Kyivstar

Kyivstar is a Ukrainian telecommunications brand headquartered in Kyiv and controlled by the international communications group VEON. The company was registered in Ukraine in 1994 and began mobile-telephone operations in 1997. It developed into one of the country’s largest communications providers, offering mobile voice and data, 4G LTE, fixed broadband under the Home Internet proposition, digital television, business connectivity, and a growing portfolio of digital services. The company’s mobile network reaches all Ukrainian cities, more than 28,000 rural settlements, major national and regional transport routes, and much of the country’s sea and river coastline. In 2024, Kyivstar reported approximately 24 million mobile subscribers and more than one million fixed-broadband customers. Its network uses the 67, 68, 77, 96, 97, and 98 mobile codes. The brand’s market role extends beyond consumer connectivity: it serves businesses, public institutions, and communities requiring resilient communications infrastructure. Kyivstar has played a prominent public-service role during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the early months of the 2022 invasion, it worked with Ukrainian emergency and communications authorities to distribute more than 150 million text alerts containing air-raid and first-aid guidance. It provided emergency credit and free or extended services to customers, including refugees in neighboring countries, connected more than 1,150 bomb shelters to free internet, and maintained most of its base stations despite wartime conditions. The company also contributed to charitable initiatives, supported fundraising for the Ukrainian armed forces, and paid taxes ahead of schedule. A major operational crisis occurred on 12 December 2023, when Kyivstar suffered a large cyberattack that disrupted mobile and fixed internet services for millions of people. President Oleksandr Komarov described the incident as a powerful Russian cyberattack targeting the company’s virtual infrastructure. Kyivstar restored services and continued its network-resilience work. The resilience project later received a 2024 Global Mobile Award for mobile innovation supporting emergency or humanitarian situations. Kyivstar has increasingly diversified beyond conventional telecommunications. Its portfolio and subsidiaries have expanded into digital healthcare through Helsi, ride-hailing and delivery through Uklon, and big-data and cloud services for business customers. In 2024, it announced an agreement with Starlink to develop direct-to-cell satellite connectivity in Ukraine. The planned progression included over-the-top messaging, followed by satellite broadband and voice services. Kyivstar also signed a 2025 memorandum with Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation concerning a Ukrainian-language large language model intended for use in public-sector and other sensitive applications. In March 2025, Kyivstar entered into a business-combination agreement with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp. It began trading on NASDAQ under the symbol KYIV in August 2025, becoming the first U.S.-listed Ukrainian company according to the supplied reference material. VEON retained a controlling economic interest and a substantial majority of the shares. Kyivstar therefore combines the role of a national communications utility with that of a broader digital-services platform and a visible Ukrainian corporate representative in international capital markets.

