Ukrainian one-dollar store chain Aurora plans to start operations in Bulgaria by opening test locations within the next six months, co-founder and CEO Taras Panasenko said in an interview with NV.Business.
According to Panasenko, the choice of Bulgaria is due to logistics: the chain is already developing its business in Romania and can deliver from its Romanian warehouse without crossing the EU’s external customs border.
Current geography of operations. Aurora operates in Ukraine and Romania. The first store in Romania opened in October 2023, and the chain is expanding rapidly. In July 2025, it announced the opening of its 50th store in the country (the first in Bucharest).
The company had also previously announced plans to enter Moldova, but there are currently no reports of it starting operations there.
Aurora is a Ukrainian multi-format chain of inexpensive everyday goods that has been expanding internationally since 2023, starting with Romania.
According to Serbian Economist, Russian oil and gas company Lukoil has announced that it has reached an agreement with Gunvor Group to sell all of its foreign assets, including its Serbian subsidiary Lukoil International GmbH (Austria) and its shares in Serbia.
Lukoil’s official statement indicates that Gunvor’s offer has been accepted and that the company undertakes not to negotiate with other potential buyers. The completion of the deal depends on obtaining permission from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) due to the sanctions imposed on Lukoil.
The sale is related to “restrictive measures” imposed by certain countries on Lukoil and its foreign subsidiaries. The deal involves the transfer of networks, assets, and business to the Serbian company Lukoil Serbia.
According to the company’s official data, at the end of 2025, there were 112 Lukoil Serbia gas stations operating in Serbia. Lukoil was second in terms of the number of stations on the Serbian market.
The Serbian retail fuel market is estimated at approximately €3.5 billion in revenue for 2024.
Gunvor Group Ltd is an international energy trader registered in Cyprus with its headquarters in Geneva. In 2024, the company’s revenue amounted to approximately $136 billion. Gunvor specializes in trading crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG, and also has assets in infrastructure (terminals, storage facilities) around the world.
Law enforcement officials have notified a Kyiv resident of their suspicion that he built premises in the coastal zone of Lake Telbin without permits and leased them as a clinic, according to the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.
“Under the procedural guidance of the Podil District Prosecutor’s Office of Kyiv, a resident of the capital has been notified of suspicion of unauthorized construction on an illegally occupied land plot,” the capital’s prosecutor’s office said in a statement on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.
It was established that a 63-year-old Kyiv resident, the director of a limited liability company, built a non-residential building attached to an existing building on a plot of land near Lake Telbin without any permits.
“He then leased the building to a private medical facility,” the prosecutor’s office said.
“The plot of land where the building was erected without permits is part of the coastal protection zone, where any construction is prohibited,” the statement said.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/1116427.html?utm_source=telegram
Unemployment in Germany remained at the previous month’s level of 6.3% in October, according to the Federal Employment Agency. The figure has remained unchanged since March 2025 and is the highest since September 2020.
The number of unemployed in Germany fell by 1,000 compared to the previous month and amounted to 2.97 million people. Analysts had predicted an average increase of 8,000 in the number of unemployed and unemployment remaining at the previous level, according to Trading Economics.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/almost-3-million-registered-in-germany/
Rapeseed exports from Ukraine in October will not exceed 135-140 thousand tons, compared to 535 thousand tons last year (-73.8%). As of October 28, 125 thousand tons have already been exported, according to the analytical cooperative “Pusk,” created within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council (VAR).
“Exports are moving very slowly—everything is hampered by duties. It is they that have effectively stopped the normal work of exporters,” analysts noted.
At the same time, they noted that domestic processing volumes are growing.
“In September, we processed more than 100,000 tons of rapeseed, and in October, the figure will be no less. Against the backdrop of problems with sunflower, rapeseed is currently supporting the sector. Rapeseed prices in ports are quoted in the range of EUR 540-545/ton. At the same time, processors offer from UAH 25,000/ton and above,” analysts noted.
The European market is showing positive price dynamics.
“Over the past week, rapeseed exchange quotations have risen by EUR 10. January-February is traditionally expected to be the period of highest prices for this oilseed crop,” added Pusk.
The average monthly salary of full-time employees in September 2025 increased by 2.7% compared to August 2025 and amounted to UAH 26,623, according to the State Statistics Service (SSS).
According to the statistics agency, in September 2025, the average monthly salary in education increased by 17.1% to UAH 16,901, in transport, postal, and courier services – by 6.7% to UAH 27,793, in construction – by 6.3%, to UAH 24,456, in the arts, sports, and entertainment sector – by 4.4%, to UAH 19,319, in professional, scientific, and technical activities – by 3.7%, to UAH 35,166, in industry – by 3.5%, to UAH 29,954, in water transport enterprises – by 2.9%, to UAH 25,601, in agriculture – by 2.4%, to UAH 25,727, in other services – by 2%, to UAH 29,577, and in administrative services – also by 2%, to UAH 20,490, in wholesale and retail trade – by 0.4%, to UAH 31,266.
At the same time, there was a decrease in salaries in public administration and defense by 6.4%, to UAH 32,871, in financial and insurance activities – by 3%, to UAH 50,706, in healthcare – by 1.6%, to UAH 18,373, in information and telecommunications by 1.4% to UAH 64,330, in air transport enterprises by 1% to UAH 57,028, in temporary accommodation and catering by 1% to UAH 18,807, and in real estate operations by 0.2% to UAH 23,011.
According to the statistical agency, total wage arrears in September 2025 increased by 4.9% compared to the previous month and amounted to UAH 3.691 billion as of October 1, 2025.
The data does not include territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and parts of territories where hostilities are (were) ongoing.
