Aurora retail chain granted authorized economic operator status in Ukraine
Photo: Taras Panasenko / Facebook

Aurora, a Ukrainian discount retail chain, has obtained the status of an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) in Ukraine, granting it significant benefits and simplifications in customs clearance procedures.

The AEO status was awarded on December 30, 2025, to the company Profitable Purchase (Ukrainian: Vyhidna Pokupka), which operates the Aurora chain of stores. The news was announced by the company’s co-founder and CEO, Taras Panasenko.

"For us, this means priority clearance at border crossings and less bureaucracy," Panasenko said, explaining the advantages of the new status.

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The Authorized Economic Operator status is a special trust designation for companies involved in international supply chains. It confirms that a company is reliable, secure, and compliant with high standards of customs and supply chain management.

Enterprises holding AEO authorization are eligible for simplified customs declarations, priority processing during customs formalities, reduced risk profiles in the customs clearance system, and access to dedicated lanes at border checkpoints, among other benefits.

AEO status may be granted to manufacturers, exporters, importers, and freight forwarders.

In 2024, enterprises authorized as AEOs accounted for more than 5% of Ukraine’s total import and export turnover in monetary terms, compared to just 1% in 2023.

  • As of now, just over 100 companies in Ukraine hold AEO status. The first AEO certificate in the country was issued in March 2021 to JT International Ukraine (Kremenchuk Tobacco Factory).