Today, 8 January, 25 Ukrainians with international experience joined the teams of six ministries, as well as the offices of the President, the Prime Minister, and the Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. These young professionals, who had previously left Ukraine, returned as part of the second phase of the Create Ukraine programme and will work on reforms in key areas of government.

In 2026, Create Ukraine scaled up following a successful pilot — last year, the first 10 participants implemented over 30 projects, including the Minerals Agreement, the URC, and investment facilitation. The continuation of the programme was made possible thanks to the support and funding from Lithuanian partners. The programme is implemented by the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency in partnership with the KSE Foundation and the Government of Ukraine, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine – Minister of Culture of Ukraine:
“We have already seen the effectiveness of the first cohort of Create Ukraine — their projects have become part of Ukraine’s ongoing transformation. I am confident that the 25 new participants will maintain the same high standard. Being Ukrainian is not just about a passport, it is also about responsibility: acting when the country needs you. I thank each of you for your choice and commitment. You are part of the changes that start with personal decisions. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine is ready to be your partner in this transformation.”

Darius Skusevičius, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador for Coordination of Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania:
“Human capital is a cornerstone of Ukraine’s recovery. We believe that Ukraine’s European future will be shaped by highly educated, internationally experienced professionals who choose to return and contribute to the country’s transformation. While Lithuania’s broader support remains practical and unwavering — supporting education recovery, strengthening rehabilitation systems for Ukraine’s defenders, building resilient energy infrastructure, and reinforcing state institutions — Create Ukraine is unique in offering a structured pathway for the return of young, motivated professionals. “

Participants in the new phase of Create Ukraine returned from Europe, North America, Asia, and even the Southern Hemisphere — from Italy, Japan, and the USA to Morocco and New Zealand. They bring experience from international companies, government institutions, and the civil sector abroad.

More about the participants

Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine:
“The first cohort of participants demonstrated that the programme works: specialists quickly integrated into government teams, strengthened internal processes, and showed effectiveness in priority areas of reform. Today we welcome the second wave, and for our ministry this again means trust and high motivation: nine out of the 25 participants chose to work specifically 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 each participant resilience and ambition — there is a lot of challenging work ahead, but it is precisely this work that shapes the changes our country needs.”

During the presentation of the second phase of the programme, participants met with the heads of ministries and offices, who outlined the key challenges and priorities they will work on over the next 12 months of the programme.

Institutions where participants joined include: the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Education and Science; the Ministry of Energy; the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; as well as the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Svitlana Denysenko, Director of KSE Foundation:
“Create Ukraine is becoming a systemic instrument not only for bringing talented Ukrainians back home but also for integrating them where their knowledge will have the greatest impact. In 2024, there were ten people; today we have 25 participants — each of them passed a competitive selection from 250 candidates. The diversity of professional trajectories and cultural contexts in which the participants have worked creates a unique environment for exchanging approaches and will strengthen the capacity of the state institutions they join.”

Myroslava Gongadze, Senior Research Fellow at Friends of Europe, public figure, and programme ambassador, addressed the participants:
“You have made a very difficult choice — to help Ukraine when it is hard, not when it is convenient. Remember: you know a lot, you have extensive experience, show initiative, and never stop. Thanks to your energy and determination, Ukraine changes even in the most challenging times.”

Create Ukraine is a continuation of the Lithuanian Create Lithuania programme, launched in 2012 as a strategic government initiative. Its participants are young professionals with study and work experience abroad who consciously return to Ukraine to apply their knowledge, management skills, and international approaches in the context of war and post-war recovery.

The programme includes work on priority government projects, training modules, and a certification programme in Government Relations from the Kyiv School of Economics. All participants are integrated into institutional teams as advisory specialists and will work directly with the leadership of central government bodies.

 

Participants in the second phase of Create Ukraine include:

  • Oksana Baytala, specialist in European integration, law and public policy (returned from Bruges, Belgium)

  • Maria Bondarenko, specialist in international relations and economic diplomacy, coordinator of international projects (returned from Osaka and Yamagata, Japan)

  • Yevhen Burlaka, specialist in cultural diplomacy and agricultural policy (returned from Edmonton, Canada)

  • Yulia Chorna, specialist in climate policy and energy transition (returned from Florence, Italy)

  • Darka Harnik, specialist in international and climate policy and energy security (returned from New York, USA)

  • Valeria Hudz, analyst and project manager in public policy and innovation, specialist in EU projects, strategic communications and international partnerships (returned from Porto, Portugal)

  • Věra Karam, start-up programme manager and entrepreneurship development specialist (returned from Oulu, Finland)

  • Olga Kleshko, specialist in international recruitment and marketing (returned from Zoeterwoude, Netherlands)

  • Serafim Kolodchuk, political coordinator and project manager (returned from Banská Bystrica, Slovakia)

  • Yana Kostenko, specialist in European integration and migration policy (returned from Brussels, Belgium)

  • Yana Kostiuk, specialist in climate policy and sustainable development (returned from Milan, Italy)

  • Alisa Lytvynova, specialist in international project and reform management (returned from New York, USA)

  • Andrii Maidanik, logistics and operations management specialist, environmental solutions expert (returned from Almere, Netherlands)

  • Sofia Makohin, specialist in international economics and public policy (returned from Berlin, Germany)

  • Margarita Paskalova, specialist in education, social policy and business management (returned from Norwich, UK)

  • Yulia Medvedieva, specialist in environmental policy, conservation research and agroecology (returned from Tottori, Japan)

  • Maryna Olinishevska, specialist in strategic communications, public policy and European integration (returned from Gießen, Germany)

  • Daria Samarska, specialist in international communications and security policy (returned from Woking, UK)

  • Aliona Saviishchenko, specialist in European integration and EU sanctions policy (returned from Brussels, Belgium)

  • Maryna Shchepienko, specialist in international communications and cultural diplomacy (returned from London, UK)

  • Anastasia Shumkova, specialist in food safety and occupational health (returned from Blenheim, New Zealand)

  • Anastasia Todoruk, specialist in European policy and international advocacy (returned from Vienna, Austria)

  • Hanna Velykova, specialist in European integration, international cooperation and data management (returned from Sofia, Bulgaria)

  • Tetiana Zhurman, specialist in international policy, public diplomacy and humanitarian studies (returned from New York, USA)

  • Valeria Zubatenko, specialist in cultural policy and human rights (returned from Brussels, Belgium)

About Create Ukraine

Create Ukraine is an initiative to involve Ukrainians with international experience in the public sector, launched in 2024 by Lithuania and Ukraine, with support from the EU. The programme provides a mechanism for talented young professionals to return home and implement their skills in European integration reforms. During the pilot phase, ten Ukrainian specialists implemented over 30 projects in key areas: investment, SME development, labour market, European integration, scaling state initiatives, and transparent communications. The second phase of the programme is funded by the Lithuanian Cooperation and Humanitarian Development Fund.

KSE Foundation works daily to support people and the development of an innovative Ukraine through education, thanks to contributors and partners.
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