The Sukha Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region), part of Alexander Yaroslavsky’s DCH group, has prepared a new block of the Golovnyi iron ore deposit at the Yuvileina mine with reserves of 126,000 tons.
“Miners at the Yubileinaya mine have prepared a new block 30-34 for extraction, located at a depth of 1,420 meters on the first sublevel of the Golovnoy deposit. The block’s reserves amount to 126,000 tons of high-quality raw materials with an iron content of 58.75%,” the DCH Steel corporate newspaper reported on Thursday.
In addition, it is reported that the Sukha Balka mine and the Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant (DMZ) paid almost UAH 650 million in taxes and fees to budgets of all levels in 2025. The mine transferred UAH 359.1 million to the consolidated budget. The largest share in the structure of payments was rent for the use of subsoil for the extraction of minerals – UAH 157.3 million. In addition, UAH 78.2 million was paid in single social contribution (SSC), UAH 69.1 million in personal income tax, UAH 20.5 million in land rent, and UAH 19.2 million in military tax, etc.
In 2025, DMZ contributed UAH 290.5 million to the state and local budgets. In particular, it paid UAH 103.5 million in land rent, UAH 68.1 million in SSC, UAH 64.5 million in personal income tax, UAH 30 million in value added tax, and UAH 17.9 million in military tax.
The Sukha Balka mine is one of the leading enterprises in the mining industry in Ukraine. It extracts iron ore using underground methods. The mine includes the Yuvileina and Frunze mines.
The DCH Group acquired the mine from the Evraz Group in May 2017.
The cost of restoring and rebuilding Ukraine’s telecommunications, digital, and media sectors is estimated at $7.1 billion between 2026 and 2035, while the total damage is estimated at $2.5 billion, according to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) report on the damage and needs caused by the large-scale Russian invasion.
It is noted that among the priorities for recovery are the repair of partially damaged telecommunications and postal infrastructure and the expansion of backup systems, such as backup power and satellite connections.
According to the document, the needs for restoration of the telecommunications sector are concentrated in frontline and densely populated areas, in particular in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, and Kharkiv regions, which together account for more than 65%. In terms of damage, the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions account for 55% of the total damage.
“The damage reflects lost revenue for private operators and postal service providers, increased operating costs due to repairs, and additional costs for backup power generators,” the report says.
“Together, the damage and losses have disrupted access to information, education, and government services,” the document states.
The RDNA5 report was prepared jointly with the World Bank, the European Commission, and the UN. It covers the period from February 24, 2022, to December 31, 2025. According to the report, the total cost of recovery in Ukraine will be $588 billion over the next decade, which is almost three times Ukraine’s projected nominal GDP for 2025. A year earlier, the estimate was $524 billion, a year before that – $486 billion, and a year before that – $411 billion.
The RDNA5 assessment estimates the direct damage to Ukraine at $195 billion, compared to $176 billion in the RDNA4 assessment and $152 billion in the RDNA3 assessment.
Ukrsibbank (Kyiv) plans to increase its loan portfolio in the small and medium-sized business (SME) segment by more than 2.5 times in 2026, according to Vladimir Shevchenko, head of the retail sales department.
“Last year, we increased our loan portfolio in the SME segment by almost 3 times,” Shevchenko said during the presentation of the results of the European Business Association (EBA) study “Small Business Sentiment Index” 2026.
Commenting on the study data, according to which only 12% of entrepreneurs consider lending as a source of financing, Shevchenko noted that this figure is low compared to developed countries, but at the same time indicates the potential for growth after the end of the war.
“For me, this 12% is like a glass that is half full and half empty.
On the one hand, it is very little, but on the other, it is the potential that awaits us after victory,” he added.
The main barrier to more active lending to small businesses remains entrepreneurs’ uncertainty about the future, while banks do not have a shortage of liquidity or credit appetite.
Shevchenko added that banks are adapting their processes to SME requests for quick access to financing, in particular by reducing decision-making time and trying to use information from open sources to offer customers almost ready-made solutions.
The greatest demand for lending in the SME segment comes from the retail trade (financing of working capital and covering cash gaps), while enterprises in the agricultural sector, manufacturing, and logistics also actively need loans.
