Ukrainian online pet retailer Pethouse will open its first physical store in Kyiv on October 4, the company’s press service reported.
It is noted that investments in the opening of the store exceeded UAH 10 million.
The store, located at 44a Anna Akhmatova Street, has an area of 72 square meters. The assortment includes about 3,000 products. The retail facility is equipped with an autonomous power supply system in case of blackouts, the company said.
By the end of 2025, Pethouse plans to open several more stores in the capital, and in 2026, it is considering further scaling of the chain in Kyiv and other cities.
Pethouse has been operating in the pet products market since 2010 and was previously represented only by an online store. The range includes more than 13,000 products for pets from 338 brands. The company is also a co-organizer and general sponsor of the first AdoptMe Days pet adoption festival.
According to Opendatabot, the owners of Ukrzogroup LLC, which operates the Pethouse online store, are Vladimir Kryzhanovsky (78.9%) and Vladimir Tarnopolsky (21.1%). At the end of 2024, the company increased its revenue by 55% compared to 2023, to UAH 1.1 billion, and doubled its net profit to UAH 41.1 million.
On Thursday, October 2, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Mishchenko accepted copies of the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine, Thomas Lund-Sørensen, according to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Foreign Ministry’s website, Mishchenko noted that the new ambassador’s extensive professional experience will be extremely valuable for the further development of bilateral relations.
He also praised Denmark’s leadership during its presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2025 and its unprecedented support for Ukraine. Denmark is the absolute world leader in terms of aid relative to GDP – 2.89%, with total military aid reaching EUR9.4 billion.
In turn, Lund-Sørensen emphasized Denmark’s commitment to further support Ukraine, strengthen its defense capabilities, assist in its path to EU accession, and promote mutual benefits from the application of the “Danish model,” which is also an investment in the security of all of Europe.
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ukraine organized a formal reception in Kyiv to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, Ukrainian authorities, business circles, and the Chinese diaspora.
In his welcoming speech, Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun emphasized that China has gone from being a post-conflict state to the world’s second largest economy, and today strives for “high-quality development” and global cooperation. “We have built a society of universal prosperity, lifted 800 million people out of poverty, and created the world’s largest education, healthcare, and social security systems,” he said.
The diplomat noted that between 2021 and 2024, China’s GDP grew by an average of 5.5% per year, and China’s economy is expected to exceed US$19.5 trillion in 2025. Ma Shenkun also mentioned successes in the field of high technology: the development of 5G infrastructure, electric vehicles, space and quantum projects.
He stressed that China and Ukraine are strategic partners: “Our cooperation is based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and sustainable development. In 2025, we have already signed two protocols on the export of Ukrainian peas and water resources to China.”
In addition, the ambassador expressed understanding for the challenges Ukraine faces today and assured that China will continue to advocate for a ceasefire and the promotion of a peaceful settlement.
During the reception, toasts were made to strengthen Sino-Ukrainian friendship, and cultural performances and exhibitions reflecting the cultural heritage of both countries were presented.
Ma Shengkun took office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine on November 26, 2024.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and China were established on January 4, 1992. The Chinese Embassy in Kyiv began operating in December 1992.
A decrease in supply on the residential real estate market in Kyiv and stable demand from buyers are maintaining the upward trend in prices for new buildings. By the end of the year, the cost per square meter will increase by 10-15%, the DIM group of companies told the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
“According to analysts at the DIM group of companies and industry observations, if the pace of the second half of the year does not fall below that of the first, the city will receive approximately 12-14 thousand new apartments by the end of the year, which is 15-20% less than last year. At the same time, limited supply amid stable demand will contribute to a further 10-15% increase in prices in the primary market by the end of the year,” the group said in a statement.
According to DIM, in the first half of 2025, the average price of new buildings increased by approximately 14% compared to the same period last year. Thus, , the average cost per square meter in new buildings is currently about $1,000/sq. m in the “economy” segment, $1,300/sq. m in the “comfort” segment, $2,200/sq. m in the ‘business’ segment, and $4,400/sq. m in the “premium” segment.
At the same time, the rate of increase in housing prices on the secondary market in the capital is slower: in the first half of 2025, prices rose by 8-10%, and the average cost per square meter on the secondary market is $2,000/sq. m.
According to Arseniy Nasikovsky, junior partner at DIM, the ability to move into ready-built housing is the main factor in choosing housing on the secondary market. However, a further reduction in the supply of new buildings in the event of a deterioration in the security situation will also shift the focus to secondary market properties.
“The choice between primary and secondary housing in 2025 will depend on the balance between readiness, risk, and the buyer’s financial capabilities. If the buyer values the ‘move in and live’ formula, they will choose secondary housing. New buildings offer a fundamentally different level of comfort, primarily a new level of security, which is very important in wartime, modern layouts, energy efficiency, and the availability of shelters and parking lots,” the expert explained.
According to DIM’s forecast, the restoration of new construction volumes to pre-war levels can be expected no earlier than the end of 2027. Today, there are only 140-145 residential complexes for sale on the capital’s market, which is a quarter less than before the war.
The portfolio of the development company DIM consists of real estate in Kyiv and the region with a total area of over 900,000 square meters. More than 3,600 apartments have been commissioned, and more than 356,000 square meters of residential and commercial space has been built. Six projects with a total area of more than 346,000 square meters are currently under construction.
Analysis, DIM, KYIV, REAL ESTATE, WHEAT
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted the credentials of the newly appointed ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Norway, and Germany.
“I accepted the credentials and spoke with the newly appointed ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Norway, and Germany,” he wrote on Telegram.
The president also congratulated them on the start of their diplomatic missions and thanked them for their countries’ support of Ukraine.
They also discussed strengthening cooperation, particularly in the security and defense sector.
“Together, we are adding to the security and stability of the whole of Europe and moving towards a reliable and guaranteed peace in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy concluded.
German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin must understand that Germany’s support for Ukraine remains unwavering, Reuters reports.
“Putin should have no illusions that Germany’s support for Ukraine could waver,” Klingbeil said.
“On the contrary: we remain Ukraine’s second-largest supporter in the world and the largest in Europe. Ukraine can continue to count on Germany,” he added.
Klingbeil called on Putin to show interest in the peace process in the bloodiest war in Europe in the last 80 years, which began in February 2022. He noted that Ukraine must participate in the negotiations and that a ceasefire and reliable security guarantees are necessary for a lasting peace. “To this end, we are coordinating closely at the international level,” the minister said.
