Fozzy Group opened 19 E-Zoo pet stores in 2025, increasing the number of locations by 46%, according to the company’s press service.
New E-Zoo locations appeared in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, Poltava, Odesa, Lviv, and Rivne, as well as for the first time in Sumy and Myrhorod. The chain now operates in 11 regions of Ukraine and has 60 pet stores, most of which are located in large shopping centers. The average area of pet stores is 72 square meters, and the largest location of the chain in the city of Boyarka is 160 square meters.
“Every day, each offline store in the chain is visited by about 200 guests, and the E-Zoo website by over 20,000. We are seeing growing demand for convenient, modern pet stores with a large selection and professional advice, so we continue to open new locations in different regions,” says Oleg Bilyuk, co-founder of E-Zoo.
Each E-Zoo store has a wide selection of products for animals, from food and accessories to hygiene products, equipment, and care products. About 10,000 items are available online, while each physical store has an average of 2,700 items, and large locations have up to 3,100 items. E-ZOO’s assortment includes 350 brands, 26 of which are imported by the company itself. In 2025, the chain also strengthened its cooperation with Ukrainian manufacturers, including West Vet, Ukrzovetprompostach, Pet Aroma, Practik, ESVIAR PHARM, Hat Dog, Konura, Diego, and Orner.
In 2025, E-Zoo continued to develop omnichannel services, expanded its sales channels by starting cooperation with the Kasta and liki24.com marketplaces, and introduced delivery by Ukrposhta.
In 2025, the E-Zoo network paid UAH 43.3 million in taxes and fees, of which UAH 4.2 million was a military levy that directly supports Ukraine’s defense. According to YouControl, in January-September 2025, the company received UAH 426 million 897.7 thousand in net income, which is 78% more than in the same period of 2024, while the net loss amounted to UAH 58,955,100, compared to UAH 36,596,900 for the three quarters of 2024.
E-Zoo is a chain of pet stores that is part of the Fozzy Group. It operates in an omnichannel format: pet products are available both in physical stores and online with door-to-door delivery. Currently, the chain has 60 stores in 11 regions of Ukraine.
In Ukraine, 165,590 marriages were registered in 2025, which is 10.2% or 15,380 more than in 2024, according to a report on state registration of civil status acts by the Ministry of Justice.
According to the report, the number of registered divorces fell by 23.4%, or 8,010, to 26,280, including those by court decision, which fell by 27.9% to 950.
In 2024, the situation was reversed: the number of marriages decreased by 19.3%, while the number of divorces increased by 42.2%.
According to the Ministry of Justice, in the second half of 2025, compared to the first half, the number of registered marriages increased by 41.4% to 96,990, while the number of registered divorces increased by 7.1% to 13,590.
While the average number of marriages per divorce in Ukraine last year was 6.3, the highest rate was in Kyiv (10), Lviv and Zakarpattia (8.7 and 8.6), and Rivne (8.3). The lowest ratio was in Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, where it ranged from 4.3 to 4.8 times.
According to the Ministry of Justice, in the pre-war year of 2021, 214,01 marriages and 29,59 thousand divorces were registered in Ukraine, while in the year the war began, the number of marriages increased to 222,89 thousand, and the number of divorces decreased to 17,89 thousand.
Australian company European Lithium Limited, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) under the ticker symbol “EUR,” announced on Tuesday that it had entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Velta Holding, an American titanium company that owns production and mining assets of the same name in Ukraine.
“Under the terms of the agreement, European Lithium will acquire 100% of Velta’s issued capital for a total consideration of approximately 173 million fully paid shares of European Lithium, subject to completion of due diligence and satisfaction of customary closing conditions,” the exchange announcement said.
According to ASX data, European Lithium shares fell 6.56% to AUD0.28 per share (about $0.19 per share) at the opening of trading on Tuesday. Once these conditions are met, the shares will be issued and transferred to Velta’s existing shareholders.
“The proposed agreement with European Lithium provides an opportunity to advance a number of development initiatives in Ukraine and the United States that the Group has been preparing over the past decade. These initiatives focus on both horizontal and vertical integration, supporting the transition from a raw material-based model to the production of titanium metal and other critical value-added materials,” said Andrey Brodsky, CEO of Velta Holding, in a statement.
