Why Ukraine is one of the few places in Europe where “Industry” is still a
concrete conversation.
By Cinzia Pasquale
Introduction
For years, I have been analyzing the strategic landscape of European policy and
funding. Recently, I shared these insights through my columns for the Belgian press
at 21news.be, exploring the irreversible transformation of the Ukrainian resistance
and the deployment of the Ukraine Facility.
However, following an overwhelming number of requests from an increasingly
international audience—colleagues, investors, and partners across Europe—I have
decided to launch Un-Bubble in English. My goal is to provide a direct, “un-filtered”
perspective to those who seek to understand the real mechanisms behind the
headlines.
To move from policy analysis to the front lines, I sat down with my brother, Claudio
Pasquale, CEO of Kanayume OU and Irisgroup. Having been an entrepreneur on the
ground long before the conflict, he offers a rare, “un-bubbled” testimony on the
raw reality of industry in a war zone. Here is the perspective of a man building a
new industrial foundation, brick by brick.
Cinzia: Claudio, why are you still in Ukraine?
Claudio: I am here, Cinzia, because I have worked here for years. It is one of the
few places in Europe where “industry” is still a concrete, meaningful conversation.
It wasn’t a sudden decision, but a journey: returning time and again,
understanding the people, and learning how things truly work. At a certain point,
staying and building here became the only natural next step.
Cinzia: But why here and not elsewhere in Europe?
Claudio: Because I found a combination here, Cinzia, that is disappearing
elsewhere: resources, technical skills, and, above all, the space to act. In many
European countries, the industrial landscape feels static, frozen by bureaucracy.
Here, you can still build from the ground up. It isn’t the “easy” choice; it’s the
choice that makes sense if you have an industrial vision and the willingness to truly
commit.
Cinzia: What has starting a business in a war zone taught you, Claudio?
Claudio: It taught me that you must be present—always. You cannot expect a
system to run on its own from a remote office. You have to monitor, verify, and
understand firsthand what is happening on the shop floor. It’s exhausting, but it
becomes a core methodology. It strips away your illusions, but it grants you
immense clarity. In the end, Cinzia, you know exactly what you are building
because you’ve touched it with your own hands.
Cinzia: Why did you choose to stay after the invasion?
Claudio: I didn’t view it as a “heroic” choice, Cinzia, but a professional one. I had
established operations and deep relationships here. Leaving would have meant
abandoning my team and everything we built together. Staying was about adapting
day by day. The conditions change, and priorities evolve, but the strategic direction
remains the same.
Cinzia: What kind of companies should consider Ukraine a destination right now?
Claudio: Ukraine is not for those looking for shortcuts or “easy” EU grants.
Shortcuts don’t work here, Cinzia. This country is for those who want to build for
the long term—real industrialists who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Our
mission here is to prove that success comes from concrete projects and technical
transparency. Especially in a war zone, there is no room for patronage; only
meritocracy and real results will build the new industrial foundation this country
needs. It requires patience, discipline, and a total lack of superficiality.
Cinzia: Claudio, how do you see the future of entrepreneurship here?
Claudio: I believe the reconstruction will be massive, Cinzia, but it will be neither
fast nor linear. There will be opportunities, but you must know how to decode them
properly. Anyone arriving thinking it will be a simple “gold rush” is mistaken.
However, those who enter with a merit-based approach and a long-term vision can
build something incredibly solid. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Note: Claudio Pasquale is the CEO of Kanayume OU and Irisgroup, two
entities active in the industrial and technological sectors across Europe
and Ukraine.
Update:
The EU-Ukraine Business Summit 2026 took place in Brussels this week, on
April 22nd and 23rd. The event brought together a multi-layered group of
stakeholders to explore opportunities linked to Ukraine’s reconstruction, with a
specific focus on the implementation of Defence and Dual-Use technologies.
https://ebsummits.eu/our-summits/eu-ukraine/2026/programme/