“Among the key requirements of small businesses for banks, in addition to the cost of lending, the speed and convenience of financing approval are becoming increasingly important, as customers are not willing to wait one or two months for a loan decision,” Shevchenko emphasized.
At the same time, he noted that a significant increase in the share of entrepreneurs who consider loans as a source of financing should not be expected before the end of the war.
Ukrsibbank is owned by BNP Paribas (France) — 60% and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) — 40%.
According to the regulator, as of January 1, 2026, the bank ranked 8th (UAH 186.48 billion) among 60 banks in Ukraine in terms of net assets, with a net profit of UAH 5.8 billion for 2025.
The bank’s net loan portfolio in 2025 increased by 73.9% to UAH 17.29 billion.
Tourism should become a tool for Ukraine’s economic recovery, and a significant increase in the volume of Ukraine’s tourism industry is possible after the end of the war and complete security stabilization, according to Natalia Yakimenko, director of the travel agency “I’ll fly wherever I want!”
According to the annual study by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), by 2035, the contribution of travel and tourism to Ukraine’s GDP could grow 1.5 times to $16.1 billion, exceeding the pre-pandemic 2019 figures, when this indicator was 620.4 billion UAH ($15.5 billion, 6.3% of GDP). The global tourism market has already managed to recover after the decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the war in Ukraine is still preventing tourism from being fully utilized as a tool for economic development.
“A 1.5-fold increase in foreign tourism is possible primarily after the end of the war and complete security stabilization. An important factor could be the restoration of the possibility for men to travel abroad freely, as many families are currently unable to travel together. The market will also be supported by the potential return of Ukrainians from abroad, as people who have lived in other countries for some time will retain the habit of traveling,” Yakimenko commented to the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
She stressed that a necessary factor is the restoration of direct air links, which will make travel to and from Ukraine easier and more affordable. “Provided there is economic growth and income stabilization, demand may recover fairly quickly,” Yakimenko said.
The Ukrainian hospitality industry has significant potential for growth in volume and an increase in its share of the economy as a whole. For comparison: according to WTTC data, the contribution of travel and tourism to global GDP was $11.7 trillion in 2025, which is 7.3% more than in 2024 and 13.6% more than in pre-pandemic 2019. Travel and tourism accounted for 10.3% of the global economy, up from 10% in 2024 but still below the 10.5% recorded in 2019. In 2025, the sector supported a total of 371 million jobs worldwide (10.9% of jobs), compared to 356.6 million (10.6%).
As for Ukraine, last year tourism accounted for 5.2% of GDP, reaching UAH 413.1 billion ($10.3 billion), which is 15.2% more than in 2024, but 33.4% less than in 2019.
According to Yakimenko, the average vacation check in Ukraine is already growing, our compatriots travel less often but go for longer periods due to complex logistics, and more often choose more comfortable hotels and better infrastructure. “Many customers consciously avoid mass budget resorts and destinations with many Russian tourists, even if it is more expensive. After prolonged stress, people want a full rest and emotional recovery, so they are willing to invest more in one trip,” she says.
There is a trend toward job recovery: in 2024, 766,700 people were employed in the industry (6.2% of all jobs in Ukraine), which is less than in 2019 (1.15 million, 6.9%), but 21.9% more than in 2024. At the same time, women make up the majority of those employed in the industry — 61.1% — and the share of young people under 24 is also significant (6.7%). Only 8% are high-paying jobs.
“Traditionally, more women work in tourism—this is a feature of the service industry. Young people are also actively involved, as the market requires flexibility and quick adaptation. At the same time, there is a growing focus on corporate social responsibility—companies are creating opportunities for veterans and internally displaced persons,” Yakimenko said, outlining labor market trends.
By the end of 2025, foreign tourists will have brought 58 billion hryvnia ($1.4 billion) to the domestic economy, which is one and a half times more than in 2024, but 61.3% less than in 2019. Domestic tourism is more stable – in 2025, it generated UAH 287.2 billion ($7.2 billion), which is 11.6% more than in 2024, but 16% less than in 2019. Overall, foreign visitors accounted for only 12.6% of the total in 2025. Business tourism also accounts for a small share (5.3%), with leisure tourism accounting for the bulk of tourist traffic (94.7%).
