Running a software development business during wartime in Ukraine
13. October 2026
When Conscensia established its development center in Ukraine 20 years ago, no one could have imagined the circumstances under which we would one day be running it.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, our colleagues have continued developing software for international customers while living and working in a country at war.
Maintaining business continuity at our Lviv Tech Hub has required preparation, contingency plans, clear communication and the ability to adapt quickly. But some of the most important lessons have been about people, local leadership, trust and the value of long-term relationships.
As Conscensia celebrates its 20th anniversary, we look back at what more than four years of operating in Ukraine during full-scale war have taught us about resilience, business continuity and long-term software development partnerships.
Resilience starts before a crisis
Long before February 2022, Conscensia had a Business Contingency Plan in place for our operations in Lviv, Ukraine. We had prepared for potential disruptions with generators for electricity, backup internet connections and procedures designed to keep our teams and customer deliveries running under difficult circumstances.
Of course, no contingency plan can prepare an organisation for everything that happens when a full-scale war begins.
During the first days, many of our colleagues naturally needed time to make arrangements for themselves and their families. Safety came first. But relatively quickly, new routines were established and teams were able to return to their work.
What made a significant difference was that Conscensia already had experienced local management in Ukraine and teams that had worked closely with their customers for years.
“A Business Contingency Plan, generators and backup internet connections gave us an important foundation. But you cannot prepare for every situation a war creates. During the first days, our priority was naturally our colleagues and their families. What impressed me was how quickly people adapted and new routines were established. That says a lot about our organisation and our people.”
Local leadership is essential
One of the lessons has been the importance of having strong leadership close to the people and the situation.
From Denmark, it is impossible to fully understand what everyday life in Ukraine looks like or how quickly circumstances can change. Decisions therefore need to be made by people who understand both the business and the reality on the ground.
For Conscensia, this has reinforced the importance of empowering local management rather than trying to manage every situation centrally.
“The past four years have demonstrated just how important strong local leadership is. Our colleagues in Ukraine understand the situation in a way we never can from Denmark. Our role is to provide support and stay closely connected, while trusting the local organisation to make the decisions that are right for our people and our customers.”
Business continuity is about preparation – and adaptability
Generators, backup internet connections and contingency plans proved their value. But one important lesson has been that business continuity is about much more than infrastructure. It is also about communication, flexibility and people.
Power outages, air-raid alerts and changing circumstances have become part of the reality of living and working in Ukraine. Plans therefore need to accommodate situations that cannot always be predicted.
Our Business Contingency Plan has provided a framework, but the ability of our teams to adapt has been just as important.
"We have learned to prepare for many different scenarios, but also to accept that we cannot prepare for everything. Being able to adapt quickly is just as important as having a plan.”
Customer trust makes a real difference
From the beginning, transparency about the situation was important. The goal was to communicate openly about the situation, the potential risks and the measures taken to maintain stable operations, giving our customers a clear understanding of the realities we were facing.
The support and understanding shown by our customers during the first weeks of the war made a lasting impression on us. They understood that their Ukrainian colleagues were facing an extraordinary situation and showed great flexibility and support. That support was particularly important during the first days, when employees needed to focus on their own safety and their families. And it did not disappear once the immediate shock had passed.
Throughout the years that have followed, our customers have continued to show trust in Conscensia and, importantly, in their Ukrainian development teams.
That trust has been supported by what customers have experienced themselves: despite the difficult circumstances, their teams have continued to demonstrate the same high level of professionalism and delivery as before the full-scale war.
"The response from our customers has meant everything to us. From the first days of the invasion, they showed understanding, flexibility and genuine concern for our colleagues. And they have continued to trust their teams in Ukraine ever since. At the same time, our developers have demonstrated that even under extremely difficult circumstances, they can maintain the professionalism and quality our customers know them for."
Long-term partnerships show their value when circumstances are difficult
Another important lesson from the past four years has been the value of long-term customer relationships and dedicated software development teams.
When the full-scale invasion began, our customers suddenly faced a new level of uncertainty. For companies with development teams in Ukraine, continuing those relationships required trust – not only in Conscensia, but also in the people they had worked with for many years.
Our customers chose to stand by their teams.
Companies such as Systematic, Kamstrup and Getinge, along with many of our other long-term customers, continued their collaboration with their Ukrainian colleagues at a time when choosing a different path might have seemed easier or less uncertain. Their commitment provided important stability for our teams and for Conscensia as a company.
Our Ukrainian developers continued to repay that trust by maintaining the high level of professionalism, quality and commitment their customers had experienced before the war.
"We have enormous respect for the commitment our customers have shown to their teams in Ukraine. At a time of uncertainty, they chose to stay, support their colleagues and continue the partnerships they had built over many years. Our customers have demonstrated what long-term partnership really means. We are incredibly grateful for their trust, and equally proud of our Ukrainian colleagues for continuing to earn that trust every day."
What will we take with us?
We have learned that preparation matters. Having a Business Contingency Plan, generators, backup connectivity and clear procedures in place before a crisis can make an enormous difference.
But preparation alone is not enough.
Resilience also comes from strong local leadership, the ability to adapt, transparent communication and trusted relationships. It comes from customers who stand behind their teams when circumstances become difficult. And above all, it comes from people who continue to take responsibility and deliver professionally despite circumstances that most of us have never had to experience.
Twenty years after Conscensia began its journey in Ukraine, our long-term commitment to the people who have built – and continue to build – our Lviv hub remains as strong as ever.
