Ukraine open for business

Mayak plant in Vinnytsia has installed 236 kW solar power plant

A large Ukrainian manufacturer of heating devices and equipment for heating systems (TM Termia), JSC Vinnytsia Mayak Plant, has installed its own solar power plant (SPP), according to Andriy Ocheretny, deputy head of the Vinnytsia City Council.

“The SPP was launched on September 19, 2025. A total of 384 solar panels were installed. The peak capacity is 236.16 kW,” he wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

As specified by City Council Deputy Vyacheslav Terlikovsky, the enterprise took advantage of the Vinnytsia City Council’s program to compensate for the cost of equipment from renewable energy sources.

According to him, the installation of the SES was carried out by Promavtomatika Vinnytsia LLC, which will also provide further maintenance.

The Mayak plant, under the Termia trademark, manufactures, among other things, air heating units (heat guns, fan heaters, air curtains), electric convectors, electric boilers, and heating radiators.

According to the company’s annual report on its website, in 2024, its consolidated net profit decreased by 2.4 times compared to 2023, to UAH 7.6 million, and net income decreased by 10%, to UAH 251.6 million.

Ocheretny also reported that an application for compensation from the Vinnytsia City Council for the purchase of equipment for the production of electricity from renewable sources was submitted by PP “Konex,” which specializes in the trade of pharmaceutical products.

“PP Konex now also has its own solar power plant with a total capacity of 60 kW. In total, 108 panels (560 W each) and 20 storage batteries (5.12 kW each) are installed on the roof of the enterprise,” he wrote.

According to its website, the Konex pharmacy chain has more than 200 pharmacies in the Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Rivne, Ternopil, and Odesa regions.

According to its report, Konex earned UAH 51.8 million in net profit and UAH 3.5 billion in revenue in 2024.

PLANT, SOLAR POWER PLANT, VINNYTSIA, Маяк

Ukraine ranked 4th in world in walnut production

In 2024-2025, Ukraine ranked fourth in the world in walnut production, growing about 101,000 tons, second only to China, the US, and Chile, according to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) entitled “The Nut Industry of Ukraine.”

Analysts noted that in 2023, Ukrainian walnut exports were estimated at $77 million. At the same time, the industry has only just begun to commercialize. Until now, it has been quite informal, with over 95% of walnuts grown in private households.

“This is a unique production model, completely opposite to, for example, the American model, which uses large industrial orchards in the US,” the experts noted.

According to KSE researchers, support from the state and donors could significantly expand the industry. For example, the “eRobota” grant program, which covers up to 70% of the costs of planting orchards, has already directed billions of hryvnia into nut crops, making them one of the most supported horticultural sectors. Previous experience gives an optimistic outlook for expansion, with almost 6,000 hectares of new orchards planted with state subsidies between 2018 and 2023.

Analysts note that the environmental friendliness of nuts creates an additional advantage for their export. The crop has a low carbon footprint during cultivation — 0.76 kg CO₂/kg compared to 3.56 kg CO₂/kg for almonds. This means that walnuts can be positioned as a climate-friendly superfood, the study concludes.

Analysts also noted that the export value of nuts increases approximately fourfold due to processing. Shelled nuts are sold at almost four times the price of unshelled nuts, and in 2023, they accounted for 72% of Ukrainian walnut exports. The main markets are the EU (58% of revenue), Turkey, France, and Romania.

According to the researchers, in order to accelerate the development of the sector and increase exporters’ profits, two problems must be solved first: the shortage of high-quality seedlings and low production and storage standards, which affect product quality.

Experts noted that importing seedlings will not solve the first problem. Seedlings imported from France and Moldova generally do not take root well in Ukrainian soil. Another issue is mold and toxins, which form as a result of uneven drying or improper storage and are a key barrier to increasing the industry’s efficiency and deeper integration into the EU.

“Walnuts are one of Ukraine’s most promising export crops. They could become the flagship product of Ukraine’s agricultural integration into the EU. Even despite the war, fragmented production, and political challenges, our producers are able to compete with leading European producers. To do this, entrepreneurs need to be provided with seedlings and advice. At the same time, the industry must be brought into line with EU requirements,” KSE concluded.

PRODUCTION, WALNUT

Lithuania to transfer over 200 transformers to Ukraine for its power grid

Lithuanian state-owned AB Energijos skirstymo operatorius, which operates the country’s distribution networks, will transfer another batch of equipment to Ukraine for the needs of the energy sector.

“Under the donation agreement, Ukraine will receive more than 200 power transformers of various capacities (…) The humanitarian aid is expected to arrive before the start of the heating season,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy said on Wednesday.

The equipment will be transported through the humanitarian aid and civil protection mechanism, which is funded and coordinated by the European Commission (ECHO).

“The transformers are critically needed for the rapid restoration of distribution networks damaged by Russian attacks, as well as to ensure a stable power supply to consumers in wartime,” said Energy Minister Svitlana Grinchuk, whose words are quoted in the statement.

The ministry explained that in order to respond quickly to enemy strikes and carry out operational repairs, it is necessary to have sufficient reserves of backup equipment. To this end, the Ministry of Energy has initiated the creation of a National Strategic Reserve of Power Transformers, which is being formed with the help of international partners, among others.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has received 324 humanitarian shipments of energy equipment from Lithuania, with a total weight of 5,247 tons.

LITHUANIA, POWER SYSTEM, transformer

European broadcasters to vote on expelling Israel from Eurovision 2026

The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed it will hold an online vote in November that could see the Israeli broadcaster Kan expelled from next year’s Eurovision song contest.

In a letter sent to participating broadcasters on Thursday, the EBU president, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, wrote there was an “unprecedented diversity of views” on Israel’s participation in Eurovision, and the issue required “a broader democratic basis”.

