PJSC Ukrainian Graphite (Ukrgraphite, Zaporizhia) is establishing new logistics routes to optimize risks, allowing it to plan the timely delivery of raw materials and consumables to the enterprise and finished products to end consumers.
According to the interim management report, one of the problematic issues is the shortage of qualified workers and engineering personnel involved in the continuous cycle of metallurgical production. This is primarily due to the mobilization of workers, the departure of women with children abroad, and internal migration within the country.
“Despite everything, we continue to work, accept orders, manufacture products, upgrade production facilities, pay taxes, and provide resources for the restoration of Ukraine,” the report states.
It also notes that Ukrgrafit continues to manufacture products in wartime conditions and, in particular, in the context of the difficult situation in Ukraine’s energy sector and high energy prices, which requires additional measures to improve energy efficiency for the uninterrupted operation of the enterprise. This involves work to modernize the mixing and pressing section (introduction of an electrically heated mixing machine and restoration of the operability of the electrode mass production line for the manufacture of carbonizers), as well as the modernization of the impregnation section – the purchase and commissioning of a new vacuum unit, which will ensure the stable operation of autoclaves in achieving a deep vacuum and contribute to reducing vacuum oil consumption.
In addition, the graphitization section is being modernized – modernization of the mobile pneumatic unit, which improves the reliability of the unit, increases the intervals between repairs and reduces downtime. The company is also updating its technical accounting system for electrical energy, automating the systems for monitoring electrical energy consumption by the company’s divisions (consumer workshops) in production processes. In addition, the schedule for the operation of technological equipment and consumption management is being optimized.
As reported, Ukrgrafit increased its net loss by 56.7% in January-September 2025 compared to the same period last year, to UAH 185.076 million. Net income for this period decreased by 9.8% to UAH 973.915 million.
Ukrgrafit ended 2024 with a net loss of UAH 202.447 million, while in 2023 it increased its net profit by 2.34 times compared to 2022, to UAH 122.920 million.
Ukrgrafit is a leading Ukrainian manufacturer of graphite electrodes for electric steel melting, ore-thermal, and other types of electric furnaces, commercial carbon masses for Söderberg electrodes, and carbon-based refractory materials for metallurgical, machine-building, chemical, and other industrial complexes.
According to the National Depository of Ukraine (NDU) for the first quarter of 2025, Intergraphite Holdings Company Limited (Malta) owns 23.9841% of the private joint-stock company, and C6 Safe Group Limited (Cyprus) owns 72.0394%.
The authorized capital of the private joint-stock company is UAH 233.959 million, and the par value of a share is UAH 3.35.
Naftogaz of Ukraine has attracted an additional €50 million from the European Investment Bank for gas imports, the company said
“Another important step to get through the winter stably. Naftogaz has attracted an additional €50 million in financing from the European Investment Bank,” Naftogaz said in a statement on Telegram on Thursday evening.
According to the statement, these funds will be used to import gas and support the energy system during peak loads, when cold weather and shelling create the greatest pressure.
It is noted that the loan was made possible thanks to the support of the European Commission.
As indicated by Naftogaz, this financing complements the EUR 300 million EIB loan and EUR 127 million in EU grant support with the participation of the Norwegian government that have already been raised.
“It is also important to note that Naftogaz has committed to reinvesting the equivalent of this amount in renewable energy projects,” the company said.
The correction on global markets has intensified: gold has fallen sharply after recent record highs, Bitcoin has dropped to around $84,000, and the US stock market is also declining amid a sell-off in the technology sector.
According to Reuters, the spot price of gold fell more than 4% on Thursday as investors took profits after a surge to historic highs, with prices falling to around $5,150 per ounce.
Bitcoin, at current prices, is down about 5% to $85,000, with the day’s low at around $84,350.
In the US, indices also fell into negative territory: the S&P 500 was down about 1.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 2.1%, with pressure on the market coming in particular from a sharp drop in Microsoft shares after its earnings report. The decline is also confirmed by the dynamics of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which lost about 1% on Thursday.
Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGZK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant, Dnipropetrovsk region) plans to increase manganese concentrate production by 3.44 times in 2026 compared to the previous year, to 220,000 tons.
According to PGZK’s interim report for the fourth quarter of 2025, in 2025, the plant produced 63,900 tons of manganese concentrate worth UAH 342.138 million and sold 25,400 tons worth UAH 216.309 million.
At the same time, it is specified that PGZK is considering the possibility of selling its products not only to regular customers JSC “ZZF” and JSC “NZF”, but also for export in order to improve the financial condition of the enterprise (Switzerland, Georgia).
It is also noted that from March 2026, the company plans to launch Chkalovsky Quarry No. 2, where rotary complexes No. 9 and No. 2, walking excavators for ore mining will operate, and from April this year, the Northern Quarry, where rotary complex No. 4 and walking excavators for ore extraction will operate.
