Kyivstar, the largest mobile operator in Ukraine, has signed an agreement with Starlink, a SpaceX company, to introduce Direct to Cell technology in Ukraine, which provides smartphone connectivity in areas where traditional mobile network coverage is not available – via satellite.
“We have signed an agreement with Starlink and are starting to implement the revolutionary Direct to Cell satellite communication in Ukraine… the service is able to provide mobile communication on any 4G smartphone using a satellite signal where there is no traditional coverage from operators, or if the ground network is down due to military and man-made factors,” CEO Alexander Komarov wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.
“Kyivstar plans to launch Starlink Direct to Cell services with SMS and OTT messaging in the fourth quarter of 2025. The next stage will be voice and data communications, the company said.
This is a major investment by Kyivstar in the development of digital infrastructure, improving coverage, providing uninterrupted communication to all Ukrainians and strengthening national security, Komarov emphasized.
Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of Kyivstar’s parent company VEON Group, noted that Kyivstar has done a great job investing in 4G in Ukraine, expanding coverage to remote areas and improving the energy resilience of its network.
“We are pleased to start cooperation with Starlink to make Ukraine one of the world leaders in the implementation of Direct to Cell satellite communications,” Terzioglu was quoted as saying by Kyivstar’s press service.
VEON Chairman of the Board Augie C. Fabella II said that the partnership with SpaceX will allow the company to use space technology.
“This agreement (on the introduction of Direct to Cell technology) marks a transformational year for VEON: from moving its headquarters to Dubai and focusing all operations on the Nasdaq in New York, to strengthening its commitment to innovation and growth in the regions that need it most,” the press service quoted the VEON chairman as saying.
Kyivstar’s press service clarified that Ukraine will be one of the first countries to get access to Starlink’s innovative Direct to Cell service, which will significantly increase the resilience of the national communications infrastructure.
Kyivstar reminded that since 2013, VEON, the parent company of Kyivstar, has already invested more than $10 billion in Ukraine and has committed to invest another $1 billion in the restoration of digital infrastructure in the period from 2023 to 2027.
Earlier it was reported that Kyivstar has launched VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) service for its subscribers, which allows them to make calls via Wi-Fi even in places with a weak mobile network signal.
“Kyivstar is Ukraine’s largest electronic communications operator with about 23.3 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million Home Internet subscribers. The company is 100% owned by the VEON group of companies, a Dubai-based digital communications operator that provides converged connectivity and digital services to nearly 160 million customers. VEON’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellites are equipped with advanced eNodeB modems, which enable them to act as cell towers in space.
In 2025, the development company Perfect Group plans to relaunch two residential complex projects in Kyiv with a total area of up to 250 thousand square meters, of which 20 thousand square meters are planned for implementation under the terms of the eOselya program.
“Next year we plan to restart two large projects with a total area of up to 250 thousand square meters. One of them will include a separate stage of 20 thousand square meters, which will be implemented under the eHouse program,” Oleksiy Koval, Perfect Group project manager, toldInterfax-Ukraine.
According to him, the company’s share of sales under the eOselya program over the past two years has been about 15-20%. Theconstruction of a separate line for the program will increase this figure.
Other plans of the company include the launch of a new project in the comfort class segment with a total area of 100 thousand square meters. In addition, a project with an area of 420 thousand square meters is under development, the decision on the implementation of which will be made based on the indicators of real estate demand and the economic situation in the country, Koval said.
At the end of 2024, Perfect Group completed the construction of 50 thousand square meters in the residential complexes Likohrad and 7th Quarter.
Perfect Group has been operating in the Ukrainian market since 1991. The company’s portfolio includes 96 buildings with 17.5 thousand apartments with a total area of 1.2 million square meters in Kyiv and the region, as well as in Odesa.
In 2024, VESCO group, which unites the clay mining business of umgi investment company (formerly UMG Investments) of SCM Group, resumed production of raw materials in difficult working conditions in the region of active hostilities, said Yevhenii Tsymarman, CEO of VESCO in Ukraine, in an address to employees.
According to him, the main outcome and the biggest achievement of each military year is that the company continues to work, supporting the country and its defenders.
“Thanks to the hard work of the VESCO Group team in Ukraine, cohesion and dedication, we managed to achieve important results in 2024. We resumed production of raw materials despite the difficult working conditions in the region of active hostilities. We have reopened another shipment station, increasing the volume of finished goods shipped to customers and port warehouses,” the CEO said.
He also added that the company has restored the capacity of its physical and chemical laboratory to remain a reliable partner for customers even in the most difficult times.
“We continued to fulfill our reclamation obligations to restore soil fertility and vegetation cover after the completion of mining operations. We have maintained the tradition of annual salary increases and medical insurance for our staff at the expense of the group,” stated the CEO.
