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
Industrial production in Ukraine rose by 4.5% in March 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, following a decline of 2.6% in February and 8.1% in January, according to the State Statistics Service (SSS).
According to the statistics agency, industrial production in March 2026 increased by 16.9% compared to the previous month.
Derzhstat notes that overall, industrial production in Ukraine declined by 1.1% in the first quarter of this year.
As reported, industrial production in Ukraine in 2025 decreased by 1.7%, while in 2024 it grew by 4.7%.
The data is presented excluding territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and parts of territories where hostilities are (were) taking place.
Ukraine’s real gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025, following a 3.0% increase in the fourth quarter of last year, 2.1% in the third quarter, 0.7% in the second, and 0.8% in the first, the State Statistics Service reported on Tuesday.
According to its data, compared to the previous quarter, taking into account seasonal factors, real GDP decreased by 0.7%, while a quarter earlier this figure was positive at 0.7%.
As reported, the National Bank lowered its forecast for real GDP growth in 2026 to 1.3% from 1.8% in its January Inflation Report due to the still-dire state of the energy system and the accumulation of negative economic effects from the war in the Middle East. The NBU estimated GDP growth in the first quarter at 0.2%
At the same time, the Ministry of Economy estimated a 0.2% decline in GDP for January-February of this year.
As reported, according to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine’s GDP growth slowed to 1.8% in 2025 from 2.9% in 2024 and 5.5% in 2023, following a 28.8% decline in 2022—the first year of full-scale aggression.
