A number of Turkish brands are scaling back or completely ceasing operations in the country, while their spots in shopping malls are increasingly being filled by Ukrainian companies. European brands are also expanding significantly. This is reported by Delo.ua, citing UTG.

Why are Turkish brands leaving?

This year, Turkish operators Koton, SuperStep, and InStreet have announced their exit from the Ukrainian market or a significant reduction in their presence. Specifically, Koton is closing its last stores after eight years of operation in Ukraine, and the SuperStep chain plans to shut down all its stores between May and June.

Experts note that the exit of Turkish operators is not always exclusively linked to the Ukrainian market. Some companies attribute the decision to global business optimization and the reallocation of resources among different countries.

Opportunities for Ukrainian Businesses

According to market participants, some of the space vacated by international operators is already being occupied by Ukrainian brands and chains. For example, EVA Beauty and Marathon stores are opening in former Koton locations, and the spaces of certain sports retailers are being taken over by new concept stores from other brands.

“Following the exit of some international operators, vacancy rates are not rising critically, as the space is being actively occupied by Ukrainian brands that continue to grow even during the war,” says Evgeniya Loktionova, head of the consulting department at UTG company.

According to her, Ukrainian companies have become much more active in viewing shopping centers as a platform for scaling their businesses. At the same time, international chains often make decisions based on global strategy and risk assessments.

“Today we are seeing a rise in local players. For many Ukrainian brands, this is an opportunity to secure locations that were previously inaccessible due to intense competition from international chains,” notes Loktionova.

Benefits for SECs

For shopping malls, this turnover of tenants could be a positive factor. According to Loktionova, the Ukrainian fashion sector has already proven its resilience and ability to adapt quickly to new conditions.

“Competition is gradually shifting from a battle between international and local brands to a competition of concepts, service, and understanding the needs of Ukrainian consumers,” explains Loktionova.

Market analysts expect the trend of replacing international operators with local chains to continue, particularly in the fashion, cosmetics, home goods, and sports retail segments.

European businesses are entering Ukraine

At the same time, international retailers continue to view Ukraine as a promising market. Among the most notable examples is the entry of the Polish chain Pepco into the market. In the spring of 2026, the first monobrand store of the British brand Barbour opened in Kyiv. In addition, new international concepts are appearing on the Ukrainian market, including Karl Lagerfeld Jeans and the Polish sneaker culture chain World Box.

As a reminder, according to Evgeniya Loktionova, Ukrainian SECs are massively changing their formats to meet consumer needs. The expert notes a decline in the trend toward impulse purchases, which is why well-known chains such as Usupso and O! Some have already left the Ukrainian market.