Kazakhstan plans to completely stop purchasing electricity from Russia starting in 2027 thanks to the commissioning of its own power generation facilities, said the country’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Sungat Esimkhanov.
According to him, if the planned power facilities are commissioned in late 2026 or early 2027, Kazakhstan will be able to meet domestic demand without Russian supplies. “If we commission all of our planned power facilities by the end of this year or early next year, I think that in 2027 we will not purchase any electricity from Russia at all,” Esimkhanov said at a press conference.
In recent years, Kazakhstan has purchased electricity from Russia annually due to a shortage of its own capacity. According to the Ministry of Energy, the deficit is decreasing: in 2024 it stood at 2.1 billion kWh, in 2025—about 1.5 billion kWh, and in 2026 it is expected to be at the level of 1–1.2 billion kWh. The government expects to eliminate this deficit by 2027.
Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov stated that the country intends to fully meet the economy’s electricity needs by the end of the first quarter of 2027. To this end, Kazakhstan is implementing 81 energy projects with a total capacity of 15.3 GW and an investment volume of over 13 trillion tenge, or more than $25 billion.
Moving away from Russian supplies will be a significant milestone in Kazakhstan’s energy policy. For the country, this means reducing dependence on external electricity sources and transitioning to a more self-sufficient energy balance model. However, the plan’s success will depend on the timing of new facilities coming online, the condition of the grids, and the power system’s ability to handle peak loads.
The decision also has regional significance. Kazakhstan remains part of the Central Asian power grid and is connected to the Russian power grid, so reducing imports from Russia does not mean a complete technological disconnect. However, from an economic and political standpoint, the move to replace Russian supplies demonstrates Astana’s desire to strengthen its own energy security and reduce vulnerability to external disruptions.
For Russia, this means a gradual loss of a portion of its electricity export demand from Kazakhstan. For Central Asia, it is a signal to accelerate the modernization of power generation, the construction of new thermal power plants, the development of renewable energy, and the improvement of grid reliability, as power shortages remain one of the region’s main infrastructure challenges.
According to the Interfax-Ukraine Culture project, a star-studded screening of the cult comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” in Ukrainian dubbing took place at the Zhovten Cinema in Kyiv, the press service reports.
“The film has taken on a new sound thanks to Ukrainian comedians who adapted the humor for modern audiences,” the organizers of the screening noted.
The film, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, will be released in Ukrainian theaters on April 30 at the initiative of comedian Vasyl Baidak in collaboration with distributor “Arthouse Traffic.”
“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” is the debut feature film by the British comedy troupe “Monty Python,” released in 1975 and considered one of the most influential comedies in film history. The film’s plot is an ironic take on the legends of King Arthur, who, along with the Knights of the Round Table, sets out in search of the Holy Grail, encountering a series of absurd and unpredictable situations.
The film was directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. At the time, well-known musicians, including Elton John, as well as members of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Genesis, contributed to the project’s funding.
The Ukrainian dub was created with the participation of representatives of the contemporary comedy scene. Specifically, the characters were voiced by Vasyl Baidak, Oleg Svisch, Danylo Povar, Mark Kutsevalov, Roman Mishcheryakov, as well as comedians Dasha Kubik, Lana Chubakha, Natalia Garipova, and other project participants.
As noted, the adaptation aims to make classic British humor more accessible to Ukrainian audiences and make the film relevant for modern viewers.
The film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” is considered a classic of absurd comedy and one of the key works of British cinema that has influenced the development of humor worldwide.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/culture/1165064.html
According to the Interfax-Ukraine Culture project, the 10th Italian Design Day took place in the capital, dedicated to the theme “Re-Design: Regenerating spaces, objects, ideas, and relationships,” regenerating spaces, objects, ideas, and relationships“), the Italian Embassy in Ukraine reported on its Facebook page.
”Design is a distinctive expression of Italian quality and an effective tool for meeting the growing demand of the Ukrainian market,” said Carlo Formosa, Italy’s Ambassador to Ukraine.
The event took place at Taryan Towers. It was attended by over 150 representatives of Ukrainian and Italian institutions, businesses, and creative industries.
