Cargo turnover at Ukrainian seaports reached 82.2 million tonnes in 2025, which was 95.36% of the plan, while the forecast cargo turnover (81.769 million tonnes) was fulfilled by 100.5%, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA)
‘Despite unprecedented security pressure, shelling of port infrastructure and mass air raid alerts, the planned cargo turnover targets for the year were exceeded by more than 95% of the forecast, which was set at 86.2 million tonnes for 2025,’ the agency wrote on Telegram.
The USPA noted that agricultural products remained the key basis for cargo turnover in 2025, accounting for 44.2 million tonnes, or 53.7% of the total volume. Container transport showed significant growth: 215,748 TEU were handled during the year, compared to 129,902 TEU a year earlier.
The USPA identified mass air raid alerts and strikes on port infrastructure as a particular challenge in 2025. In the Odesa region alone, air raid alerts were sounded more than 800 times, and the total downtime amounted to more than one month — minus one month of port operations.
‘Despite this, Ukrainian products were exported to 55 countries around the world,’ the USPA emphasised, thanking the Defence Forces, port workers, stevedoring companies and industry experts for their professionalism and endurance, as well as the Ukrainian Navy for ensuring the safety of shipping and the functioning of maritime corridors.
Afina Group LLC, whose beneficiaries are Ruslan Shostak and Valery Kiptik, co-owners of the EVA and Varus chains, has officially completed the process of acquiring ownership of PJSC Vinnitsabythim, according to the company’s press service.
After fulfilling the necessary legal conditions of the deal, the enterprise became the property of the company. This completes the lengthy privatisation process of one of the key assets of Ukrainian industry in the field of household chemicals.
As reported, in August 2025, Afina Group won an online auction for the privatisation of the nationalised PJSC Vinnitsabythim, offering UAH 608.136 million against the initial price of UAH 301.406 million.
Afina Group noted that the acquisition of ownership rights to Vinnitsabytkhim is part of a long-term strategy for the development of Ukrainian production. The company sees the enterprise as a key platform for further expanding its portfolio of own brands, launching new products and introducing modern quality standards that meet the requirements of national and international markets.
A separate emphasis in the further development of the plant will be placed on preserving and gradually increasing the number of jobs in the region. The implementation of investment plans provides for the expansion of production capacities, which will create additional opportunities for employment and professional development of specialists.
Afina Group considers the acquisition of PJSC Vinnitsabythim to be a responsible investment step and a contribution to strengthening Ukrainian industry, supporting the country’s economic stability and developing national brands during wartime.
Earlier it was reported that on 31 July 2024, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) upheld the Ministry of Justice’s claim to apply sanctions to the Russian company Nevskaya Kosmetika in the form of a 100% stake in the Ukrainian company Vinnytsia Bytkhim being transferred to the state.
In July 2022, the seized assets of PJSC Vinnitsabytkhim were transferred to the National Agency for the Identification, Search and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA).
Following a competitive selection process in July 2023, Kraitex-Service LLC, part of the Afina Group, was granted the right to resume operations and become the asset manager. Kraitex-Service later announced that it would invest UAH 400 million in launching production at Vinnitsabytkhim.
ARMA ceased management of the asset in April 2025 and transferred it to the State Property Fund of Ukraine for further implementation. According to the National Agency, during the period of management of the seized asset, almost UAH 100 million was transferred to the state budget.
While managing the plant, Afina Group launched production of its own brands, Vuhastyk and Sarmix, at its facilities.
PJSC Vinnitsabytkhim is one of the oldest manufacturers of household chemicals in Ukraine with a long history and significant industrial potential. The company has a tower technology for the production of washing powders, which is unique for the Ukrainian market, a modern laboratory base and a developed production and warehouse infrastructure. The plant is of strategic importance for the household chemicals industry and plays an important role in the industrial development of the region.
Afina Group has been operating in the Ukrainian market for over 20 years and is one of the leading operators in the fields of distribution, logistics and the creation of its own brands. The most famous brands of Afina Group are TM Vuhastyk, TM SARMIX, and TM iFresh. The company serves key national and local retail chains through its own extensive network of branches and distribution logistics centres. Its coverage area includes the whole of Ukraine.
According to data from YouControl, in the first three quarters of 2025, Afina Group LLC increased its revenue by 10.7% to UAH 2 billion 286.125 million, with a net loss of UAH 90.576 million compared to a net profit of UAH 68.525 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Smartphone shipments in the world by the end of 2025 increased by 1.9% to 1.26 billion units, according to preliminary calculations of International Data Corporation (IDC).
Including the October-December period, they grew by 2.3% relative to the same period in 2024 to reach 336.3 million units.
“Despite the memory chip shortage crisis, the market was supported in the fourth quarter by solid growth in premium device sales, strong momentum in foldable smartphones, and an uptick in demand from consumers in anticipation of price increases,” IDC said in a statement.
“Despite a challenging year marked by volatile import duties, supply chain disruptions, and persistent macroeconomic challenges in several regions, the global smartphone market showed remarkable resilience, ending 2025 with robust growth of 1.9%,” said IDC Senior Research Director Nabila Popal.
