Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has launched a promotional “Big Idiot seat sale” amid a public dispute between the airline’s CEO Michael O’Leary and entrepreneur Ilon Musk on social network X. The promotion is of a marketing nature and applies to the carrier’s European route network, rather than a “global” sale.
The occasion for the wrangle was O’Leary’s statements that Ryanair would not install Starlink satellite internet on planes because of the extra costs and “fuel drag” from the antennas. According to the Ryanair chief, the combined installation and operating costs could be as high as $200-250 million per year. Musk responded by calling O’Leary an “idiot” and launched a poll about a hypothetical purchase of Ryanair, to which O’Leary publicly responded in the same style.
As part of the campaign, Ryanair offered 100,000 tickets priced from €16.99 one-way for flights in the coming months, saying it was using the surge of attention surrounding the conflict to promote the sale.
O’Leary also emphasized that the scenario of a “takeover” of the carrier by a non-EU resident is practically unrealizable: the EU has rules that require control of EU-registered airlines to remain with European owners (in practice, non-EU ownership is limited), and Ryanair has separate procedures in place to control and limit the rights of non-EU shareholders.
PJSC “Zakarpatyeoblenergo” on January 21 announced its intention to conclude a contract with IC “VUSO” for the purchase of services of compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles (OSAGO).
According to the message in the system of electronic public procurement Prozorro, the company’s price offer amounted to UAH 463,006 thousand against the expected cost of purchasing services of UAH 1.1 million.
The tender was also attended by insurance companies “Arsenal Insurance” with an offer of UAH 894 thousand, ‘Kraїna’ – UAH 1.015 million, “Oranta” – UAH 1.040 million.
Zaporizhzhya municipal enterprise “Zaporozhelektrotrans” on January 20 announced its intention to conclude a contract with IC “Arsenal Insurance” for services on compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles (buses, trolleybuses, streetcars, cars and trucks).
As reported in the system of electronic public procurement Prozorro, the expected cost of purchasing services is UAH 4.523 million, the price offer of the company, the only participant in the tender, is UAH 4.355 million.
Arsenal Insurance is a non-life insurance company with 100% Ukrainian capital. It has been operating since 2005. According to the results of 9M. 2025 takes the sixth position by gross premiums among non-life insurers of Ukraine, according to NBU data.
UKRNAFTA, the largest network of filling stations in Ukraine, supports our rescuers. Until the end of January, the company’s filling stations will offer hot dogs, coffee and tea to emergency services, power engineers, the State Emergency Service and the National Police free of charge. All they need to do is come to the gas station wearing their uniform.
“State-owned Ukrnafta and all the companies of Naftogaz Group are working in an intensified mode to ensure uninterrupted and reliable operation of critical areas – gas, fuel and access to essential goods.
Across the country, 474 emergency crews of gas distribution networks are engaged, and more than two thousand specialists are working around the clock to carry out repairs and receive people’s requests.
Ukrnafta’s filling stations have emergency stations. Support is organized where people need it now,” said Sergiy Koretsky, Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz.
State-owned Ukrnafta and all Naftogaz Group companies maintain uninterrupted and reliable operation of their respective segments, including gas, fuel, and access to essential products at filling stations.
“Now, when it is freezing outside and the energy system is suffering from enemy attacks, it is especially important to be close and united,” said Bohdan Kukura, Chairman of the Board of Ukrnafta, “Ukrenergo and other energy and utility companies, the State Emergency Service, the National Police and all emergency services are working around the clock to restore electricity and heat to people, ensure law and order and rescue Ukrainians in the most difficult situations. We have prepared a small expression of gratitude and respect for those who help and protect us.”
JSC Ukrnafta is the largest oil company in Ukraine and the operator of the largest national network of filling stations – UKRNAFTA. In 2024, the company entered the management of Glusco assets. In 2025, the company finalized a deal with Shell Overseas Investments BV to buy the Shell network in Ukraine. In total, it operates 663 filling stations.
The company is implementing a comprehensive program to restore operations and update the format of its filling stations. Since February 2023, the company has been issuing its own fuel coupons and NAFTAKarta cards, which are sold to legal entities and individuals through Ukrnafta-Postach LLC.
Ukrnafta’s largest shareholder is Naftogaz of Ukraine with a 50%+1 share.
In November 2022, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to transfer to the state a share of corporate rights of the company owned by private owners, which is now managed by the Ministry of Defense.
On January 20, SE “Eastern Mining and Processing Combine” (“Vostochny GOK”, Zheltiye Vody) announced a tender for services of compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land transport (MTPL).
According to the message in the e-procurement system Prozorro, the expected cost of purchasing services is 602.095 thousand UAH.
The deadline for submission of bids is January 28.
The winner of a similar tender in January last year was IC “VUSO”.
“Vostochny GOK” – the only in Ukraine and the largest in Europe enterprise for mining and processing of uranium ore.
The Ukrainian timber market has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years, from manual management and informal arrangements to transparent and competitive rules of the game. At the same time, further development of the industry is impossible without comprehensive legislative solutions, including the adoption of the Law on Timber Market.
This was stated by Kostiantyn Shevchuk, Deputy CEO of the Ukrainian Energy Exchange, commenting on the current state and challenges of the industry in his blog for Ekonomichna Pravda.
According to him, the introduction of wood trading in 2021 was a turning point for the market. The transition to selling the resource through licensed commodity exchanges laid the foundation for open competition, transparent pricing, and equal access conditions for business. At the same time, the processes were digitized: electronic trading, integration with state registries, and reduction of the human factor significantly reduced the risks of abuse.
Even a full-scale war did not stop these processes. In 2022-2024, the exchange infrastructure became more mature: tools for monitoring contract execution, price analytics, forward transactions, and bank guarantees were introduced. Today, timber exchange trading in Ukraine is a comprehensive system that is close to European standards.
At the same time, the market is operating in the face of an objective reduction in harvesting. Mined areas, staff shortages, logistical and energy problems directly affect the availability of the resource. According to the expert, the increase in competition and prices is a result of limited supply, not a violation of market mechanisms.
The industry pays special attention to the issue of raw wood exports and preparations for the implementation of the European EUDR regulation, which sets new requirements for traceability of wood origin. Ukraine has already begun systematic adaptation to these changes at the level of the state, business and exchange infrastructure, which is critical to maintaining its export potential.
The key next step for the market, according to the Ukrainian Energy Exchange, should be the adoption of the Law on the Timber Market. The document is intended to establish uniform rules of the game, increase predictability for business, protect national producers and integrate the industry into the European economic space.
– The market has already proven its ability to change even in the most difficult conditions. Now these changes should be enshrined in law to ensure sustainable development of the industry, jobs and added value for the country’s economy, – summarized Kostiantyn Shevchuk.
