A Far Eastern leopard cub with melanism—a rare black coat color atypical for this subspecies—was born at the “XII Months” Zoo near Kyiv. The female, named Hera, was born on August 20, 2025, but the public was only informed about her now—after the animal had passed the most dangerous period of its first months of life. Mikhail Pinchuk, the zoo’s director and founder, shared this in an exclusive comment to the “Interfax-Ukraine” agency.
“This is a very rare occurrence. Hera’s parents are ordinary Far Eastern leopards, yellow with black spots. The black coloration is a recessive gene that may not manifest for generations. Only if both the mother and father carry it can such a black cub be born,” said Pinchuk.
According to him, the very appearance of a black leopard cub in the Far Eastern subspecies came as a real surprise to the park. The director explained that black Far Eastern leopards have rarely been recorded in the wild, which is particularly due to the characteristics of their habitat. While dark coloring may be an advantage in the jungle, in open snowy areas it, on the contrary, makes the predator too conspicuous.
Park officials say they didn’t immediately grasp the significance of the event at first, as no one expected such a birth from this particular pair of animals. At the same time, they decided not to publicly announce Gera’s arrival right away. The reason was the difficult start to her life.
As Pinchuk explained, a bacterial infection was detected in the cub during the first weeks after birth. Because of this, the leopard cub had to be taken away from its mother and treated. Additionally, it later turned out that the animal had swallowed straw in its mother’s den, and small straw fibers had entered its nasopharynx, complicating its condition.
According to the director, the name Gera was given by the park’s veterinarians. Today, she is already active, developing well, climbing trees, playing, and demonstrating quite distinct hunting instincts. Her diet already includes meat, specifically beef and quail, and the animal herself, despite her playfulness, is already showing the character of a true predator.
Pinchuk says with a smile that as she has grown older, Gera has become so energetic that all her play increasingly resembles training for future hunts.
“The difference between walking a dog and walking Gera (the leopard) is that you don’t lead her—she leads you. Wherever she wants to go, that’s where you have to follow her. If she decides we’re going to the woods today—then we’re going to the woods. If she wants to walk on rocks—we walk on rocks,” said zoo founder Mykhailo Pinchuk.
In the first few months, Gera was walked only in enclosed and safe areas. In the winter, she was let out into the large orangutan enclosure, and later they began taking her on a leash through the zoo grounds early in the morning or late at night, when there were no visitors yet. According to the director, the leopard cub grew up very quickly: while just recently she was a tiny kitten, now she is a serious young predator with sharp teeth, claws, and the habits of a hunter. That is why, after her play sessions, park staff have to replace damaged clothing and sometimes even repair the surrounding area.
At the same time, Hera’s story has become not only good news for the zoo but also a symbol of how the park is trying to hold on during a full-scale war. Pinchuk emphasized that today the main task of “XII Months” is not development or expansion, but simply survival until the end of the war.
“We are currently operating under the premise that we need to survive until the war ends. Nothing else matters. The number of people is about five times smaller compared to pre-war years,” he said.
According to the director, following the occupation of the Kyiv region, the park has completely rethought its security and support systems. Whereas a gas boiler room was previously the main source of power, the zoo has now established a multi-tiered backup system: alternative heat sources, a large backup generator for the entire park, and individual generators for each building where the animals live. All of this is necessary for one purpose—to prevent the temperature in the enclosures from dropping at a critical moment.
Pinchuk explained that some animals, especially primates and heat-loving species, cannot be kept in the cold even for a short time. For example, primates need to be kept at around 20 degrees Celsius; otherwise, they start to get sick. That is why the park begins preparing for the next winter as early as spring—purchasing pellets, branches, and feed, and checking heated floors, generators, and the entire infrastructure.
In fact, according to the director, the zoo’s current operating model is one of constant preparation for a new crisis. And while such measures might have seemed like overkill in peacetime, after 2022 they became a basic condition for survival.
Pinchuk also touched on the financial situation. He emphasized that the park’s only stable source of income remains ticket sales—that is, visitor admission fees. According to him, the zoo receives no systematic state support or significant international aid.
“Our visitors help us. Anyone who comes to us and buys a ticket has already helped automatically. We don’t so much ask for donations as we ask people to come visit us,” he said.
According to the park’s founder, help from caring people does exist, but in much smaller amounts than at the start of the full-scale invasion, when the zoo’s story under occupation particularly struck a chord with many Ukrainians. Today, he says, this is understandable, as the country has far more critical needs, and the army and the front lines remain the priority for people.
At the same time, the park is forced to reconsider ticket prices. Currently, an adult ticket costs 500 UAH, and a child’s ticket costs 350 UAH; however, prices will likely have to be raised, as the costs of maintaining a large number of animals, heating, feed, and backup systems are only increasing.
Pinchuk also noted that the park is currently trying to avoid focusing on active animal breeding. Whereas previously there were open borders and the possibility of full-scale exchanges with other zoos around the world, bringing in new animals under wartime conditions now seems too risky. That is why new additions to the park are currently the exception rather than the rule.