According to ASX data, a total of 1 billion 734 million 351,762 thousand shares have been issued to date, and the company’s capitalization is approximately AUD529 million. European Lithium’s revenue in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 2025) increased to AUD1.13 million from AUD0.7 million in FY2024, while net loss decreased to AUD71.49 million from AUD194.93 million.
“The acquisition of Velta is an important step in expanding European Lithium’s access from lithium to critical and strategic minerals. Titanium is a key material used in the aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial sectors, and Velta’s asset base and technical capabilities provide the company with a platform for future growth,” explained Tony Sage, Executive Chairman of European Lithium, explaining the interest in the deal.
It is also noted that European Lithium is interested in developing an integrated production chain—from the extraction and processing of raw materials to the production of titanium metal powders and finished components, particularly for additive manufacturing, which supports higher margins and a more sustainable business model.
The release notes that despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, Velta Holding maintains support for its export markets and operational stability, but any further expansion of production capacity and investment programs will depend on the current security situation and the fulfillment of the terms of the proposed agreement.
Velta is a titanium company operating primarily in the Kirovograd region in central Ukraine. The group’s assets include ilmenite and titanium ore resources, associated processing facilities, proprietary technologies, and logistics aimed at supplying high-quality titanium materials to global markets. According to Velta Holding’s estimates, it occupies approximately 2% of the global titanium raw materials market.
The holding company is developing the Birzulovskoye deposit, where it launched an enrichment plant in 2012, and has a transshipment complex in neighboring Novomyrhorod, designed to handle approximately 300,000 tons of cargo per year. Velta’s assets also include the Likarovskoye deposit and the leased former Novomirgorodskaya brown coal mine with an area of 30 hectares, where processing facilities for the production of metallic zirconium and hafnium, metallic titanium and titanium products, as well as a transshipment complex with a capacity of more than 1.5 million tons per year.
In the fall of 2025, during a visit to the enterprise by representatives of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the US-Ukraine Investment Fund, Velta presented various projects within the framework of building a CRM (Critical Raw Materials) cluster with a total investment of approximately $243 million over four years.
The ilmenite resources of the Birzulovsky deposit according to JORC standards amount to 2.06 million tons, while the Likarovsky deposit, for which JORC standards are currently being approved, has approximately 2.5-2.8 million tons. The deposit also contains 41,000 tons of zirconium, 15 million tons of kaolin, and 17 million tons of clay. Potential production is estimated at 280,000 tons of ilmenite, zirconium oxide – 500 tons, metallic zirconium and hafnium – 10 tons each, finished titanium products – about 30 tons, titanium powders – 1,200 tons, kaolin – 700,000 tons, and clay – 800,000 tons.
Velta Holding also includes the Velta RD Titan research and development center and Velta Medical, a manufacturer of custom titanium implants. The ultimate beneficiaries are Andrei Brodsky (60%), Vadim Moskalenko (20%), and Vitaly Malakhov (20%).
European Lithium Limited is an exploration and development stage mining company focused on lithium assets in Austria, Ukraine, and Ireland, as well as various assets in Australia and a rare earth metals project in Greenland. The release notes that European Lithium currently owns 44.982% of the common shares of US-based Critical Metals, which as of January 26, 2026, are valued at approximately $879.06 million.
At the end of last year, European Lithium’s subsidiary applied for a production sharing agreement on the Dobra lithium deposit in Ukraine, but lost.
According to the results of 2025, the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” achieved significant growth in key financial and economic indicators, said the head of the enterprise, Yuriy Bolokhovets.
The enterprise’s revenue reached UAH 29.9 billion, pre-tax profit — UAH 8.4 billion, and profitability — 23%. UAH 15.8 billion in taxes were paid. Forty-four percent of revenues are transferred to the budget, which is the highest percentage in the forestry and woodworking industry.
