Operatorzy
Ukraine and Poland: One Shared Path in Telecommunications
An interview with Serhii Skrypnikov, Chief Executive Officer at Farlep-Invest (Vodafone Ukraine Group).
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– How does Vodafone’s investment strategy in Ukraine’s telecommunications infrastructure look right now? Are you waiting for the war to end, or are you investing already?
– If we didn’t invest at all, there would simply be no connectivity in the country. So no matter what anyone wants, we have to invest to keep a normal level of connectivity, because stable connectivity is the main issue for people during the war. It’s their connection to the media, to local government instructions, and so on. Even air-raid alerts are usually distributed through the internet, so people know when rockets or bombing are starting and can find the nearest shelter online. Modern life is connected to the internet – without connectivity, this country would simply stop. That’s why we have to invest.
We invest a lot, and we invest even more than we did in peacetime. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Vodafone Ukraine has invested more than UAH 25.5 billion in critical infrastructure and new technologies. In 2025 alone we invested UAH 8.7 billion, which is 41% more than the year before.
We’re not waiting for the war to end – we’re moving forward. We’re preparing the network for 5G, building a resilient GPON network practically across the whole country for fixed business, and investing in international data routes, including the Kardesa submarine cable system that will connect Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine across the Black Sea, as well as in data centers. We’re not only recovering and keeping the network running – we’re investing in the future right now, on an even bigger scale than in peacetime. In the coming years, we plan to significantly increase investment in major international projects, including the Kardesa, an European satellite network initiative, and the most advanced and powerful underground data center in Ukraine. We’re also investing in research and development: together with the National Aviation University, we’re building an applied research laboratory focused on satellite technologies, and together with an American university campus, we’re launching an AI Hub in Dnipro. We believe in Ukraine’s future, and we see today’s investments as the foundation for the country’s growth after the war.
– How does Vodafone Ukraine balance civilian telecom services with defense-related needs?
During wartime, resilient connectivity has become part of national security. Our primary role is to provide reliable connectivity for people, businesses, government institutions, and critical infrastructure. That’s why almost half of our 2025 investments were focused on network resilience and service continuity during energy crises. Since the war began, we’ve installed more than 20,000 additional backup batteries, expanded our generator fleet to over 7,000 units, and started deploying solar power systems at network sites.
We keep investing in cybersecurity and network modernization to keep services available even under the most difficult conditions. Many technologies today serve a dual purpose – supporting both economic activity and the overall resilience of the country. We also cooperate closely with the Ukrainian government on a number of initiatives of national importance, though for security reasons we can’t discuss the details of that cooperation publicly.
– How important is Poland’s support, and cooperation between our two countries, for Vodafone, including when it comes to Starlink?
As for Starlink, Vodafone buys the terminals itself. We use them especially where it’s impossible to connect through terrestrial cable or other infrastructure – that’s what’s called the „last mile.” As far as I know, Poland supplies and pays for Starlink mainly for the state, government bodies, and the military, not for commercial companies. But I want to stress that what Poland does is extremely important. During attacks from Russia, sometimes there’s no way to restore terrestrial connectivity, and the only option left is Starlink, supplied by our great neighbor, Poland. We’re truly grateful for everything Poland has done since the war began, and I don’t think anyone in Ukraine could ever fully repay that effort.
Poland is one of Ukraine’s most important partners in digital and telecom infrastructure. We highly appreciate Poland’s support from the very first days of the full-scale war. Support that includes not only humanitarian assistance, but also technology cooperation, logistics, equipment supply, and digital infrastructure development. Satellite technologies play an important role as a backup solution for communication during crises, but long-term infrastructure projects and investments matter even more for strengthening Ukraine’s digital resilience. We see strong potential for deeper cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian technology companies going forward.
I should also mention that in fixed-line telecom, which is the area I lead as CEO, a great many of our suppliers work with us from Poland, because it’s currently the fastest way to deliver goods from China and other countries via Gdańsk. It’s the shortest and fastest route, and we also understand each other much faster – our languages are very close, and Poles fully understand our language, just as we understand theirs.
– What did Vodafone Ukraine gain from the URC conference in Gdańsk?
URC showed that international partners are ready to invest in Ukraine’s digital future today. For Vodafone, URC wasn’t just a discussion platform, it was a place where we moved forward with real investment projects. During the conference, we secured €30 million in export credit financing for the development of Ukraine’s telecom infrastructure. The financing involves major international partners, including Finnvera, ING, and Nokia.
This investment will support the expansion and modernization of 4G and 5G networks, help increase network resilience, and accelerate the development of Ukraine’s digital infrastructure. For us, it’s a strong sign of international confidence in Ukraine and its digital future. Global investors increasingly see Ukraine not only as a reconstruction story, but as a future digital growth hub for the region.
– What about the underground data center project?
We’re building infrastructure that will serve Ukraine and Europe for decades after the war. At URC, we presented a project for a modern underground data center, built to international standards. It will meet Tier III standards and become one of the key elements of Ukraine’s future digital infrastructure. Why underground? I don’t think I need to explain that, given the current situation in the country.
The project is being developed together with the Kardesa submarine cable system, which Vodafone Ukraine is building in partnership with Vodafone Group. It will be a kind of „new digital silk road” carrying data from Asia to Europe. It will connect countries including Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Türkiye, Georgia, and Ukraine. Ukraine’s geographical position makes it a critical connection point between Europe and Asia, and Ukraine’s participation in this project will help ensure reliable, secure, and resilient international traffic transmission, which is important not just for Ukraine, but for Europe and Asia as a whole, since it strengthens the security and stability of global digital infrastructure.
In building the data center, we’re drawing on the most valuable experience from around the world – from Vodafone Global, from our partners in Azerbaijan, and from our holding company NEQSOL, which has been very successful in operating this kind of facility. Right now it’s the biggest project of its kind in Ukraine. As far as I know, no one has announced anything bigger. We already have the site selected, and we’re currently working on the physical design itself in order to implement our strategy and finally build it.
Closing his remarks, Serhii Skrypnikov shared a personal message for Polish readers:
„The Ukrainian people are deeply grateful to our great neighbor, Poland, for its support, solidarity, and friendship. We see our future together — not only from a business perspective, but also through social, cultural, and human connections. The partnership between Ukraine and Poland has become stronger than ever, and I truly believe that together we can build a prosperous future for both nations. Thank you, Poland, for standing with Ukraine. We will never forget it.”
Interviewer: Julia Woszczek