At the same time, “XII Months” remains a place where you can see not only Gera but also many other iconic and rare animals. During the conversation, the director specifically mentions primates, orangutans, large predators, as well as the entire infrastructure created specifically to house complex and valuable species. That is why every birth here is not just news for visitors, but the result of the complex daily work of a large team of veterinarians, paramedics, and keepers.
The behavior of animals during the war was also a separate topic of conversation. According to Pinchuk, while the reaction was dramatic in the early days of the full-scale invasion, most of the park’s residents have now largely adapted to the constant threats. They often react to the sounds of explosions more like they would to thunder, although nearby explosions, of course, frighten both animals and people.
Visitors will be able to see Hera starting in early April. The zoo hopes that the story of the black leopard cub will not only be good news for the Kyiv region but also an additional reason for people to visit the park and support it during these difficult times.
The “XII Months” Park in the Kyiv region was under occupation in 2022 and has since been operating amid constant security and financial challenges. The birth of a female Far Eastern leopard with melanism in August 2025 was a unique event for the park, which was only publicly announced after the animal had passed the critical survival period. Starting in early April 2026, Geru is scheduled to be shown to visitors for the first time.
Author: Olga Levkun
The Sukha Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), part of Alexander Yaroslavsky’s DCH Group, has commissioned two new iron ore mining sections, which are scheduled to be developed throughout the spring.
According to information in the DCH Steel corporate newsletter on Thursday, for each production unit, the company’s specialists take into account the specific characteristics of the ore deposit and the mining-geological conditions. After analyzing the data, they apply technological solutions that ensure the most efficient extraction possible.
It is noted that on March 13, at the Yuvileina Mine, block 110-116 in the “Glavny” deposit was put into production on the seventh sub-level of the “minus” 1,420 m horizon. Given the characteristics of the ore body, the classic mining method using scraper winches was employed here. The block’s reserves are estimated at 37,200 tons, with an average iron content of 59.25%. The block’s reserves are expected to last for two months of operation.
In addition, it is reported that at the Frunze Mine, technological processes—from preparation to loading—are carried out using self-propelled machines. On March 19, Block 51-57 was commissioned here, located in the “Druzhba” deposit at a depth of “minus” 1,227 m. The block’s reserves amount to 48,200 tons of high-quality raw material (62.83%), which will be sufficient for three months of stable operation.
“A differentiated approach to technology selection—from the scraper method to the use of self-propelled equipment—allows for flexible operation in various mining conditions and maintains stable raw material quality,” the corporate publication notes.
Since the beginning of 2026, four new production units with a total reserve of 258,900 tons have been put into operation at the Sukha Balka mine. In particular, in March, Block 67-71 was commissioned at the Yuvileina Mine on the seventh sub-level of the “Shurfa” deposit at the “minus” 1,420 m level.
The Sukha Balka Mine is one of the leading enterprises in the mining industry in Ukraine. It extracts iron ore using underground mining methods. The mine complex includes the Yuvileina and Frunze mines.
In May 2017, the DCH Group acquired the mine from the Evraz Group.
The number of full-time employees at the Kyivstar Group increased by 5.9%, or 291, to 5,183 in 2025, with the majority—68%—working at Kyivstar, the largest telecommunications operator, according to the group’s annual report.
According to the report, Kyivstar increased its workforce by 5.8%, or 193 employees, to 3,518 last year, while Kyivstar. Tech increased its workforce by 11.2% to 624, Helsi by 17.4% to 270, and only Uklon’s headcount remained unchanged at 768 people.
“The total number of our employees as of December 31, 2025, exceeds the number at the start of the war, and we have not lost a single key employee as a result of the war, despite the fact that 95% of our employees are located in Ukraine,” the report states.
According to the report, the group saw a 4.6% increase in full-time employees in 2024, or 217 people, including a 3.1% increase at Kyivstar, or 100 people.
It is noted that 20.7% of employees work in the network, 18% in call centers, 14.7% in commercial functions, 12.2% in digital functions, 7.6% in finance, 1% in HR, 0.8% in legal, 0.3% in compliance, and 21.4% are engaged in other support functions.
“We have developed internal procedures to manage the risk of mobilization of critical employees and are constantly analyzing the workload on staff to ensure uninterrupted operations,” the report states.
The group reported that since the start of the war in February 2022, it has paid employees 842 million UAH in emergency aid and is also offering 77% of employees the option to work in hybrid and remote modes.
It is also noted that the group had a relatively low voluntary turnover rate at the end of last year (calculated as the number of employees who resigned voluntarily relative to the total number of employees), with the exception of the call center, which relies heavily on seasonal workers—6.5%, which is only 0.5 percentage points higher than at the end of 2024 and 2023.
The report also notes that 218 employees are members of the Trade Union Committee of the primary trade union organization, and negotiations on concluding a collective agreement were suspended due to the war and are expected to resume after the end of martial law.
