Ukrainian marketplace for verified real estate DIM.RIA conducted a survey of its audience, in which more than 1,500 Ukrainians took part. The aim of the study was to find out the plans, priorities, and budgets of Ukrainians in the field of buying and renting housing. The results showed that in 2025, the average budget for purchasing real estate decreased, while tenants, on the contrary, are willing to spend more.
In 2025, most Ukrainians will continue to live in their hometowns. However, the proportion of those moving to safer regions and abroad has increased compared to 2024.
The two most common reasons for buying a home among the marketplace users surveyed were to move from rented accommodation to their own home (42%) and to change their place of residence (33%). Apartments on the secondary market are in the highest demand. Users are also considering private houses from owners. New buildings (both apartments and houses) rank third and fourth in popularity. Smart apartments are the least interesting.
The average budget that Ukrainians are willing to spend on buying a home in 2025 has either remained at the previous year’s level or decreased slightly. Currently, the largest share is those who plan to spend between $30,000 and $50,000. Over the past year, the number of people planning to buy a home for more than $50,000 has decreased.
The main reason for looking for rental housing is a change of city or neighborhood. Rental preferences coincide with purchase plans: apartments on the secondary market are the most popular. Next among the options are new buildings and smart apartments.
Most respondents are looking for housing costing up to $10,000 per month. However, a significant proportion have increased their rental budget to $15,000. At the same time, 67% of respondents say that it is difficult to find housing within their desired budget.
Among the priorities that Ukrainians consider when choosing a home to buy, the most important are affordable price, condition, size, and convenient location.
Willingness to work with real estate agents in 2025 has increased. This is especially true for home buyers, who are more likely to hire professionals to assist with the transaction. Tenants, on the other hand, tend to look for housing on their own.
DIM.RIA is a marketplace for buying and renting verified housing. It is a product of the Ukrainian IT company RIA.com. Currently, the marketplace has a website and apps for iOS and Android devices.
Over the past eight decades, the world has come a long way from the creation of the first nuclear warheads to the formation of a multi-level global deterrence system based on nuclear balance. According to an analysis conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on statistics from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the most rapid growth in the number of nuclear weapons occurred between 1945 and 1986. After the first atomic bombs were tested in the US in 1945, the Soviet Union joined the race, and by the 1950s, an arms race had begun, in which the US had the upper hand in the early stages, with over 3,000 warheads.
This period was marked by global confrontation within the framework of the Cold War, an arms race, and the active expansion of the nuclear club.
In the 1960s, the USSR gradually caught up with the US in terms of numbers and eventually surpassed it. The race peaked in 1986, when the total number of nuclear warheads in the world reached a record high of almost 70,000, of which more than 40,000 belonged to the Soviet Union.
After the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, the US and Russia initiated a large-scale reduction of their arsenals, removing some of the warheads from combat duty or disposing of them in accordance with international agreements. By 2023, the total number of nuclear warheads in the world had decreased to approximately 12,500, of which about 9,600 are active, while the rest are in reserve or awaiting dismantlement.
Today, there are nine countries in the world that officially possess nuclear weapons. The largest arsenals are held by Russia (5,889 units) and the United States (5,244 units). China is actively building up its nuclear capabilities and already has about 410 warheads. France and the United Kingdom have 290 and 225 units, respectively. India and Pakistan have about 170 and 165 warheads, respectively, and Israel has an estimated 90. North Korea is estimated to have up to 30 warheads, but its potential is considered highly uncertain due to the country’s secrecy. South Africa is a special case, as it is the only country that voluntarily renounced nuclear weapons, completely dismantling its arsenal in the 1990s.
“The dynamics of change in nuclear capabilities demonstrate the extraordinary flexibility and, at the same time, vulnerability of the global security system. For many years, nuclear weapons have been not only an element of deterrence but also an instrument of political blackmail, allowing individual states to influence the international agenda. Today, we are seeing an alarming trend: despite the overall reduction in stockpiles in leading countries such as the US and Russia, certain countries — primarily China and North Korea — are demonstrating growing ambitions, indicating a potential return to the arms race. And if the international community fails to develop effective control and limitation mechanisms, we risk facing a new phase of nuclear confrontation, which will be even more dangerous due to the presence of unstable regimes, technological breakthroughs, and cyber threats,” comments Maxim Urakin, founder of the Experts Club analytical center.
In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the current nuclear security architecture needs to be revised. The conditions of the new geopolitical reality require not only maintaining parity, but also creating international mechanisms capable of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and reducing the risk of their use in new types of conflicts. Without global dialogue, transparency, and trust, the future of global security will remain under threat.
For more information, visit the Experts Club YouTube channel.
Montenegro is one of the most affordable countries in Europe in terms of real estate prices and one of the easiest in terms of legal formalities for foreigners. In recent years, it has become particularly popular among citizens of the CIS and EU countries due to its mild climate, sea, prospects for price growth, and loyal tax policy. However, when buying an apartment or house, it is important to understand what taxes and fees you will have to pay.
