After the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many investors suspended their operations and withdrew their capital abroad. However, Kyiv businessman Maksym Krippa decided to continue investing in the country. Over the past two years, he has invested over $100 million in various projects, including real estate and esports.
In his first major interview with Forbes, Maksym Krippa shared unique details about his investments in Ukrainian real estate and esports. The businessman outlined his long-term goals, including developing innovative projects in Kyiv and supporting the growth of the Ukrainian economy through strategic investments in promising industries.
Netflix may make a series based on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
GSC Game World has been working on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 shooter for over a decade. In 2020, Maksym Krippa became one of the project’s key investors; three years later, he became the official owner of the studio. The businessman spoke about essential achievements and his plans for the game:
‘Only a month after the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, the project made a profit. Krippa’s total investment in the game is estimated at ‘tens of millions of dollars’.
About 470 specialists are involved in the development, 270 working directly in Ukraine.
Maksym Krippa also shared his ambitious idea to create a series based on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. in cooperation with Netflix. He believes that the game can repeat the success of the Polish The Witcher, which has become a popular series and a symbol of Polish national pride. For Ukraine, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a unique cultural phenomenon that deserves recognition worldwide.
Significant transactions on the Kyiv and suburban property market
‘I am only interested in properties with a unique value, those that have the status of landmarks and have no analogs due to their location,’ said Maksym Krippa.
In 2023, he purchased the Parus business center in Kyiv. The property had been up for sale for a long time, and the deal was completed during martial law. Due to these circumstances, the businessman could agree on more favorable terms.
Parus generates stable income today, and its occupancy rate exceeds 90%. For comparison, the average occupancy rate for business centers in Kyiv is around 70-75%.
The businessman purchased the Parus business center, which previously had debt obligations. At the time of the transaction, the facility had a loan of about UAH 600 million. The situation was similar to that of the Ukraina Hotel, which was also part of the acquisition portfolio.
Interest in the Parus arose after Krippa met Vadim Stolar, the building’s previous owner. As Krippa recalls, their first meeting occurred at a birthday party for Stolar’s mother.
Maksym Krippa believes that the cost of UAH 2.512 billion for the Ukraina Hotel is reasonable. This property became the first lot of the Big Privatisation on the Prozorro platform since the beginning of the war.
‘I invest because I understand that such opportunities come once in a lifetime. Now I am ready to take risks because in peacetime, such assets will cost 2-3 times more, and after renovation – even more,’ explained Krippa.
In recent years, the businessman has invested more than $100 million in Ukrainian real estate despite martial law. These funds were brought in from abroad through his foreign company, and only the guarantee payment to Prozorro was made in hryvnia. All transactions were audited by the State Financial Monitoring Service and the NBU and received approval from the SBU, the Foreign Intelligence Service, and the AMCU.
‘I can immediately dispel any rumors. There was not a single hryvnia of black cash or other dubious schemes. I spent money that could have been used to buy an asset in the US, Europe, or the UK. But I decided to invest in Ukraine. I do not have such volumes of hryvnia within the country,’ said Krippa.
The businessman refused to buy the Kozatsky Hotel after assessing its technical condition. Experts concluded that demolishing the property and building something modern would be easier.
Krippa’s other acquisitions include an estate in Kozyn, purchased at a public auction in 2023 for UAH 311.11 million. The amount exceeded the starting price of UAH 187.63 million by 60%. The investor is considering using the property as NAVI’s corporate club base.