“The plant plans to produce 220,000 tons of concentrate from ore mined at Chkalovsky No. 2 and Northern quarries. The company is considering the possibility of introducing new technologies for manganese ore mining,” the report says.
It also states that the company is currently idle. Its main customers are JSC NZF and JSC ZFZ. The main sales market is the domestic market. At the same time, the products were sold under direct contracts with the consignee.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the slowdown in production continued in the mining and metallurgical industry of Ukraine. Due to the pressure of a number of negative factors, in particular the increase in electricity tariffs, logistics costs, and the shortage of qualified personnel due to mobilization, etc., Ukrainian industry is losing its competitiveness both on the domestic and foreign markets, according to the report. It is noted that the unjustified increase in tariffs by state monopolies in the railway transport and electricity markets, and the risk of maritime transport due to the continuation of Russian aggression are affecting the production plans and capabilities of domestic companies, threatening the loss of export and tax revenues from heavy industry and thousands of jobs, mainly in frontline regions.
The average number of full-time employees in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 1,451, with 9 part-time employees, 4 employees working on a part-time basis, and 9 employees working on a part-time basis (day, week). The wage fund in the last quarter of 2025 amounted to UAH 57 million 625.2 thousand.
PGZK and Marganetsky GZK (MGZK, both in Dnipropetrovsk region), which are part of the Privat Group, ceased the extraction and processing of raw manganese ore at the end of October – beginning of November 2023. In 2024, PGZK was unable to resume operations due to a decline in demand for ferroalloys and a shortage of electricity.
In the first half of 2025, PGZK mined and enriched 22.87 thousand tons of manganese ore.
Four Cypriot companies — Profetis Enterprises Limited, Exseed Investmens Limited, Clemente Enterprises Limited, and Alexton Holdings Limited (all based in Cyprus) — each own 24.3024% of the shares of PJSC.
The authorized capital of the private joint-stock company is UAH 736.134 million, and the par value of a share is UAH 0.25.
The Moldovan government has extended temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine until March 1, 2027, with the country switching from automatic renewal to renewal upon application from 2026. Online applications must be submitted between February 1 and April 30, 2026, with a processing time of up to 90 days. The authorities also indicate that temporary protection may be revoked if the person is absent from Moldova for more than 45 days in total.
The Experts Club Information and Analytical Center also provides key terms for extension in other jurisdictions.
1) European Union. EU countries have agreed to extend the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians until March 4, 2027 (previously until March 4, 2026).
2) Switzerland. The Federal Council has extended the S protection status until at least March 4, 2027.
3) United Kingdom. The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme is in effect, allowing individuals with valid Ukrainian migration status in the UK to apply for an additional 18 months of stay; the scheme is open from February 4, 2025.
4) United States. The US Department of Homeland Security has extended TPS status for Ukraine: the current extension period is valid until October 19, 2026 (an 18-month extension, counting from April 20, 2025).
5) Canada. For some Ukrainians and their family members who have applied for family reunification and are awaiting a decision on permanent status, measures have been introduced to support legal residence, including the possibility to apply for documents and permits from within Canada, with a deadline of March 31, 2027.
6) Norway. The authorities have decided to extend the collective protection scheme for another year; according to the UDI, the extension for most holders of such permits will take place automatically after the current term expires.
Experts Club notes that the differences between countries are most often related not to the principle of protection itself, but to administration: some countries apply automatic extension, while others apply extension upon application (as in Moldova from 2026), as well as requirements for actual presence and document renewal.
The Polish government’s Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS) has sent the first batch of generators announced for Ukraine as part of its assistance in overcoming the consequences of Russian shelling, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kyiv reported on Thursday.
“The first batch of generators sent by RARS is already in Kyiv. Poland’s Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine, Piotr Lukasiewicz, officially handed them over today to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba and the head of the Kyiv Regional Administration, Mykola Kalashnik,” the embassy said in a statement on social media.
Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine – Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba said that 379 generators have already been received and some of them have already been transferred to the Kyiv region.
“We have received energy support from Poland – 379 generators of various capacities. Today, the first batch of equipment was delivered to the Kyiv region. By the end of January, all aid will be distributed among the communities,” he wrote on X.
The Deputy Prime Minister also announced that the Polish government has already decided to purchase an additional ten high-capacity generators.
He explained that the Kyiv region is under constant Russian attack and “knows well what power outages and risks to basic services mean.” “The generators will ensure the stable operation of critical infrastructure – water, heat, and electricity supply,” Kuleba said.
As reported, last week Lukasiewicz announced the arrival in Kyiv of 400 generators of various types from Polish government reserves.
Earlier, it was also reported that as part of a nationwide fundraising campaign for generators for Ukraine called “Warmth from Poland for Kyiv,” more than PLN 5 million (over $1 million) had already been raised. The campaign was organized by the Polish Stand with Ukraine Foundation.