“The main growth drivers were premium manufacturers Apple Inc. and Samsung, which posted the highest growth rates among the top five, at 6.3 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively.” Apple maintained its leadership for the third consecutive year with record shipments and a strong recovery in China, fueled by the success of the iPhone 17 series,” Popal noted.
“Notably, the combined share of Apple and Samsung grew by two percentage points to 39% from 37% in the previous year, underscoring the accelerating trend towards premiumization as consumers increasingly gravitate towards higher-end devices,” the expert added.
The National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications and Postal Services (NCCEC) has extended the permit for Ukraine’s largest mobile operator Kyivstar to test Starlink Direct to Cell (D2C, direct satellite communication with a smartphone) technology until 20 April 2026, according to the approved decision.
The document states that testing may continue throughout Ukraine, with the exception of border areas, areas of military operations, and temporarily occupied territories.
The conditions stipulate that the operator must use the 1725-1730 MHz/1820-1825 MHz (2×5 MHz) bands, ensure territorial retreat from the borders with other states in the west of the country, and comply with measures to avoid radio interference with existing users of the radio frequency spectrum, according to the decision.
As reported, testing of Starlink Direct to Cell satellite communication technology, which allows users to exchange SMS messages in the absence of mobile communication but with direct visibility of the sky, became available in November to all Kyivstar subscribers in Ukraine who had compatible smartphones with 4G (LTE) support. The system operates via a network of more than 650 Starlink Direct to Cell satellites.
It was noted that voice calls and mobile internet are planned to be introduced in Starlink Direct to Cell in 2026.
In the third quarter of 2025, Kyivstar served 22.5 million mobile subscribers, which is 3.6% less than a year ago, while the number of 4G customers grew by 2.4% to 15 million.
In the third quarter, the company’s EBITDA profit amounted to UAH 7.1 billion, which is 21.5% more than in the third quarter of 2024, and in dollars, the growth was 20.4% to $171 million.
The main shareholder of Kyivstar Group, with an 89.6% stake, is the telecommunications holding company VEON, which owned 100% of Kyivstar before it was listed on the stock exchange.
Cargo turnover at Ukraine’s seaports in 2025 decreased by 15.9% compared to 2024, to 81.7 million tonnes, according to Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine – Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba.
According to his post on Telegram, agricultural products formed the basis of cargo turnover – 44.2 million tonnes, which is 26.3% less than in 2024.
‘At the same time, container traffic increased significantly: 215,748 TEU compared to 129,902 a year ago,’ noted the Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery.
According to his data, ports fulfilled more than 95% of the transshipment plan – 82.2 million tonnes of cargo.
It is noted that last year Ukrainian products were exported to 55 countries around the world.
‘These results are evidence that the port industry remains a pillar of the economy even during constant military threats,’ Kuleba stressed.
At the end of December 2025, he reported that the total volume of cargo that passed through Ukraine’s water logistics during the year had decreased to 76.1 million tonnes. In 2025, more than 8.2 million tonnes of cargo were transshipped through the Danube ports of Izmail, Reni and Ust-Dunaysk, compared to 17.3 million tonnes in 2024.
In an interview with Forbes Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Andriy Kashuba noted that Russia damaged 20 merchant ships in October-December 2025 (as of 24 December), which is 2.5 times more than in the same period in 2024.
In October-December 2025, there were 35 attacks on Ukraine’s port infrastructure, which is twice as many as in the same period a year ago.
The National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) has reduced the number of its committees from 12 to 10 and clarified the areas of responsibility of the Commission members, whose number has been reduced from six to five. In particular, by merging the committees on issuer functioning and corporate governance and on the development and implementation of derivative contracts, a committee on corporate governance functioning, development, and implementation of financial instruments has been created, which will be headed by Commission member Maxim Libanov.
As part of the review of the structure, the NCCFM also merged the trading and post-trading areas of the capital market infrastructure into a single committee, headed by commission member Irakli Baramia.
It has been decided that the committee on the functioning of joint investment and accumulative pension institutions will be headed by commission member Arsen Ilyin.
Commission member Yuriy Shapoval continues to head three committees: on law enforcement, information technology and cybersecurity, and financial monitoring and control of financial reporting.
According to the regulator, the changes should optimize the Commission’s activities, reduce duplication of functions between committees, and improve decision-making efficiency by ensuring a more systematic approach to the development and regulation of capital markets.
As reported, on December 31, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Ruslan Magomedov from the post of head of the NSSMC and appointed Oleksiy Semenyuk to this position, who took office on January 6, 2026.
Then, on January 5, the head of state dismissed two more members of the Commission, Yuriy Boyko and Yaroslav Shlyakhov, who headed four committees: on the functioning of joint investment and funded pension institutions, the development and implementation of derivative contracts, the functioning of the trading infrastructure of capital markets, and the functioning of issuers and corporate governance.
The NSSMC, as a collegial body, consists of a chairperson and seven members (six members until the adoption of a new law in February 2025), who are appointed by the President of Ukraine for a term of six years and dismissed from office in accordance with his decrees.
A meeting of the Commission as a collegial body is considered valid if at least five of its total members are present, so the dismissal of any other member of the NSSMC will result in a temporary loss of quorum.
In addition, from January 1, 2026, a provision of the new law will come into force, according to which candidates must pass a selection committee before being nominated for appointment as a member of the Commission, which may increase the time required for this personnel decision.
