Ukraine’s tech sector is a 'pillar of resistance'. Here’s how it's responding to Russia’s invasion

Ukraine’s technology sector is the country’s third-biggest export and is aiming to become a tech hub in the heart of Europe.

But Russia’s invasion is putting its progress at risk and the country needs help from outside its borders, said the Director of TechUkraine, a tech platform that was launched by Ukraine’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

"Help us in our fight for our country, for our values and our path," Nataly Veremeeva appealed to the international community in comments to Euronews Next.

"We are a truly European and global country, wishing to add the most precious that we have – our creative spirit and minds of our smart people – to solving not only local tasks but also challenges that the whole [of] humanity is facing".

Last year, Ukraine set many tech records, such as its first "decacorns" - start-ups that has exceeded a valuation of $10 billion (€8.8 billion) - and growth of its IT industry of 36 per cent.

And the country already has many start-up stars such as the AI-based writing engine Grammarly, the company that makes PDFs Readdle, and the wireless home security company Ajax.

Much of the thriving tech sector has become resilient having become accustomed to living under the pressures of an ongoing conflict which began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, said Veremeeva.

"The Ukrainian spirit is very strong. The tech community, being an active part of the society, consisting of thousands of educated people with a global outlook, is one of the pillars of Ukraine’s resistance," she said.

"Millions of hryvnias [Ukraine’s currency] already were donated to support the army, Ukrainian tech entrepreneurs spread the world to global community and media, raise awareness, help in diplomatic and military