Comfy Trade LLC, which develops the Comfy network, has updated its management model and introduced the role of company president, which has been filled by Igor Khizhnyak, while Gennady Verbylenko has been appointed as the new CEO.
‘Comfy announces an update to its management model, which took place in early January 2026. The decision is aimed at strengthening strategic and operational management, ensuring management continuity and the further sustainable development of the company as a leader in the Ukrainian market for household appliances and electronics,’ the company said in a press release.
Igor Khizhnyak, who previously held the position of CEO of Comfy, has taken up the new position of president of the company. According to the announcement, as president of the company, he will be responsible for shaping its strategic priorities.
Khizhnyak has also joined the company’s advisory board. He will participate in determining Comfy’s strategic directions, evaluating key management decisions, and ensuring a balance between the company’s long-term goals, customer expectations, and market development.
In addition, Khizhnyak will soon take up the position of Chief Country Representative in Ukraine at Torwell, which indirectly co-owns Comfy. His task in his new position will be to develop investment projects in Ukraine, the press service reported.
The new CEO of Comfy is Gennady Verbylenko, who has held the position of CEO of the company in various years and was a member of its advisory board, as well as being a minority shareholder in Comfy.
“Comfy is a mature, transparent and efficient company with a strong position in the Ukrainian market and a clear understanding of its role and responsibilities. Today, we are moving on to the next stage of development, which requires a clearer division of strategic and operational focuses. The changes introduced strengthen the company’s management model, contribute to the further transformation of the business model and create the basis for long-term growth and a new level of leadership for Comfy,” said Stanislav Ronis, founder and key beneficial owner of Comfy, in a press release.
According to YouControl, Comfy Trade LLC is owned by Comfy Holdings Limited (100%, Cyprus), with Stanislav Ronis and Svitlana Hutsul as the ultimate beneficiaries.
As reported, Comfy increased its revenue by 9.7% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, to UAH 25.4 billion. At the end of 2024, it received UAH 47 billion 720.9 million in revenue, which is 27.1% higher than in 2023. 2024 was the first year when the company exceeded $1 billion in revenue.
The Kryvyi Rih Mining and Metallurgical Plant PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (AMKR) increased its rolled steel production by 1.4% compared to 2024, reaching 1 million 556.6 thousand tonnes in 2025.
This growth occurred amid extraordinary challenges: constant attacks on energy infrastructure, power shortages, high electricity tariffs, and complex logistics. Throughout the year, metallurgical production operated under restrictions.
AMKR CEO Mauro Longobardo called 2025 ‘a year of survival and constant adaptation.’ He noted that the team did everything possible to stabilise operations, optimise costs and retain staff.
The company remains the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine, specialising in rebar and wire rod.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine. It specialises in the production of long products, in particular rebar and wire rod. The company has a full production cycle, with production capacities designed for an annual output of over 6 million tonnes of steel, more than 5 million tonnes of rolled products and over 5.5 million tonnes of pig iron.
ArcelorMittal owns Ukraine’s largest mining and metallurgical complex, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, including ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
As part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative, Metinvest provided the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) Azov with a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million, with total assistance for the year reaching UAH 600 million.
According to a statement released by the group on Wednesday, Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative delivered another large batch of drones to the 1st Corps of the NGU Azov. The cost of the equipment delivered is 214 million hryvnias. This delivery was the next stage in the Metinvest Group’s systematic support for the corps in 2025.
It is specified that the total amount of aid to the Azov Corps during the year reached UAH 600 million. The funds were used to provide the most critical technological solutions for the front line, as well as logistical and technical support for the units.
‘In 2025, we continued to support the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine ’Azov” in areas that are critical for combat operations: electronic warfare, UAVs, communications, as well as logistical and technical support. The total amount of this assistance is UAH 600 million,‘ said Alexander Vodoviz, Head of the Office of the CEO of Metinvest.
In turn, the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine ’Azov” emphasised that this support is very important, as modern warfare requires constant and rapid updating of the technological base.
‘In 2025, the requirements for equipment have increased significantly. REBs, drones, and secure communications determine the success of operations and save the lives of our soldiers,’ said Ivan Ignatiev, deputy commander of the corps for logistics.