Among the participants were Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev and representatives of leading Ukrainian institutions.
The event focused primarily on issues of architecture, design, and post-war reconstruction. The Italian side was represented by “Design Ambassador” Luca Tripetti, who presented a vision for cooperation in the woodworking and furniture sectors in Ukraine. Designer Carlo Colombo also joined the event online.
As part of the event, the exhibition “Città in scena” was presented, dedicated to urban regeneration and sustainable development projects.
The embassy noted that the event took place against the backdrop of growing interest in “Made in Italy,” particularly in the fields of design and furniture.
Italian Design Day is an international initiative aimed at fostering cooperation in the fields of design, architecture, and the creative industries.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/culture/1165047.html
April frosts in Ukraine caused damage and blossom drop in apricots, peaches, sweet cherries, pears, and sour cherries, while having no critical impact on winter crops, according to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
“A large number of intense frosts were unfavorable for the flowering of fruit crops and perennial plantings. Due to the prolonged drop in temperatures, stone fruits showed signs of blackening and flower drop,” meteorologists noted.
According to experts, Arctic air masses dominated in Ukraine throughout April, leading to cold weather. There was no sustained rise in average daily temperatures above 10°C by the end of the month, and the lag behind the long-term average was 1.5–2 weeks.
Agrometeorological conditions for the rooting and growth of winter crops remained quite favorable, as their frost resistance proved to be higher than the recorded temperatures. Frosts caused almost no damage to winter crops and early spring crops, which were in the mass emergence phase by the end of April. Only in isolated areas was slight yellowing of wheat and barley leaves observed due to the cold.
At the same time, frequent frosts caused the deeper soil layers to cool: at depths of 5 cm and 10 cm, the temperature in some places did not exceed 7–10°C. In regions with a precipitation deficit, the upper soil layers were assessed as slightly moist or dry, which complicated the sowing of late-season heat-loving crops.
The Hydrometeorological Center noted that, thanks to the predominantly moderate temperature regime in the spring, drought conditions developed gradually. This made it possible to maintain the content of productive moisture in the soil, especially in its deeper layers, at a sufficient and optimal level until the end of the month.
In March 2026, Express Insurance collected insurance premiums totaling UAH 119.9 million, which is 35.9% more than in March 2025, according to the insurer’s website.
In particular, premiums under comprehensive auto insurance (CASCO) policies amounted to UAH 78.1 million, which is 28.9% higher than the figure for March 2025.
“Based on the month’s results, we can observe increased demand for comprehensive vehicle protection programs,” the company notes.
According to its data, premiums for compulsory motor third-party liability insurance (CMTPL) reached UAH 38.7 million, which is 48.3% higher than the figure for the same period last year and confirms the upward trend in premiums in the compulsory motor insurance segment.
For other types of insurance, UAH 3.1 million was collected, which is double the result from March of last year.
Express Insurance was founded in 2008. It is part of the UkrAVTO group of companies. It specializes in auto insurance.
The company has over 300 insurance agents throughout Ukraine and is actively expanding its network of partner service stations.
According to the Interfax-Ukraine Culture project, legendary participants and winners from various years will perform in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will take place on May 16 in the Austrian capital, as reported by the contest organizers.
“We have invited artists who have become symbols of Eurovision over the years to the anniversary show,” noted representatives of broadcaster ORF.
This refers to a special interlude act that will be one of the key parts of the final show. It will feature artists who have shaped the history of the contest and gained widespread popularity among viewers.
In particular, Ruslana—the winner of Eurovision 2004—will appear on stage, as well as Verka Serduchka, who took second place in 2007 and became one of the contest’s most recognizable participants.
Also joining the performance will be the winner of Eurovision 2009, Oleksandr Rybak, and the Finnish band Lordi, which won in 2006.
As the organizers note, “the anniversary contest will be not only a competition but also a celebration of Eurovision’s history, bringing together different generations of artists.”
The song contest will take place in Vienna at the Wiener Stadthalle. The semifinals are scheduled for May 12 and 14, and the grand final for May 16.
As reported, Ukraine’s representative has traveled to Austria to participate in the “Eurovision 2026” song contest.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/culture/1164940.html
