Serhiy Rebrov is stepping down as head coach of the Ukrainian national soccer team, according to the Ukrainian Football Association.
“We thank Serhiy Stanislavovych for his work and his contribution to the development of young soccer players. Today, we need to move forward and make new decisions that will lay the foundation for the national team’s future,” said UAF President Andriy Shevchenko.
It is noted that Rebrov will remain part of the UAF team as vice president and a member of the Executive Committee.
“I am grateful to the entire team and the fans for the journey we have taken. It was a difficult path with victories and defeats, but Ukrainians have always supported the national team. These are moments of unity that I will never forget and for which I will always be grateful. I also thank the UAF for its constant assistance, support, and collaboration,” Rebrov stated.
Rebrov took over as head coach of the national team in 2023 during the European Championship qualifying cycle. The name of the new head coach of the Ukrainian national team will be announced later.
The Naftogaz Group paid 21.739 billion UAH in taxes to budgets at all levels in January–March 2026, the company reported on Wednesday.
Of this amount, 19.7 billion UAH went to the state budget, and over 2 billion UAH to local budgets.
“Despite widespread destruction and constant Russian attacks on oil, gas, and energy infrastructure, Naftogaz remains a reliable taxpayer to the state budget,” said Serhiy Koretskyi, Chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.
The company added that the Naftogaz Group remains one of the largest taxpayers in Ukraine.
As reported, Naftogaz Group companies paid 44.4 billion hryvnias in taxes during the first six months of 2025, of which 40.7 billion hryvnias went to the state budget.
The population of the European Union will continue to age throughout this century, with the median age of EU residents increasing by 6.6 years to reach 51.5 years by 2100, according to Eurostat data.
According to the study, the EU population will grow from 451.8 million in 2025 to a peak of 453.3 million in 2029, after which it will begin to gradually decline—to 445 million by 2050 and to 398.8 million by 2100. Thus, over the period 2025–2100, the total population decline will amount to 53 million people, or 11.7%.
Eurostat notes that the main consequence of current birth and death rates in the EU is the progressive aging of the population. At the same time, the number of people aged 65 and older in the EU is expected to more than double by the end of the century.
At the same time, the share of young people and the working-age population will decline. The share of people aged 20–64 is projected to decline from 61% of the EU population in 2025 to 49.7% in 2100, and their number will decrease by 63.6 million—from 262 million to 198.4 million.
At the same time, the share of the population aged 65 and older will rise from 12.4% at the start of 2025 to 33.6% in 2100, and the size of this age group will increase by 65.9 million people—to 133.8 million. In essence, this is the only major demographic group that will grow significantly in both relative and absolute terms.
Eurostat emphasizes that the aging process will affect all EU countries, although its pace will vary. The most significant increase in the median age of the population is expected in Malta, Cyprus, Ireland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Poland.
According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Iraq are characterized by a significant proportion of neutral and negative assessments, which collectively form a generally reserved and distant image of the country. According to the survey results, positive attitudes account for only 8.4%, while negative ones account for 35.2%, indicating a significant imbalance in perception. At the same time, more than half of the respondents (50.6%) hold a neutral position, indicating a limited level of formed perceptions about Iraq.
The structure of positive assessments is quite weak: only 2.1% of respondents expressed a “completely positive” attitude, and another 6.3% said it was “mostly positive.” This is one of the lowest figures among the countries included in the study. In contrast, negative perceptions are significantly more pronounced: 24.2% of respondents chose “mostly negative,” and 11.0% selected “completely negative.”
Despite this, a certain positive trend is observed compared to August 2025. The share of positive assessments rose from 5.7% to 8.4%, while negative ones decreased slightly—from 37.0% to 35.2%. This may indicate a gradual softening of perceptions, although the overall balance remains negative.
The high proportion of neutral responses, combined with a significant level of negativity, indicates the specific nature of perceptions of Iraq in Ukraine. On the one hand, a significant portion of the population lacks sufficient information or personal experience to form a clear position. On the other hand, existing perceptions are likely linked to the global information context, which tends to foster a cautious or critical attitude.
“If we see a high proportion of neutral assessments alongside significant negativity, it means the country is present in the information space, but this presence does not create a positive image. In such cases, it is important to work not only on economic cooperation but also on communication and reputation. Without this, neutrality can gradually transform into a persistent negative perception,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Thus, Iraq remains a country with a limited level of trust and weak positive identification for Ukrainians. The future dynamics of perception will depend on whether this country can strengthen its presence in Ukraine’s positive informational and economic context.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center based on data from the State Customs Service, Iraq ranks 44th in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, amounting to $392.8 million. This is one of the most striking examples of a positive trade balance for Ukraine, as nearly the entire volume of bilateral trade consists of Ukrainian exports, and the positive balance amounts to $392.2 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, IRAQ, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
Who Hired the Most Employees Last Year?
OpenDataBot has compiled a ranking of the largest employers in 2026 based on companies’ financial reports. The top three remain unchanged, while the rest of the ranking has seen minor changes: Silpo has overtaken Ukrposhta. Overall, only six of the top ten companies increased their workforce last year.
