Only eight of the 29 European countries that have a national minimum wage raised it in their national currency between January and July 2026, according to Eurostat data.
The largest increase over the six-month period was recorded in North Macedonia—6.9%.
Next were Romania and Estonia—both at 6.8%—followed by Belgium at 5.8%, Greece at 4.5%, Luxembourg at 2.5%, France at 2.4%, and the Netherlands at 1.9%.
In the remaining 21 countries, the minimum wage in national currency remained unchanged between January 1 and July 1. This group includes, in particular, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Ukraine.
At the same time, the absence of an increase in the nominal minimum wage effectively means a decline in its purchasing power in countries where consumer prices continued to rise during this period.
Eurostat publishes comparative data on minimum wages twice a year—as of January 1 and July 1. Changes that occur between these dates are reflected in the next semi-annual update of the statistics.
As of July 1, 2026, the minimum wage among EU countries ranged from 620 euros in Bulgaria to 2,771 euros in Luxembourg. When candidate countries are included, the lowest figure was recorded in Ukraine—169 euros.
In July 2026, the National Bank of Ukraine imposed a fine of 16.1 million UAH on Raiffeisen Bank JSC for a series of violations of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
Among the violations identified by the regulator were inadequate customer due diligence and failure to apply a risk-based approach, as well as deficiencies in risk management during the implementation and use of information products and technologies, particularly when conducting transactions without direct contact with the customer.
The NBU also identified instances of untimely reporting of threshold financial transactions to the authorized state body and shortcomings in providing information and documents in response to the regulator’s requests.
In addition to the fine, Raiffeisen Bank received a written warning. It pertains, in particular, to the verification of customers and ultimate beneficial owners falling under the PEP category, internal documents regarding financial monitoring, updating information in customer questionnaires, and the transmission of information about payers.
Raiffeisen Bank has been operating in Ukraine since 1992, initially under the name Bank Aval. Since 2005, the bank has been part of the Austrian Raiffeisen Group. According to the ownership structure as of January 1, 2026, Raiffeisen Bank International AG holds 68.21% of the Ukrainian bank’s shares, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development holds 30%. Natalia Gurina is the chair of the bank’s board of directors.
The National Bank of Ukraine fined “FC Royal Finance 1” LLC 391,000 UAH for a series of violations of financial monitoring laws.
According to the NBU, the violations involved the untimely updating of the company’s internal documents, the performance of the employee responsible for financial monitoring, and the improper application of a risk-based approach.
The regulator also pointed out violations in the preparation of statistical reports, the incomplete provision of requested information and documents, as well as shortcomings in providing an up-to-date list of clients with their assigned risk levels.
LLC “FC ‘Royal Finance 1’” was registered in Kyiv in July 2019. The company received financial institution status in November of that same year. In January 2025, at the company’s request, the NBU excluded financial leasing from its license, after which it retained the right to provide loans and factoring services. The company’s director is Vitaliy Lysenko, and “Finance Royal Invest” LLC is listed as the holder of a significant stake.
In July 2026, the National Bank of Ukraine fined FC “Groovey” LLC 799,000 UAH for violations of financial monitoring legislation. According to the NBU, the company failed to properly update its internal documents on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and had shortcomings in its customer verification procedures.
The regulator also identified violations of requirements for storing documents and information on customers and financial transactions—which must be retained for at least five years—as well as the incomplete provision of information requested by the NBU. Certain violations concerned data on the classification of customers by risk level and statistical reporting on financial monitoring.
The fine imposed on “Growway” was the largest among the sanctions imposed by the NBU in July on non-bank financial institutions.
FC “Growway” LLC was registered in August 2018 in Kyiv. The company specializes, among other things, in financing enterprises in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, as well as suppliers of medical equipment, medications, and services. Kira Gorbik serves as the company’s director. Its main activities involve the provision of financial services and lending.
Over 1.4 million metric tons of grain have already been harvested in Vinnytsia Oblast, according to Natalia Zabolotna, head of the regional military administration.
“The harvest campaign in the region is ongoing. Farmers have already harvested 246,000 hectares of early grain and legume crops—that’s 60% of the planned area. The average yield is 59.6 centners per hectare—1.9 centners per hectare more than during the same period last year,” she wrote on Telegram on Saturday.
According to the Regional State Administration, winter wheat currently accounts for the largest portion of the harvest at 1.2 million metric tons. Its average yield is also higher than last year’s. The harvest of winter barley and peas has already been completed. The harvest of spring barley, spring wheat, and rye is in full swing. At the same time, farmers are finishing the harvest of winter rapeseed. 80% of the area has already been threshed.
In July 2026, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) imposed a fine totaling 42.545 million UAH on JSC “Ukrainian Capital Bank” for violating financial monitoring and foreign exchange supervision regulations.
The regulator imposed the main fine of 40.545 million UAH for the improper organization and conduct of initial financial monitoring. Specifically, the NBU identified shortcomings in the bank’s application of a risk-based approach, its assessment of customer risks, and its internal documents regarding financial monitoring and customer due diligence. The bank also did not always provide information and documents in a timely and complete manner in response to requests from the inspection team.
An additional fine of 2 million UAH was imposed for violations of foreign exchange legislation. According to the NBU, the bank improperly carried out foreign exchange supervision, failed to ensure a comprehensive analysis of documents related to certain foreign exchange transactions, and did not identify the indicators of such transactions as required by regulations.
In addition, “Ukrainian Capital” received two written warnings. One relates to additional due diligence on customers who are politically exposed persons (PEPs), the automation of certain procedures, and the completion of customer questionnaires. The second concerns the late submission of and errors in statistical reports on foreign exchange transactions.
The NBU announced the imposition of these enforcement measures on August 7, 2026. In total, in July, the regulator imposed sanctions for violations in the areas of financial monitoring and foreign exchange legislation on two banks and 19 non-bank financial institutions.
Ukrainian Capital Bank has been operating in the Ukrainian market since 1992 and was originally registered as Zakarpattia Bank; it has used its current name since 1996. The NBU classifies it as a privately owned bank. According to the regulator, as of February 1, 2026, the bank’s assets totaled 3.079 billion UAH, liabilities amounted to 2.874 billion UAH, and capital stood at 204.7 million UAH. The NBU lists Serhiy Belashov, Liliana Belashova, Daria Zlidar, and Nataliia Kiva as major shareholders. Yevhen Chechyl serves as chairman of the board.
BANK, financial monitoring, FINE, foreign exchange supervision, NBU
