Communities of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions have appealed to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi to immediately sign the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Section "Final and Transitional Provisions" of the Civil Code of Ukraine on Peculiarities of Lending and Financial Leasing during the Period of Martial Law" (Nº 4340-IX).

This document introduces a moratorium on any forced debt collection during martial law and for one year after its lifting. It may become the only protection for hundreds of entrepreneurs whose production facilities have been destroyed or occupied as a result of hostilities.

"As a result of the hostilities in Ukraine, a huge number of entrepreneurs have lost the ability to conduct their business normally. The occupation of Ukrainian territories by the enemy, destruction or seizure of assets used as collateral, loss of means of production and labor collectives – this list of problems is not exhaustive and it has been faced by farmers after February 24, 2022," is mentioned in the statement.

The authors add that “the constant attempts of commercial banks to collect debts from those who have already suffered and lost everything they have created over their lifetime, break people's morale” and actually leave families without money and shelter, even when the debtors have no real opportunity to pay.

"In these circumstances, citizens from the temporarily occupied territories are in particular need of justice and protection from the state, but they do not receive it. It's unfair that people who consciously chose Ukraine and left their homes and businesses are being persecuted by banks instead. And, relying on the courts and the executive service, financial institutions are forcing people to give away the last thing the enemy hasn't managed to steal," the community representatives emphasized.

As the appeal emphasizes, without the law being signed urgently, people are forced to return to the occupied territories, which undermines the state's efforts to protect its people and threatens national security.

Communities call on the President to sign this law immediately, as it is “only the first but urgently needed step to protect those who remained loyal to Ukraine in very difficult circumstances” and gives businesses a chance to recover in the controlled territory and further fulfill their obligations to creditors and lessors.

The Ukrainian Agri Council supports this appeal, as the moratorium will allow farmers whose fields and property are in the combat zone or under occupation to save their businesses and jobs and resume operations in the controlled territories. The UAC has already addressed the President with a similar appeal, emphasizing the need to immediately sign the law to protect hundreds of affected farms and stabilize the country's food security.