Ukrainian retail chain “Aurora,” operating in the one-dollar store format, opened 133 new stores in Ukraine in January–June 2026, with investments reaching UAH 1.84 billion, the company’s CEO Taras Panasenko announced on Facebook.
“We opened another 133 new multimarkets and crossed the milestone of 1,900 stores. Doing business during wartime means taking responsibility. We have one of the highest tax burdens among all retailers in Ukraine, almost UAH 5 billion, because we operate transparently and are fully compliant. Taxes and fees account for 17.5% of net revenue, including 6% VAT on sales and 2% corporate income tax (…) We invested UAH 1.84 billion in the first half of the year. The figure speaks for itself,” Panasenko said.
The company’s revenue in the first half of 2026 increased by 30% compared with the same period in 2025, reaching UAH 33.6 billion (including VAT).
Among the company’s development priorities, Panasenko highlighted support for veterans. More than 150 veterans currently work at Aurora.
“The goal of Aurora’s veteran program team, led by Chief Veterans Officer Mykhailo Onufer, is to attract and hire as many veterans as possible. Aurora’s environment is barrier-free, and veterans provide a unique contribution to strengthening the team,” Panasenko said.
He also noted the continued growth in the number of Ukrainian manufacturers partnering with Aurora.
“Our supplier partners are actively entering the Romanian market together with us. High-quality Ukrainian products should not only be available on our shelves but also confidently compete in Europe. We are ready to build this path together,” Panasenko emphasized.
He also recalled that in spring the company, together with private equity fund Horizon Capital, launched the Aurora Next program, aimed at attracting capital and expertise for the development of Ukrainian retail companies. In 2026, the program plans to conclude two or three pilot investment agreements, each worth $5–10 million.
Aurora was founded in 2011 by Lev Zhydenko, Taras Panasenko and Lesia Klymenko. By the end of 2025, the chain operated more than 1,800 stores in Ukraine and over 60 stores in Romania. The company’s headquarters are located in Poltava.
According to Opendatabot, the owner of LLC “Vygidna Pokupka,” which operates the Aurora chain, is the Cypriot company Auror Retail Investments Limited. Its ultimate beneficiary is Lev Zhydenko, while investment funds managed by Horizon Capital are among the shareholders.