Kyivstar was registered in Ukraine in 1994 and entered the mobile-telephony market in 1997. From its Kyiv headquarters, it expanded its radio network and subscriber base until it became one of the country’s principal telecommunications operators. Its core business developed around mobile voice, messaging, and data, later incorporating 4G LTE, fixed broadband, digital television, and enterprise communications. Kyivstar became part of VEON, giving the Ukrainian operator access to the resources and governance of an international telecommunications group while preserving its strong national identity. The operator’s network footprint became unusually broad for Ukraine, covering urban centers, thousands of rural settlements, major roads, and coastal areas. Alongside consumer products, Kyivstar built services for companies and public institutions, including connectivity, cloud, and data-related solutions. The company also became a prominent Ukrainian brand: in 2020, independent Ukrainian rankings identified it as the country’s most valuable brand and as a leading employer and mobile-communications company. Deloitte had previously included it among the largest companies in Central and Eastern Europe. The full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022 transformed the operating environment. Kyivstar worked with the State Emergency Service, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, communications regulators, other mobile operators, and industry associations to preserve connectivity and introduce national roaming. It distributed emergency information by SMS, supported air-raid and first-aid awareness, connected shelters to internet access, and provided emergency credit or free services. The company also supported refugees in neighboring countries, gave business customers additional payment flexibility, and invested heavily in network development during the first quarter of the invasion. Its charitable work included donations to Ukrainian aid organizations and a fundraising mechanism for the armed forces. On 12 December 2023, Kyivstar experienced one of the most disruptive communications outages in Ukraine during the war. The incident affected both mobile and internet services and was attributed by company leadership to a Russian cyberattack designed to damage the operator’s virtual infrastructure. Restoration required extensive technical work and reinforced the importance of network resilience for civilian communications. Kyivstar’s resilience program subsequently received a Global Mobile Award in 2024 for supporting emergency and humanitarian needs. The company’s strategic direction broadened in the mid-2020s. Through subsidiaries and related activities, Kyivstar expanded into digital healthcare with Helsi, mobility and delivery with Uklon, and cloud and big-data services for businesses. Its Starlink agreement, announced in December 2024, targeted direct-to-cell satellite connectivity, with messaging planned before later broadband and voice capabilities. In June 2025, Kyivstar and Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation also agreed to cooperate on a Ukrainian-language large language model using Ukrainian data and domestic processing for sensitive use cases. Kyivstar’s capital-markets profile changed in 2025. It signed a business-combination agreement with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp in March and began trading on NASDAQ under KYIV in August, according to the supplied reference material. VEON retained a large majority position. The company consequently entered a new phase in which it remained Ukraine’s principal national telecom brand while also operating as a public-market company and a diversified digital-services platform.

1. 2025Kyivstar enters the U.S. public market

   Following a business combination with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp, Kyivstar begins NASDAQ trading under KYIV in August.

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2. 2024Starlink partnership is announced

   Kyivstar agrees to pursue direct-to-cell satellite connectivity with Starlink.

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3. 2023Major cyberattack causes nationwide service disruption

   A December attack disrupts mobile and fixed internet services and prompts major restoration and resilience efforts.

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4. 2022National roaming is introduced

   Kyivstar joins Ukrainian authorities and other operators in launching national roaming during the full-scale invasion.

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5. 2018Oleksandr Komarov becomes president

   Oleksandr Komarov begins serving as Kyivstar’s president in December.

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6. 1997Mobile operations begin

   Kyivstar commences mobile-telephony operations in Ukraine.

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7. 1994Kyivstar is registered in Ukraine

   The company is registered as a Ukrainian telecommunications enterprise.

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Kyivstar positions itself as Ukraine’s broadest communications and digital-services provider, combining nationwide mobile and fixed connectivity with resilient infrastructure, business services, digital platforms, and emerging satellite communications.

• Kyivstar MobileMobile telecommunications1997

  Kyivstar’s principal mobile offering includes voice, messaging, mobile data, and 4G LTE connectivity. The network serves urban and rural Ukraine, major transport routes, and coastal areas. During wartime, the service has also supported emergency alerts, national roaming, emergency credit, and continuity measures for customers.

• Home InternetFixed broadband

  Home Internet is Kyivstar’s fixed-broadband proposition for residential users. It extends the brand beyond mobile communications by providing household internet access and is complemented by other home-oriented services, including digital television.

• Business connectivity, cloud, and data servicesEnterprise telecommunications

  Kyivstar provides business customers with telecommunications connectivity and digital infrastructure services, including cloud and big-data capabilities. The supplied reference describes these activities as supporting approximately 500 business clients.

• HelsiDigital healthcare

  Helsi is a Ukrainian digital-health platform included in Kyivstar’s expanding portfolio. It represents the company’s move into digital services adjacent to connectivity, healthcare access, and technology-enabled customer platforms.

• UklonMobility and delivery

  Uklon is a Ukrainian ride-hailing and delivery platform associated with Kyivstar’s diversification strategy. Its inclusion broadens the group’s consumer digital-services exposure beyond telecommunications.

• Starlink direct-to-cell connectivitySatellite communications

  The Starlink partnership is intended to provide direct-to-cell satellite services for Kyivstar subscribers in Ukraine. The announced roadmap prioritizes over-the-top messaging, with mobile satellite broadband and voice services planned subsequently.

