Around 97–98% of war crimes cases in Ukraine are heard in absentia, that is, without the defendant being present, Inna Linyova, director of the Human Rights Institute of the Ukrainian Bar Association, said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
According to her, this mainly concerns cases where the accused Russian serviceman is in the Russian Federation or in temporarily occupied territory, and Ukrainian investigative and judicial authorities are conducting proceedings without his physical presence.
Lynova emphasised that trials in absentia are permitted under international standards, but in such proceedings it is particularly important to ensure all guarantees of the right to a defence. Otherwise, Ukraine may face serious legal and reputational risks.
“Such a trial in the absence of the accused is permissible under international standards, but in such cases it is particularly important to ensure that the rights of the accused are protected,” she noted.
According to Linyova, problems with the quality of defence were observed in a number of proceedings: lawyers could be passive, fail to file motions, fail to examine evidence, and effectively limit themselves to a formal presence in the proceedings. In some cases, defence lawyers even used derogatory terms in relation to their clients, which contradicts the very essence of the right to defence.
The Director of the Human Rights Institute of the Ukrainian Bar Association emphasised that effective defence of those accused in war crimes cases is needed not to exonerate criminals, but to protect the interests of Ukraine itself. If the trials comply with international standards, this will strengthen Ukraine’s position as a state governed by the rule of law and reduce the risk of subsequent challenges to the verdicts in international courts.
Since July 2023, the Ukrainian Bar Association has been implementing an initiative to monitor court hearings and analyse court decisions in cases of war crimes. According to Linyova, these trials are the focus of the international community’s attention, as they relate not only to the punishment of the guilty but also to the future compensation system, the restoration of justice and Ukraine’s international reputation.
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the number of registered criminal offences classified as war crimes is rising rapidly. By the end of May 2024, there were 129,065 cases; by September 2025, 179,803; and by 16 April 2026, 221,929.
The Ukrainian judicial system is thus facing a massive challenge: it must simultaneously document crimes, ensure the punishment of the guilty and uphold the standards of a fair trial, even in cases that attract significant public attention.
Soybean acreage in 2026 reached 2.1 million hectares, an increase of 5% compared to last year, Taras Vysotsky, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, told reporters on the sidelines of the Grain Ukraine 2026 international conference on Friday.
“This year, soybean acreage did not decrease; in fact, it increased by 5%. Several factors contributed to this simultaneously—the rising cost of fertilizers and fuel. Consequently, farmers have shifted their focus to crops that require fewer fertilizers, namely soybeans. It requires lower costs for cultivation, transportation, and export,” Vysotsky noted.
As reported, pursuant to Law No. 4536-IX of July 16, 2025, a 10% export duty on rapeseed and soybeans was introduced in Ukraine effective September 4, 2025. The document provides for a gradual reduction of the rate by 1% annually, starting January 1, 2030, to 5% by 2035. At the same time, the law includes a preferential regime for direct producers and cooperatives, who are exempt from paying the duty when exporting their own-grown products.
Experts from the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) have argued that this could lead to a significant reduction in soybean acreage in 2026 due to this law.
According to the Ministry of Economy, as of June 2, 1.96 million hectares had been planted with soybeans, or 96% of the forecast, whereas last year, as of May 30, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, soybean plantings totaled 2.23 million hectares.
agricultural sector, export duty, MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, planting season, SOYBEANS
The “Aurora” supermarket chain has invested 13 million hryvnias in strengthening product quality control; the consumer product testing laboratory began operations in Poltava on June 2, according to the company’s press office.
“Our laboratory is about transparent quality control and trust. We want both manufacturers and shoppers to see how the quality of products that end up on Aurora’s shelves is determined. Moreover, anyone can bring a product in for testing—even if it wasn’t purchased in our stores. This helps foster a new culture of consumption based on openness, objectivity, and trust,“ emphasized Natalia Izyumets, Quality Director of the ‘Aurora’ supermarket chain.
The laboratory is located next to the ”Aurora” Support Office in Poltava and has a separate entrance for visitors. Large panoramic windows allow visitors to observe the product testing process in real time.
A distinctive feature of the consumer testing laboratory is its openness to visitors. Anyone can submit a request to have a product tested, specifying the testing criteria themselves. After the tests are conducted, the results can be received via email or discussed with specialists in person.
The lab team consists of six specialists in quality control and product testing. The lab’s specialists work with over 25,000 product SKUs across various categories—from electronics, children’s products, and tableware to cosmetics, household chemicals, and food products. Here, they verify safety, reliability, and compliance with declared specifications and current legislation. The data obtained is shared with suppliers and the chain’s commercial department, enabling the rapid improvement of the product range and enhancement of product quality.
“For example, when inspecting a cleaning product, in addition to weight and volume, we check the consistency—that is, whether there is any separation, whether there is sediment—because cleaning products should not normally contain sediment or lumps. If there is any, that’s not good. We record this, include it in the inspection results, and submit a request to the suppliers,” notes Anna Tokach, an incoming quality control specialist at the “Aurora” chain.
Professional equipment is used for testing, which allows for simulating real-world conditions for product use. Specifically, in the lab, they check product shelf life using a climate chamber, test wooden products for moisture content, USB cables for compliance with the stated power rating, cosmetics for acidity level using a pH meter, and electrical goods for compliance with technical specifications and safety of use.
