A new primary education model, “Country of Knowledge,” was presented in Ukraine. It was developed in response to the challenges of war, the digital age, and the future labor market. The program’s authors state that modern schools can no longer be based solely on memorizing rules and reproducing information—children must learn to think, explore, ask questions, and find solutions on their own.
The presentation took place during a press conference titled “Primary Education as Community Capital: Presentation of a Learning Model for Today’s Challenges,” organized with the participation of researchers, school principals, teachers, and parent representatives.
“We are changing the very philosophy of learning. We are not just teaching children to apply knowledge, but fostering a mindset of inquiry. This is a child’s foundation in an unstable world,” stated Oksana Onopriienko, head of the Department of Primary Education at the Institute of Pedagogy of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine and scientific director of the “Country of Knowledge” program.
According to the program’s authors, the world is changing so rapidly that today’s first-graders will be working in professions that do not yet exist in 15–20 years.
“65% of today’s first-graders will work in professions that do not yet exist. That is why we must teach children not just rules, but an understanding of how the world works,” emphasized Onopriyenko.
The program explains: for decades, traditional schooling has been based on a model where children listen, memorize, and reproduce information. In contrast, “The Land of Knowledge” offers a different approach—learning through research, practice, and emotional engagement.
In math classes, children don’t just study geometric shapes; they explore which materials will make a structure the strongest. In Ukrainian language classes, they learn to present their ideas and argue their own opinions. And in “I Explore the World” classes, they conduct experiments, formulate hypotheses, and seek explanations for phenomena.
The program’s authors place special emphasis on the fact that today’s Ukrainian children are learning amid a full-scale war—to the sound of sirens, after sleepless nights due to shelling, and in an atmosphere of constant anxiety.
“Psychologists are already talking about a dangerous symptom—children maturing too early. This affects their mental health and their ability to learn effectively,” she noted.
That is why, according to the developers, modern schools should not only impart knowledge but also restore children’s sense of security, curiosity, and the joy of learning.
In schools where the program has already begun to be implemented, there are reports of noticeable changes in children’s behavior. Tetyana Yermak, principal of Lyceum No. 157 in Kyiv’s Obolon district, stated that students have become more motivated and interested in learning.
“Children’s interest in school has increased by nearly 90%. They want to go to class, explore, and ask questions. The children even get sick less often because they enjoy being at school,” she said.
According to her, the program also has a positive impact on children’s emotional well-being during wartime, helping to reduce stress levels through creativity, teamwork, and a research-based approach.
Elementary school teacher Alla Korol explained that as early as first grade, children freely use the terms “hypothesis” and “assumption,” learn to work in teams, and formulate rules on their own.
“Our first graders already know how to formulate hypotheses. They aren’t afraid to make mistakes and are learning to find answers on their own,” the teacher noted.
During the presentation, videos from classes were shown where first-graders demonstrated their own STEM projects and experiments. One such video was about the “energy source of the future,” created by a first-grade student.
Parents also speak of positive changes. A representative of the parent community, Daryna Nahorniuk, noted that children not only grasp the material better but also become more independent and confident.
“After a sleepless night due to a ‘suicide bomber’ attack, my child said in the morning: ‘Mom, I want to go to school; we have a knowledge assessment today.’ For me, this was a sign that my child isn’t afraid of learning but truly wants to learn,” she said.
The program’s developers emphasize: “The Land of Knowledge” was created as an accessible model that can be implemented in both large cities and small communities without expensive equipment or multimillion-dollar expenditures.
“You don’t need expensive laboratories to foster a mindset of inquiry. It’s enough to teach a child to ask questions and seek answers,” the program’s authors noted.
Schools in Kyiv, Brovary, and the Ivano-Frankivsk region are already participating in the program. Next year, the project is set to be scaled up and expanded to include preschool and elementary schools.
“We are preparing not just students, but young inventors and citizens who will rebuild Ukraine in the future,” concluded Onopriyenko.
The “Land of Knowledge” educational program was created by researchers at the Institute of Pedagogy of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine in collaboration with practicing teachers as an unconventional model of primary education for Ukrainian schools. The program is based on the STEM approach and focuses on developing critical thinking, research skills, emotional intelligence, and teamwork. Currently, the model is being implemented in schools in Kyiv, Brovary, and the Ivano-Frankivsk region. According to the developers, the program is adapted for both urban and rural communities and does not require expensive technical equipment to implement.
Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, announced that 2026 will be the last year the company uses 3G technology in Ukraine.
“We want to strengthen our technological leadership compared to our competitors,” said Kyivstar CEO and President Alexander Komarov on Thursday during a conference call on the operator’s Q1 2026 financial results.
According to him, the company has nearly completed its licensing obligations to provide 4G coverage to nearly 97% of the country’s population, while also ensuring full LTE coverage along all major roads.
Komarov noted that he does not expect 5G to be rolled out in Ukraine before the end of the war.
“The most likely scenario is something like 12 months after the war. And that is precisely why we view our investments in LTE technology as strategic,” the mobile operator’s CEO noted.
Regarding the decrease in Kyivstar’s subscriber base in the first quarter of 2026 by 0.4 million, or 3%, to 22 million, the company’s CEO noted that this decline reflects a general market trend driven by three factors: a decrease in the number of dual SIM cards, a certain increase in prices, and the overall demographic situation in the country.
At the same time, Komarov pointed out that, according to statistics from the national regulator, Kyivstar has maintained its market share in terms of subscriber numbers and even increased it by 0.1 percentage points in 2025 compared to 2024.
“We have been relatively stable over the past few years, with a subscriber market share of over 47%,” he stated.