• 2022Wartime emergency communications

  Ukraine

  Kyivstar worked with Ukrainian emergency authorities to send more than 150 million SMS messages containing air-raid procedures and basic first-aid guidance during February and March. It also supported shelters, refugees, and customers through free services and emergency credit.

  Outcome. Expanded the operator’s humanitarian and public-safety role during the invasion.

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• 2022Fundraising for Ukrainian defense and relief

  Ukraine

  Kyivstar donated to Ukrainian charitable organizations and created a subscriber fundraising platform for the armed forces. The supplied reference reports that the short code 88009 generated more than UAH 1.2 million during its first two weeks.

  Outcome. Mobilized customer donations and reinforced Kyivstar’s wartime civic positioning.

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• 2025Complete business combination with Cohen Circle Acquisition CorpM&A

  VEON and Kyivstar pursued a U.S. public-market transaction to provide the Ukrainian operator with a NASDAQ listing.

  What changed. Kyivstar signed a business-combination agreement with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp and subsequently began trading under KYIV.

  Aftermath. Kyivstar became a U.S.-listed Ukrainian company while VEON retained a large majority stake.

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• 2025Develop a Ukrainian-language large language modelStrategy

  Ukraine sought domestic artificial-intelligence capabilities using Ukrainian-language data and secure local processing for sensitive sectors.

  What changed. Kyivstar signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Digital Transformation to develop a Ukrainian-language LLM using open-source architectures and Ukrainian data.

  Aftermath. The project broadened Kyivstar’s technology role into national AI infrastructure and digital sovereignty.

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• 2024Develop direct-to-cell satellite connectivity with StarlinkProduct launch

  Ukraine’s wartime conditions and the need for resilient coverage created a strategic rationale for satellite-to-mobile connectivity.

  What changed. Kyivstar signed an agreement with Starlink to introduce satellite-based messaging and later broadband and voice services.

  Aftermath. The partnership positioned Kyivstar as an early participant in direct-to-cell deployment and expanded its connectivity roadmap beyond terrestrial networks.

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• 2022Participate in national roamingStrategy

  The full-scale invasion created significant risks to continuity of mobile communications and required coordination among operators and state authorities.

  What changed. Kyivstar joined other operators and Ukrainian institutions in launching national roaming.

  Aftermath. The initiative improved the ability of customers to remain connected when a particular operator’s network was unavailable.

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• 2023Cyberattack and nationwide communications outageControversy

  On 12 December, Kyivstar suffered a major cyberattack that interrupted mobile and fixed internet services for millions of users. President Oleksandr Komarov attributed the attack to Russia and said that the incident targeted the company’s virtual infrastructure. Services were subsequently restored.

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• 2025Kyivstar signs business-combination agreement with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp

  Kyivstar entered a business-combination agreement with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp as part of its planned U.S. public-market listing.

  M&A
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• 2025Kyivstar begins trading on NASDAQ under KYIV

  Kyivstar began trading on NASDAQ under the ticker KYIV and was described in the supplied reference as the first U.S.-listed Ukrainian company.

  Other
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• 2025Kyivstar and Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation plan a Ukrainian-language large language model

  The parties signed a memorandum to develop a Ukrainian-language large language model trained on Ukrainian data and intended for sensitive domestic applications.

  Other
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• 2024Kyivstar signs Starlink direct-to-cell agreement

  Kyivstar announced an agreement with Starlink to develop satellite-based direct-to-cell connectivity for subscribers in Ukraine, initially focusing on messaging and later broadband and voice services.

  Product launch
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• 2022Kyivstar launches national roaming initiative during the invasion

  Kyivstar worked with Ukrainian ministries, regulators, emergency authorities, and other operators to establish national roaming, improving continuity of mobile access during wartime network disruptions.

  Other
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• 2022Kyivstar provides emergency communications and humanitarian support

  The company distributed emergency information by SMS, connected bomb shelters to free internet, offered emergency credit and free services, and supported customers and refugees after the full-scale invasion began.

  Other
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1. Kyivstar
2. Kyivstar official website