Ukraine's tech sector represents a vital strategic asset for the United States, encompassing 307,600 programmers who contribute to the global digital infrastructure relied upon by American companies. The potential loss of 149,000 Ukrainian tech professionals, including 49,000 engineering experts, would have a catastrophic impact on U.S. interests, business continuity, and global competitiveness. The deep integration of Ukrainian tech companies into the global economy means that a significant portion of their services support overseas clients, including many in the United States.

The Tech Balance 2025 report highlights Ukraine's crucial leadership in cloud technology, an area of significant importance for the digital infrastructure of the United States. Ukraine possesses a per capita cloud technology expertise that is nearly 7.9 times greater than its neighbors. This advantage is particularly significant when compared to Russia:

• AWS: Ukraine's per capita expertise is approximately 11.7 times greater than Russia's. This is critical given AWS's role in the digital infrastructure of numerous American businesses, including major players like Netflix and parts of the CIA.
• Azure: Ukraine's per capita expertise is about 8.5 times that of Russia. Azure is essential for integration across various American enterprise and financial technology companies, as well as government entities due to its compatibility with Microsoft Office technologies.
• Docker: Ukraine's Docker expertise per capita is over 3.4 times that of Russia. Docker is fundamental for developing scalable cloud solutions utilized by companies worldwide, including those in the U.S..

This pronounced expertise in cloud services positions Ukrainian tech professionals at the forefront of cybersecurity efforts, which are increasingly vital for protecting U.S. digital infrastructure in the current geopolitical climate. Their proficiency in AWS, Azure, and Docker is crucial for safeguarding against cyber threats and ensuring the security of sensitive data for American entities.

The report also addresses the substantial economic implications for the United States associated with Ukraine's tech talent. The potential loss of 149,000 Ukrainian tech professionals, including 49,000 engineering experts, could result in a potential economic impact on U.S. businesses of $26.95 billion. This impact stems from disruptions in productivity, increased recruitment costs for American companies seeking replacements, and higher replacement salaries. Several major U.S. companies rely on Ukrainian tech talent, including:

• Amazon: 484 Ukrainian workers
• EPAM Systems: 9,358 Ukrainian workers (a major employer of Ukrainian tech talent)
• Google: 175 Ukrainian workers
• Microsoft: 104 Ukrainian workers
• Grammarly: 222 Ukrainian workers (used by 21.9 million Americans)
• Wix: 604 Ukrainian workers (powering over 1.15 million U.S. websites)

The disruption to these workforces would directly affect the operations and revenues of these U.S.-based companies.

Despite the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine's tech sector has shown considerable resilience, with the number of tech specialists increasing by over 7% to 307,600. This resilience provides an opportunity for continued collaboration between U.S. and Ukrainian tech companies. Key areas for growth that can benefit the U.S. include cloud infrastructure development and security, where Ukraine holds a significant expertise advantage, and cybersecurity, where Ukrainian professionals have gained unique experience defending against real-world attacks.

Tech Balance 2025 emphasizes the strategic imperative for the United States to support Ukrainian tech talent. The potential loss of this resource would have profound consequences for the U.S. tech ecosystem, impacting innovation and security. The report outlines several crucial avenues for support:

• Business Partnerships: Establishing and maintaining business relationships between U.S. and Ukrainian tech companies and professionals to ensure continued economic support and knowledge exchange.
• Educational Initiatives: Supporting educational programs in Ukraine to cultivate the next generation of tech professionals who can contribute to the global and U.S. tech sectors.
• Cybersecurity Collaboration: Engaging in collaborative cybersecurity initiatives with Ukrainian experts, leveraging their unique experience in addressing real-world threats to strengthen global and U.S. digital defenses.

Supporting Ukraine's tech sector is not solely an economic consideration for the U.S. but a strategic decision that contributes to geopolitical stability and the preservation of democratic values, aligning with U.S. interests.