14.07.2026
Energy shortages, growing investment needs, and war-related risks are forcing companies to rethink how they finance energy solutions. First Ukrainian International Bank (FUIB) explains how business demand is changing, which tools work best today, and why the bank joined Energy Club.
In an interview with the Energy Club media department, Dmytro Malov, Director of the Corporate and Trade Finance Department at FUIB, named the key financial challenges facing the energy business, discussed relevant support tools for companies operating under war-related risks, outlined the role of banks in strengthening the resilience of the energy sector, and explained what the bank sees as the benefits of membership in the business community.
— Mr. Malov, please tell us about FUIB: what are your key areas of activity, and in which segments of the financial market do you operate?
— FUIB is a universal bank that serves as an active financial partner for companies in the energy sector. Our role is to ensure clients have access to the financial instruments they need for stable operations and development. This includes, in particular, working capital and investment project financing, documentary operations (guarantees, letters of credit), factoring, and other financial solutions.
— Name the most successful projects or solutions implemented recently.
— Among our key achievements is a systemic approach to financing the economy under conditions of heightened market volatility — in particular, supporting energy companies through working capital lending, bank guarantees, and factoring. Participation in consortium financing has also been an important area, along with developing solutions that help clients more effectively manage counterparty risks and ensure supply chain stability. It’s also worth highlighting the bank’s active integration into state business support programs, including in sectors that are critical to the economy.
— What will the bank focus on in the near future specifically in the energy sector?
— We see it as important to strengthen our expertise in the energy sector; another key area we see is supporting clients in transitioning to more sustainable and energy-efficient business models.
— What motivated the bank to become a member of Energy Club, and what were the main factors behind this decision?
— We view Energy Club as a professional platform that brings together participants in Ukraine’s energy market. It’s important for us to be part of an environment where a shared vision for the industry’s development takes shape, where practical experience is exchanged, and where current challenges and opportunities for the market are discussed.
— Has the bank previously had experience of cooperation or joint projects with other Energy Club members? If so, what were the results of that interaction?
— Yes, FUIB already cooperates with a number of Energy Club member companies as a financial partner. This includes projects in financing, the provision of bank guarantees, and factoring. This experience has been constructive and is based on long-term partnership and mutual trust.
— What practical benefits and opportunities does the bank expect to gain from Energy Club membership?
— What’s valuable to us is the opportunity to exchange industry analytics, gain a deeper understanding of market participants’ current needs, and develop professional dialogue on financial instruments for the energy sector.
— In synergy with Energy Club, what are the most important issues and tasks in the energy market that the bank aims to discuss and address?
— Key topics include access to financing under war-related risks, the development of tools to support business liquidity, risk-sharing mechanisms, and the impact of the regulatory environment on investment in the energy industry and the banking sector.
— How exactly does the bank plan to participate in Energy Club’s work?
— We plan to actively participate in industry events, sector discussions, and working groups.
— Please outline the bank’s priority formats for cooperation within the Club.
— What is most valuable to us is the exchange of practical experience, joint work on industry initiatives and analytics, and the development of partnerships between the financial and energy sectors.
— How do you see the bank’s role in strengthening the resilience of the energy sector?
— We see our role in creating flexible financial solutions and expanding access to the liquidity and investment financing companies need to adapt and grow.
— What joint actions by Energy Club and the bank could bring the greatest practical benefit to the energy sector right now?
— Joint initiatives could be valuable in shaping approaches to financing the restoration of energy infrastructure, developing mechanisms for interaction between business, banks, and the state, and exchanging practical case studies of cooperation between market participants.
— What would you like to say or wish to your Energy Club colleagues and future partners?
— Today, energy is not only about infrastructure and technology, but also about trust, partnership, and shared responsibility. We wish Energy Club members stability, professional growth, and new opportunities for effective cooperation. It is especially important right now to combine the expertise of the financial and energy sectors to support the country’s economic resilience and the implementation of recovery projects. We are open to dialogue and partnerships that will contribute to the industry’s development.
Today, the resilience of the energy sector depends not only on technological solutions but also on the ability of business, banks, and the state to act together. That is why developing partnerships, ensuring access to financial instruments, and combining industry expertise are becoming key conditions for restoring Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and economic resilience.
