Pivdenny Mining and Processing Plant (Pivdenny GZK, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) reduced its concentrate output by 45.1% in January–March of this year compared to the same period last year—to 1.546 million tons from 2.819 million tons.
According to materials available to the agency “Interfax-Ukraine,” the volume of commercial production in the first quarter of 2026 at the Southern GOK amounted to 1,546,500 tons of concentrate worth UAH 4,255,486,000, while the volume of sold products—concentrate—was 1,431,000 tons worth UAH 3,865,853,000.
It is noted that PGZK did not export any products during the reporting period.
Meanwhile, the volume of commercial production in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to 2.819 million tons of concentrate worth UAH 6.103340 billion. The volume of products sold: concentrate – 2.852 million tons worth UAH 6.202801 billion.
It is further specified that ore processing plants Nos. 1 and 2 process iron-bearing quartzites, with the iron content in the raw ore being Fe total – 34.70% and Fe magnetic – 27.55%.
In 2023, following the unblocking of the seaports used for the sale of PGZK’s commercial products, the company managed to resume exports of iron ore products to external consumers and, accordingly, increase production volumes.
“As of today, the Russian Federation’s military aggression prevents PGZK from conducting its production and business activities to their full extent; consequently, the level of investment remains significantly lower than in the pre-war period, the implementation of some investment projects has been suspended, and the long-term development program for the enterprise through 2030, which was developed and approved in 2021, has been adjusted to focus on maintaining existing production capacities, maximizing the preservation and extending the service life of existing equipment, and continuously seeking operational improvements to reduce overall operating costs,” the interim report states.
In the first quarter of 2026, the average headcount of full-time employees on the payroll was 4,007.
Pivdenny GOK is one of the leading producers of iron ore concentrate in Ukraine. It is engaged in the extraction and beneficiation of low-grade iron-bearing quartzites to produce iron ore concentrate. The plant’s raw material base consists of quartzites from the Skelevatsky deposit, located in the central part of the Kryvyi Rih iron ore basin.
At the start of the war, PivdenGOK was controlled by the Metinvest Group and Lanebrook Ltd. (formerly a majority shareholder of Evraz Group, which withdrew from the group’s shareholder structure in 2018), which acquired 50% of the shares in the plant from the Privat Group (Dnipro) at the end of 2007.
According to the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) data for the fourth quarter of 2025, Zantest Limited holds 29.8815% of the company’s shares, and Jetere Limited (both based in Cyprus and registered at the same address) holds 59.7630%.
The company’s authorized capital is UAH 535.915 million, and the par value of a share is UAH 0.25.
According to Serbian Economist, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the country needs “bold and important decisions” and serious reforms in the near future, rather than “revolutionary chaos.” He wrote this in an op-ed for Kurir.
According to Vučić, Serbia must change not only its institutions but also the habits of society, as the country’s future will be determined by hard work, discipline, and the ability to adapt to new technological and energy challenges.
The first point of the plan concerns downsizing the government apparatus. Vučić advocated for a sharp reduction in the number of government members, state secretaries, deputy ministers, and related administrative structures. He also stated the need to abolish a number of agencies, offices, and departments which, in his assessment, lack sufficient justification for their existence. Separately, the president mentioned economic deregulation, including the elimination of unnecessary certification of goods from the EU, which makes them more expensive in Serbia than in the European Union.
The second section concerns labor productivity. Vučić opposed the idea of reducing working hours and stated that Serbia must “work more, not less.” According to him, the country cannot afford an approach that attempts to boost motivation by reducing the number of workdays or hours. He cited Germany as an example, which, in his view, will be forced to increase the workload to compete with China and the United States.
The third point of the plan is a comprehensive reform of education. The president stated that Serbia needs a more open system of higher and vocational education, as well as more active implementation of dual education. According to him, preparing young people for the labor market must become one of the central priorities of educational policy.
The fourth point concerns energy. Vučić stated that Serbia needs to comprehensively address energy issues, including the construction of oil pipelines, gas pipelines, interconnectors, hydroelectric power plants, wind farms, and solar power plants. However, he said that without small and large nuclear power plants, the country will not be able to ensure long-term energy stability. The president called nuclear energy “the cleanest and safest” and noted that one of the main challenges for the future government will be securing the expertise and funding for such projects.
The fifth point is devoted to artificial intelligence, robotics, and modern technologies. Vučić advocated for the “aggressive” acquisition of new knowledge and the continued procurement of supercomputers and construction of data centers. He called data centers “factories of intelligence” that could give Serbia an advantage in the region. At the same time, the president directly linked digital development to the energy sector, noting that the construction of data centers should not be halted due to a shortage of electricity.
For the Serbian economy, the proposed plan represents an attempt to combine administrative reform, increased labor efficiency, technological modernization, and a new energy strategy. In practice, the most challenging aspects may be downsizing the bureaucracy, abandoning populist ideas regarding the labor market, and preparing the country for nuclear energy, which will require significant investment, specialists, a regulatory framework, and public consensus.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2771
On May 6, Centrenergo PJSC announced its intention to enter into a contract with VUSO Insurance Company for compulsory civil liability insurance for owners of land vehicles (OSAGO).
According to the Prozorro electronic public procurement system, the company’s bid amounted to 125,900 UAH, compared to an expected cost of 385,500 UAH.
Other insurance companies participating in the tender included Guardian, with a bid of 127,000 UAH; Oranta, with 140,400 UAH; and Kraina Insurance Company, with 323,700 UAH.
