About 11–12 million people living in the territory controlled by Ukraine may be below the poverty line if the World Bank’s latest estimate of the share of the poor population is applied to current demographic estimates.
According to data from the Experts Club information and analytical center and the World Bank’s spring study, *Monitoring Living Conditions in Ukraine*, the poverty rate in Ukraine in 2025 was estimated at 41.6% of the population, compared with 37% in 2024. This figure has effectively doubled compared with 2021.
Olha Holubovska, president of the All-Ukrainian Association of Infectious Disease Specialists, noted during a roundtable discussion at the Interfax-Ukraine agency that this is no longer merely a decline in living standards, but a population living below the established poverty line and increasingly unable to finance medical treatment independently.
To convert this indicator into absolute figures, it is necessary to take into account that there is no exact current population figure for Ukraine because of the war and the absence of a census. According to an estimate by the Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Life Quality Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, approximately 27–29 million people lived in government-controlled territory in the summer of 2026.
If the poverty rate of 41.6% is conditionally applied to this range, the result is between 11.2 million and 12.1 million people.
This figure is an estimate rather than the official number of poor people as of September 2026, since the World Bank indicator relates to 2025, while the population estimate relates to 2026. Nevertheless, it demonstrates the real scale of the problem.
The World Bank calculates the indicator based on the actual subsistence minimum published by the Ministry of Social Policy and household survey data. At the same time, the bank notes not only an increase in poverty but also growing inequality: the Gini coefficient rose from 0.44 in 2024 to 0.50 in 2025. The real earned income of the poorest 20% of households fell by more than 30%, while it increased among the wealthiest groups.
At the same time, the financial resilience of families continues to deteriorate. At the end of 2025, about 17% of households were already borrowing money to cover basic expenses, approximately the same proportion were unable to pay utility bills on time, and the share of families forced to sell property to finance everyday needs increased.
Families with children, pensioners, internally displaced persons and residents of frontline territories remain particularly vulnerable.
Ukrainian MP Lesia Zaburanna noted during the roundtable discussion that the consequences of rising poverty are already visible not only in frontline regions but also in Kyiv, where residents are reducing spending on food, medical treatment and providing for their children.
The Consulate General of Ukraine in Shanghai has warned Ukrainian citizens of large-scale flooding in Fujian Province in southeastern China, caused by heavy downpours resulting from Typhoon Saudel.
According to the diplomatic mission, intense rainfall has led to flooding in the region. Ukrainians staying in Fujian Province are advised to continuously monitor announcements from local authorities and weather forecasts and to avoid flooded areas, riverbanks and mountainous terrain.
The Consulate also urges people not to attempt to cross flooded roads and to comply with the instructions of local authorities if an evacuation is announced.
In China, the number for calling the police is 110, emergency medical services — 120, and the fire and rescue service — 119.
Ukrainian citizens who find themselves in an emergency due to the natural disaster are asked to contact the hotline of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Shanghai at +86 138 1631 8830.
Fujian is located on the coast of the Taiwan Strait and is regularly affected by tropical cyclones and typhoons, which can cause heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides during the summer-autumn season.
Original source: Consulate General of Ukraine in Shanghai
A delegation from the Generalitat of Catalonia, led by President Salvador Illa i Roca, signed documents on long-term partnerships with the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions during a visit to Kyiv on September 3, according to the Ukrainian Embassy in Spain.
Specifically, Catalonia signed memoranda of understanding with the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as a letter of intent with the Lviv region. The documents cover cooperation in the areas of healthcare, energy, economic development, science and innovation, and the restoration of critical infrastructure and basic services.
A separate area of focus involves strengthening the institutional capacity of Ukrainian regions, specifically preparing them to access EU structural and cohesion funds, as well as aligning with European legislation.
“Interregional cooperation is one of the most effective tools for Ukraine’s recovery. A direct partnership between Catalonia and our regions means not just one-time aid, but sustainable cooperation involving specific projects, the exchange of expertise, and preparation for EU membership,” noted Yulia Sokolovska, Ukraine’s ambassador to Spain.
Medicine remains one of the most developed areas of cooperation. Catalan hospitals have already treated Ukrainian military personnel and civilians with combat injuries, and have provided Ukrainian medical facilities with hospital beds, ventilators, and other equipment. Ukrainian doctors have also completed internships at Catalan medical institutions, specifically at the Guttmann Institute and the Sant Joan de Déu Children’s Hospital in Barcelona.