As reported, Kyivstar increased its EBITDA by 28.5% in the first quarter of 2026—to UAH 7.5 billion—while revenue grew by 31.3%—to UAH 13.9 billion.
The ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 18.4% to UAH 166.5 due to increased data consumption and tariff indexation, while the average number of minutes a subscriber uses per month (Mobile MoU) rose by 2.3% to 297.
The general meeting of shareholders of KD Life Insurance Company (KD Life) on April 29, 2026, approved the payment of dividends for 2025 in the amount of UAH 3.171 million, the company reported in the NSSMC’s disclosure system.
As noted, the payment will be made at a rate of UAH 88.054 per share. It will be carried out within six months of the date of this decision.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), KD Life collected UAH 81.03 million in insurance premiums in 2025, made UAH 14.4 million in payouts, and reported a net profit of UAH 3.338 million.
KD Life is a Ukrainian company founded in 2007 by the KD Group holding company.
The KD Group holding company is a leader in the Eastern European financial market, with nearly 130 years of experience in life and risk insurance, financial management, and investment funds. Currently, the company’s services are provided by over 3,000 consultants throughout Ukraine.
The Swedish Parliament has approved stricter rules for obtaining citizenship: starting June 6, 2026, the minimum total period of residence in the country required to apply for a passport will increase from five to eight years.
The new rules apply to adult applicants. The Swedish Migration Agency notes that different timeframes will apply to certain groups, but the basic requirement is being increased to eight years. Stricter criteria for “an orderly life” are also being introduced: individuals who have committed crimes will have to wait longer before obtaining citizenship.
The reform is part of a broader policy by the Swedish government to tighten immigration rules. In addition to extending the residency requirement, authorities also plan to introduce mandatory requirements regarding knowledge of the Swedish language, basic social studies, and the financial independence of applicants. According to Reuters, the government had previously proposed requiring applicants to have an income of over 20,000 Swedish kronor per month, as well as passing language and social studies tests.
The U.S. Library of Congress, analyzing the Riksdag’s decision, notes that the new residency requirements will take effect on June 6, 2026. At the same time, the language test is set to take effect on October 1, 2027, or earlier if the government so decides, while the social studies test will be introduced on a date determined by the Cabinet.
One of the most controversial aspects of the reform is the lack of a full transition period. More than 100,000 people whose applications are already under review may be affected by the new rules. This means that some applicants who were counting on the previous five-year period may be denied or forced to wait longer.
For foreigners who were planning to naturalize in Sweden, the reform significantly extends the waiting period. This could have a particularly noticeable impact on labor migrants, refugees, foreign professionals, and families who have been living in the country for several years and made plans based on the previous rules.
In recent years, Sweden has been consistently tightening its immigration policy following a long period of a more liberal approach to accepting foreigners. Authorities explain the changes by the need to strengthen integration, raise requirements for language proficiency and self-sufficiency among migrants, and bolster trust in the institution of citizenship. Critics of the reform warn that the retroactive application of the new rules could create legal uncertainty and reduce the country’s appeal to skilled professionals.
Poland is preparing a reform of its citizenship procedure that is expected to make it more difficult for foreigners to obtain a Polish passport, according to a proposal from the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration.
According to the Ministry’s plan, the minimum period of legal residence in Poland for citizenship applicants is to be increased to 8 years. This model involves 3 years of temporary residence followed by 5 years of permanent residence. Currently, the path to citizenship is shorter for certain categories of foreigners.
The reform also provides for stricter integration requirements. Foreigners will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the Polish language at a level no lower than B2, pass a state exam on the history, constitutional values, and principles of the Polish state, and sign a declaration of loyalty to the Republic of Poland. According to Polish media reports, the exam may include approximately 40 questions.
The Polish Ministry of the Interior explains the reform as a necessity to enhance the prestige of Polish citizenship and introduce clear criteria to confirm applicants’ integration into Polish society.
The tightening of rules comes amid a record increase in the number of naturalizations. In 2025, more than 19,000 foreigners received Polish citizenship. The largest group was Ukrainian citizens—more than 10,000 people—followed by citizens of Belarus—6,500—and Russia—759 people, Polish media reported, citing data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration (MSWiA).
In 2024, 16,300 foreigners received Polish citizenship, about half of whom were Ukrainians. By comparison, in 2023, approximately 10,000 people received Polish citizenship, and in 2019, 6,600.
A significant portion of Ukrainians obtain Polish citizenship through mechanisms related to the Polish Card and subsequent permanent residence. This distinguishes them from some other migrant groups, for whom the path to citizenship is more often based on employment, long-term residence, or family ties.
Poland remains one of the main destinations for Ukrainians since the start of the full-scale war, as well as one of the largest labor markets for Ukrainian citizens. The tightening of citizenship rules means that the transition from temporary or permanent residency to a Polish passport may become a longer and more formalized process.
Arsenal Insurance has completed the settlement of a major property insurance claim and made two payments totaling over 114 million hryvnias.
The fire occurred on the premises of a large production and warehouse complex in Dnipro. As a result of the fire, the buildings sustained critical damage—only fragments of the structures remained of some of the premises.
Based on the results of technical inspections, the buildings were deemed unsafe: the load-bearing structures completely lost their strength, and some of them collapsed inside the premises. The complex is subject to complete demolition and reconstruction.
The insurance compensation was paid in two installments:
— 51.9 million UAH was paid on May 6, 2026;
— 62.3 million UAH was paid on May 11, 2026.
“Settling such claims is an extremely complex process that requires a large number of technical expert assessments, analysis of the structural condition of the buildings, and a detailed evaluation of the extent of the damage. In this case, it was essentially a matter of the complete destruction of a large complex, so the settlement process was particularly laborious,” commented Arsenal Insurance.
