Pork sausages are one of the worst breakfast options for people with high cholesterol, according to nutritionists surveyed by EatingWell.
According to experts, the problem lies not in the fact of having a protein-rich breakfast, but in the combination of two factors: pork sausages are processed meat and contain a lot of saturated fat. It is saturated fats that can contribute to an increase in low-density lipoproteins (LDL), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
The publication notes that 100 grams of fried pork sausages can contain about 9 grams of saturated fat. This is a significant portion of the recommended daily limit for an adult on a diet of about 2,000 calories.
Nutritionists emphasize that eggs, long considered a controversial food due to their cholesterol content, do not need to be completely eliminated from the diet for most people. The modern approach focuses more on overall diet quality, the amount of saturated fat, fiber, and the degree of food processing.
Experts advise limiting pork sausages, bacon, and other types of processed meats not only because of saturated fats but also due to their high salt content and processing methods. When combined with white bread, butter, cheese, or fried foods, such a breakfast can place an increased strain on the cardiovascular system.
That said, experts aren’t calling for a complete rejection of traditional breakfasts; instead, they suggest adjusting their composition: adding more fiber-rich foods, opting for leaner protein sources, and reducing the amount of processed meat. Oatmeal, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and moderate egg consumption as part of the overall diet are typically cited as more balanced breakfast options.
High cholesterol remains one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Doctors and dietitians usually recommend that people with this condition discuss their diet individually with a specialist, especially if they have comorbidities or are taking prescribed medications.
Ukraine must ensure the right to a defence is rigorously upheld in cases involving war crimes, as breaches of procedural safeguards could lead to complaints being lodged with the European Court of Human Rights and damage the country’s international reputation, according to Inna Linyova, Director of the Human Rights Institute of the Ukrainian Bar Association.
In an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, she noted that Ukrainian courts are hearing a large number of war crimes cases in absentia, without the accused being present. Such a practice is permissible, but requires the court, the prosecution and the defence lawyers to observe procedures with particular care.
According to Linyova, if a Russian serviceman who has been found guilty in absentia subsequently claims that he was not notified of the case or the trial, and that his lawyer failed to provide a proper defence, he may appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. In such a case, Ukraine risks a ruling that it has violated the right to a fair trial.
She emphasised that the issue of notifying defendants is one of the key concerns. Ukrainian legislation currently does not require the prosecution or the investigating authorities to take all possible steps to locate the defendant. If there is no access to the defendant’s address, it is sufficient to publish information about the trial on the website of the Office of the Prosecutor General and in the newspaper ‘Uryadovy Kurier’.
However, according to Linyova, it is clear that Russian military personnel are unlikely to read such sources. Therefore, the prosecution must additionally use other methods of notification: search for the defendants’ profiles on social media, send messages, and write official letters, including to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
In her view, such actions are necessary not because Ukraine expects a conscientious response from the Russian Federation, but to demonstrate that the Ukrainian system has done everything possible to ensure a fair hearing of the case.
“We cannot expect the Ukrainian judicial system to be fair to Ukrainian citizens and unfair towards Russians. Courts are either fair or unfair,” noted Linyova.
The expert also drew attention to the pressure faced by lawyers representing defendants in such cases. According to her, some lawyers and members of the public mistakenly equate the lawyer with their client, accusing defence lawyers of supporting Russian narratives. However, international standards and professional ethics explicitly prohibit equating a lawyer with their client.
In Linyova’s view, it is extremely important for Ukraine to explain to the public that the fact that an accused Russian serviceman has a defence is not a sign of the state’s weakness, but rather a testament to the strength of the legal system. This is particularly important in the context of future European integration, international legal proceedings and compensation mechanisms.
Around 97–98% of war crimes cases in Ukraine are heard in absentia, that is, without the defendant being present, Inna Linyova, director of the Human Rights Institute of the Ukrainian Bar Association, said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
According to her, this mainly concerns cases where the accused Russian serviceman is in the Russian Federation or in temporarily occupied territory, and Ukrainian investigative and judicial authorities are conducting proceedings without his physical presence.
Lynova emphasised that trials in absentia are permitted under international standards, but in such proceedings it is particularly important to ensure all guarantees of the right to a defence. Otherwise, Ukraine may face serious legal and reputational risks.
“Such a trial in the absence of the accused is permissible under international standards, but in such cases it is particularly important to ensure that the rights of the accused are protected,” she noted.
According to Linyova, problems with the quality of defence were observed in a number of proceedings: lawyers could be passive, fail to file motions, fail to examine evidence, and effectively limit themselves to a formal presence in the proceedings. In some cases, defence lawyers even used derogatory terms in relation to their clients, which contradicts the very essence of the right to defence.
The Director of the Human Rights Institute of the Ukrainian Bar Association emphasised that effective defence of those accused in war crimes cases is needed not to exonerate criminals, but to protect the interests of Ukraine itself. If the trials comply with international standards, this will strengthen Ukraine’s position as a state governed by the rule of law and reduce the risk of subsequent challenges to the verdicts in international courts.
Since July 2023, the Ukrainian Bar Association has been implementing an initiative to monitor court hearings and analyse court decisions in cases of war crimes. According to Linyova, these trials are the focus of the international community’s attention, as they relate not only to the punishment of the guilty but also to the future compensation system, the restoration of justice and Ukraine’s international reputation.
