Zara is preparing to reopen the stores in Ukraine that it swiftly shuttered two years ago after Russia’s invasion of the country.
The Spanish fashion giant’s owner Inditex has told local landlords that it will begin reopening its shops in Ukraine in early April, adding that the retailer plans to reopen 50 of its 80-plus stores in the country.
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Inditex closed its 84 stores in Ukraine, including its Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti and Bershka brands on 24 February 2022, the day of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Since then it has ceased to ship merchandise to the country but has continued to pay taxes and the wages of its 1,000 Ukrainian employees.
Inditex maintained its rental contracts with landlords during the store closures, but has not disclosed on what terms.
The Spanish group, which has roughly 5,700 stores in more than 90 countries worldwide, will reopen gradually, beginning with 20 stores, including three Zara outlets, in Kyiv shopping centres.
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