During this visit, the parties announced the launch of a specialized training program for Ukrainian medical professionals in the fields of reconstructive surgery, the treatment of severe injuries, amputations and prosthetics, burns, and psychological trauma.
The President of the Generalitat of Catalonia emphasized that cooperation must be mutual: Catalonia is ready to share its own and Spain’s collective experience with Ukraine, but at the same time is interested in the unique practices that Ukrainian medical professionals have developed during the war.
At the same time, a delegation from the Barcelona City Council, led by Mayor Jaume Colboni, is visiting Ukraine. As part of the visit, the mayor of Barcelona and the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, renewed the cooperation agreement between the two cities. The document covers issues of energy sustainability, accessibility, urban development, education, healthcare, culture, transportation, and public safety.
Barcelona also delivered a shipment of equipment and vehicles to Kyiv for the fire and rescue service. Starting in 2023, Kyiv will have priority city status in Barcelona’s municipal grant program for civil society organizations.
As noted by the Embassy of Ukraine in Spain, the agreements reached signify a shift in Catalonia’s support from individual humanitarian projects toward a permanent institutional partnership focused on the reconstruction of Ukrainian regions and their integration into the EU.
Original source: Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Spain
In August 2026, 1,050 new trucks and specialty vehicles were added to Ukraine’s fleet, which is 20% less than in July of this year, according to a report by “Ukravtoprom” on its Telegram channel.
At the same time, compared to August of last year, demand for these vehicles increased by 12%.
Renault remains the market leader with 250 units, which is 47 fewer vehicles than a month ago.
Mercedes-Benz took second place, with 121 registrations compared to 114 in July. Volkswagen came in third with 100 units (it was not among the top five in July).
Next were Citroën with 85 units (117 units in July 2026) and FIAT with 67 units (107 units).
As previously reported, last August the top five were Renault, Citroën, Peugeot, Toyota, and Hyundai, and sales fell by 14% compared to August 2024—to 937 units.
According to data from “Ukravtoprom,” overall sales growth for trucks and special-purpose vehicles from January through August 2026 slowed to 14% compared to the same period last year, reaching 8,626 new vehicles (sales growth stood at 15% for January through July).
As reported, citing data from “Ukravtoprom,” registrations of new trucks and specialty vehicles in 2025 fell by 5% compared to 2024—to nearly 12,300 vehicles.
According to Experts.news, Ukraine imported 4.2 million metric tons of diesel fuel in January–August 2026, which is 7% more than during the same period in 2025, the A-95 Consulting Group reported.
However, in August alone, shipments fell by 10% year-over-year to 588,000 metric tons.
The main feature of the market in August was a significant restructuring of logistics. While a year earlier, approximately 50% of imported diesel fuel came via the southern route, in August 2026 that share fell to 33%. At the same time, the share of shipments via the western border rose from 50% to 67%.
According to Serhiy Kuyun, director of “A-95,” the change in routes is linked both to the price situation on the European market amid the war in Iran and to the increase in military risks, freight costs, and secondary logistics along the southern route.
A-95 expects that the fall will remain a challenging period for the fuel market due to intensified Russian attacks and market turbulence linked to the war in Iran.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as one of the causes of the global energy crisis and rising energy prices, according to The New York Times.
“We are currently experiencing an energy shock due to the war in Ukraine, as Ukraine has decided to target Russian energy assets and oil refineries, which is driving up prices globally,” Bessent said.
According to The New York Times, Bessent made this statement after two days of meetings in North Carolina with finance ministers from around the world. He cited Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure as one of the causes of the global energy crisis, which he said was primarily caused by the U.S. war with Iran.
The publication notes that Bessent’s remarks came after the U.S. invited Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to the G20 meeting, a move that drew criticism from some of Ukraine’s allies.
Bessent also defended his bilateral meeting with Siluanov, citing the need for cooperation to resolve Russia’s war against Ukraine.
At the same time, as the American publication notes, Bessent’s criticism of Ukraine’s military tactics sparked a negative reaction among Ukrainians.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/business/bessent-energy-prices-ukraine.html
