Ukraine is undergoing an unprecedented transformation of its defense infrastructure. While at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the key task was containment, now it is about engineering superiority. In 2024–2025, the state will implement the largest defense project since independence. Its scale is hundreds of kilometers of trenches, concrete shelters, and anti-tank lines. Its strategy is multi-layered, flexible, and adapted to new types of threats.
Its implementers are not only military personnel but also civilian companies that have become part of the national resistance infrastructure.
For example, the RDS group of companies is currently performing a key contract in the Dnipropetrovsk region. In peacetime, it built roads. Today, it is building defensive lines, among other things.
“We have always been an infrastructure company. But the war has set a new goal — to preserve not only quality, but also lives,” says Yuriy Shumaher, co-founder of RDS. “We have not changed our essence — we have changed our focus. And when people ask us what RDS is doing today, we answer: we are building the country’s defense infrastructure. This is not just about fortifications, but about all the projects we have been working on since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Building today is our front line and our way of fighting.”
The defensive strip in the Dnipropetrovsk region, which is currently being implemented by RDS, is one of the most critical sections of the engineering project. Within 10 km of the front line, the following has already been built
50 platoon strongpoints — the largest number among all contractors in this area
Over 10 km of anti-tank barriers: “dragon’s teeth,” engineering hedgehogs, lines of blocking barriers;
Hundreds of monolithic concrete structures: dugouts, command and observation posts, shelters for small groups, firing points;
Thousands of cubic meters of concrete, hundreds of tons of rebar, hundreds of cubic meters of wood — all assembled under the real threat of shelling.
“This is a completely different type and pace of work,” says Mykola Udalov, head of the RDS section in the Dnipropetrovsk region. “There is no calm planning here. But there is a clear understanding: every metre we pour today could save someone’s life tomorrow. And that’s not just a figure of speech. It’s reality. We have built hundreds of kilometres of roads, and now every metre is a barrier between life and war.”
The work does not stop even after enemy strikes — breaks last only a few hours. Construction is coordinated with sapper units and representatives of the engineering troops.
Architecture of resistance: how new fortifications differ from old ones
Not only the number of structures has changed, but also the very logic of fortification. While in 2022, the focus was on long open trenches and dugouts, today it is on depth, modularity, and protection from drones and high-precision weapons.
Modern fortifications are not just trenches or dugouts, but entire fortified complexes with multi-level systems of trenches, command centers with concrete ceilings, shelters for unmanned systems, ventilation shafts and niches for ammunition, and engineering camouflage infrastructure.
Everything is designed with scenarios in mind, such as attacks by kamikaze drones, FPV drones, fire raids, and breakthroughs by mobile enemy groups.
Modern warfare is not just about weapons. It is about infrastructure capacity: building quickly, on time, and correctly. And this is where our army comes in: designers, dump truck drivers, concrete mixer operators, welders, and technicians. In helmets and body armor, but without weapons.
“This is a war where concrete is as important as armor,” says Yuriy Shumaher, co-founder of the RDS group of companies. “And we understand our role: in this struggle, we are holding the line. We are creating the infrastructure that allows the army to fight with confidence and the state to survive. We have always built roads. Now we are building the lines that hold the country together.”
RDS is one of Ukraine’s leading infrastructure companies with 20 years of experience in road construction.
12 regions of presence.
Active participation in restoration, fortification, and defense construction since 2022.
Ukrtelecom, Ukraine’s largest fixed-line operator, reported total revenue of nearly UAH 2.47 billion for January-June 2025, up approximately 7.4% from the same period in 2024 (nearly UAH 2.3 billion), the company said on Friday.
According to its release, EBITDA for the first six months of this year amounted to over UAH 540 million, compared to approximately UAH 620 million for the first six months of last year, i.e., a decrease of approximately 12.9%, while EBITDA margin fell to 22.1% from 27%.
It is noted that in January-June this year, over UAH 785 million in taxes and fees were paid to budgets of all levels, compared to over UAH 660 million for the same period last year.
According to the release, Ukrtelecom increased its revenue from optical Internet services by 10.5% in the first half of this year.
This was achieved due to a 17.6% increase in the number of new fiber-optic subscribers in the mass B2C segment and a 10% increase in the business segment (large enterprises and SMEs) compared to the same period last year.
It is also noted that since the beginning of the year, more than 2,000 km of fiber-optic lines have been laid, and more than 60 medical and nearly 100 educational institutions have been connected to fiber-optic internet, while in the first half of 2024, these figures were approximately 50 and more than 70, respectively. As of the end of the first half of 2025, the company’s optical network covers more than 1,350 medical and over 1,800 educational institutions.
According to the company, the loyalty level of new optical subscribers of Ukrtelecom (NPS – Net Promoter Score) in January-June was 67%.
In addition, Ukrtelecom emphasized that revenues from commercial leases in the first half of 2025 exceeded UAH 260 million, which is 23.8% more than in the first half of 2024.
Ukrtelecom CEO Yuriy Kurmaz also noted among the achievements of the first half of the year the company’s entry into the Connect Europe association, which brings together leaders in the telecom industry in Europe.
