Twenty-five Ukrainian professionals have returned from abroad and started working in Ukrainian ministries and offices: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture
Today, January 8, 25 Ukrainians with international experience joined the teams of six ministries, as well as the offices of the President, Prime Minister, and European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. These young professionals, who had previously left Ukraine, returned to their homeland as part of the second phase of the Create Ukraine program and will work on reforms in key areas of the state.
In 2026, Create Ukraine has scaled up after a successful pilot — last year, the first 10 participants implemented more than 30 projects, including the Agreement on Mineral Resources, URC, and investment promotion. The continuation of the program was made possible thanks to the support and funding of Lithuanian partners. The program is implemented by the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) in partnership with the KSE Foundation and the Government of Ukraine, with the support of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy – Minister of Culture of Ukraine, Tetiana Berezhna, emphasized: “We can already see the effectiveness of the work of the first group of Create Ukraine participants – their projects have become part of the changes in Ukraine. I am convinced that the 25 new participants will keep up the good work.
Being Ukrainian is not just about a passport, but also about responsibility. It is about taking action when your country needs you. Thank you all for your choice and responsibility. You are part of the changes that begin with personal decisions. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine is ready to be your partner in this transformation."
Darius Skusevičius, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for the Coordination of Ukraine's Recovery and Reconstruction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, noted: "Human capital is the foundation of Ukraine's recovery. We believe that the country's European future will be shaped by highly educated professionals with international experience who consciously choose to return and join the transformation of the state. Lithuania consistently supports Ukraine in various areas — promoting the renewal of education, strengthening rehabilitation systems for Ukraine's defenders, developing sustainable energy infrastructure, and strengthening state institutions. At the same time, Create Ukraine is a unique program that offers a structured path for young, motivated professionals to return to their homeland."
The participants in the new phase of Create Ukraine are specialists who have returned to Ukraine from Europe, North America, Asia, and even the Southern Hemisphere: from Italy, Japan, and the United States to Morocco and New Zealand. They have experience working in international companies, government institutions, and the public sector abroad.
Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, emphasized: "The first group of participants showed that the program really works: the experts quickly got involved with government teams, strengthened internal processes, and proved how effective they are in the areas of reform that are important to the Ministry. Today, we welcome the second group, and for our Ministry, it is again about trust and high motivation: nine out of 25 participants chose to work in the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. This is a strong reinforcement for a year in which we need speed, discipline, and courage to make decisions. I wish everyone perseverance and ambition — there is a lot of challenging work ahead, but it is this work that will bring about the changes our country needs."
During the presentation of the second stage of the program, the specialists met with the heads of ministries and offices, who outlined the key challenges and priorities they will be working on over the next 12 months of the program.
Read more on the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture website.