In a statement, the EBU said: “We can confirm that a letter has been sent from the executive board of the European Broadcasting Union to directors general of all our members informing them that a vote on participation in the Eurovision song contest 2026 will take place at an extraordinary meeting of the EBU’s general assembly to be held online in early November.”

The decision comes after several European broadcasters, including those from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia, threatened to boycott the next edition of the world’s largest live music event if Israel was allowed to take part.

Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Meanwhile Israel, which has won the contest four times since its debut in 1973, has continued to compete for the past two years despite disputes over its participation.

Both the 2024 contest in Malmö, Sweden, and this year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, were marked by pro-Palestine protests around the concert halls.

Next year’s Eurovision, the 70th anniversary of the song contest, is due to be held in the Austrian capital, Vienna, in May.

Its hosting broadcaster ORF earlier this week expressed optimism that the event would go ahead even in the case of boycotts and resulting loss of broadcasters’ contributions.

“The Eurovision song contest will take place in Vienna in 2026,” an ORF spokesperson said. “The event will take place irrespective of the number of participating broadcasters.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/25/european-broadcasters-to-vote-on-expelling-israel-from-eurovision-2026

EUROVISION, ISRAEL

In August, Express Insurance paid out nearly UAH 2 mln for cars damaged by shelling

In August 2025, Express Insurance paid more than UAH 1.8 million to seven car owners from Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Mykolaiv region for cars damaged by falling rocket debris and UAVs, according to the insurer’s website.

In addition, it is noted that August saw the highest number of incidents caused by natural disasters since the beginning of the year. The total amount of payments for these incidents reached almost UAH 1 million. Hail was a frequent cause of damage, and there were also reports of trees and roof debris falling due to strong winds. The events took place both in the capital and in the regions, in particular in Khmelnytskyi, Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia, and Chernihiv regions.

In August, the company settled a total of 608 insurance claims under CASCO and OSAGO contracts. Of these, 448 claims were under CASCO, and another 160 were under compulsory civil liability insurance.
The total amount of insurance payments at the end of the month was UAH 43.6 million, including UAH 35.4 million for CASCO and UAH 8.2 million for CMTPL.

Incidents under CASCO contracts this month traditionally involved traffic accidents (88%). In addition, customers filed claims due to unlawful actions of third parties (7%), natural disasters (3%), and events caused by military actions (2%).

In 58% of cases involving MTPL policies, the victims filed insurance claims with the participation of the police, and another 42% followed the Europrotocol procedure. The largest payments in August to victims under CMTPL policies amounted to UAH 250,000 for property damage due to traffic accidents in Kyiv and Dnipro, and UAH 320,000 for health damage to a victim of a traffic accident in Kyiv.

Express Insurance was founded in 2008.

AUTO, EXPRESS INSURANCE, shelling

State Property Fund of Ukraine puts Odessa Port Plant up for sale

The State Property Fund (SPF) of Ukraine has announced the sale of 99.5667% of Odessa Port Plant JSC (OPP, Pivdenne, Odessa region) at an online auction in the Prozorro. Sales” system on November 25, 2025, with a starting price of UAH 4 billion 488.523 million.

According to a statement on the Fund’s website on Thursday, bids for participation in the auction will be accepted until 8:00 p.m. on November 24, with a guarantee deposit of UAH 224.43 million.

It is noted that the property includes 45 units of real estate and infrastructure, including a greenhouse and vegetable processing plant, a medical and health center, the Karpatski Zori resort in Yaremche, and a training and educational rowing center. The total area of the real estate is 285,400 square meters, and the total area of the 32 registered land plots is 262.9 hectares, of which 252.4 hectares are on a permanent use basis.

As of June 30, 2025, the company employs 1,436 people.

According to the report, OPZ’s revenue for January-June this year amounted to UAH 322.63 million, while its net loss was UAH 280.79 million. In 2024, the plant increased its revenue to UAH 944.22 million from UAH 494.57 million a year earlier, but its net loss grew to UAH 1 billion 839.3 million from UAH 1 billion 94.58 million.

As of the middle of this year, OPZ’s wage arrears amounted to UAH 184.39 million, its budget arrears amounted to UAH 182.44 million, and its overdue accounts payable amounted to UAH 16.62 billion.

The winner of the auction is obliged to maintain the main types of activity for five years and invest at least UAH 500 million, as well as pay off wage and budget debts within a year, gradually pay off overdue debts, and provide guarantees to employees and in terms of compliance with environmental legislation.

Acting Chairman of the Board and Director of OPZ Yuriy Kovalsky said in an interview with NV Business in August this year that in August 2024, the plant’s management tried to start up one of the two ammonia units, but this step was not successful. Since then, OPZ has been rebuilt for grain transshipment, and this activity was the only source of income for the enterprise, but at the end of June, as a result of a Russian air attack, the warehouse facilities were significantly damaged, which suspended transshipment operations. According to Kovalsky, OPZ’s partner in grain transshipment is the trader V AGRO LLC. In the 2024-2025 marketing year, about 638,000 tons of grain were transshipped: 625,000 tons of corn and 12,700 tons of soybeans.

The acting chairman of the board also reported that OPZ has significantly optimized its expenses, sold non-core assets, and is actively working with creditors, in particular, with Naftogaz of Ukraine, to offer a future investor a viable debt structure, which amounts to about UAH 2.5 billion.

Kovalsky noted that for safety reasons, OPZ does not plan to resume production in the near future, but is maintaining its production lines in full technical readiness so that it can resume work as soon as possible, as soon as it becomes possible.

The state has tried to privatize the enterprise several times, but without success.

FGI of Ukraine, Odesa Port Plant

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