“For the first time since independence, billions in profits from timber sales have not been diluted by shadow schemes and divided between officials and intermediaries, but have been directed entirely to the budget. This is an indisputable fact. Figures are stubborn things, and they make it possible to evaluate the work of an enterprise on the basis of objective figures rather than subjective judgments,” says Yuriy Bolokhovets.
The growth in indicators is largely due to de-shadowing, as the product sales system is now as open as possible. The State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” publishes information on each exchange transaction: who contracted what volume of timber and at what price. A list of product refusals is also published.
In 2026, the company plans to increase harvesting volumes, which will contribute to further growth in economic indicators.
The process of purchasing an unprecedented amount of specialized equipment has begun: harvesters, forwarders, skidders, tractors, trailers, and equipment for transporting timber. Currently, the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” is working to increase this year’s investment plan by at least half in order to maximize the pace of harvesting.
Last year, the company transferred 100% of its procurement of harvesting services to Prozorro. However, due to a shortage of personnel, contractors often fail to complete the work on time. Therefore, additional teams are being formed throughout Ukraine and hundreds of new vacancies for loggers are being opened.
“We are determined to offer the market the largest volume of forest products since the start of the full-scale war. We expect an additional million cubic meters thanks to the acceleration of the approval of forest management materials. We expect another million cubic meters from the deregulation of licensing procedures. Changes to the regulatory framework are being developed, but unfortunately, no decision has been made yet,” said Yuriy Bolokhovets.
According to him, the year started very actively. Despite snowfalls and frosts, the dynamics of harvesting are higher than last year. The equipment is working, forest roads are cleared, and warehouses are shipping products.
“We feel a huge responsibility, because when other businesses stop, we continue to work and grow, compensating for budget losses. We are only waiting for long-planned decisions on legislative and regulatory changes aimed at unlocking the potential of forestry…,” said Yuriy Bolokhovets.
This year, the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” will direct equally significant investments toward the conservation, protection, and restoration of forests.
All forest fire stations of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” are 100% equipped with modern tools and equipment: from protective clothing, backpack fire extinguishers, and communication devices to mobile firefighting modules. Now it is time to upgrade large-scale firefighting equipment. The first nine vehicles have already been delivered, with another nine planned in the near future.
The recreation development program, which has already saved thousands of hectares of forest for the state, will also continue. The company will pay even more attention to the care of forest crops, as it is thanks to them that the market will be supplied with high-quality timber in the future.
Plans for this year include restarting the implementation of ERP — it is impossible to imagine a modern company without an automated management system. The corporatization process will continue, which involves revaluation of property, inventory, and preparation of transfer deeds. The registration of property rights to land will be completed.
Last year, the de-occupied forestries of Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions joined the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.” The restoration, harvesting, and protection of forests has begun. The area affected by fires has decreased significantly. However, it is not only the frontline forestry enterprises that need help. The company is working to bring in other forest users who are unable to perform their functions fully.
The Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine justifies the appointment of lawyer Oleksiy Shevchuk as a member of the Competition Commission for the competition for administrative positions in the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) as the only candidate from among those who participated in the selection process and met the requirements of the law after one of the three participants refused to work in the competition commission.
“Within the established deadline, the Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine received documents from four persons: three representatives of the prosecutorial community and one lawyer… All four candidates were admitted to participate in the selection process and underwent the relevant interviews… On December 9, 2025, the Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine reviewed the submitted documents at its meeting and decided to submit proposals to the Prosecutor General to appoint three employees of the prosecutor’s office to the Selection Committee. The relevant decision was published on the website of the Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine on the same day,” according to an explanation published on the Council of Prosecutors’ website on Monday.
However, one of the proposed candidates subsequently submitted a request to be removed from the list of candidates at his own request. It is reported that on December 18, the Council of Prosecutors granted his request and informed the Prosecutor General of this decision, who appointed Shevchuk as a member of the Competition Commission.
“Given the insufficient number of candidates proposed by the Prosecutors’ Council of Ukraine, and in order to comply with the requirements of paragraph four of part three of Article 29-1 of the Law of Ukraine ”On the Prosecutor’s Office” in a timely manner, the Prosecutor General appointed lawyer A. Shevchuk, the only candidate among those who participated in the competition and met the requirements of the law, as a member of the Competition Commission,” the statement said.