Ukrzaliznytsia has remained the largest employer for over five years, but its workforce is gradually shrinking. Over the year, the company’s workforce decreased by 5%—to 169,952 employees. Overall, since the start of the full-scale war, the company’s workforce has decreased by 27% or 62,800 people.
Second place is held by ATB with 46,649 employees. Over the past year, the company expanded its team by 565 people (+1%), but since the start of the full-scale war, it has lost 14,133 employees (-23%).
“Over the past year, more than 2,300 new jobs were created at the corporation’s enterprises. On average, the company offers up to 200 job openings to job seekers every month. Current circumstances require us to improve work processes and increase labor productivity—in particular, the automation of many operational algorithms is proceeding at a rapid pace. Throughout these four difficult years of full-scale war, we are proud that, despite all the challenges, we have managed to retain the core of our teams at every retail location. “This is a victory for our store managers and their deputies, who directly organize the work of their subordinates on the ground,” — commented ATB.
Third place goes to Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine, which employs 39,444 people. Over the year, the company added 1,770 employees (+5%) — the largest growth among the top ten.
Silpo overtook Ukrposhta and rose to fourth place with 32,367 employees. Over the year, 1,001 people joined the team (+3%), but compared to 2021, the company lost 9,808 employees (-23%).
Ukrposhta, now in fifth place, has 31,739 employees—its headcount remained unchanged over the year, but the long-term decline is significant: a loss of 30,634 people (-49%) compared to 2021.
Nova Poshta holds the sixth position with 27,572 employees. Over the past year, the company’s workforce has not undergone any significant changes (+0.2%), while since 2021, its workforce has decreased by 2,218 employees (-7%). Nova Poshta explains that the overall reduction in staff is primarily due to the war, employee migration, and changes in operational processes. Going forward, the company’s focus is on retaining key employees and developing an internal talent pool.
“Right now, we’re prioritizing people development: investing in training, mental health support, flexible work arrangements, and expanding our pool of candidates, particularly by hiring veterans, IDPs, and older workers,” notes Anna-Maria Bondarenko, HR Director at Nova Poshta.
The largest percentage change in headcount over the year occurred at Energoatom: -6%. In total, since 2021, the company has lost 8,087 employees (-24%). Currently, according to financial reports, the company employs 25,740 people.
In eighth place is Lisy Ukrainy with 22,252 employees. Currently, the company has the status of “in the process of dissolution” due to a reorganization. At the same time, this company recorded the largest percentage decrease in staff among the top ten last year: -6% (-1,465 people).
Ninth place is held by Ukrnafta—19,583 employees. Over the year, the company grew by 657 people (+4%). However, since 2021, Ukrnafta’s workforce has decreased by 1,213 employees (–6%).
Rounding out the top ten is Ukrgazvydobuvannya with 17,794 employees: +477 people over the year (+3%). This is the only company in the top ten that has increased its workforce since the start of the full-scale war: +979 employees (+6%).
“We ensure Ukraine’s energy independence. Professional and motivated employees are our key asset, guaranteeing the company’s stability and the effective development of fields. Our challenge is to preserve and develop the team’s technical competencies, attract and train young people, and build an elite team for the exploration and development of hydrocarbon deposits,” comments Oleksandr Pimkin, Director of Human Capital at JSC “Ukrgazvydobuvannya.”
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/top-employer-2026
Finland is among the group of countries that consistently enjoy a high level of trust among Ukrainians. According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 76.2% of respondents have a positive attitude toward this country, indicating its consistently positive image in Ukrainian society. At the same time, the share of negative assessments is minimal—only about 1.1%, which is effectively within the margin of error.
The structure of positive perceptions is evenly distributed: 38.0% of respondents expressed a “completely positive” attitude, while another 38.2% described it as “mostly positive.” This balance indicates not only general approval but also deep trust in Finland as a partner. At the same time, 21.4% of respondents hold a neutral position, which may be explained by the country’s relatively limited presence in Ukraine’s everyday information landscape.
Negative assessments remain marginal: 0.9% of respondents chose the “mostly negative” option, and only 0.2% selected “completely negative.” The share of those who could not decide on an answer is 1.2%. This pattern indicates the absence of systemic factors that could shape a negative image of Finland in Ukraine.
Overall, Finland is perceived as a country with a high level of institutional trust, stability, and consistent policies. Its image in Ukrainian society is shaped not only by its political stance but also by associations with effective governance, a social model, and high living standards.
The high level of positive attitude also reflects a broader trend: Northern European countries are perceived by Ukrainians as reliable partners who demonstrate consistency in their policies and support for Ukraine. Against this backdrop, Finland is consolidating its position as one of the countries with the most stable positive image, without significant fluctuations in perception.
“Ukrainians quite clearly distinguish between countries based on the level of trust and predictability of their policies. Where there is consistency and a clear position, a stable positive attitude is formed. That is why countries like Finland maintain high ratings regardless of short-term fluctuations in public opinion,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Finland ranks 43rd in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $392.9 million. At the same time, imports from Finland are nearly seven times higher than Ukrainian exports, resulting in a trade deficit of $293.5 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, FINLAND, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
