The cost of 12 lean dishes for the 2025 Christmas table is 913.57 UAH, which is 11% more than last year, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UACB)
“Food prices on the eve of the Christmas holidays show mixed trends: thanks to a record drop in vegetable prices, the cost of some traditional dishes has decreased, but the total cost of the Christmas table has increased due to the rise in prices for fruit, fish, and groceries,” the association explained.
Analysts noted that a distinctive feature of this winter season was “vegetable deflation.” Thanks to a good harvest, prices for vegetables used in borscht have fallen significantly: cabbage has fallen in price by 73%, carrots by 63%, onions by 58%, potatoes by 54%, and beets by 51%. This has led to significant savings in the preparation of dishes such as cabbage dumplings (their cost has fallen by 47%), potatoes with garlic (-40%), and vinaigrette (-18%). Even lean borscht will cost 18% less this year than last year.
At the same time, the main symbols of the Christmas table – kutia and uzvar – have noticeably increased in price, according to the UACB. The kutia index rose by 37%. This is due to the rise in prices of all its components: nuts jumped in price by 60%, honey by 40%, and poppy seeds and raisins by more than 30%. The ingredients for uzvar led the way in terms of price growth: prunes rose in price by 168%, dried pears by 140%, and apples by 110%, which led to a 150% increase in the price of the drink.
Fish dishes also became more expensive: the cost of herring rose by 24%, and fish (hake) for baking – by 25%. In addition, the final cost of dishes is influenced by sunflower oil, which is a basic element of the Lenten table and has risen in price by 22% over the year.
As for meat dishes (for those who do not observe Lent or are already preparing for the New Year), their preparation is more expensive than last year. Baked pork neck will cost 7% more (330 UAH/kg). Lard is outpacing the growth in meat prices – over the year, the product has increased in price by 16% and costs 272 UAH/kg. The cost of meat borscht has increased by 27%, reaching 196 UAH, with pork ribs accounting for over 60% of the price (119.5 UAH per 500 g). Chicken prices are rising due to the increase in feed costs, while pork prices are stabilizing due to imports.
Sliced cheese will be one of the most expensive items on the New Year’s table—700 UAH/kg, which is 40% more than last year. Despite the general trend of declining wholesale prices for raw milk, producers are maintaining high prices for cheese and butter due to expensive energy resources. Eggs, which are essential for Olivier salad, rose by 10% compared to the same period last year and reached 81.6 UAH per dozen, according to the UACB.
The number of Ukrainians planning Christmas and New Year shopping has increased over the year from 65% to 75%, despite the fourth year of full-scale war, according to Deloitte Ukraine’s “Holiday Shopping 2025” survey, provided by the company’s press service.
“This year, we see that preparations for the holidays are becoming more thoughtful and forward-looking: Ukrainians are planning their purchases earlier, approaching spending more cautiously, and more often choosing things that have personal significance for them and their loved ones. For 51% of respondents, the process of preparing gifts remains a pleasant ritual rather than a source of stress. Such familiar concerns help us today to support ourselves and those around us,” notes Alexander Yampolsky, head of retail and wholesale distribution at Deloitte Ukraine.
However, according to the survey results, more and more Ukrainians are also choosing to celebrate at home—68% compared to 54% in 2024. More and more Ukrainians are starting their holiday shopping early: 18% before December, while the main shopping period is December 1-24 (62%).
For the fourth year in a row, Ukrainians are not increasing their spending: 46% are willing to spend no more than a quarter of their monthly income on shopping, and 54% plan to spend between UAH 1,000 and UAH 5,000, with holiday purchases focused on family (88%) and friends (40%). At the same time, young people are more likely to deviate from the traditional scenario: 49% buy gifts for themselves.
Ukrainians most often do their holiday shopping in large and medium-sized supermarket chains (43%), with online stores consistently ranking second (27%) and cosmetics stores (21%) remaining popular due to the demand for gifts “for themselves and their loved ones.”
The most popular tools for choosing gifts are wish lists (46%), price comparison services (54%), and online reviews (50%). Recommendations from influencers play a much smaller role, with only 9-10% of respondents relying on them. And only 10% of respondents believe that the presence of an AI assistant on retailers’ online platforms would make it easier to select holiday gifts.
It is emphasized that shoppers are most upset by the lack of available products (27%), excessive advertising (22%), and inconvenient search filters (14%).
At the same time, 64% of Ukrainians plan to allocate part of their holiday budget to charity, and 8 out of 10 primarily support Ukrainian defenders on the front lines.
“The holiday habits of Ukrainians reflect not only consumer trends, but also deeper internal changes. The way people give gifts, celebrate, and seek joy is now an important part of their emotional stability. Even during the war, Ukrainians remain a community that helps, shares, and creates a festive atmosphere for each other,” Yampolsky concluded.
The study was conducted using a multi-stage stratified sample representing the population of Ukraine by gender, age, size of settlement, and type of employment. Data was collected through an online survey using a quota sample that corresponds to the socio-demographic profile of the Ukrainian population. In total, more than 1,000 respondents took part in the survey.
If a trilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin takes place, the war could end before Christmas (December 25), according to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
“If a trilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump, President Zelensky and Putin takes place, I am cautiously optimistic that this war will end well before Christmas,” he wrote on social media.
“If the meeting does not take place, I think President Trump could impose serious consequences on Putin and those who buy his oil and gas,” Graham predicts.
Oil prices rose in pre-holiday trading on Tuesday, recovering the losses incurred the day before.
The cost of February futures for Brent on the London ICE Futures exchange rose by $0.95 (1.3%) to $73.58 per barrel.
February futures for WTI on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) rose by $0.86 (1.2%) to $70.1 per barrel.
