PJSC “Zaporozhyeoblenergo” on January 13 announced a tender for compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles (OSAGO), as reported in the system of electronic public procurement Prozorro.
The expected cost of services is UAH 1.713 mln.
Documents for participation in the tender are accepted until January 21.
“Zaporozhyeoblenergo” operates electricity distribution networks in the territory of Zaporizhzhya region and provides services on transportation and supply of electricity to consumers. The length of overhead power lines is more than 37 thousand kilometers.
The Ukrainian passive fire protection market in 2025, according to preliminary estimates, is worth $8-12 million, with the share of imported materials falling from 80% in 2016 to 17% in 2025, according to the Experts Club analytical centre.
‘Local production reduces costs compared to imported counterparts, which is especially important for large-scale restoration projects,’ said Konstantin Kalafat, co-owner and director of Kovlar Group, quoted in the article.
According to an analytical study by the Ukrainian manufacturer of passive fire protection products, Kovlar Group, based on the interim results of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, provided that the hostilities end, the market could grow to $25 million by 2026. It is expected that the demand structure will be dominated by specialised fire-retardant paints (70-80%), fire-retardant plasters and slabs – 5-10%; passage sealing and communication protection systems – 5-10%; ventilation, smoke ducts and wood protection products – about 5%. An additional driver may be the growing demand for epoxy and polyurethane fire protection systems for oil and gas infrastructure, energy and strategic facilities – a segment that was previously limited by the high cost of imported analogues.
Experts Club notes that against the backdrop of war and logistical constraints, import substitution continues, and in 2025, Ukrainian manufacturers and international brands were simultaneously present on the market through suppliers and certified systems, in particular Ammokote, Hensotherm, Defens, Promapaint, and Steelguard. The leader of the segment in public estimates is Kovlar Group, which claims a share of about 65% of the Ukrainian fire protection materials market and a portfolio of more than 25 items of fire protection products and related materials; other notable Ukrainian manufacturers include Kapitel Dnipro and NVP Spetsmaterialy.
EXPERTS CLUB, fire protection material, Kovlar Group, Калафат
According to Serbian Economist, Montenegro is tightening the requirements for obtaining and extending temporary residence permits (TRPs) for foreigners on two popular grounds: property ownership and business management. The law on amendments to the Law on Foreigners has been published in Službeni list Crne Gore (No. 3/2026).
In the parliamentary amendments that became part of the final text, the minimum ‘cost’ of a property for a residence permit on the basis of real estate ownership is set at no less than €150,000. The decision of the tax authority (the basis for property tax) is indicated as confirmation, and the rule does not apply to citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
It is noteworthy that the government’s initial proposal set a higher threshold of €200,000 and was linked to the tax authority’s assessment; it was this level that had previously sparked debate in the business community and among real estate market participants.
The authorities have reformatted their approach to extending residence permits for entrepreneurs and executive directors. The relevant parliamentary committee noted that the government had made amendments removing the requirement for Montenegrin citizens to be employed as a condition for extension and replaced it with the need to provide proof of paid tax obligations in the minimum amount of €5,000 per year.
The ‘real estate – residence permit’ link remains in place, but there is now a clear price filter that may shift demand to properties priced at €150,000 and above, especially in coastal and central municipalities. At the same time, the risk of imbalance for the north of the country, where prices are lower, was previously highlighted in parliamentary discussions as a sensitive issue for the regions.
For small businesses, the new model looks more predictable: instead of formal hiring, a measurable criterion of ‘taxes not less than €5,000’ is introduced, which potentially lowers barriers for companies without the need to expand their staff, but strengthens fiscal discipline.
Reference: the government explained the package of amendments as necessary for further alignment with EU migration regulations.
In 2025, Ukrainians purchased 274,300 used passenger cars imported from abroad, which is 24% more than in 2024, according to Ukravtoprom’s Telegram channel.
‘Over 77% of all passenger cars that joined the domestic car fleet last year were used cars imported from abroad,’ the report states.
The average age of imported used cars was 8.4 years (nine years in 2024).
Petrol cars accounted for the largest share in this segment of the car market – 43%, compared to 47% in 2024. Next are electric cars – 31% (18%); diesel cars – 18% (25%); hybrids – 5% (5%) and cars with LPG systems – 3% (5%).