According to Serbian Economist, Croatia Airlines, the Croatian national carrier, will cancel about 900 flights over the next three months—roughly 5% of its planned 27,000 flights—due to a sharp rise in jet fuel prices. This was announced by the carrier’s commercial director, Slaven Žabo, in a comment to RTL Croatia, as reported by EX-YU Aviation.
According to him, the unfavorable geopolitical situation has hit jet fuel prices hard: since the start of the crisis, the cost of kerosene has doubled and is rising faster than the price of oil. Žabo noted that current fuel prices will lead to multimillion-dollar losses for airlines, including Croatia Airlines.
The company refers to the reduction of the schedule as “optimization”—that is, aligning aircraft capacity with current demand, the cost of operating flights, and the profitability of specific routes. At the same time, Croatia Airlines emphasizes that during the high season it operates up to 100 flights per day, and the cancellation of 900 flights will affect only part of the schedule.
In addition to canceling some flights, the carrier is preparing to raise ticket prices. The cost of flights will be affected not only by fuel but also by rising airport fees. In particular, Zagreb Airport has announced a 20% increase in service fees starting June 1.
The problem is not limited to Croatia. According to The Guardian, due to rising jet fuel prices, airlines worldwide have cut approximately 2 million seats for May 2026, which corresponds to roughly 13,000 flights, or less than 2% of global aviation capacity. The most significant cuts have affected Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa.
For the region, this means that the summer tourist season may unfold amid higher ticket prices and fewer available flights. This is particularly sensitive for the Adriatic countries, where air accessibility directly impacts tourism, the hotel sector, and consumer spending by foreign visitors.
Serbia’s Air Serbia has not yet announced large-scale flight cancellations, unlike Croatia Airlines. On the contrary, the company reported record financial and passenger results for 2025: revenue reached €719.5 million, exceeding €700 million for the second consecutive year, and the carrier continued to expand its route network.
However, rising fuel costs are already affecting the Serbian carrier as well. Air Serbia spokesperson Bojan Rupić previously stated that the company is introducing fuel surcharges, but passengers who have already purchased tickets will not be required to pay the additional fee. According to him, the additional charges for round-trip tickets generally amount to €20–30, while on long-haul flights to the U.S. and China, they can reach €100.
EU member states and the European Parliament have so far failed to agree on the internal mechanism for implementing the trade agreement with the United States, despite pressure from Washington and the threat of new tariffs on European automobiles.
Negotiations between representatives of the European Parliament and EU countries took place on the evening of May 6 and lasted more than six hours, but no final decision was reached. According to Bloomberg, Cyprus, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, confirmed that the parties discussed possible amendments to the transatlantic agreement concluded in the summer of 2025, but failed to reach a final compromise.
The issue concerns EU-US trade arrangements announced in July 2025. Under the agreement, Brussels is expected to abolish tariffs on a range of American industrial goods, while Washington maintains a baseline tariff rate of 15% on a significant share of European exports. Stricter conditions remain in place for steel, aluminum, and copper, including 50% tariffs.
The main dispute within the EU is related not so much to the principle of the agreement itself as to guarantees in case the United States fails to fulfill its obligations. The European Parliament insists on additional safeguard mechanisms, including the possibility of suspending concessions if Washington violates the arrangements. Some EU countries, by contrast, support a faster approval of the deal in order to avoid further escalation of the tariff conflict.
The situation escalated after threats by US President Donald Trump to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the EU from 15% to 25%. Brussels fears that this would hit Germany and other countries with major automotive exports particularly hard. According to Reuters, most EU countries are interested in completing the procedure as quickly as possible, while the European Parliament demands stronger safeguards be built into the agreement.
Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade Bernd Lange stated that the negotiations had moved forward, but that “there is still a way to go” before a final decision is reached. The next round of consultations between the European Parliament and EU member states is scheduled for May 19 in Strasbourg.
For the European Union, this dispute is a test of its ability to conduct a unified trade policy under pressure from the United States. Some countries emphasize the need to quickly remove the risk of new tariffs for industry, while others fear that an overly soft EU position would create a precedent in which Washington could secure concessions through threats of additional duties.
For European businesses, the main uncertainty is currently linked to the automotive sector, industrial supplies, and transatlantic production chains. If the EU fails to coordinate its internal position in time, the risk of higher US tariffs will remain, and trade relations between the world’s two largest economic blocs could once again enter a phase of acute confrontation.
Active preparations for the resort season are underway in Odessa, according to the city’s military administration.
“The top priority is the safety of vacationers. Therefore, before the start of the season, eight additional mobile shelters will be installed along the coast at the city’s expense. They will be located along the stretch from Langeron Beach to the 16th station of the Great Fountain. The total number of functional shelters along the coast will increase to 19,” reads a statement on the CMA’s Telegram channel.
According to the information, this year there are plans to increase the number of public beaches to six, and two inclusive beaches will be operational. As agreed with the leaseholders, infrastructure for people with disabilities will be installed at the city’s other beaches.
Currently, tenants and the relevant municipal enterprise are carrying out a range of preparatory work: setting up lifeguard stations, installing buoys, conducting underwater surveys of the seabed, and testing alarm systems.
Reportedly, a joint commission of the city council and the Regional State Administration has been established to assess the readiness of the coastline; the decision to partially open the beaches will be made solely based on the results of its work. After the commission’s inspection and the signing of the inspection reports confirming the beaches’ compliance with requirements, the final list of beach areas open to visitors will be published.