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the number of registered criminal offences classified as war crimes is rising rapidly. By the end of May 2024, there were 129,065 cases; by September 2025, 179,803; and by 16 April 2026, 221,929.
The Ukrainian judicial system is thus facing a massive challenge: it must simultaneously document crimes, ensure the punishment of the guilty and uphold the standards of a fair trial, even in cases that attract significant public attention.
Soybean acreage in 2026 reached 2.1 million hectares, an increase of 5% compared to last year, Taras Vysotsky, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, told reporters on the sidelines of the Grain Ukraine 2026 international conference on Friday.
“This year, soybean acreage did not decrease; in fact, it increased by 5%. Several factors contributed to this simultaneously—the rising cost of fertilizers and fuel. Consequently, farmers have shifted their focus to crops that require fewer fertilizers, namely soybeans. It requires lower costs for cultivation, transportation, and export,” Vysotsky noted.
As reported, pursuant to Law No. 4536-IX of July 16, 2025, a 10% export duty on rapeseed and soybeans was introduced in Ukraine effective September 4, 2025. The document provides for a gradual reduction of the rate by 1% annually, starting January 1, 2030, to 5% by 2035. At the same time, the law includes a preferential regime for direct producers and cooperatives, who are exempt from paying the duty when exporting their own-grown products.
Experts from the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) have argued that this could lead to a significant reduction in soybean acreage in 2026 due to this law.
According to the Ministry of Economy, as of June 2, 1.96 million hectares had been planted with soybeans, or 96% of the forecast, whereas last year, as of May 30, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, soybean plantings totaled 2.23 million hectares.
agricultural sector, export duty, MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, planting season, SOYBEANS
The “Aurora” supermarket chain has invested 13 million hryvnias in strengthening product quality control; the consumer product testing laboratory began operations in Poltava on June 2, according to the company’s press office.
“Our laboratory is about transparent quality control and trust. We want both manufacturers and shoppers to see how the quality of products that end up on Aurora’s shelves is determined. Moreover, anyone can bring a product in for testing—even if it wasn’t purchased in our stores. This helps foster a new culture of consumption based on openness, objectivity, and trust,“ emphasized Natalia Izyumets, Quality Director of the ‘Aurora’ supermarket chain.
The laboratory is located next to the ”Aurora” Support Office in Poltava and has a separate entrance for visitors. Large panoramic windows allow visitors to observe the product testing process in real time.
A distinctive feature of the consumer testing laboratory is its openness to visitors. Anyone can submit a request to have a product tested, specifying the testing criteria themselves. After the tests are conducted, the results can be received via email or discussed with specialists in person.
The lab team consists of six specialists in quality control and product testing. The lab’s specialists work with over 25,000 product SKUs across various categories—from electronics, children’s products, and tableware to cosmetics, household chemicals, and food products. Here, they verify safety, reliability, and compliance with declared specifications and current legislation. The data obtained is shared with suppliers and the chain’s commercial department, enabling the rapid improvement of the product range and enhancement of product quality.
“For example, when inspecting a cleaning product, in addition to weight and volume, we check the consistency—that is, whether there is any separation, whether there is sediment—because cleaning products should not normally contain sediment or lumps. If there is any, that’s not good. We record this, include it in the inspection results, and submit a request to the suppliers,” notes Anna Tokach, an incoming quality control specialist at the “Aurora” chain.
Professional equipment is used for testing, which allows for simulating real-world conditions for product use. Specifically, in the lab, they check product shelf life using a climate chamber, test wooden products for moisture content, USB cables for compliance with the stated power rating, cosmetics for acidity level using a pH meter, and electrical goods for compliance with technical specifications and safety of use.
Special attention is given to high-risk products. For example, products involving open flames are tested in a special combustion chamber equipped in accordance with all fire safety requirements.
The opening of the consumer testing laboratory is part of Aurora’s long-term strategy to raise quality standards and promote responsible consumption.
“Aurora” was founded in 2011 by Lev Zhydenko, Taras Panasenko, and Lesya Klymenko. As of the end of 2025, the chain has over 1,800 stores in Ukraine and more than 60 in Romania. The retail chain’s headquarters are located in Poltava.
According to Opendatabot, the owner of Vygidna Pokupka LLC, which operates the chain, is the Cypriot company “Aurorail Investments Limited”; its beneficial owner is Lev Zhydenko, and among the owners are funds managed by Horizon Capital.
Ukraine has the legal and regulatory capacity to launch programs supporting domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers, but funding is lacking amid the war, according to Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
“Let’s just focus on the possibilities for support: the legal framework is there, but as for financial resources—you understand how constrained and limited our financial capabilities are in wartime,” he said during the conference “Regional Dialogues with Business on European Integration: The Pharmaceutical Industry” in Uzhhorod on Thursday.
At the same time, Kachka noted that “within the framework of existing support programs, there is a whole range of additional options.”
“We are ready for this dialogue. We just need to clearly identify exactly which needs we need to address,” he said.
BUSINESS, EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, PHARMACEUTICALS, STATE SUPPORT, Качка
