Socio-Economic Trends and Problems of Small and Medium-Sized Business Development in Ukraine Under Martial Law

Topicality. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of socio-economic trends and problems of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Ukraine under martial law. The relevance of the study is due to the growing role of SMEs in maintaining social stability, economic activity and regional resilience in the context of the systemic crisis caused by the large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. SMEs not only provide jobs and tax revenues, but also increasingly perform social functions, such as facilitating the integration of internally displaced persons, supporting the military, and engaging in humanitarian initiatives. Aim and tasks. The aim of the article is to identify the key challenges faced by SMEs during the war, to determine the adaptive potential of enterprises and to formulate priority areas of state policy to support small businesses in the context of crisis transformations. The objectives of the study include analyzing trends, assessing the effectiveness of existing support mechanisms, studying international experience, and developing proposals for strengthening entrepreneurial resilience. Materials and methods. The study used general scientific and special methods: comparative analysis, systematization, induction and deduction, case analysis, and elements of the factor approach. The source base was the data of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, think tanks (KSE Institute, GIZ, USAID), international financial organizations, and the author's own generalization of empirical observations. Research results. Ukrainian SMEs under martial law demonstrate both vulnerability and a high level of adaptability. At the same time, most of the problems, such as lack of funding, human resources, infrastructure destruction, and logistical barriers, have no short-term solutions without systemic government and international support. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of relocation mechanisms, transformation of business models, and the formation of new centers of entrepreneurial activity in safer regions. Conclusion. The conclusions substantiate the need to implement a strategy for the long-term development of SMEs based on transparent tax and financial policies, access to education and digital technologies, partnership with international donors, and institutional support through business incubators. The author emphasizes the importance of regional policy and the quality of jobs created. The author emphasizes that SMEs have the potential to become the basis for post-war economic recovery, but its realization is possible only under conditions of a targeted support policy from the state.