The Volkswagen Golf tops the list of the ten most popular models with 12,812 units, followed by two TESLA electric car models – Model Y (10,683 units) and Model 3 – 9,348 units.
The list of the most popular models also includes the Renault Megane – 8,379 units; Skoda Octavia – 7,754 units; Nissan Leaf – 7,559 units; VW Tiguan – 7,439 units; AUDI Q5 – 6,933 units; Nissan Rogue – 6,310 units; and KIA Niro – 5,799 units.
As reported, in 2024, more than 222,100 used passenger cars imported from abroad were added to the Ukrainian car fleet, which is 4% more than in 2023 and exceeded 75% of the passenger car market.
As in the previous year, the most popular model was the Volkswagen Golf, with 12,164 registrations. The top three also included the Renault Megane with 9,608 registrations and the Skoda Octavia with 8,083 registrations.
The TESLA Model 3 ranked 9th last year with 4,639 used imported cars registered, while the Model Y did not make it into the top ten.
As reported, the increase in demand for used cars from abroad (as well as new ones) is primarily due to the introduction of VAT on their import from 1 January 2026.
At the same time, market experts emphasise that a significant portion of these cars were purchased ‘in advance’.
The head of the inter-factional deputy association ‘Smart Politics’, former speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Dmytro Razumkov (independent) opposes the initiative to revoke the right to deferment from mobilisation for all men over 25 who enrol in higher, pre-higher and vocational educational institutions.
“They say that we have a total shortage of people on the front lines, so they decided to take away the deferral for those who are studying at the age of 25+. Ask yourself how people who are not really studying got in there. Answer the question: who took the money? The next question is: why don’t you expel them if they are poor students? Why are you taking away this deferral from everyone: those who are studying, those who are getting an education, those who will work for the good of our state after receiving their diplomas?” Razumkov said at a session of the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday.
In his opinion, such a decision could lead to an outflow of these people abroad.
As reported earlier, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, Serhiy Babak, said that parliament could deprive men over 25 who enrol in higher, pre-higher and vocational education institutions of the right to defer mobilisation. Such a bill is currently being prepared.
At the end of 2025, Oleg Sharov, Director General of the Directorate of Higher Education and Adult Education of the Ministry of Education and Science, stated that one of the challenges of the 2025 admission campaign was the creation of unfriendly conditions for those who want to use admission to obtain a deferral from mobilisation.
The Ministry of Education also reported that the number of male applicants over the age of 25 at all levels of education in 2025 had more than halved compared to 2024. According to the materials published by the committee, in 2021, there were 1,196 male applicants over the age of 25 at all levels of education (vocational, specialised higher education, bachelor’s, master’s, postgraduate); in 2022, there were 17,614; in 2023 – 44,042 (of which 19,700 are bachelor’s degrees and 16,400 are postgraduate degrees); in 2024, there will be 112,749 people (of which 7,300 will be in vocational education, 55,600 in specialised higher education, 16,700 in bachelor’s programmes, 26,100 in master’s programmes, and 7,000 in postgraduate programmes); in 2025 – 53,517 people (of which 5,200 will have vocational education, 24,800 will have specialised higher education, 12,200 will have bachelor’s degrees, 9,100 will have master’s degrees, and 2,200 will have postgraduate degrees).
Renowned American investor and co-founder of the Quantum Fund, Jim Rogers, owner of Rogers Holdings with a fortune of approximately $300 million, has completely divested himself of Russian and American assets, directing his funds into shares of Uzbek companies.
As of the end of 2025, Rogers’ investment portfolio has been replenished with securities from most issuers listed on the Tashkent Republican Stock Exchange.
According to sources in the investment community, Rogers implemented a diversification strategy, focusing on the emerging markets of Central Asia. He acquired shares in about 85 companies, covering key sectors of the Uzbek economy, from energy and mineral extraction to agriculture and financial services. The investor refused to buy the republic’s sovereign debt and did not hedge currency risks, demonstrating confidence in the long-term potential of the Uzbek economy.
This move was the culmination of Rogers’ long-standing interest in the region: since 2021, he has been actively monitoring reforms in Uzbekistan, including market liberalization and preparations for initial public offerings (IPOs).
“Uzbekistan is a country with enormous growth potential, where reforms are creating favorable conditions for investors,” Jim Rogers said in a recent interview, drawing parallels with his successful investments in Asia in the 1990s.