Special attention is given to high-risk products. For example, products involving open flames are tested in a special combustion chamber equipped in accordance with all fire safety requirements.
The opening of the consumer testing laboratory is part of Aurora’s long-term strategy to raise quality standards and promote responsible consumption.
“Aurora” was founded in 2011 by Lev Zhydenko, Taras Panasenko, and Lesya Klymenko. As of the end of 2025, the chain has over 1,800 stores in Ukraine and more than 60 in Romania. The retail chain’s headquarters are located in Poltava.
According to Opendatabot, the owner of Vygidna Pokupka LLC, which operates the chain, is the Cypriot company “Aurorail Investments Limited”; its beneficial owner is Lev Zhydenko, and among the owners are funds managed by Horizon Capital.
Ukraine has the legal and regulatory capacity to launch programs supporting domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers, but funding is lacking amid the war, according to Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
“Let’s just focus on the possibilities for support: the legal framework is there, but as for financial resources—you understand how constrained and limited our financial capabilities are in wartime,” he said during the conference “Regional Dialogues with Business on European Integration: The Pharmaceutical Industry” in Uzhhorod on Thursday.
At the same time, Kachka noted that “within the framework of existing support programs, there is a whole range of additional options.”
“We are ready for this dialogue. We just need to clearly identify exactly which needs we need to address,” he said.
BUSINESS, EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, PHARMACEUTICALS, STATE SUPPORT, Качка
The National Agency of Ukraine for the Identification, Tracing, and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (Asset Tracing and Management Agency, ARMA) continues to manage the stake in the distributor Venta Ltd. that belonged to the Russian company Katren.
“In accordance with the rulings of the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv, a 24% stake in the authorized capital of Venta Ltd., owned by Katren JSC (Russia), has been transferred to ARMA’s management. “The aforementioned asset is currently under ARMA’s management,” ARMA told Interfax-Ukraine.
ARMA notes that following a competitive selection process, an asset management agreement was concluded between ARMA and I.K.VEL LLC. At the same time, ARMA subsequently decided to unilaterally terminate the agreement due to information available at the time regarding a possible connection between “I.K.VEL” and individuals associated with the owners of the seized asset (JSC “KATREN” and the ultimate beneficiary of “Venta Ltd,” Oleksandr Voloshin).
However, in a decision by the Commercial Court of Kyiv dated April 22, 2026, in response to a lawsuit filed by “I.K.VEL,” the court concluded that there was insufficient evidence of such a connection.
The court also found that there were no legal grounds for rejecting the results of the tender for the management of the Russian share of “Venta Ltd.” and for failing to transfer the asset to the manager—the winning bidder.
As reported, in 2022, Venta. Ltd. (Dnipro), which was among the top three pharmaceutical distributors in Ukraine, transferred the corporate rights belonging to the Russian JSC “Katren” to the management of ARMA. According to the pharmaceutical distributor, the transfer of corporate rights took place on August 1 at the initiative of the company’s management and in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. The transfer of the Russian stake occurred pursuant to a court decision as part of criminal proceedings.
According to Venta.Ltd’s estimates, the company’s share of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical market stood at 10–11% as of early 2022; by the end of 2024, Venta.Ltd had reduced its net profit by 2.1% to UAH 187.134 million.
ARMA selected I.K.VEL LLC to manage the seized Russian stake in Venta.Ltd (24% of the company). The auction to select a manager for this stake was participated in by the Citizens’ Association “VIZAVI Rehabilitation Center,” which offered 0.01 hryvnia for the lot, I.K.VEL LLC (58,550 hryvnia), and Comfortna Apteka LLC (120,000 hryvnia).
I.K.VEL LLC is engaged in the retail sale of pharmaceutical products in specialty stores. According to the YuoControl system, the company’s current beneficiary is Mykyta Kholodov.
In Ukraine on Saturday, June 6, moderate rain—heavy in places—and thunderstorms are expected in the western regions during the day, as well as in the Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Chernivtsi regions; the rest of the country will be mostly dry, according to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
In Zakarpattia and Prykarpattia, there will be fog in some places at night and in the morning.
Winds will be variable, 3-8 m/s.
Temperatures at night will be 14-19°; during the day, 24-29°, and in the western regions, 20-25°.
In Kyiv, no precipitation is expected on Saturday night, with rain during the day. Winds will be variable, 3-8 m/s. Nighttime temperatures will range from 17-19°; daytime temperatures from 26-28°.
According to data from the Boris Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory in Kyiv, on June 6, the highest daytime temperature was 32.0° in 1921, and the lowest nighttime temperature was 2.9° in 1933.
On Sunday, June 7, in Ukraine, except for the west and east, temperatures will be moderate; during the day in the Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Odesa regions, there will be heavy rain and thunderstorms in some areas.
Winds will be variable, 3-8 m/s.
Nighttime temperatures will range from 14-19°; in the west of the country, 10-15°; daytime temperatures will range from 24-29°; in the western regions, as well as in Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Odesa regions, 20-25°.
Rain is expected in Kyiv on Sunday. Winds will be variable, 3-8 m/s. Nighttime temperatures will be 17-19°; daytime temperatures will be 23-25°.
