Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Reserves in new mining sections at Yuvileina and Frunze mines estimated at 85,400 tons

The Sukha Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), part of Alexander Yaroslavsky’s DCH Group, has commissioned two new iron ore mining sections, which are scheduled to be developed throughout the spring.

According to information in the DCH Steel corporate newsletter on Thursday, for each production unit, the company’s specialists take into account the specific characteristics of the ore deposit and the mining-geological conditions. After analyzing the data, they apply technological solutions that ensure the most efficient extraction possible.

It is noted that on March 13, at the Yuvileina Mine, block 110-116 in the “Glavny” deposit was put into production on the seventh sub-level of the “minus” 1,420 m horizon. Given the characteristics of the ore body, the classic mining method using scraper winches was employed here. The block’s reserves are estimated at 37,200 tons, with an average iron content of 59.25%. The block’s reserves are expected to last for two months of operation.

In addition, it is reported that at the Frunze Mine, technological processes—from preparation to loading—are carried out using self-propelled machines. On March 19, Block 51-57 was commissioned here, located in the “Druzhba” deposit at a depth of “minus” 1,227 m. The block’s reserves amount to 48,200 tons of high-quality raw material (62.83%), which will be sufficient for three months of stable operation.

“A differentiated approach to technology selection—from the scraper method to the use of self-propelled equipment—allows for flexible operation in various mining conditions and maintains stable raw material quality,” the corporate publication notes.

Since the beginning of 2026, four new production units with a total reserve of 258,900 tons have been put into operation at the Sukha Balka mine. In particular, in March, Block 67-71 was commissioned at the Yuvileina Mine on the seventh sub-level of the “Shurfa” deposit at the “minus” 1,420 m level.

The Sukha Balka Mine is one of the leading enterprises in the mining industry in Ukraine. It extracts iron ore using underground mining methods. The mine complex includes the Yuvileina and Frunze mines.

In May 2017, the DCH Group acquired the mine from the Evraz Group.

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Kyivstar Group’s workforce grew by 5.9% to 5,200 employees

The number of full-time employees at the Kyivstar Group increased by 5.9%, or 291, to 5,183 in 2025, with the majority—68%—working at Kyivstar, the largest telecommunications operator, according to the group’s annual report.

According to the report, Kyivstar increased its workforce by 5.8%, or 193 employees, to 3,518 last year, while Kyivstar. Tech increased its workforce by 11.2% to 624, Helsi by 17.4% to 270, and only Uklon’s headcount remained unchanged at 768 people.

“The total number of our employees as of December 31, 2025, exceeds the number at the start of the war, and we have not lost a single key employee as a result of the war, despite the fact that 95% of our employees are located in Ukraine,” the report states.

According to the report, the group saw a 4.6% increase in full-time employees in 2024, or 217 people, including a 3.1% increase at Kyivstar, or 100 people.

It is noted that 20.7% of employees work in the network, 18% in call centers, 14.7% in commercial functions, 12.2% in digital functions, 7.6% in finance, 1% in HR, 0.8% in legal, 0.3% in compliance, and 21.4% are engaged in other support functions.

“We have developed internal procedures to manage the risk of mobilization of critical employees and are constantly analyzing the workload on staff to ensure uninterrupted operations,” the report states.

The group reported that since the start of the war in February 2022, it has paid employees 842 million UAH in emergency aid and is also offering 77% of employees the option to work in hybrid and remote modes.

It is also noted that the group had a relatively low voluntary turnover rate at the end of last year (calculated as the number of employees who resigned voluntarily relative to the total number of employees), with the exception of the call center, which relies heavily on seasonal workers—6.5%, which is only 0.5 percentage points higher than at the end of 2024 and 2023.

The report also notes that 218 employees are members of the Trade Union Committee of the primary trade union organization, and negotiations on concluding a collective agreement were suspended due to the war and are expected to resume after the end of martial law.

“We believe that relations with our employees are generally good,” the group concludes.

As reported, Kyivstar served approximately 22.4 million mobile subscribers and over 1.2 million fixed-line subscribers as of the end of 2025. The company is wholly owned by Kyivstar Group Ltd, whose shares are traded on the U.S. Nasdaq stock exchange and whose majority owner, in turn, is the telecommunications holding company VEON with an 83.6% stake.

In 2025, the Kyivstar Group increased its EBITDA by 30% to UAH 27 billion, with revenue growing by 30.3% to UAH 48.2 billion; including in the fourth quarter of last year, when EBITDA increased by 23.1% to UAH 7.2 billion, with revenue growing by 30.1% to UAH 13.5 billion.

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Hungary is accelerating construction of oil pipeline to Serbia

According to Serbian Economist, the Hungarian government has designated the “Hungary–Serbia” oil pipeline and related infrastructure as a priority investment project, which is expected to speed up administrative procedures and construction work. Budapest views the project as part of a broader strategy to better coordinate the energy and fuel markets of Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia. The Hungarian side believes this will enhance the resilience of regional energy supplies and reduce dependence on external risks.

Hungarian media reports state that the government’s goal is to bring the system into full operation in 2027 or 2028. The new route is intended to create an additional foundation for oil supplies to the region amid the continued vulnerability of existing supply lines.