Main taxes when buying real estate in Montenegro
Rate: 3% of the market value of the property as determined by the tax authorities (not always the same as the price in the contract).
The tax is paid once, within 15 days after the conclusion of the agreement and submission of documents to the tax office.
Rate: 21%, already included in the contract price.
In this case, the property transfer tax (3%) is not levied.
Property ownership tax
The rate is set by municipalities and usually ranges from 0.1% to 1% of the cadastral value (depending on the location, type, and condition of the property).
For example:
Apartment in Budva or Kotor — approximately 0.25–0.5%
Properties on the coast and in tourist areas are taxed at a higher rate
The tax is paid once a year, usually by the end of March.
Important: a penalty is charged for late payment.
Additional costs
Renting real estate: taxes for the owner
If the property is rented out, the owner is obliged to:
Obtain a short-term rental permit from the municipality.
Keep a register of guests and pay tax:
Fixed tax on rental income — 9%.
Plus tourist tax per guest — approximately €1 per night.
From 2024, compliance with these requirements will be actively monitored (introduction of electronic accounting systems).
Example
Apartment in Budva for €150,000, purchased from a private individual:
Property transfer tax: 3% = €4,500
Annual property tax (0.4%): €600
Notary + registration fees: ~€1,000
In case of rental: income tax — 9% of profit
Montenegro offers a relatively simple and predictable tax system for real estate. One-time tax on purchase — 3% or 21% (for new construction), annual tax — low. Rental income is taxed at a moderate rate but requires compliance with formalities.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/property-taxes-in-montenegro-what-buyers-need-to-know/
The volume of passenger car imports into Ukraine, including cargo-passenger vans and racing cars (UKT VED code 8703), in January-May 2025 amounted to almost $2.052 billion in monetary terms, which is 5.3% more than in the same period last year ($1.947 billion).
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) of Ukraine, in May this year, passenger cars worth $523.8 million were imported into Ukraine, which is 30% more than in May 2024.
The three largest suppliers of cars to Ukraine in January-May this year were Germany, the US, and Japan, while last year the US led the top three. In particular, car deliveries from Germany increased by 35% to $388.6 million, and their share in the structure of car imports amounted to almost 19% against 14.8% a year earlier.
The United States imported $336.2 million worth of cars to Ukraine (down 7.6%), while imports from Japan fell by 4.8% to $230 million.
Imports of passenger cars from other countries during the reporting period amounted to almost $1.1 billion, compared with $1.05 billion in January-May last year.
At the same time, in January-May this year, Ukraine exported only $2.7 million worth of such vehicles, in particular to the UAE (49.4% of exports), the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, while a year ago, during the same period, it supplied $7.18 million worth of such vehicles to foreign markets, mainly to Canada, the UAE, and the US.
According to the State Customs Service, passenger cars accounted for 6.56% of Ukraine’s total imports in January-May (7.07% last year) and 0.02% of exports (0.04%).
As reported, in 2024, passenger cars worth $4.385 billion were imported into Ukraine, 8% more than a year ago, and $10.1 million worth were exported (2.7 times less).
Ukrainian enterprises increased exports of ferrous metal scrap by 45.5% in January-May this year compared to the same period last year, from 102,366 tons to 155,809 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SRS) on Friday, 28,600 tons were exported in May, 46,321 tons in April, 39,908 tons in March, 25,284 tons in February, and 15,696 tons in January.
In monetary terms, scrap metal exports in January-May increased by 46.4% to $48.127 million from $32.872 million.
In the winter of 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals presented the results of the first large-scale study (phase I/II) of zimislecel (formerly VX-880), a stem cell-based drug. This experimental treatment aims to restore the cells of the islets of Langerhans in the liver of patients.
The trial involved 14 patients with severe type 1 diabetes and hypoglycemia detection disorders. All participants received a single infusion of zimislecel into the hepatic vein and initial immunosuppressive therapy without glucocorticoids. According to data from one year, 10 out of 12 completely stopped insulin injections, becoming insulin-independent, while the remaining two patients reduced their insulin dose by 92% on average. All participants normalized their HbA1c levels (<7%) and spent more than 70% of their time in the glycemic range of 70-180 mg/dL.
Side effects:
• Neutropenia was observed in 3 patients;
• Two fatalities were recorded: one from cryptococcal meningitis (off-protocol), the other from severe cognitive pathology unrelated to treatment.
The discontinuation of insulin therapy in 83% of participants is a very significant achievement, indicating the possibility of restoring endogenous insulin secretion. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) called the data “unprecedented” after three stages of presentation at the ADA-2025 conference in Chicago.
However, it should be noted that the study was small (12–14 participants) and short (12 months); large-scale control experience is needed. Data on long-term efficacy, safety, and commercial affordability are not yet known.
Phase III has now begun, with approximately 50 patients expected to participate. The next results are expected at the end of the year, after which the FDA application process will begin.
The drug is positioned as a breakthrough “functional remission” for a group of patients with severe diabetes and a tendency to hypoglycemic events. If its effectiveness is fully confirmed, it will be a global revolution in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
