions in a broader context, taking into account both the engineering and logistics components, which are very important in our business. Our projects use thousands of different formwork components: the main ones are manufactured directly at Doka\u2019s plants in Austria or Slovakia, while others are purchased from suppliers in various countries. This means I see both the opportunity and the resources to move the production of certain items to Ukraine \u2014 not only to meet the needs of our domestic market, but also to supply Doka divisions in other countries.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0How do you see the future of the construction sector after the war?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>It\u2019s difficult right now to fully predict what the market will look like after the war ends, or what the broader situation in Ukraine and the world will be. That\u2019s why companies are closely monitoring developments and responding accordingly. At the moment, there is extremely high activity in western Ukraine. Still, I believe that in the majority of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, there will be lasting peace and an acceptable security environment that will allow for the development and reconstruction of industrial centers \u2014 many of which have traditionally been located in the central and eastern parts of the country. I expect Kyiv will retain its status as the cultural, social, industrial, and business hub of the country, continuing to attract significant investment. The rapid growth we\u2019re now seeing in western cities such as Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Uzhhorod will slow somewhat compared to the current pace, though the region will still maintain greater importance than it had before the full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n

We place great hopes on Ukraine\u2019s Euro-Atlantic integration, which will enable the attraction of foreign investment across various sectors of the economy. This, in turn, will require the development of transport and energy infrastructure and its integration into the European network. Doka has vast experience and expertise in building bridges, tunnels, engineering structures, and projects of the highest complexity \u2014 and I will be glad to have the opportunity to apply these capabilities in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0Where are your projects currently concentrated?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>We currently have many projects both in western Ukraine and in Kyiv. Projects related to the protection and restoration of energy infrastructure are taking place in all regions.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0How many people work at Doka Ukraine, and how do you keep them motivated during wartime?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Our team now has 35 employees. Naturally, we provide our staff with competitive salaries, full compliance with labor laws, and alignment with international HR practices. Beyond that, the best motivator for a committed employee \u2014 and those who remain on our team are exactly that \u2014 is the understanding that their work matters. Construction is particularly interesting in this sense, because the results of our efforts remain for many years. Another important factor is that in times of high uncertainty, as we are experiencing now, people seek at least some stability. Because of this, there can be resistance to changes in processes and approaches. At the same time, to overcome current challenges and achieve our ambitious goals, change is necessary \u2014 and we have been successfully implementing it through intensive communication and leading by example from the management team.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0Do you ensure safety on construction sites? And how is the situation with this in the market overall?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Safety solutions are an extremely important topic for Doka, but unfortunately, in Ukraine, construction is still one of the most dangerous industries. In my view, this is largely due to certain practices and habits that have developed in the sector over many years. I have to admit, it\u2019s not always easy for us to offer clients safety-related systems and components \u2014 such as platforms, protective screens, fall protection, and so on \u2014 because they are often seen as unnecessary costs. Some builders also don\u2019t always follow the instructions for using formwork systems, which can lead to accidents. That said, I\u2019m confident the situation will improve as more Western companies enter the Ukrainian construction market. I\u2019ve personally seen similar changes in other industries I\u2019ve worked in. It\u2019s clear that large-scale reconstruction, supported financially by our partners, will bring a significant number of European companies into the market. This will positively influence not only safety standards on construction sites, but also construction technologies, project management, and payment discipline in the industry. Even now, under the difficult conditions of war, the market has improved in many ways because some weaker, unreliable players have had to leave, while stronger, more resilient companies \u2014 those that take a responsible approach to workers, clients, and suppliers \u2014 have remained.<\/p>\n

LDaily:<\/strong>\u00a0But surely there are still gaps in safety at the legislative level?<\/strong><\/p>\n

M. Zaichenko: <\/strong>Regulation is an important part of ensuring safety, but it\u2019s not the only one. Government intervention is necessary, but it also carries risks \u2014 including corruption risks. When it comes to improving safety standards, I place greater hopes on construction companies themselves and on project owners, and I know of plenty of positive examples. In Europe, safety wasn\u2019t always at the high level it is today. But leadership from the best market players, along with their persistence, changed the overall culture. I\u2019m confident that, working together with our European colleagues, we will go through this process much faster.<\/p>\n

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