According to WTTC forecasts for the next decade, the share of tourism in global GDP will remain stable at around 11.5%, the total volume will grow to $16.5 trillion, and the number of jobs will increase to 461.6 million.
As for Ukraine, according to the WTTC’s analytical conclusions, by 2035 the industry will generate about 6.1% of GDP, with an estimated volume of $16.1 billion. Between 2026 and 2035, up to 400,000 new jobs will be created, bringing the total number of jobs to 1.16 million. In terms of revenue, foreign visitors could bring in $4.8 billion in 2035, while domestic visitors could bring in $8.7 billion.
According to Yakimenko, the trends that intensified in Ukraine after 2022 will continue. In particular, quiet resort destinations, beach and wellness vacations are now more popular, there is less spontaneity (the demand for short trips of up to 3 days and hot tours has completely disappeared), and the share of solo trips has increased. Themed trips are also popular (fitness tours, gastronomic tours, trips with influencers, retreats, etc.). “Separately, we see the prospect of developing inclusive tourism: our agency is actively researching this area and forming a list of hotels and destinations that are convenient for people with disabilities, because after the war, the demand for accessible recreation will only grow,” said Yakimenko.
Foreign trade in dairy products in January 2026 amounted to $40.5 million, which is 35% less than in December 2025 ($61.8 million) and 26% less than in November 2025 ($54.7 million), according to the Ukrainian Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).
The industry association noted that exports in January 2026 amounted to $18.0 million, which is 27% less than in December 2025 ($24.6 million) and 24.3% less than in November 2025 ($23.8 million).
Imports in January this year amounted to $22.4 million, which is 40% less than in December 2025 ($37.2 million) and 27.5% less than in November 2025 ($30.9 million).
The export-import balance in January 2026 was negative (-$4.4 million), as it was in December 2025 (-$12.5 million) and November 2025 (-$7.0 million). The ratio of exports to imports in January was 0.80 (in December – 0.66; in November – 0.77).
The association’s analysts noted that in the value structure of exports in January 2026, 32% was accounted for by milk and condensed cream, 27% by cheese, and 21% by butter and other fats. Compared to January 2025, the share of all types of cheese increased from 22% to 27% amid a decline in the share of butter and other dairy fats from 30% to 21%.
There were no significant changes in the value structure of imports during the reporting period compared to January 2025: the share of all types of cheese decreased slightly from 79.8% to 78.4% (-1.4 percentage points), while the share of whey increased significantly, from 1.8% to 6.3%, according to the SMU.
Electromashpromservice JSC (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region), which specializes in the repair of electrical equipment, ended 2025 with a net profit of UAH 2.55 million, which is 3% less than in 2024.
According to the agenda of the company’s general meeting of shareholders on March 31, it is planned to allocate the profit to the development of the enterprise, without accruing or paying dividends.
The agenda includes, in particular, the issue of preliminary approval of significant transactions, namely with the Northern Mining and Processing Plant (M&P), the Central M&P, Ingulets GOK, and Southern GOK – for the repair of equipment with a maximum total cost of UAH 50 million with each GOK, as well as for the supply of products from Sonar LLC and Tekhprovid LLC for UAH 50 million each.
Electromashpromservice PJSC performs major and medium repairs of electrical machines and transformers; technical maintenance of electric motors, generators, transformers, electromagnets; manufacture of spare parts for electric motors, electric generator sets, and rotary machines.
According to the company, its workshops are located directly on the premises of the largest enterprises in Kryvyi Rih, namely Northern GOK, Ingulets GOK, and the Diesel Plant.
“These enterprises, together with other enterprises in Kryvyi Rih, provide more than 80% of the volume of work,” according to the company’s financial report for 2024.
As of the beginning of 2025, the company employed 181 people (in 2021, there were 568 employees).
According to the company’s report, in 2024, its net income increased by 65.2% compared to the previous year, to UAH 73.1 million, and net profit increased by 88.4%, to UAH 2.64 million.
As of early 2026, Andriy Gusak, chairman of the company’s supervisory board, owns more than 24.7% of the authorized capital of JSC Elektromashpromservice, while NR member Olena Kulish and LLC AFT each own 24.9%.
The company’s authorized capital is UAH 9.37 million, and the nominal value of a share is UAH 1.05.
