Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Body of Ukrainian citizen has been found in Montenegro

According to Serbian Economist, the body of Ukrainian citizen Oleksiy Polyakov, who disappeared on September 12, has been found in Montenegro. According to unofficial information, he was found near his car in the area of the Praskvica monastery.

The police and official authorities have not yet provided detailed comments.

The police reported that the lifeless body of a man, presumably Polyakov, was found near the monastery.

The mother of the missing man, Olena Polyakova, appealed to Montenegrin Interior Minister Daniel Sharanovich and the police chief to use all available resources to investigate the case. She also stated that $26,000 was withdrawn from her son’s bank account shortly after his disappearance.

According to media reports, the preliminary version of the investigation is considering the possibility of a crime, but there is no official confirmation yet.

 

Montenegro’s economy: current situation — analysis of indicators

GDP and economic growth

  • In 2024, Montenegro’s GDP growth was around 3.0%, and a similar rate is expected in 2025 — around 3.0–3.2%.
  • The overall forecast for the six countries of the Western Balkans, including Montenegro, is for economic growth of 3.2% in 2025
  • The World Bank previously gave a slightly more positive scenario — around 3.5% — but then lowered it to 3.2%

GDP

  • According to IMF estimates, the country’s nominal GDP in 2025 is expected to be around $8.56 billion.

Inflation

  • In 2024, the inflation rate was 3.4%, and a further decline to 2.9% is forecast for 2025, with an expectation of 2.3% in 2026.
  • The wiiw organization has also changed its forecast — inflation rose to 4.5% in May 2025, but the average annual estimate has been revised to 3.3%.
  • Thus, inflation in September 2025 could range from 3.0% to 4.5%, approximately 3–3.3%.

Unemployment

  • According to Trading Economics, the unemployment rate fell to 9.13% in June 2025 (from 9.66% in May).
  • According to Eurostat and Wikipedia, this figure was 9.1% in June 2025.
  • WIIW notes that for the first time, the rate fell below 10% — 9.9% (May 2025).
  • Thus, as of September 2025, unemployment fluctuates around 9–9.2%, likely having decreased slightly after the summer.

Additional macro indicators

  • Public debt: projected to grow to a level comparable to 65% of GDP by 2027.
  • Economic Freedom Index: according to the Heritage Foundation, Montenegro scored 63.8 points in 2025 — a moderately free economy, ranking 67th in the world on this indicator.

 

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Earthquake struck Serbia, with tremors felt in Montenegro

An earthquake struck Serbia on September 5, with tremors also felt in Montenegro. According to the Seismology Sector of the Montenegrin Hydrometeorological Institute (ZHMS), the signal was registered at 14:43 local time, with the epicenter approximately 15 km east of Senica (Golija district) with an estimated magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter scale and a depth of about 7 km. The agency notes that such a tremor “could have caused only minor material damage in the epicenter zone.”

The Serbian Seismological Service clarified the parameters: according to its assessment, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 occurred in the Golija area, approximately 20 km east of Senica, with an estimated intensity of up to VI points on the MSK-64 scale at the epicenter.

No serious damage or casualties had been reported at the time of publication; reports of tremors were received from border areas of Montenegro.

SERBIAN ECONOMIST

 

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Ukrainian citizens ranked 11th in terms of real estate purchases in Montenegro

In the first quarter of 2025, foreigners purchased €113.5 million worth of real estate in Montenegro (-21% year-on-year), with citizens and companies from Serbia, Turkey, and the US being the largest buyers, according to data from the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) published by Vijesti.

Ukrainian citizens ranked 11th, along with buyers from Poland and the Czech Republic.

Ranking of countries by purchase volume, Q1’2025

  1. Serbia — €19.2 million
  2. Turkey — €16.0 million
  3. United States — €13.8 million
  4. Germany — €11.5 million
  5. Cyprus — €5.3 million
  6. Russia — €4.7 million
  7. UAE — €4.4 million
  8. Switzerland — €3.8 million
  9. United Kingdom — €3.3 million
  10. Kosovo — €3.0 million

Outside the top ten, Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic are in 11th place (€2.3 million each), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (€1.9 million), Canada, and France (€1.4 million each). The geography of the deals covers buyers “from five continents,” the source notes.

According to CBCG, in January-March 2025, the total inflow of FDI into Montenegro amounted to €211 million, of which 54% was accounted for by real estate purchases. Other forms of FDI (investments in companies/banks, intra-group loans) declined. Monstat records a steady increase in prices for new buildings: the average price exceeded €2,000/m²; the coastal region remains the most expensive.

The rating is based on the value of transactions concluded in Q1’2025 according to official statistics from the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) published in Vijesti; the countries and amounts are given in euros. The final annual results are usually published by the CBCG in consolidated reports.

Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/1340

 

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Railway workers are on strike in Montenegro

In Montenegro, a group of employees of Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore (ŽICG) — more than 80 station attendants and dispatchers — announced a work stoppage, which led to the suspension of several trains at the Podgorica, Bar, and Bijelo Polje, according to the Serbian Economist Telegram channel.

According to the publication, a train traveling from Belgrade to Bar has already been stopped, and a train from Bijelo Polje has not continued its route; some passengers are being transported to their destinations by bus.

A representative of the group of workers, Andrej Kaludjerovic, said that the stoppage was linked to a demand that ŽICG management begin negotiations on raising wages and equalizing pay rates with other railway companies in the country.

According to him, the labor action will continue until management invites employee representatives to the negotiating table with the participation of two representative trade unions, the Ministry of Transport, and the chairman of the company’s board of directors.

Source: Serbian Economist.

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Forest fires have approached popular resorts in Montenegro

Forest fires have engulfed Montenegro, coming close to resort areas and populated areas.

Among those affected is the Cana area, where the flames came within 50 meters of a hotel, forcing families to evacuate their homes in Gornji Rogami. Media reports indicate power outages in several towns.

Serbia quickly sent a Ka-32 helicopter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a team of seven people, including six air crew members and one emergency service representative. The aircraft arrived in less than two hours and began fighting the fire north of Podgorica.

Fires in Montenegro remain active, with the region battling the threat of the flames spreading.

According to MONSTAT, in 2024, tourists from Serbia accounted for 23.5% of all foreign overnight stays, making them the largest group of visitors to Montenegro.

According to other data, in 2024, Serbian tourists accounted for 859,932 overnight stays (about 860,000) from January to September, confirming their status as Montenegro’s leading tourist audience.

 

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