Adoption of the bill “On the system of insurance of military risks” No. 12372 in its current form will cause a number of negative consequences, believes Vyacheslav Chernyakhovsky, Director General of the Association “Insurance Business” (ASB). The head of the ASB raises the question of the expediency of creating a State Agency for Insurance of Military Risks, since a significant part of its functions has long been performed by insurance companies, which have successfully started to implement new programs of such insurance since mid-2022.
In particular, in his opinion, the bill does not allow all willing entrepreneurs and citizens to take advantage of such a state program, increases the costs of the deficit state budget for a contribution to the statutory fund of the State Agency for War Risks Insurance (from 8 billion UAH). It also implies high costs to support the Agency’s activities, as its work requires a large number of employees and structural subdivisions like a full-fledged insurance company. In addition, insurance or reinsurance contracts in the system of insurance of military risks may be concluded directly with the participation of insurance intermediaries (they may be insurance agents, in particular banks).
Also controversial provisions of the draft law, in his opinion, are the limited range of objects, namely, property pledged/mortgaged to banks during the entire term of the contract and housing construction objects during the entire period of new construction, reconstruction, major repairs. And limitation of territories where military risks can be insured. At the same time, the possibility of automatic termination of the current insurance contract is provided for objects, the location of which was located in the territory of high risk.
According to Vyacheslav Chernyakhovsky, some norms of the draft law do not comply with international practices in terms of insurance: “Firstly, the compulsory insurance of property without the consent of their owners is an atypical approach. Usually the owner independently disposes of it, including in matters of insurance coverage. Such insurance is applied only in some countries and only in the most dangerous regions (for example, earthquake insurance in Turkey). Secondly, the state usually provides assistance in insurance of catastrophic risks by means of special reinsurance on favorable conditions of insurance rates reduction. An example is the American flood insurance program,” he notes.
According to Chernyakhovsky, the ASB proposes other approaches to expanding the system of insurance of military risks, namely: the creation and implementation of a program of partial subsidizing by the state of voluntary insurance of military risks with the possibility of access of all enterprises and citizens to such a mechanism. Instead of creating a State Agency, the Export Credit Agency, which has such a right under its charter, could be obliged to reinsure military risks to be transferred to insurance companies under predetermined conditions and rules.
Ukrainian Helicopters (Kyiv) will establish a branch in Nairobi (Kenya) to carry out aviation activities, including transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo, mail, aviation operations, aircraft maintenance, and aviation personnel training.
According to the minutes of the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting held on February 3 on the airline’s website, the relevant decision was adopted by 100% of the votes.
The shareholders of Ukrainian Helicopters are CEO Volodymyr Tkachenko (91% of shares, 910 votes) and Anton Tkachenko (9%, 90 votes).
The shareholders authorized the airline’s Board of Directors to develop the Regulations on the branch in Kenya, as well as to hire and dismiss its head.
Ukrainian Helicopters, according to its website, is the largest helicopter operator in Ukraine, which has been working in humanitarian, stabilization and peacekeeping programs around the world for more than 20 years. The fleet includes 23 modernized Mi-8MTV-1 universal helicopters.
According to the Clarity Project, in 2023, the airline increased its net revenue by 48% year-on-year to UAH 4 billion 016 million, while net profit fell by 41.5% to UAH 55.13 million.
In January-September 2024, the airline incurred UAH 73.5 million in losses against a net profit of UAH 40.7 million a year earlier, with net income growing by 21.7% to UAH 3.5 billion.
As reported, during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the airline donated more than UAH 228 million in aid, including UAH 167 million to the military.
Prices for construction and installation works in Ukraine increased by 7.9% in 2024 compared to 2023, the State Statistics Service (Ukrstat) reported.
According to the statistics agency, prices increased in all segments of construction last year: in residential construction, the growth was 8.6%, in non-residential construction – 7.9%, and in engineering – 7.7%. At the same time, in December 2024, compared to December 2023, prices increased by 7.4%, 6.9% and 7%, respectively.
The State Statistics Service also noted that in December 2024 compared to November 2024, prices for construction and installation works increased by 0.4%.
As reported, in 2023, prices for construction and installation works increased by 15.8% compared to 2022.
The State Statistics Service pointed out that the figures are given without taking into account the temporarily occupied territories and part of the territories where hostilities are (were) conducted.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lowered its forecast for Ukraine’s grain production by 13% and exports by 26% due to the country’s depleted stocks.
According to the February forecast, the country’s ending grain stocks in the 2024-2025 marketing year (MY, July-June) are estimated at 1.8 million tons, up 19% from last year, but significantly lower than before the large-scale invasion in February 2022.
The EU will remain an important destination for Ukraine given its liberalized trade policy and geographical proximity. At the same time, Ukrainian exporters continue to regain their traditional markets, made possible by the efficient operation of the Black Sea ports, the report says.
According to the USDA, the wheat harvest in 2024/25 MY in Ukraine will amount to 22.9 mln tons, which is the same as last year, but its exports will decrease by 19% to 15 mln tons. The barley harvest will be 3% lower than in the season-2023/24, and is estimated at 5.9 million tons, while exports will amount to 2.6 million tons. The forecast for rye production was lowered by 18% to 190 thousand tons.
Rye has become a niche crop for Ukrainian farmers, so its production and exports can vary significantly from year to year, the USDA said.
The USDA forecasts the largest reduction in corn, the production of which will decrease by 24% compared to 2023/24 MY – to 24.6 mln tons, while exports will fall by 33% – to 19.6 mln tons. The ending stocks of the grain are forecasted at 722 thsd tonnes, up slightly from the previous year, but significantly lower than the 2.8 mln tonnes that were in reserve at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Initial registrations of new and used buses (including minibuses) in Ukraine in January 2025 increased by 37% compared to the first month of 2024 – up to 233 units, Ukravtoprom reported on its Telegram channel.
Compared to December last year, when a record number of buses was registered for the month, demand for them in January 2025 decreased by 29.4%.
According to the association, the share of new vehicles in this volume was 64% (last year it was 70%).
Most often among the new buses in January, domestic vehicles were registered for the first time – Ataman buses from Cherkasy Bus – 36 units, Etalon buses from Chernihiv Automobile Plant – 34 units, and ZAZ buses from Zaporizhzhia – 27 units.
The most frequently registered used buses were Mercedes-Benz – 25 units; VDL – 15 units and VW – 11 units.
As reported with reference to Ukravtoprom data, in 2024, the initial registrations of new and used buses decreased by 19% compared to 2023 – to 2,241 thousand units, in particular, new buses by 24% – to 1,296 thousand, used buses – by 12%, to 945 units.
From February 25 to 27, 2025, the fourth international specialized exhibition “AGROPRO EXPO 2025” will be held at the International Exhibition Complex “SOF EXPO Samarkand”, located in the heart of the Central Asian region – the city of Samarkand.
“AGROPRO EXPO 2025” is an agricultural exhibition with a wide range of expositions, which will feature
For three days, leading companies from Europe and Asia will present advanced projects in the agricultural sector.
The exhibition will feature products from both local and global manufacturers and brands, including the full range of equipment for working on the land – combines, tractors, forage harvesting equipment, fertilizer equipment, and others. The event will also be attended by representatives of banks and lessors to provide a comprehensive solution to the problems of entrepreneurs.
For more details and to participate in the exhibition, please follow the link.