Media reports that China may issue special treasury bonds worth a record 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) in 2025 to raise funds to support the national economy have encouraged oil traders. China is one of the world’s largest oil importers and consumers.
Quotes continue to be supported by concerns about geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, as well as the prospect of tighter sanctions against Russia and Iran.
Meanwhile, expectations of an oversupply of crude oil amid unclear demand prospects and a stronger US dollar are having a restraining effect on oil prices, making commodities less attractive.
The market was evaluating the latest statements by US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened to restore Washington’s control over the Panama Canal if the fee for passage through it is not reduced, and was also waiting for official data on commercial oil reserves in the US, which will be published this week with a delay due to the holidays.
“We can assume that WTI will trade around the $70 mark until Friday, when the late weekly report from the Energy Information Administration is released, which will set additional price targets,” Ritterbusch said in a research note.
On Wednesday, exchanges in the US, UK, Germany, France and other European countries, as well as Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia, are closed for Christmas. Many sites will remain closed on Thursday.
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to our readers!
Happy winter holidays and good luck throughout the coming year.
May this year be better than the previous one, make dreams come true and succeed in future endeavors.
Let not only on these holidays, but also throughout the coming year, close and dear people will be near.
I wish you peace, confidence and happiness!
Thank you for staying with us
Editor Maksim Urakin
On January, 7, 8 and 9, Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus («Kyivan Rus Park») invites you to celebrate Christmas in a big way as in the times of Kyivan Rus. Traditional medieval winter amusements, the real nativity scene, master-classes on carol singing, horse-trick and interactive musical performances, hot drinks and dishes from fire – these and much more waits for children and adults in the Principality of Kyivan Rus.
The best place to celebrate Christmas is Ancient Kyiv, located in the Kyiv region, in the village of Zastugna (Kopachiv). After all, only here you can plunge into the times of the birth of Christianity in our lands, touch the ancient traditions of Christmas celebrations and feel like the real inhabitants of Kyivan Rus.
At the entrance gates of the Principality, the guests are awaited by the real journey in a thousand years ago, in the times of Kyivan Rus. After all, here, on the basis of knowledge of modern science, Kyiv of the V-XIII centuries is being fully reproduced. The visitors will see the reconstructed masterpieces of medieval wooden architecture: the monumental fortification «Zaborola» (about 300 m long), the St. Michael’s Gate (21 m high), the estates of Kyiv residents, watchtowers, terems and tribunes, the wooden St. Basil’s Church of the Хth century. The atmosphere and the spirit of that glorious time are also being revived here.
During the three holiday days the guests of the Principality will get acquainted with the life of the real medieval city, lots of entertainment and a rich Christmas show with the participation of the horse-trick theatre and costumed characters, riding on a horseback and in a sleigh, medieval drinks and hot dishes prepared on fire, winter entertainment, the holiday photo location, master-classes, the New Year’s souvenir fair, flash mobs, games and the drawing of gifts.
At the gates of Ancient Kyiv, the guests will be greeted by the New Year’s characters and invited to the magical world of the Christmas «Winter Fairy Tale» with fun games, contests, New Year’s songs, fiery round dances and many ancient Slavic winter amusements. The inhabitants of the Principality will invite all the guests to take part in the merriment.
Only in Ancient Kyiv on January, 7, 8 and 9 the real Christmas nativity scene will come to life. There will be the Virgin Mary with the holy baby, shepherds, Volkhvs, and, of course, the struggle of good and evil and the victory of good in the finale. And the nativity scene will be in the unique ancient Slavic language. After the nativity scene there will be a master-class on learning and singing Christmas carols.
On the main stage of the Fairytale city the author’s interactive performance-musical, interesting and instructive for both children and adults, will take place. The uniqueness of the performance is that the ancient Slavic language spoken by our ancestors will be heard from the stage. It will be accompanied by fire special effects and horse-trick performances with the use of the medieval weapon. The spectators will be able not only to watch the performance, but also to take part in the fabulous extravaganza.
One of the wonders of Ancient Kyiv is the live collection of horses of rare historical breeds, gathered from all over the world in the Princely stable. Some of the breeds were bred over a thousand years ago. The representatives of some of these breeds can be seen nowhere else in Ukraine, as they were brought in a single number. Every visitor will be able to approach the horses, palm them, take pictures and ride on a horseback, in a sleigh or in a carriage.
In the Principality, the visitors will be able to walk the streets of the medieval city, shoot a bow in the medieval shooting range, mint a coin after the ancient technology. The lovers of extreme will find awaited by the Zmiy Horynych speed slide and the Politaylo rope descent with the routes of varying difficulty. In the Princely costume room the guests can put on the clothes of the Kyivan Rus times and arrange a colorful photo session in them. And then – visit the medieval shop and choose original souvenirs for memory.
You can warm up and regain strength in the Princely tavern. Here you can taste drinks and dishes prepared on open fire, both according to medieval and modern recipes.
For those who want to continue the holiday for one more day, it is possible to stay for the night in comfortable rooms, by pre-booking.
The world of amazing medieval adventures waits for children and adults in the Principality of Kyivan Rus!
Visiting Ancient Kyiv takes place in compliance with the requirements of the quarantine regime.
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10.00. The program starts at 13:30. * The program may change.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 250 Uah., for pensioners and students – 150 Uah., for schoolchildren – 100 Uah., for preschool children – for free.
Ancient Kyiv is in a 45-minutes’ drive from modern Kyiv – in the Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, vill. Zastugna (Kopachiv).
You can get by your own car or by public transport. The schedule of route taxis check on the «Obukhivtrans» website or on the «Kyivan Rus Park» website in the «Contacts» section.
Detailed information on the website www.parkkyivrus.com