“We believe that relations with our employees are generally good,” the group concludes.
As reported, Kyivstar served approximately 22.4 million mobile subscribers and over 1.2 million fixed-line subscribers as of the end of 2025. The company is wholly owned by Kyivstar Group Ltd, whose shares are traded on the U.S. Nasdaq stock exchange and whose majority owner, in turn, is the telecommunications holding company VEON with an 83.6% stake.
In 2025, the Kyivstar Group increased its EBITDA by 30% to UAH 27 billion, with revenue growing by 30.3% to UAH 48.2 billion; including in the fourth quarter of last year, when EBITDA increased by 23.1% to UAH 7.2 billion, with revenue growing by 30.1% to UAH 13.5 billion.
According to Serbian Economist, the Hungarian government has designated the “Hungary–Serbia” oil pipeline and related infrastructure as a priority investment project, which is expected to speed up administrative procedures and construction work. Budapest views the project as part of a broader strategy to better coordinate the energy and fuel markets of Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia. The Hungarian side believes this will enhance the resilience of regional energy supplies and reduce dependence on external risks.
Hungarian media reports state that the government’s goal is to bring the system into full operation in 2027 or 2028. The new route is intended to create an additional foundation for oil supplies to the region amid the continued vulnerability of existing supply lines.
The issue is particularly sensitive for the region following supply problems with the Druzhba pipeline, a section of which on Ukrainian territory was damaged in January. Against this backdrop, Budapest has in recent weeks linked energy security issues to broader regional policy.
For Serbia, accelerating the project is important both in terms of diversifying supply routes and in the context of ongoing uncertainty surrounding NIS and oil imports. The new pipeline could become one of the country’s key energy infrastructure projects.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2509
PJSC “Druzhkivka Metal Products Plant” (DZMV, Donetsk Oblast) reported a 6.7% increase in net profit for 2025 compared to 2024, reaching UAH 16.716 million.
According to the company’s announcement in the disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) regarding the remote general meeting of shareholders to be held on April 27, there are nine items on the agenda. In particular, the meeting is scheduled to review the company’s supervisory board report for 2025, approve the results of financial and operational activities for the past year and the distribution of profits, and determine the main areas of activity for 2026.
Shareholders will also give preliminary consent for the company to enter into significant transactions, approve the charter, and adopt new versions of the regulations “On the General Meeting of Shareholders” and “On the Supervisory Board.”
In addition, the meeting will elect members of the supervisory board.
Draft resolutions, copies of which are available to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, regarding the agenda item on profit distribution propose approving the net profit for 2025 in the amount of UAH 16.716 million, to be retained without distribution.
It is also proposed to elect a four-member supervisory board for a three-year term, consisting of Valery Malikov, Anton Malikov, Andriy Shapovalov, and Oleksiy Spiridonov.
DZMI’s net profit in 2024 amounted to UAH 15.671 million, in 2023 – UAH 24.049 million, and in 2022 – UAH 33.832 million.
PJSC “Druzhkivka Metal Products Plant” specializes in the production of metal fasteners: bolts, nuts, and rivets for general mechanical engineering, fasteners for railway track superstructures, and high-strength fasteners for building and bridge structures. In May 2022, the company issued an order terminating employment contracts due to Russia’s military aggression and the impossibility of carrying out production and business activities. Later, the company changed its legal address from Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, to Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
According to the State Register of Legal Entities as of the fourth quarter of 2025, 14.9949% of the company’s shares were owned by individual Alexei Spiridonov, 13.0304% by Olena Mishchenko-Solonaya (a resident of Spain), 24.5167% by Irina Mishchenko, Serhiy Popkov – 5.8611%, Anton Malikov – 9.75%, Olena Malikova – 8.25%, and Valeriy and Dmytro Malikov – 9.774% each.
The company’s authorized capital is 3.323 million UAH, and the par value of one share is 0.05 UAH.
The international consulting firm Henley & Partners has published its ranking of career opportunities for expats—the Henley Opportunity Index 2026—which covers 15 countries with well-established investment migration programs.
According to the study, the ranking includes the following countries: Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Austria, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, and Greece.
Switzerland topped the ranking with a total score of 86 out of 100. It was followed by Singapore (81), Australia (80), the United Kingdom and the United States (79 each), Canada (78), Austria (69), and the UAE (68). Hong Kong and Italy tied for ninth place (65 points each), while Latvia and Malta tied for tenth (62 points each).
At the bottom of the list are Portugal (61 points) and Greece (59 points), which bring up the rear.
The study’s authors note that the index is not a global comparison of all countries in the world, but rather a selection of jurisdictions offering the most developed programs for obtaining residency or citizenship through investment or merit.
The ranking is based on six equally weighted criteria: potential income, career growth opportunities, access to jobs at leading companies, quality of education, economic mobility, and overall quality of life. The calculations use data from national statistical agencies as well as international organizations, including the IMF, OECD, and ILO, and global labor market rankings.
