Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

SEPTEMBER FEST 2025: main urban festival of autumn in Kyiv

On September 18, 2025, the DMNTR media group will hold September Fest at the A-Station art space, a large-scale event that will combine architecture, culture, music, wine, and live communication in the open air.

The festival format is inspired by the atmosphere of Munich’s Oktoberfest, but adapted to the modern Ukrainian urban context.

Time and place:

September 18, 2025

A-Station, 8 Kniaziv Ostrozkykh St., Kyiv.

12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m

Expected audience — over 1,500 guests, including representatives of business, architecture, urban planning, and the cultural community.

Program and key highlights

The event will combine professional discussions, art installations, a jazz festival, a fashion show, a concert program, and gastronomic tastings.

Daytime program (12:00–18:00) — a series of panel discussions, interviews, and public talks with leading urbanists, architects, developers, and government officials. Topics will range from urban renewal and historical preservation to developers’ investment strategies, renovation, and planning for the future of Ukrainian urban spaces.

Topics will include:

– Cities of second life: the role of chief architects in creating better urbanism for the future.

– Renovation and revitalization: investment strategies for developers.

– The city in a new format: combining historical heritage and modern technologies.

– No master plan, but a future? Is effective urban planning possible without a strategic plan from the state?

Among the invited speakers are: Christos Passas, Director of Zaha Hadid Architects (UK); Carlo Colombo, Urban Designer Milano; Anton Kolomeitsev, Chief Architect of Lviv; Oleksandr Svistunov, Chief Architect of Kyiv; Oleksiy Baranov, Founder of A Development; Igor Guda, Founder of Creator-Bud, Dmitry Vasilyev, CEO and Chief Architect of Archimatika, Anton Vergun, Lead Architect and Partner at SHOVK, Dmitry Aranchii, Architect and Founder of Aranchii Architects, and others.

Special guest: world-renowned urban designer Carlo Colombo (Milan, Italy), who will present his author’s presentation on the new issue of DMNTR magazine and hold a personal autograph session for guests.

Evening program (from 6:00 p.m.):

– Grand opening of the festival (hosted by Oleg Borisov).

– Performance by Alexei Kogan’s jazz quartet.

– Concert by pianist and composer Yevgeny Khmara.

– Fashion show by VOZIANOV.

– Wine tasting and street food by Peper’s and Creative States.

– Informal evening networking with leading market players.

Our partners include key companies in the construction and development industry: A-Development, Kreator Bud, RIEL, KAN, Metinvest, BGV Development, Intergal Bud, ViYar, Saga Development, DIM, UDP, Stolitsa Group, Vlasne Misto, ODA Development, Avalon, Taryan Group, Sen-Goben, and others.

Special events

The festival will feature a presentation of the new issue of DMNTR magazine with a personal autograph session.

Why visit September Fest 2025:

– Direct communication with industry leaders and government officials.

– Opportunity to establish professional contacts.

– Presentations and discussions by leading architects and developers in Ukraine.

– International guest Carlo Colombo.

– A combination of a professional program and the atmosphere of a cultural festival.

Registration is required: www.ubc-ua.info/september-fest

Organizers: DMNTR Media Group — a team with 25 years of experience in organizing professional events for the architecture, construction, and investment audiences.

Key projects include: Ukrainian Construction Congress, Ukraine Investment Congress, All-Ukrainian Interior of the Year competition, Ukraine Urban Awards, Creator of the Year architecture and development award.

The media group also publishes DMNTR magazine and actively develops social media with insights, news, and reports.

Follow us:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dom_interior_ukraine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Houseandinterior

Telegram: https://t.me/FormatA1_UUA

Contact

Viktoria Bilikh — Director of Media Development, DMNTR Media Group, +380672241191

Oleksandr Strukov — Project Coordinator, +380936685220

Solomiya Pilyak — Project Coordinator, +380982534867

Interfax-Ukraine is an information partner.

National Agency for Asset Tracing and Management has announced name of its new head

Yaroslava Maksimenko, who was recently director of the property policy and sanctions department at the Ministry of Economy, and before that, she headed the then state-owned United Mining and Chemical Company (UMCC) for a certain period of time, and served as acting chair of the National Agency for Asset Tracing and Management (ARMA).

“Yaroslava is a specialist with many years of experience in law, state asset management, sanctions policy, and international cooperation. She headed the property and sanctions policy department in our ministry and worked continuously with assets that later ended up in ARMA, so she knows the system inside out,” wrote Economy Minister Alexei Sobolev on Facebook, introducing Maksimenko to the ARMA team.

According to him, the recently updated version of the law on ARMA, which has already come into force, has strengthened the agency’s institutional capacity.

“The new version of the law will strengthen the tools for managing seized assets, transfer strategic assets to state-owned companies, and allocate certain assets for defense and military rehabilitation. It will also ensure greater control through Prozorro and expand public reporting tools,” Sobolev explained.

He also recalled that the reform of ARMA is part of Ukraine’s commitments to its European partners under the Ukraine Facility.

“The top priorities for ARMA now will be to conduct an independent audit and a new competitive selection procedure for the head of the agency, which we will monitor closely,” the minister added.

According to Interfax-Ukraine and the declarations of the new head of ARMA, among other things, she was a member of the supervisory board of the Odessa Port Plant (OPZ) and the Nikolaev Thermal Power Plant, and until July 2021, she was the founder and head of the law firm Stalex and Partners, and now owns the LLC “Legal Company AS.”

