After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the NIKO group of companies, which has been successfully operating in Ukraine and the EU for over 30 years, expanded its activities. NIKO SpetsAvto LLC has launched a new business line – certified production of armored specialized military pickup trucks.
The new pickup truck, called NIKO, is designed as a universal vehicle platform based on the Isuzu D-Max and is equipped with armored protection.
Denis Fomenko, CEO of NIKO SpetsAvto, said: “Outwardly, our pickup truck looks no different from an ordinary car, but each copy is the result of a symbiosis of advanced armor technology, perfect design and high quality. Every detail is created with maximum attention to safety and technological progress. Despite the increased weight, the car has retained its maneuverability and safety.”
Denis Fomenko also added that the company plans to produce about 30 such pickups by the end of 2024 to meet the needs of individual structures performing specialized tasks.
According to the company, the carrying capacity of the NIKO pickup truck is 1100 kg, which is 35% higher than the carrying capacity of analogues in the same class and price range, such as Toyota Hilux and SsangYong Musso. This allows the vehicle to be used as efficiently as possible for cargo transportation and other specialized tasks.
The vehicle is also equipped with a 7620 kg (16,800 LBS) winch for off-road lifting and towing, which makes it indispensable for search and rescue operations and expeditions.
The technical characteristics, maneuverability, off-road capabilities, the ability to install additional equipment, as well as the cost make the NIKO pickup truck ideal for tasks of any complexity.
The Netherlands has announced a new support package for Ukraine in the amount of EUR209.5 million aimed at restoring critical infrastructure, Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp said.
“The Netherlands has announced a new support package of EUR209.5 million aimed at restoring critical infrastructure, including through the EBRD, and providing humanitarian assistance. We are contributing EUR45 million to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine and financing the supply of necessary equipment,” the minister wrote on social network X following the G7+ ministerial meeting in New York.
Veldkamp also said that Ukrainians are preparing for one of the harshest winters, and “Ukraine needs energy to survive.”
“At today’s meeting with G7 foreign ministers and partners, including (Ukrainian Foreign Minister) Andriy Sybiga, I emphasized that we must join forces to ensure this,” the minister said.
Denmark will allocate 130 million Danish kroner (about $19.4 million – IF-U) to Ukraine to restore energy infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks, the Danish government’s press service reports.
The aid was announced by Minister of Climate, Energy and Supply Lars Oagard during a meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga at the G7 Working Group on Ukraine’s Energy Security.
“Not only is Putin’s army invading Ukraine’s borders, Russia is violating the rules of war by launching massive attacks on Ukraine’s electricity and heat supply. Winter is just around the corner, and many Ukrainian homes will be left without heat and electricity. And that’s not all, ordinary employees of the energy sector who work tirelessly at their jobs are being targeted. We must do everything we can to make the Ukrainian energy system as resilient as possible,” said Oagard.
The Danish donation is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will, among other things, support emergency measures and the procurement of equipment and spare parts to help restore security of supply. The support is provided in cooperation with UNDP, the Energy Community, the Danish Refugee Council and the Danish Red Cross.
The European Union is changing the rules for crossing borders by foreigners, including Ukrainians, the press service of the Ukrainian government reports.
“Starting November 10, a new IT system EES (Entry/Exit System) will be launched at the EU borders. It will automatically record the entry and exit of all foreigners to the Schengen countries. This applies to all non-EU citizens, including Ukrainians, regardless of whether they have a visa or a visa-free regime,” the telegram channel said.
The EES system will reportedly record the biometric data of a person crossing the border once and store it for three years.
“There will be no more stamps in the passport. Registration will take place automatically through self-service terminals,” the government said.
Thus, when a person enters the EU for the first time, biometric data will be taken: fingerprints and a photo of the face.
“The border crossing time may increase by about 40 seconds while your data is being collected. The biometric data will be stored for 3 years, and you do not need to re-submit it. If you refuse biometrics, you will be denied entry. Then, every time you cross the border, you will need to scan your passport at a self-service terminal,” the statement explains.
The new system is expected to simplify border crossings, enhance security with biometric documents, and help prevent the use of fake passports and combat illegal migration.
France will provide Ukraine with at least EUR60 million by the end of this year, according to Pierre Elbrun, the French President’s Special Envoy for Ukraine’s Relief and Recovery.
“As winter approaches, the situation is becoming critical – we must act now to quickly offer concrete energy solutions,” he wrote on social media X following a meeting of the G7+ Ministerial Group on Energy Support to Ukraine at the level of foreign ministers on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday evening.
At the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken noted that the G7+ countries have mobilized more than $4 billion to support Ukraine’s energy sector since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In a statement following the G7+ ministerial meeting, the countries welcome further commitments of funding and in-kind support to cover the most urgent needs of the Ukrainian energy sector, including repairing damaged power plants and district heating systems, deploying new, distributed energy sources, emergency backup power for critical services, and passive protection of energy infrastructure.
Vehicle traffic through the Ustyluh-Zosyn checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border has been fully resumed.
Due to a malfunction of the Polish Border Guard Service’s networks, the passage of vehicles through the Ustyluh-Zosyn checkpoint was temporarily suspended, and later the clearance was carried out in a slow mode.
Currently, the networks and databases of the neighboring party have been fully restored, so the clearance is carried out in a normal mode.
