DOU 2026 ranking: Ukraine’s 50 largest product IT companies — what the numbers say about the market’s resilience
DOU published an updated ranking: the overall number of tech specialists has barely changed, but personnel shifts point to where the Ukrainian industry is headed. We explain why this matters for the economy, jobs, and investments.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
February 23, 2026 · 2 min read
Why this ranking is worth reading
DOU — an authority in Ukraine’s professional IT community — has published its annual list of the 50 largest product and hybrid IT companies operating on the domestic market (banks and miltech were not included). The ranking not only points to leaders by team size, but also provides markers of sector stability: where staff are retained, where the most active hiring is happening, and where investors and top talent will look in 2026.
Key figures
The list includes 24,595 technical specialists in total; the overall figure changed little over the year, which in itself signals a certain resilience of the market under pressure from external challenges.
The leader by headcount is Evoplay (1,731). Next are Genesis (1,426), which added 226 technical specialists over the year, and Ajax Systems (1,227). The top five also include Nova Digital (1,018) and TemaBit Fozzy Group (923).
"In total, these companies employ 24,595 tech specialists — the figure changed little over the year."
— DOU, 2026 ranking
Staffing trends: who is growing, who is regaining positions
The largest increases were recorded by: Genesis +226, mono +200, Silpo +170, King Group +130 and United Tech +111. Notable shifts in the ranking — mono rose from 25th to 11th position; Kyivstar.Tech — from 20th to 9th; Fractal — from 47th to 34th.
At the same time, in several companies the number of technical specialists decreased — and they did not make the list, which underscores the market’s differentiation: there are players expanding teams, and those optimizing costs or refocusing their business.
Plans for 2026: demand for specialists is growing
Most companies on the ranking plan to expand their teams in 2026. One company announced intentions to hire 500–1,000 specialists, and six more plan to hire 200–500 each. The most active sectors for hiring are retail, telecommunications and business software.
What this means for the market and everyone working in IT
The DOU ranking is not just a list of numbers. It functions as an indicator: a stable total number of technical teams speaks to the industry’s ability to withstand shocks. At the same time, the concentration of growth in a few large players points to intensified competition for talent within the country. For employees, this is an opportunity for offers from large-scale projects; for employers, it’s a challenge to retain staff through salaries, training and corporate culture.
Conclusion
DOU has recorded what should be seen as a positive signal: the Ukrainian product IT sector demonstrates resilience and readiness to hire. But the figures also remind us of uneven growth — a few companies occupy leading positions, while others are experiencing decline or restructuring. The key question now is whether the announced hiring plans will be turned into real jobs and investments that ensure the long-term development of the industry and the country’s economy as a whole?
