The Kryvyi Rih Mining and Metallurgical Plant PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (AMKR, Dnipropetrovsk region) has created an autonomous heating system for its coke production facility (CPF) to save energy and improve energy efficiency.
According to information from the primary organization of the Trade Union of Workers in the Metallurgical and Mining Industry of Ukraine (PO PMGU) AMKR on its website, energy specialists have completed a project to create an autonomous heating system at the CCF.
At the same time, with reference to the head of the KHV energy department, Alexander Melnikov, and the head of the steam supply section of the department, Dmitry Khvorostinin, it is specified that previously, heating water for the heating system at KHV was supplied from a neighboring metallurgical production facility. However, in order to use energy resources more rationally and prevent unjustified heat losses, KHV Director Nikolai Galushkin proposed introducing autonomous heating that would operate on the principle of complete self-sufficiency.
Almost everything needed to create an autonomous heating system was found at the enterprise. The largest component of the new system, a storage tank for heating water, had previously been used at the chemical plant.
The heat transfer medium supplied to the heating system was chemically purified water produced at the chemical plant, and it was decided to use low-pressure steam produced in-house to heat it. As a result, a closed-cycle system was created, which is as energy-efficient as possible. Appropriate metering devices were installed to control and regulate the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer fluid.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine. It specializes in the production of long products, in particular, rebar and wire rod. The company has a full production cycle, with a production capacity of over 6 million tons of steel, more than 5 million tons of rolled products, and over 5.5 million tons of pig iron per year.
ArcelorMittal owns Ukraine’s largest mining and metallurgical complex, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, including ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against 10 individuals and 20 US defense companies in response to the latest US arms deliveries to Taiwan. This was stated in a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, released on Friday and quoted by Reuters.
The restrictions apply, in particular, to Boeing in St. Louis, as well as a number of other US defense contractors. The sanctions include freezing any assets of companies and individuals in China and prohibiting Chinese legal entities and individuals from doing business with them. In addition, executives on the sanctions list are barred from entering mainland China, as well as Hong Kong and Macau.
Beijing linked the decision to Washington’s approval of a large package of arms supplies to Taiwan worth more than $10 billion, including HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, artillery, and other types of weapons to strengthen the island’s defenses.
The Chinese authorities have stated that they consider US arms supplies to be interference in the internal affairs of the PRC and a violation of the “one China” principle, promising to continue to take “decisive measures” in response to the arming of Taiwan.
The Experts Club think tank previously compared the military capabilities of China and Taiwan. For more details, see https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kFdxOOC4_Ss
Metinvest Group has won the UN Global Compact Partnership for Sustainability Award 2025 in Ukraine in the “Reconstruction of Ukraine” category for creating the first underground steel hospital on the front line.
According to the company’s press release, the Partnership for Sustainability Award is the most prestigious award in the fields of corporate sustainability and ESG (environment, social responsibility, and governance). The annual award recognizes the best partnership projects implemented by business, government, and society. These projects are aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals, protecting the environment, overcoming social and economic challenges, and promoting peace. Since 2018, the award has brought together more than 600 cases of successful partnerships that have become examples of sustainable leadership.
This year, 150 applications from 22 countries were submitted to the competition, of which 93 projects were selected for the final. They were evaluated by an independent international jury, which included experts from Harvard University, the London School of Economics, the World Economic Forum, the Basel Institute on Governance, and other influential international institutions.
Winners were selected in seven categories. The “Reconstruction of Ukraine” category covered support for Ukraine’s defenders, humanitarian aid to the civilian population, demining and evacuation, human rights protection, and reconstruction projects.
Metinvest created Ukraine’s first underground medical stabilization point on the front line in coordination with the Skhid Medical Forces. The steel hospital is submerged to a depth of 6 meters and equipped with communications, electronic warfare systems, alternative power sources, and security measures. Inside, there is a laboratory, surgical equipment, oxygen concentrators, a ventilator, defibrillators, and more. In terms of staffing, it corresponds to Role/Echelon 2 field hospitals according to NATO standards.
“This hospital has already saved about 4,000 lives of servicemen performing combat missions 8-10 km from the contact line. Recently, one of these units was directly hit by three aerial bombs. Thanks to the hospital, it was possible to save people. Thank God, the entire unit survived,“ said Roman Kuziv, commander of the Medical Forces ”East” group.
The hospital receives up to 100 wounded per day.