Despite all the difficulties, the company already has plans for 2025, Mr. Tsymarman noted.
umgi is an investment company focused on developing businesses in the raw materials and processing sectors. It was founded in 2006 by SCM Group. Investment focus: mining; by-product and waste management; production of industrial goods and services. The total value of portfolio companies is estimated at over $500 million.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih’s Kryvyi Rih Mining and Metallurgical Plant (AMKR, Dnipro region) intends to extend the previously defined environmental protection measures for two years after the war.
According to the materials available to Interfax-Ukraine, the company intends to obtain permits for emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources – sintering machines No. 1-3 of sinter shop No. 2, extend the deadlines for implementing measures to reduce pollutant emissions and operate generators to be used to provide electricity to consumers in the event of a power outage.
It is specified that the generators to be used during the power outage are not subject to environmental impact assessment and do not belong to the types of activities of facilities that may have a significant impact on the environment.
The plant has completed a complete reconstruction of Sinter Shop No. 2 (SSC-2), namely six sinter machines, to meet the maximum permissible emission standards in accordance with the law. The number of irrigation nozzles was increased at four gas purification units of the sinter plant’s charge preparation department (AC-3), and the dust standard of 50 mg/cubic meter was achieved.
The planned environmental protection measures include the installation of water cannons for dust suppression in the charge material warehouses, improving the efficiency of the existing 23 treatment plants of the charge material preparation department of the sinter plant (AC-3), including their modernization, reconstruction, repair, etc. It is also planned to decommission AC-1 after the pelletizing plant is commissioned.
The plant’s materials list the process equipment for which advanced technological standards have been established, including sinter machines. AMKR undertakes to implement emission reduction measures on this equipment after two years from the date of termination or lifting of martial law in Ukraine.
“ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest rolled steel producer in Ukraine. It specializes in long products, including rebar and wire rod.
ArcelorMittal owns the largest mining and metallurgical plant in Ukraine, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, including ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
Greenville Group plans to launch a new apartment complex in Kyiv and a comfort+ residential complex in Lviv in 2025, the group’s press service toldInterfax-Ukraine.
“Greenville Group is building business class residential complexes Greenville Park and Greenville in Pechersk in Kyiv. Next year, we plan to launch two new projects – an apartment complex in Kyiv and a comfort+ residential complex in Lviv. Both projects are currently under development,” the company said.
By the end of 2024, the developer completed the construction of 19.4 thousand square meters of housing in its capital projects. Next year, it is planned to start construction of section 9 in the Greenville residential complex, complete sections 6-7 and underground parking, and complete the facade and installation of power grids, water supply, and heating systems in the Greenville Park residential complex.
According to the group, customers are taking a wait-and-see attitude and are in no hurry to invest in business class housing.
“According to our observations, almost 60% of visits to sales departments are due to pent-up demand. Another massive missile strike on Kyiv is almost guaranteed to postpone the signing of agreements for 3-6 months – people need time to recover and re-evaluate the feasibility of the purchase,” Greenville explained.
In addition, fewer deals are being made in the higher-end housing category under the eOselya program: in 2024, the company concluded five such agreements. At the same time, alternative programs from developers are growing in popularity. According to Greenville’s analysis, the number of customers who used installment programs increased by 15% year-on-year.
Greenville Group was established in 2007. It makes joint investments in construction projects based on green technologies and invests in renewable energy projects.
The company’s portfolio includes four residential development projects in Lviv (RC Misto Trav, Dobra Oselya, Greenville House, Greenville Park Lviv) and two projects in Kyiv (Greenville and Greenville Park).
In 2024, Ukraine received $41.7 billion in external financing to cover the budget deficit, which made it possible to allocate the necessary funds to repel full-scale Russian aggression, Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said.
“This makes it possible to fully finance pensions, salaries in education and healthcare, and the entire humanitarian and social system,” the Finance Minister said during a national telethon on Monday.
He noted that this year and next year, Ukraine will allocate UAH 2.2 trillion ($52.5 billion at the current exchange rate), or 26% of GDP, to the security and defense sector.
Regarding budget financing for 2025, which is planned in the state budget at $38.4 billion, Marchenko emphasized the importance of implementing the G7’s ERA initiative to allocate $50 billion to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets.
“We have access to $50 billion, which allows us to look forward to 2025 with confidence. Moreover, if everything goes well, we plan to close 2026 and 2027 with the help of these assets,” the Finance Minister said.
He clarified that in 2024, the state budget has already received the first $1 billion of this $50 billion from the United States.
In general, assessing Ukraine’s dependence on external financing, Marchenko believes that “if we end the war, such dependence will not be glaring.” The minister reiterated that the huge budget deficit is due to the cost of the war.
