The Taxpayers Ranking Is the X-Ray of the Country

30.10.2025

Ruslan Shostak, President of TERWIN

Recently, delo.ua published the ranking of the TOP 100 largest taxpayers in Ukraine. And yes, the VARUS and EVA retail chains are in the first half of the list — ₴5.9 billion in total taxes paid in 2024, and ₴3.46 billion just in the first half of 2025.

This is not just a ranking. It’s an X-ray of the country — a chart showing who truly holds the economy together, and who merely enjoys loud talk about “patriotism” and “supporting the army.”

Want to know who actually funds the army, healthcare, schools, roads, and public sector salaries? Here they are — these hundred companies, and many others like them who didn’t make the list. These are the leading teams. They pay taxes. They are the ones on whose shoulders the state stands.

Now, the unpopular truth: next to this list, there should also be an anti-ranking — of companies that don’t pay taxes. Those that go into the shadows, pay wages “in envelopes,” hide profits behind private entrepreneur schemes, and at the same time tell everyone how they “support Ukraine.”

No, my friends. You’re not supporting it. You’re hanging on the necks of those who keep the country afloat.

I often hear entrepreneurs say: “Why pay taxes, they’ll just steal it anyway. Better buy myself a villa in Europe.”
If I were the state, I’d take a close look at who has bought expensive cars, villas, and other luxury properties since the start of the war.

It’s time to be honest:

Ukraine cannot develop if 10% of businesses are feeding the entire country while the rest pretend that “times are tough.” If you’re building a villa abroad, buying a Bentley or a Porsche, but not paying taxes here — you’re not an entrepreneur, you’re a parasite. If you’re proud of your Ukrainian passport but don’t create jobs — you’re just a spectator, not a player. And let’s be real: the taxpayers ranking isn’t for the media. It’s a checklist of conscience.

An anti-ranking must stand next to it — with specific names, numbers, and consequences.

The plan is simple:

1. Transparency. Make the anti-ranking public — so society knows who truly stands for the state and who only stands for themselves.

2. Accountability. The state must investigate why some companies haven’t paid taxes for years yet continue to operate.

3. Reputation. Businesses that pay taxes honestly should have advantages — in tenders, procurements, grants, and access to state programs.

4. Choice. People should understand who they buy from — those investing in the country, or those draining its resources.

So yes — the taxpayers ranking is not a boring accounting chart. It’s a list of those who carry the country on their backs while others pretend nothing is happening.

And if we want a strong Ukraine — it’s time to start calling things by their real names.