Ukrgazvydobuvannya, a member of the Naftogaz Group, set a new drilling record in January-March 2025, reaching 107,136 meters, which is almost twice as much than in the same period of 2024 and exceeds the previous quarterly maximum recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (102,866 meters).
“Increasing domestic gas production is strategically important for Ukraine. Ukrgazvydobuvannya’s record figures, achieved despite hostile shelling, confirm the professionalism of the team and make a significant contribution to strengthening our country’s energy security,” said Naftogaz CEO Roman Chumak, whose words are quoted in a statement on the Group’s website on Wednesday.
According to him, March was the most productive month, with 41,229 meters drilled, which is 6,929 meters more than the planned target (34,300 meters).
“Thus, the monthly record set in April 2024 of 40,059 meters was also broken,” Naftogaz said.
According to the results of a sociological survey conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club in April 2025, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Mexico are generally characterized by a high level of neutrality, but with a positive bias.
The majority of respondents — 64.5% — expressed a neutral attitude toward this Latin American country. At the same time, 26% of respondents have a positive perception of Mexico (19.3% — mostly positive, 6.7% — completely positive), while only 4.3% have a negative opinion (3.9% — mostly negative, 0.4% — completely negative). Another 5.2% of respondents were undecided.
“These results demonstrate that the image of Mexico for most Ukrainians does not yet have a clearly formed emotional or political association. Neutrality dominates, but positive feelings outweigh negative ones,” explained Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts Club.
The survey once again confirms that both political support and cultural presence in the global arena play an important role in shaping a stronger international image.
The presentation of the study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the cost of housing construction in Ukraine has increased by 90-115% depending on the class of housing, and the trend continues, Vladimir Zhigman, construction director of the DIM group of companies, told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Since the beginning of the year, the cost in the “comfort+” segment has increased by 17% to $850-1000/sq. m. The reasons for such a significant increase are not only the rise in the cost of building materials, but also a systemic shortage of personnel and a crisis in the supply of key items.
“Today, only 40-50% of pre-war workers are employed in construction. Some have left, some are in the Armed Forces. There is a shortage of qualified welders, crane operators, high-altitude workers, special equipment operators, and even ordinary laborers,” Zhigman explained.
According to him, to overcome the labor shortage, companies are raising wages, attracting contractors from other regions, and in some cases from abroad.
As for building materials, the estimated average price increase from the start of the full-scale war (February 2022) to May 2025 is between 40% and 60%. For example, concrete has actually doubled in price due to higher fuel costs, logistical difficulties, and a 30-40% reduction in production capacity compared to pre-war levels. The cost of drywall has increased by 35-45%, influenced by higher raw material prices, particularly gypsum, and rising energy costs.
The cost of plaster has also increased by 30-40% in approximately the same range. This is due to higher prices for cement and fillers, as well as increased energy costs. Tiles have also jumped in price by 50-60%, mainly due to import dependence, higher logistics and energy costs. At the same time, according to DIM analytics, the share of imported building materials in an average project has actually doubled: from 12-14% in 2021 to 23% in 2023 and almost reached 25% in 2024.
“Most elevators on the market are imported, as are ventilation systems and electrical equipment. Add to this logistics, exchange rates, and risks, and we have the answer to the question of upward dynamics,” Zhigman noted.
In 2024-2025, developers will increasingly rely on optimizing technical solutions, smart design, and transparent communication with buyers. In an industry where production costs are already close to market prices, this is becoming a matter not only of profitability but also of survival, the expert explained.
“Rising costs have become the new norm. The question is no longer whether prices will rise, but how to remain competitive without compromising on quality and pace,” commented Arseniy Nasirovsky, junior partner at DIM Group, whose words are quoted in the report.
According to him, in 2025 and beyond, the key competitive advantages for developers will be flexibility in design, forecasting of logistical risks, and systematic work with contractors. “The market is entering a phase where it is not the biggest but the most efficient that will win,” Nasykovsky believes.
