Metallurgical enterprises of Ukraine in January-August of this year increased revenues from exports of ferrous metals by 13.5% compared to the same period last year – up to $2 billion 66.849 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, ferrous metals accounted for 7.49% of total receipts from exports of goods during this period against 7.44% in January-August-2023.
Ferrous metals export earnings totaled $314.901 million in August, compared to $285.516 million in the previous month.
Long-term budget programs of the European Union should take into account Ukraine’s future membership in the EU, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga stressed.
During a discussion at the 20th Yalta European Strategy (YES) meeting in Kiev, the minister said that Ukraine needs macro-financial assistance and long-term support programs. According to him, the EU needs to build its policy now “through the paradigm that Ukraine is already a member of the European Union.”
“In accordance with the EU procedures, the process of preparing a 7-year budget for 2028-2034 starts in February 2025. It is very important that this budget already reflects this philosophy and logic. The logic of Ukraine’s enlargement and membership in the EU. This is very, very important, and we hope that our partners support this project,” Sibiga said.
According to the foreign minister, after World War II, one of the key goals of the founding of the EU was “to overcome war as a way of thinking and politics, and this idea remains relevant today.”
“There must be a clear realization that only Ukraine’s victory guarantees a secure future for Europe. We must be more decisive, act faster and with more confidence in our decision-making. Europe must also build up its defense capabilities,” he said.
Sibiga also assured European partners of Ukraine’s responsible work on the way to unification of domestic and foreign policy with the EU and careful fulfillment of its “homework”.
“In the field of foreign policy, Ukraine will ensure full harmonization with the EU and aims to join 100 percent of EU statements,” he said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of Estonia Alar Karis in Kyiv.
According to the press service of the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy thanked Karis and his wife for participating in the First Ladies and Gentlemen Summit, which will take place in Kyiv today.
The President of Ukraine also noted Estonia’s decision to allocate 0.25% of GDP annually for the defense needs of our country. This is enshrined in the bilateral security agreement.
“We are grateful for your support in all spheres and a very important agreement on security cooperation between our countries. We are very pleased to have so many strategic partners,” the Head of State emphasized.
In addition, he thanked Estonia for its active participation in the restoration of Ukraine, in particular, for the projects already implemented in Zhytomyr region.
Particular attention was paid to Ukraine’s European integration. Zelenskyy noted Estonia’s significant expert support for Ukraine in the negotiation process.
The State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF) has included Drohobych Saltworks in the list of enterprises to be privatized, the saltworks said on Facebook.
“Unfortunately, the enterprise cannot recover on its own, as it pays 80% of its net profit as dividends, and it has almost no funds left for recovery. Therefore, it is important to find effective solutions to preserve our heritage,” – noted in the message.
The management of the enterprise believes that the purchase of the enterprise by a private investor or transfer to the regional or city municipal ownership is one of the effective ways to preserve and restore the property. In this case, the entire income can be directed to the development of the enterprise and attract funds from outside.
“The management is ready to do everything possible to continue salt production. And yes, it is real! We will take care that the conditions of privatization include the continuation of Drohobych salt production”, – stated in the message.
Drohobych saltworks is the oldest enterprise in Ukraine, which began production in 1390. Salt at the plant is boiled from brine, which is extracted from the subsoil. Currently, the enterprise produces two types of products: “Boiled iodized kitchen salt” and “Boiled kitchen salt without additives”. After the beginning of hostilities in the East, this is practically the only enterprise in Ukraine, which is engaged in salt production. The leading retail chains of the country have established cooperation with it. Since 2019, the plant is actively developing tourism.
88% of weapons in the register since the beginning of the full-scale war have been lost
More than 270,000 weapons have been lost or stolen since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. This is 40% of the total number of stolen and lost weapons in the registry. More than 78 thousand weapons have been lost and stolen since the beginning of the year. The most frequent places where weapons are lost are Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv.
270,945 weapons have been lost and stolen in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. This is 40% of the total number of weapons listed in the register of stolen or lost weapons.
This year, the number of lost and stolen weapons has increased: in less than 2024, more weapons were stolen or lost than in the whole of last year – 78,217 units. At the same time, this is 4 times more than before the full-scale campaign.
The largest number of weapons was registered in 2022 – 116,687 units.
Hunting rifles (27.9%), assault rifles (27.8%), and carbines (10.8%) are the most commonly lost weapons. Among the models, the AK-74 rifle is the most popular – 51,008 units (18.8%), followed by PM pistols (7.4%) and SKS carbines (4.4%).
The highest losses were recorded in the frontline Donetsk (19.4%) and Zaporizhzhia regions (11.8%), as well as in Kyiv (10%).
The vast majority of weapons in the registry have been lost since the start of the full-scale war – 88%. Only 12% of the weapons in the registry were stolen.
Context.
As a reminder, in August 2024, the President signed Bill No. 9538, which grants civilians the right to declare, own, and use found firearms and ammunition to defend themselves against Russian armed aggression.
Ukrainians will be able to use the declared trophy weapons during martial law and 90 days after its end.
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/weapon-wanted-2024
Leaders of the insurance market of Ukraine on the collected premiums in January-July 2024 became insurance companies SG “TAS” (UAH 2,553 billion), “ARKS” (UAH 2,371 billion), “Unica” (UAH 2,329 billion), “INGO” (UAH 1,952 billion) and IC “VUSO” (UAH 1,732 billion), according to the website of the National Association of Insurers of Ukraine (NASU). It is noted that in comparison with 6M2024 IC “Unica” dropped to the third position from the second, and IC “ARKS” took its place; IC “USG” left the top five from the fifth position, allowing IC “VUSO” to enter the top 5.
There have been no changes in the top-5 in the market of compulsory motor third party liability insurance in terms of premiums collected and following the results of seven months the leaders are SG “TAS” (UAH 775,3 mln), “Oranta” (UAH 739,3 mln), “Knyazha VIG” (UAH 570,6 mln), “ROM” (UAH 360,4 mln) and “VUSO” (UAH 244,4 mln).
The leaders in the market of “Green Card” on collected premiums for the specified period are “TAS” (UAH 754,5 mln), “USG” (UAH 405,5 mln), “Knyazha VIG” (UAH 372,1 mln), “ROM” (UAH 310,5 mln) and “Oranta” (UAH 227 mln) (no changes).
There are also no changes in the CASCO market: as before, it is headed by IC “ARKS” (UAH 1.256 billion), “Arsenal Insurance” (UAH 1.034 billion), “Unica” (UAH 622.6 million), “VUSO” (UAH 531.3 million) and “USG” (UAH 495.1 million).
At the same time, there have been slight changes among the leaders in voluntary medical insurance: the leader, as well as earlier top-5 in this segment, is IC Unica (UAH 1,018 billion), followed by IC Universalna (UAH 560 million), IC INGO (UAH 422,7 million). IC “VUSO” (UAH 328,4 mln) has risen from the fifth position to the fourth, and “ARKS” (UAH 324,5 mln) has taken its place.
In July 2024 there were no changes in the leaders of the life insurance market. As before, the first position is occupied by IC “MetLife” (UAH 1.506 billion), IC “TAS” (UAH 388.4 million), “Grave Life” (UAH 311 million), “Unica Life” (UAH 230.9 million) and “ROM Life” (UAH 217.1 million).
As reported, as of the end of July 2024, 69 risk insurers operate in the insurance market of Ukraine, 12 specialize in life insurance, one – with a special status (“Export Credit Agency”, ECA).