The issue is particularly sensitive for the region following supply problems with the Druzhba pipeline, a section of which on Ukrainian territory was damaged in January. Against this backdrop, Budapest has in recent weeks linked energy security issues to broader regional policy.

For Serbia, accelerating the project is important both in terms of diversifying supply routes and in the context of ongoing uncertainty surrounding NIS and oil imports. The new pipeline could become one of the country’s key energy infrastructure projects.

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Druzhkivka Metal Products Plant increased its net profit by 6.7% to 16.7 mln UAH

PJSC “Druzhkivka Metal Products Plant” (DZMV, Donetsk Oblast) reported a 6.7% increase in net profit for 2025 compared to 2024, reaching UAH 16.716 million.

According to the company’s announcement in the disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) regarding the remote general meeting of shareholders to be held on April 27, there are nine items on the agenda. In particular, the meeting is scheduled to review the company’s supervisory board report for 2025, approve the results of financial and operational activities for the past year and the distribution of profits, and determine the main areas of activity for 2026.

Shareholders will also give preliminary consent for the company to enter into significant transactions, approve the charter, and adopt new versions of the regulations “On the General Meeting of Shareholders” and “On the Supervisory Board.”

In addition, the meeting will elect members of the supervisory board.

Draft resolutions, copies of which are available to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, regarding the agenda item on profit distribution propose approving the net profit for 2025 in the amount of UAH 16.716 million, to be retained without distribution.

It is also proposed to elect a four-member supervisory board for a three-year term, consisting of Valery Malikov, Anton Malikov, Andriy Shapovalov, and Oleksiy Spiridonov.

DZMI’s net profit in 2024 amounted to UAH 15.671 million, in 2023 – UAH 24.049 million, and in 2022 – UAH 33.832 million.

PJSC “Druzhkivka Metal Products Plant” specializes in the production of metal fasteners: bolts, nuts, and rivets for general mechanical engineering, fasteners for railway track superstructures, and high-strength fasteners for building and bridge structures. In May 2022, the company issued an order terminating employment contracts due to Russia’s military aggression and the impossibility of carrying out production and business activities. Later, the company changed its legal address from Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, to Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

According to the State Register of Legal Entities as of the fourth quarter of 2025, 14.9949% of the company’s shares were owned by individual Alexei Spiridonov, 13.0304% by Olena Mishchenko-Solonaya (a resident of Spain), 24.5167% by Irina Mishchenko, Serhiy Popkov – 5.8611%, Anton Malikov – 9.75%, Olena Malikova – 8.25%, and Valeriy and Dmytro Malikov – 9.774% each.

The company’s authorized capital is 3.323 million UAH, and the par value of one share is 0.05 UAH.

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Henley & Partners has published its 2026 ranking of career opportunities for expats

The international consulting firm Henley & Partners has published its ranking of career opportunities for expats—the Henley Opportunity Index 2026—which covers 15 countries with well-established investment migration programs.

According to the study, the ranking includes the following countries: Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Austria, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, and Greece.

Switzerland topped the ranking with a total score of 86 out of 100. It was followed by Singapore (81), Australia (80), the United Kingdom and the United States (79 each), Canada (78), Austria (69), and the UAE (68). Hong Kong and Italy tied for ninth place (65 points each), while Latvia and Malta tied for tenth (62 points each).

At the bottom of the list are Portugal (61 points) and Greece (59 points), which bring up the rear.

The study’s authors note that the index is not a global comparison of all countries in the world, but rather a selection of jurisdictions offering the most developed programs for obtaining residency or citizenship through investment or merit.

The ranking is based on six equally weighted criteria: potential income, career growth opportunities, access to jobs at leading companies, quality of education, economic mobility, and overall quality of life. The calculations use data from national statistical agencies as well as international organizations, including the IMF, OECD, and ILO, and global labor market rankings.

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Gas stoves remain significant source of indoor air pollution, study finds

Gas and propane stoves remain a significant source of air pollution in residential homes and significantly exacerbate the long-term impact of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on households. This is the conclusion reached by a group of researchers led by Stanford University in an article published in December 2025 in the journal PNAS Nexus.

The study, titled “Integrating indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide exposures in US homes nationally by ZIP code,” combines data on outdoor air pollution with estimates of emissions from gas stoves inside homes. According to their calculations, the average total long-term NO₂ exposure for households with gas stoves in the U.S. is about 10 ppbv, while for households with electric stoves it is about 8 ppbv; for the heaviest users of gas stoves, the figure can reach 18 ppbv or higher.

The authors note that for approximately 22 million people in the U.S., the level of long-term NO₂ exposure would fall below the World Health Organization’s recommended guideline if they reduced their use of gas and propane stoves or switched to electric ones. The study also indicates that gas stoves are responsible for over 99% of cases where the WHO’s short-term NO₂ guideline is exceeded in residential spaces.

According to Stanford, the risk is particularly high for small homes and apartments, as well as for households where stoves are used intensively and where ventilation is inadequate. The university emphasizes that as outdoor air quality improves, indoor sources of pollution, including kitchen appliances, are becoming an increasingly important factor for health.

Nitrogen dioxide is linked to an increased risk of asthma, chronic lung disease, preterm birth, diabetes, and lung cancer, according to Stanford’s explanations and accompanying materials for the publication. Against this backdrop, researchers believe that switching to electric stoves can significantly reduce the harmful effects of indoor air pollution.

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