“Underground hospitals are our know-how, created on the basis of steel bunkers – ‘hideouts’. When it comes to saving the lives of defenders, every minute is crucial. That is why the location of stabilization points near the front line and their concealment from the enemy allow medics to work safely and provide timely assistance. This Ukrainian engineering invention has already proven its effectiveness and attracted the interest of one of the world’s leading armies,” said Metinvest’s Chief Operating Officer Oleksandr Myronenko.
The UN Global Compact in Ukraine is the official representative of the world’s largest community of responsible businesses that shapes ESG culture. The initiative brings together more than 25,000 participants in 167 countries around the world. The Ukrainian network includes nearly 150 companies from various sectors of the economy. Metinvest Group joined the UN Global Compact in 2010.
Germany has transferred the ninth IRIS-T air defense missile system to Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
“IRIS-T is a modern air defense missile system. It is manufactured by the German company Diehl Defense. The system is designed to destroy aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles,” the ministry’s press service said in a statement.
It is noted that the high-tech IRIS-T missiles can maneuver quickly, hit targets both on head-on courses and during pursuit, and have highly sensitive infrared homing heads. They are capable of hitting modern aircraft, overcoming their defense systems, and distinguishing real targets from false ones.
Currently, two types of IRIS-T systems are in use: SLS – short range, range up to 12 km, altitude up to 8 km, and SLM – medium range, range up to 40 km, altitude up to 20 km.
The IRIS-T system can be integrated into Ukraine’s unified air defense system, where it works in conjunction with other air defense and missile defense systems.
The corn market is currently the most active segment of Ukrainian grain exports, ensuring stable port loading and constant demand from importers, according to the analytical cooperative “Pusk,” created within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council (VAR).
“Corn currently remains the only relatively active market segment. As of December 22, exports amounted to almost 1.5 million tons. Although these volumes are not record-breaking, shipments are stable, and it is corn that keeps most ports operating today,” analysts said.
According to their information, demand for corn on the world market remains high. Ukrainian corn remains in demand in EU countries, particularly in Spain and Italy, which are among the key buyers, as well as in Turkey.
At the same time, importers are closely monitoring the security situation in Ukraine.
“Importers are aware that the war is not expected to end quickly in the coming months and that risks to port infrastructure will remain. If exports from Ukraine are halted or significantly reduced, it will be difficult for the global market to quickly cover the possible deficit. American corn has already been contracted for January and almost entirely for February, so there are virtually no alternatives to Ukraine for supplies during this period,” experts said.
At the end of the week, spot corn prices rose to $207–208 per ton, while domestic contract prices rose to 9,800–9,850 UAH/ton.
“Further price dynamics will largely depend on the growth rate of logistics costs and security risks,” Pusk said.
According to Serbian Economist, Ukrainian berry producers and processors conducted a technological business tour to Serbia in December 2025, where they studied practices of growing and industrial freezing of berries, primarily raspberries, according to the Berry Growers Association of Ukraine (BGAU).
The trip was organized by the association with the support of the SIPPO program in Ukraine. Five Ukrainian companies and representatives of the association took part in the tour, visiting Serbian berry growing and freezing enterprises and familiarizing themselves with the cold processing chain – from small refrigerators to facilities capable of freezing up to 30% of the national raspberry harvest.
The UBA noted that despite competition between Ukraine and Serbia on the global raspberry market, the Serbian side demonstrated a willingness to share practical experience and technological solutions. The second day of the visit was devoted to professional training at the Institute of Horticulture in Čačak.
Serbian experience also revealed a number of problems that are also characteristic of Ukraine: the industry’s dependence on manual harvesting, labor shortages, and pressure from weather factors. In Serbia, almost all raspberries are harvested by hand, and the average wage for harvesters in the 2025 season was around €50 per day; small farms with an average area of about 0.1 hectares remain the main suppliers of raw materials for processing.
Context: the role of Serbia and Ukraine in raspberries and exports
Serbia maintains its position as the largest exporter of frozen raspberries and related berry crops in world trade: in 2024, it became the top exporter for commodity item HS 081120 (frozen raspberries, blackberries, etc.) – $313.2 million and 99.0 thousand tons. In 2024, Ukraine ranked 4th among exporters under the same heading – $115.4 million and 61.3 thousand tons.
The main destinations for Ukraine’s exports under HS 081120 in 2024 were Poland and Germany (followed by the Czech Republic, France, and Italy), reflecting the orientation of Ukrainian frozen products towards the EU market and the processing chains of Central Europe.