As reported, in January-March 2025, the company increased its revenue by 3.5% compared to the same period in 2024, to UAH 1.17 billion, while EBITDA in the first quarter of this year fell by 41.1%, to UAH 162 million. Thus, in the second quarter, the company increased its revenue by approximately 11.1% to UAH 1.3 billion, and EBITDA by 9.6% to UAH 378 million.
In January-July of this year, the Zaporizhstal steel plant in Zaporizhia increased its rolled steel production by 11% compared to the same period last year, to 1 million 593.4 thousand tons from 1.435 million tons.
According to the plant’s press release on Friday, steel production for the period amounted to 1 million 828.1 thousand tons (in January-July 2024 – 1 million 737.1 thousand tons), and pig iron – 2 million 28.5 thousand tons (1 million 789.5 thousand tons).
In July, Zaporizhstal produced 309 thousand tons of pig iron, 264 thousand tons of steel, 231.2 thousand tons of rolled products, compared to 292,500 tons of pig iron, 267,500 tons of steel, and 220,400 tons of rolled products in the previous month.
As reported, in 2024, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel output by 18.1% compared to 2023, to 2 million 426.7 thousand tons from 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, and steel output by 17.2%, to 2 million 890.8 thousand tons, and pig iron by 14.2%, to 3 million 106.3 thousand tons.
In 2023, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel production by 57.2% compared to 2022, to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel by 65.4%, to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron by 35.3%, to 2 million 718.9 thousand tons.
Zaporizhstal is one of Ukraine’s largest industrial enterprises, whose products are in high demand among consumers both on the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
Zaporizhstal is a joint venture of the Metinvest Group, whose main shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Steel Limited (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
PJSC Interpipe Nizhnedneprovsky Pipe Rolling Plant (Interpipe NTRP, Dnipro) reduced its net profit by 12.5 times compared to the previous year, to UAH 59.855 million from UAH 748.896 million, according to the results of its operations in 2024.
According to the annual report, a copy of which is available at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, net income for this period decreased by 20% to UAH 8 billion 317.201 million.
Undistributed consolidated profit at the end of 2024 amounted to UAH 3 billion 929.336 million.
As reported, Interpipe NTRP reduced its consolidated net profit for the first nine months of 2024 by 57.6% compared to the same period in 2023, to UAH 501.810 million from UAH 1 billion 183.320 million, and net income by 28.3% to UAH 6 billion 229.471 million.
The company ended 2023 with a consolidated net profit of UAH 748.896 million, compared to a loss of UAH 1 billion 233.944 million in 2022.
Interpipe NTRZ manufactures railway products.
According to the NDU for the first quarter of 2025, Interpipe Ukraine LLC owns 12.0902% of its shares, KLW Limited (Cyprus) – 60.8197%, and Interpipe Limited (Cyprus) – 21.8405%.
The authorized capital of PJSC Interpipe NTRP is UAH 100 million, and the par value of a share is UAH 0.25.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has lowered its forecast for the 2025 vegetable harvest by 11.5% to 7.6 million tons, fruit and berry harvest by 11.1% to 1.8 million tons, and potato harvest by 3.4% to 19.4 million tons.
“Weather conditions in the spring of 2025 were unfavorable for harvests. Spring frosts covered a significant part of the country, causing particular damage to winter crops, fruit and berries, and vegetables,” the National Bank said in its updated Inflation Report published this week.
At the same time, compared to last year’s harvest, the National Bank estimates that this year’s vegetable harvest will be 11.5% higher, or 0.8 million tons, and potato harvest will be 10.7% higher, or 1.9 million tons.
However, the situation with fruits and berries is worse, and their harvest will be 12.4%, or 0.2 million tons, less than last year.
The National Bank also lowered its forecasts for vegetable crops in 2026 by 9.1% compared to the previous April Inflation Report, to 8.0 million tons, and for fruit and berries by 4.0%, to 1.9 million tons.
At the same time, the NBU slightly improved its expectations for next year’s potato harvest by 0.7% to 20.0 million tons.
China has called on the international community to focus on real mediation to achieve peace in Ukraine instead of wasting time on discussions.
“Over the past seven days, the Ukrainian issue has been the subject of three Council meetings. While we are spending time and energy on further discussions of this issue in the Council, we should invest more time and energy in mediation and promoting peace talks,” said Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Geng Shuang during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council initiated by Ukraine after a massive missile and drone strike by Russia on the night of July 31.
China stressed that the crisis in Ukraine is in a critical phase and called on all parties to make every effort to de-escalate and return to the political process. In particular, the Beijing representative outlined three key steps: prioritizing humanitarian needs and protecting civilians, immediate de-escalation on the battlefield to allow for meaningful negotiations, and an active role for the international community in creating conditions for dialogue.
The Chinese side stressed that it would continue to promote the settlement, guided by the four principles formulated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
As reported, Ukraine initiated an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the latest escalation of terror by Russia, which led to the death of people and destruction in Kyiv.
As of now, at least 31 civilians, including five children, are known to have been killed in the attack on Kyiv on July 31. Another 159 civilians, including 16 children, were wounded in the capital.