Before Maksimenko, the position of ARMA deputy chair for European integration was held by former Georgian ambassador to Ukraine Grigol Katamadze. At the end of July, the government also dismissed the agency’s head, Elena Duma.

https://interfax.com.ua/

 

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European Insurance Alliance paid out over UAH 104 mln to customers in first half of year

In January-June 2025, the European Insurance Alliance insurance company paid out UAH 104.7 million in compensation under insurance contracts, which is 32% more than in the same period of 2024, according to the insurer’s website. According to the information, 52% of the total amount of payments was for medical insurance, 25% for compulsory civil liability insurance for drivers (OSAGO), 20% for comprehensive car insurance, and 3% for other types of insurance.

European Insurance Alliance LLC was founded on September 22, 1994. The company is a member of the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine, the League of Insurance Organizations of Ukraine, and the Nuclear Insurance Pool of Ukraine.

The company has a license from the National Bank of Ukraine dated April 25, 2024, to conduct insurance activities in 16 classes, including property, motor vehicle, liability, and medical insurance. The authorized capital is UAH 55 million.

 

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Entrepreneurship Development Fund will sign contract with Colonne Ukraine for executive liability insurance

On August 14, the Entrepreneurship Development Fund announced its intention to conclude a contract with Colonnade Ukraine for executive liability insurance. According to the Prozorro electronic procurement system, the expected cost of the service was UAH 1.05 million, and the price offered by the company, the sole participant in the tender, was UAH 995,492.

Colonnead Ukraine Insurance Company (until 2016 – QBE Ukraine Insurance Company) was founded in 1998 as the first international insurer on the Ukrainian market. SCP Luxembourg S.A.R.L. owns 100% of the insurer’s shares.

 

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Comparative analysis of military potential of China and Taiwan by Experts Club

Against the backdrop of ever-increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait in 2025, China and Taiwan continue their military demonstrations of force. The PRC is conducting exercises near the island, while Taiwan is mobilizing reservists and deepening cooperation with Western partners.

Experts Club offers a comparison of key indicators of the military capabilities of the parties.

Military capabilities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)

Number of personnel:

2 million active military personnel
510,000 reservists
Over 1 million in the People’s Armed Police Force

Ground forces:

5,250 main battle tanks (Type 99, Type 96)
9,000+ artillery systems, including PCL-191 multiple launch rocket systems

Air Force (PLAAF):

Approximately 3,400 aircraft
1,300+ fighter jets (J-10, J-16, J-20 — 5th generation)
300 strategic bombers (H-6)
Hundreds of strike UAVs

Navy (PLAN):

340+ warships (the largest fleet in the world)
3 aircraft carriers (Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian)
70+ submarines, including 12 nuclear submarines
Latest Type 055 missile destroyers

Nuclear arsenal:

410–500 warheads (according to SIPRI estimates)
Active expansion of missile arsenal: DF-31AG, DF-41
Air, sea, and land delivery platforms

Technological achievements:

Development of DF-ZF hypersonic missiles
Cyber forces and space forces
Own satellite navigation system BeiDou

Military potential of Taiwan (Republic of China)

Number of personnel:

170,000 active military personnel
Up to 1.5 million reservists

Army:

1,000 battle tanks (M60A3, CM11, M1A2T)
2,200 artillery systems (including HIMARS, M109)

Air Force (RoCAF):

500 aircraft
180 F-16V, Mirage 2000-5, IDF Ching-Kuo fighter jets
Modern air defense systems: Patriot PAC-3, Sky Bow III

Navy:

26 combat ships
4 submarines (including new domestic Hai Kun)
New Tuo Chiang class corvettes

Nuclear doctrine:

Taiwan does not have nuclear weapons.

Cyber security forces and latest purchases:

Continuous modernization with support from the US
Purchases of F-16V, Harpoon missiles, HIMARS systems
Strengthening defense based on the concept of “asymmetric strategy”

Despite China’s military superiority, Taiwan enjoys support from:

The US (Taiwan Relations Act, $20 billion in arms supplies)
Japan (strategic cooperation)
Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom (political support, military exercises)
The EU does not officially recognize Taiwan, but is developing trade and exchanges.

As of 2025, only 10 countries officially recognize Taiwan as an independent state:

Belize
Haiti
Marshall Islands
Nauru
Palau
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Lucia
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Tuvalu
Paraguay

Although China has an unquestionable military advantage over Taiwan, the latter is relying on defense modernization, mobilization potential, support from allies, and the development of asymmetric strategies.

The conflict over Taiwan poses global risks to stability in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

Ukraine’s foreign trade deficit in goods rose to $18.5 bln in first half of year

Ukraine’s foreign trade deficit in goods in January-June 2025 increased by 48.9% compared to the same period in 2024, to $18.512 billion from $12.430 billion, the State Statistics Service (Gosstat) reported on Thursday.

According to its data, exports of goods from Ukraine during the specified period compared to January-June 2024 decreased by 4.2% to $20.045 billion, while imports increased by 15.6% to $38.557 billion.

Gosstat specified that in June, compared to May of this year, seasonally adjusted export volumes decreased by 5.6% to $3.321 billion, while imports increased by 2.8% to $7.186 billion.

The seasonally adjusted foreign trade balance in June 2025 was negative at $3.865 billion, while in the previous month it was also negative at $3.465 billion.

The export-to-import coverage ratio for the first six months of 2025 was 0.52 (in January-June 2024, it was 0.63).

The State Statistics Service specified that foreign trade operations were conducted with partners from 221 countries around the world.

Earlier, the Experts Club information and analytical center made a video analysis of the prospects for the Ukrainian and global economies. For more details, see the video — https://youtu.be/kQsH3lUvMKo?si=F4IOLdLuVbYmEh5P

 

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