The portfolio of the development company DIM consists of real estate in Kyiv and the region with a total area of over 900,000 square meters. 3,670 apartments have been commissioned, and over 356,000 square meters of residential and commercial space has been built. Six projects with a total area of over 346,000 square meters are under construction.
Canada ranks among the countries that Ukrainians view most positively. This is evidenced by the results of a public opinion poll conducted by Active Group in April 2025 in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center.
According to the survey, 76.3% of respondents have a positive attitude toward Canada (in particular, 40.6% have a completely positive attitude, and 35.7% have a mostly positive attitude). Only 2.8% of respondents indicated a negative perception (1.1% mostly negative, 1.7% completely negative). Another 18.7% of respondents chose “neutral,” and 2.2% chose “difficult to answer.”
“The positive attitude of Ukrainians toward Canada is the result of both historical ties through the Ukrainian diaspora and clear and consistent support for Ukraine during the most difficult times,” commented Oleksandr Pozniy, co-founder of the Active Group sociological company.
These results demonstrate the deep gratitude of Ukrainian society and the strategic importance of bilateral relations in the international context.
The presentation of the study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
ADONIS Medical Group (Kyiv) has opened an endocrinology center at its clinic in Kyiv.
According to information provided to Interfax-Ukraine by the medical group, the center will provide assistance to patients with chronic fatigue and emotional burnout, unexplained weight changes (weight loss or gain), skin, hair, and sleep problems, menstrual cycle or fertility disorders, low libido, anxiety, apathy, as well as patients with suspected diabetes or thyroid disease.
The center is headed by endocrinologist and geneticist Kateryna Komissarenko.
The main areas of the center’s work will be preventive endocrinology, diagnosis of endocrine diseases, personalized treatment of hormonal disorders, support for women in pre- and postmenopause, integration of wearable devices (glucose meters, trackers, real-time monitoring apps, etc.), support for metabolic disorders (comprehensive treatment of diabetes, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, etc.), support for thyroid diseases, weight control and correction.
At the center, patients can undergo laboratory diagnostics, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT).
ADONIS is a multidisciplinary medical center for adults and children, founded in 1998. The medical group now includes seven medical centers in Kyiv. ADONIS employs doctors in over 65 specialties, including adult and pediatric surgeons. The group’s medical centers focus on surgery, gynecology, reproductive health, and pediatrics.
The prospect of implementing the Agreement on Mineral Resources with the US may be attractive for Ukrainian greenfield companies that already have special permits for deposits of minerals critical to the EU or the US, according to NADRA.info founder Volodymyr Boiko.
Among such companies, the expert named, in particular, the investment group BGV Group Management headed by Hennadiy Butkevych, as well as companies owned by Vitaliy Yakimenko and Oleksandr Nastenko.
“But at the same time, for some mineral extraction investors, such as Ferrexpo and Black Iron, the agreement will be a real test of strength. After all, against the backdrop of preparations for international agreements, officials have already announced another hunt for ‘dormant’ licenses,” Boiko commented on the situation to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
In his opinion, the redistribution of subsoil use rights is a very likely reality in the near future.
“We can only hope that the auditors will act wisely and not allow projects to be scrapped whose implementation has been delayed by objective circumstances beyond the control (or desire or intentions – IF-U) of subsoil users,” said the founder of NADRA.info.
He also believes that the agreement with the US could lead to a thorough audit of the previous activities of companies in the extractive industry.
“It can also be assumed that the agreement will trigger the start of an audit not only of ‘dormant’ special permits in private hands, but also a thorough public audit of all state-owned companies and enterprises in the extractive industry for each special permit, PSA or PSA (production sharing agreement, joint activity agreement – IF-U), for each well drilled or leased, for each management decision,” added Boiko.
As reported, Ukraine and the US signed a framework agreement on economic partnership on April 30. It was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. It provides for the creation of a US-Ukraine recovery investment fund.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed hope that the Verkhovna Rada would ratify the signed agreement by May 8. The “technical” agreements have not yet been signed or published.
