Deputies of the Kyiv City Council have approved the allocation of UAH 548 million for the uninterrupted operation and energy independence of water supply and sewage systems in the capital, as well as for increasing the energy independence of these infrastructure facilities.
As reported on the website of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) on Friday, the relevant changes have been made to the economic and social development program of Kyiv for 2024-26.
The Department of Economy and Investments of the KMDA notes that due to constant hostile shelling, the power grids on which the supply and disposal of water in residential buildings, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and other infrastructure facilities depend are being damaged. Therefore, the funds will be allocated to prevent emergencies, restore and maintain the stable operation of urban water networks.
The European Union is facing a serious crisis in the supply of critical materials after the decision of the Chinese government to impose new export restrictions on rare-earth magnets and raw materials for their production, reports Politico.
As noted, Beijing’s decision in early October has escalated the trade standoff with the United States and created risks for European industry, which is almost entirely dependent on imports of such elements from China.
“A crisis in the supply of critical raw materials is no longer a remote risk. It is already on our doorstep,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told MEPs on the eve of the EU summit.
She emphasized the need for “decisive and urgent action” to ensure faster and more reliable supplies of critical materials “both within Europe itself and from trusted partners.”
European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the EU was not interested in escalating tensions, but emphasized the need to resolve the situation quickly. “However, this situation casts a shadow on our relations. Therefore, a quick solution is essential,” he said.
Šefčovič said China and the EU will “strengthen contacts at all levels” to discuss the restrictions. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is due to arrive in Brussels for consultations in the coming days.
“The European Union is also holding talks with the G7 countries on an agreed response to the crisis ahead of a ministerial meeting to be held October 30-31 in Canada,” the report said.
Earlier, the information and analytical center Experts Club analyzed the global market of rare earth metals of the world and Ukraine, the video is available here -.
https://youtu.be/UHeBfpywpQc?si=0L-2nSUrLlIbqVZ5?si=Fk6Oi_13NKpEW81K
CHINA, EUROPEAN UNION, EXPERTS CLUB, EXPORT, rare earth elements
On Friday, October 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., AmCham Ukraine, together with our member company Sayenko Kharenko, invites you to join us for Halloween Blood Donor Day. Details of the location will be sent to registered participants the day before the event. The venue has shelter.
Join us (costumes are welcome but not required) and be part of a life-saving mission. Every drop of blood can help save up to three lives—after all, real heroes don’t need capes, just courage and compassion.
The event is open to everyone, so invite your friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Choose a convenient time and register in advance via DonorUA.
Let’s make this Halloween terrifyingly good and life-giving!
Follow all rules and recommendations to prepare for blood donation.
Don’t forget to bring your passport and Ukrainian citizen identification code. Citizens of other countries can also be donors if they have a residence permit in Ukraine and an identity document.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katerina Reiche has promised Ukraine additional aid in the amount of €30 million for the energy sector, and this amount may still be increased, Tagesspiegel reported on Friday.
During her visit to Kyiv, Reiche told reporters that in early October, about 60% of Ukraine’s gas supply had been destroyed by Russian attacks.
“Russia’s goal is obviously to exhaust Ukraine. We will help restore the energy infrastructure,” she said.
Germany has already allocated a third of the total amount of EUR 390 million to the Energy Assistance Fund for Ukraine, and has promised to invest another EUR 30 million in Ukraine, with the possibility of further increases.
As reported, Reiche arrived in Kyiv on Friday to assess Ukraine’s needs for rebuilding its energy infrastructure after large-scale Russian attacks that severely damaged the power grid, Reuters reports. In addition to rebuilding the energy infrastructure, Reiche intends to focus on expanding German-Ukrainian defense cooperation.
Which regions became tourist centers?
According to the State Tax Service, UAH 91.7 million in tourist tax was paid to local budgets from July to September 2025.
In total, businesses paid UAH 234.4 million in tourist tax over the first nine months of 2025. This is 1.5 times more than during the same period before the start of the full-scale war. Kyiv, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions remain the largest contributors to local budgets.
Local budgets received UAH 234.4 million in tourist tax for the first nine months of 2025. This is 36% more than in the same period last year and 1.5 times more than before the start of the full-scale war.
The summer season is traditionally the “golden time” for the tourism industry. Businesses paid 91.7 million hryvnia in tourist tax from July to September 2025. This is 20% more than in the second quarter of this year — 76.2 million hryvnia.
More than half of the tourist tax — 53% or UAH 125.2 million — was paid by large businesses: hotels, sanatoriums, and recreation centers. The remaining 47% or UAH 109.2 million was paid by small businesses, i.e., owners of apartments, estates, and small tourist facilities. It is worth noting that revenues from small businesses increased by 39%, while those from large businesses increased by only 6.5% during this period.
The capital remains the undisputed leader of Ukrainian tourism. A fifth, or UAH 51 million, of the tourist tax was paid in Kyiv. 81% of this amount came from large businesses.
Lviv region is in second place with UAH 42.5 million — here the share of large businesses is smaller, 56%. Ivano-Frankivsk region closes the top three — UAH 32.5 million, while 55% of the tourist tax in the region was paid by small businesses.
The amount of tourist tax collected in the Odesa region increased the most during the holiday season. Despite this, the region’s figures for the first nine months are still 17% lower than for the same period in 2021.
Compared to the pre-war period, the amount of tourist tax collected in Bukovina increased fivefold. At the same time, 90% of the amount was provided by owners of apartments, estates, and small tourist facilities. Ivano-Frankivsk region is also among the leaders: the amount of tourist tax for this period increased 4.5 times.