Since the start of the full-scale war, Metinvest has reportedly delivered more than 1,500 UAVs to various units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Recently, another batch of ‘birds’ was received by the 27th Military Unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The shipment included 200 FPV drones, 30 DJI Mavic FMC drones and 20 DJI Mavic 3T drones with thermal imaging cameras. Earlier, the Azov special forces brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine received a large shipment of vehicles and equipment worth UAH 40 million from Metinvest.
In total, over the course of a year and a half of full-scale war, Metinvest has allocated UAH 2 billion to support the Ukrainian army as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative.
PJSC “Zaporozhyeoblenergo” on January 13 announced a tender for compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles (OSAGO), as reported in the system of electronic public procurement Prozorro.
The expected cost of services is UAH 1.713 mln.
Documents for participation in the tender are accepted until January 21.
“Zaporozhyeoblenergo” operates electricity distribution networks in the territory of Zaporizhzhya region and provides services on transportation and supply of electricity to consumers. The length of overhead power lines is more than 37 thousand kilometers.
The Ukrainian passive fire protection market in 2025, according to preliminary estimates, is worth $8-12 million, with the share of imported materials falling from 80% in 2016 to 17% in 2025, according to the Experts Club analytical centre.
‘Local production reduces costs compared to imported counterparts, which is especially important for large-scale restoration projects,’ said Konstantin Kalafat, co-owner and director of Kovlar Group, quoted in the article.
According to an analytical study by the Ukrainian manufacturer of passive fire protection products, Kovlar Group, based on the interim results of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, provided that the hostilities end, the market could grow to $25 million by 2026. It is expected that the demand structure will be dominated by specialised fire-retardant paints (70-80%), fire-retardant plasters and slabs – 5-10%; passage sealing and communication protection systems – 5-10%; ventilation, smoke ducts and wood protection products – about 5%. An additional driver may be the growing demand for epoxy and polyurethane fire protection systems for oil and gas infrastructure, energy and strategic facilities – a segment that was previously limited by the high cost of imported analogues.
Experts Club notes that against the backdrop of war and logistical constraints, import substitution continues, and in 2025, Ukrainian manufacturers and international brands were simultaneously present on the market through suppliers and certified systems, in particular Ammokote, Hensotherm, Defens, Promapaint, and Steelguard. The leader of the segment in public estimates is Kovlar Group, which claims a share of about 65% of the Ukrainian fire protection materials market and a portfolio of more than 25 items of fire protection products and related materials; other notable Ukrainian manufacturers include Kapitel Dnipro and NVP Spetsmaterialy.
EXPERTS CLUB, fire protection material, Kovlar Group, Калафат
According to Serbian Economist, Montenegro is tightening the requirements for obtaining and extending temporary residence permits (TRPs) for foreigners on two popular grounds: property ownership and business management. The law on amendments to the Law on Foreigners has been published in Službeni list Crne Gore (No. 3/2026).
In the parliamentary amendments that became part of the final text, the minimum ‘cost’ of a property for a residence permit on the basis of real estate ownership is set at no less than €150,000. The decision of the tax authority (the basis for property tax) is indicated as confirmation, and the rule does not apply to citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
It is noteworthy that the government’s initial proposal set a higher threshold of €200,000 and was linked to the tax authority’s assessment; it was this level that had previously sparked debate in the business community and among real estate market participants.
The authorities have reformatted their approach to extending residence permits for entrepreneurs and executive directors. The relevant parliamentary committee noted that the government had made amendments removing the requirement for Montenegrin citizens to be employed as a condition for extension and replaced it with the need to provide proof of paid tax obligations in the minimum amount of €5,000 per year.
The ‘real estate – residence permit’ link remains in place, but there is now a clear price filter that may shift demand to properties priced at €150,000 and above, especially in coastal and central municipalities. At the same time, the risk of imbalance for the north of the country, where prices are lower, was previously highlighted in parliamentary discussions as a sensitive issue for the regions.
For small businesses, the new model looks more predictable: instead of formal hiring, a measurable criterion of ‘taxes not less than €5,000’ is introduced, which potentially lowers barriers for companies without the need to expand their staff, but strengthens fiscal discipline.
Reference: the government explained the package of amendments as necessary for further alignment with EU migration regulations.