It is also noted that the powers of a member of the Competition Commission may be terminated early only in the event of a personal application for termination of powers, inability to participate in meetings for more than one month due to health reasons, a proposal by the Competition Commission to terminate the powers of its member ahead of schedule in cases provided for by the commission’s regulations, the entry into force of a court conviction, recognition of a person as incapacitated or missing, or his death.
The Council of Prosecutors noted that at the moment, the full composition of the commission has not been formed, as three candidates from international and foreign organizations, who must be proposed in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, have not yet been determined.
As reported, after Shevchuk was appointed a member of the competition commission, which is to select the deputy head of the SAP, he announced a “wave of information attacks, mudslinging, and provocations” against him by a number of activists, which he linked to the fact that he was Ilya Kiva’s lawyer at the time when Kiva held the position of head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs department and was responsible for combating drug trafficking. Shevchuk also reported that on March 7, he was mobilized and is working for the army and the front as a soldier.
“I am aware that some journalists have obtained information about our clients in violation of procedure. Manipulation and distortion of facts will not go unanswered – either in court or within the Commission on Journalistic Ethics. The relevant lawsuits have already been filed, and work in this direction will continue,” he said.
Source: https://rpu.gp.gov.ua/ua/rada_news.html?_m=publications&_c=view&_t=rec&id=410485
The gold market entered a phase of rapid acceleration in January 2026, with prices repeatedly hitting historic highs during the month and, for the first time ever, firmly settling above $5,000 per troy ounce. On January 26, the spot price rose to $5,110.50, with growth since the beginning of 2026 estimated at approximately 18%.
A key feature of the current movement is that it formed in “stages” on the wave of news triggers and demand for defensive assets. In the middle of the month, gold hit a record high of around $4,641 amid a combination of geopolitical uncertainty and expectations of a softening of Fed policy. Then, on January 19, gold and silver rewrote their highs after a surge in the flight to safety amid discussions about Greenland and tariff signals from the US. By January 23, gold had risen to around $4,988, and on January 26, the market crossed the psychological threshold of $5,000 and accelerated to $5,110.
The fundamental drivers of the January rally are as follows:
1) Politics and geopolitics. Investors are paying a higher risk premium due to foreign policy and trade signals from the US administration, as well as general market nervousness. Reuters directly links the surge in gold to growing demand for a “safe haven” amid volatility and geopolitical factors.
2) Currencies and interest rates. The weakening of the dollar and expectations of lower interest rates supported gold as a non-yielding asset (an alternative to bonds), especially against the backdrop of expectations of the Fed’s decisions at the end of January.
3) Central banks. Purchases by regulators remain high: the World Gold Council estimated net purchases by central banks at 45 tons in November, with total purchases for January-November at 297 tons.
4) Investment flows and “new” large buyers. Demand from atypical players is emerging in the market: for example, Tether reported purchasing about 27 tons of gold in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Possible scenarios for the near future look diverse.
The market is focused on US macro statistics and the trajectory of Fed policy: any signals of tighter rates could trigger a correction after rapid growth. At the same time, the “rally continues” scenario remains in place if the risk premium remains high and demand from central banks remains stable. Against this backdrop, investment houses are already raising their targets: Reuters reported that Goldman Sachs has raised its gold price forecast for the end of 2026 to $5,400 per ounce and expects central banks to continue making significant purchases.
The baseline scenario for the market in the near future is high volatility with a continuing upward trend: January’s rapid growth increases the likelihood of pullbacks “on the news” and profit-taking, but structural factors (diversification of reserves, geopolitical risks, demand for hedging) still appear to be stronger.
Earlier, the Experts Club analytical center released a video on gold production by the world’s leading economies from 1975 to 2024 – https://youtube.com/shorts/DWbzJ1e2tJc?si=BT8LW70pzdJThvqN
https://expertsclub.eu/rynok-zolota-v-sichni-2026-uvijshov-u-fazu-rizkogo-pryskorennya-experts-club/
