Ukraine has exported 34.451 mln tonnes of grains and pulses since the beginning of the 2024-2025 marketing year (July-June), of which 1.627 mln tonnes have been shipped since the beginning of the month, the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported, citing the State Customs Service.
According to the report, as of April 25 last year, the total shipments amounted to 40.289 million tons.
At the same time, since the beginning of the current season, Ukraine has exported 13.623 mln tonnes of wheat (15.404 mln tonnes in 2023/24 MY), 2.247 mln tonnes of barley (2.178 mln tonnes), 10.8 thsd tonnes of rye (1.2 thsd tonnes), and 18.067 mln tonnes of corn (22.231 mln tonnes).
The total export of Ukrainian flour since the beginning of the season as of April 21 is estimated at 57 thsd tonnes (in 2023/24 MY – 85.7 thsd tonnes), including wheat – 52.9 thsd tonnes (81 thsd tonnes).
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has received another delivery of equipment from the IT Coalition, funded by Luxembourg and Iceland, worth about EUR 2 million, the Defense Ministry’s press service reports.
“I am grateful to the countries of the IT Coalition for strengthening the technological resilience of our army. With this equipment, we will increase the capacity for high-quality and reliable communication in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is very important on the front line,” said Kateryna Chernogorenko, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for Digitalization.
It is reported that the partners handed over 3,288 access points of various models; 500 routers; 460 charging stations with solar panels; 872 phones to the Ministry of Defense.
As reported, this is the third delivery from the IT coalition in 2025. In January of this year, Estonia, the Netherlands and Luxembourg transferred equipment worth EUR 3.3 million to Ukraine as part of the initiative, and in February – for EUR 7.5 million.
The IT Coalition is one of the capability coalitions within the framework of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine (Ramstein format). It supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense in the areas of IT, communications and cybersecurity. Currently, the coalition includes Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The coalition is led by Estonia and Luxembourg.
In January-March 2025, Universalna Insurance Company (Kyiv) made insurance payments in the amount of UAH 273.8 million, which is 28% more than in the same period a year earlier, according to the insurer’s website.
It is noted that payments on voluntary health insurance increased by 18% to UAH 121.7 million, hull insurance – by 50% to UAH 101.4 million, MTPL amounted to UAH 18.4 million, accident insurance – UAH 12.2 million, property – UAH 11 million.
Payouts on other insurance products amounted to UAH 9.1 million.
Universalna Insurance Company was founded in 1991. It specializes in providing risk insurance services. According to the National Bank of Ukraine, it is among the top ten risk insurance companies in terms of insurance premiums collected in the first nine months of 2024.
The main shareholder of the company is Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Canada).
Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works has allocated UAH 49 million for major repairs and maintenance of the hot rolling shop of the heating pit group No. 14.
According to a press release, one of the key conditions for the production of high-quality rolled steel is the reliability of equipment. Therefore, the plant systematically monitors the serviceability of the units and carries out both maintenance and large-scale repairs.
“Right now, the overhaul of the heating well group No. 14 is underway in the Hot Strip Mill. The scope of work is considerable. First, the specialists restored the lining of the chamber walls, support arches, hollows and inclined passes, vaults and regenerator nozzles. At present, they are gradually repairing elements of mechanical, electrical, power, and automation equipment and restoring elements of the heating wells’ frame,” the press release states.
In addition, it is noted that all the work is being carried out by specialists from various departments of the plant and contractors. In particular, refractory workers and mechanics of the hot rolling shop, repairmen of the Central Rolling Mill and Central Electrical and Mechanical Repair Center, specialists of the Automation Department and the Central Electrical Laboratory.
The equipment upgrade will ensure energy-efficient and uninterrupted operation.
“Zaporizhstal is a joint venture of Metinvest Group, whose main shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Steel Limited (23.76%).
Obolon PrJSC, one of the largest producers of beverages in Ukraine, received UAH 1.248 million in net profit in 2024, which is 1.47 thousand times less than a year earlier, and will use it for the company’s development.
According to a report in the disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), the shareholders are to make the relevant decision at a remote general meeting on April 25.
The shareholders are proposed to approve the report of the Supervisory Board and the results of the company’s financial and economic activities for 2024, to prolong the audit services agreement with Grant Thornton Legal LLC on the existing terms, to take note of the conclusions of its audit report for 2024, and to approve the measures.
The shareholders should amend the company’s charter to elect members of the supervisory board (independent directors) and set their remuneration, and authorize the company’s president to sign civil law contracts with members of the supervisory board. It is proposed to approve Yevhen Rymar and Ihor Singayevsky as two independent directors.
Earlier, in March 2025, Obolon PrJSC changed its internal auditor to Iryna Kondratenko, who has been working as a pricing economist at the company for the past five years.
According to the Opendatabot service, in 2024, Obolon PrJSC received UAH 12.87 million in revenue, compared to UAH 10.76 billion a year earlier. At the same time, the company’s debt obligations increased by 14.9% to UAH 1.64 billion, and assets by 31.9% to UAH 9.238 billion, the number of employees by 108 people to 2164 employees. The authorized capital of the company is UAH 32.512 million.
Obolon Corporation produces beer, soft and low-alcohol beverages, mineral water, snacks, and is the country’s largest beer exporter. It has a main brewery in Kyiv and nine plants in the country’s regions.
Its main brands are Obolon, Carling, Zlata Praha, Hike premium, Zibert, Keten, Hardmix, BeerMix, Desant, Zhyhulivske, Zhyvchyk, Obolonska, and Prozora. The corporation also produces low-alcohol drinks Rio, Gin and Tonic, Lime Vodka, Whiskey Cherry, Rum-Cola, Brandy-Cola, and Ciber.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan on April 25-26. Negotiations and meetings will be held in Samarkand, the press service of the Italian government reported.
On April 27, the Central Asia-Italy summit will be held in Astana with the participation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
For reference, in August 2024, Giorgia Maloney made a brief stop in Tashkent on her way from China. She met with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.
Georgie Maloney’s visit will continue the political dialogue between the two countries. In June 2023, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Italy, where a declaration of strategic partnership and agreements worth more than €9 billion were signed .
At the end of 2024, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Italy amounted to $438 million, of which Uzbekistan’s exports amounted to $44.6 million and imports to $393.4 million.
