In September 2026, Ukrainian banks increased their net loan portfolio by 1.9%, or 25.1 billion UAH, compared to August—to 1 trillion 329.4 billion UAH, while the deposit base increased by 0.7%, or 23.1 billion UAH, to 3 trillion 254.7 billion UAH, according to operational data from the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
The main growth came from the corporate segment: the business loan portfolio increased by 15.3 billion UAH, or 1.6%, over the month—to 946.3 billion UAH.
The volume of loans to households at the end of the month stood at 383.1 billion UAH, which is 9.8 billion UAH, or 2.6%, more than a month earlier.
Within the corporate portfolio, hryvnia-denominated loans increased by nearly 0.7%, or 4.3 billion UAH, to 654.9 billion UAH, while foreign-currency loans (in hryvnia equivalent) rose by 3.9%, or 11.1 billion UAH, to 291.4 billion UAH.
On a year-over-year basis, hryvnia-denominated loans to legal entities rose by 32.3%, foreign-currency loans (in hryvnia equivalent) by 29.7%, and the retail loan portfolio by 38.4%.
In the deposit market, the trend was the opposite of that in the loan market: the largest increase came from household deposits, which rose by 21.4 billion UAH, or 1.4%, to 1 trillion 556.0 billion UAH, while corporate deposits increased by 1.8 billion UAH, or 0.1%, to 1 trillion 698.7 billion UAH.
On a year-over-year basis, household deposits increased by nearly 17.0%, and corporate deposits by 14.9%.
The ”Cheese Kingdom” chain of stores, which specializes in selling cheeses from around the world, has announced its closure.
‘For 13 years, we have served you and shared the finest flavors. Unfortunately, we are forced to close our stores,’ the chain’s website stated on Friday.
In June 2025, the chain’s office in Kyiv was completely destroyed by fire following a Russian ‘suicide attack.’
The chain’s stores comprise 48 teams and 250 employees across the country.
Source: https://cheesekingdom.com.ua/ua
Bulgaria is investigating the suspected arson of Starlink satellite system equipment at a secured facility near Sofia. According to Ivaylo Mirchev, co-chair of the “Yes, Bulgaria” party, the incident damaged 11 of the 17 antennas that provided communication with SpaceX’s satellite network.
As reported by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), Mirchev stated that two unidentified, masked individuals broke into the facility and set the telecommunications equipment on fire.
According to the politician, these antennas are used to maintain communication with Starlink satellites, whose technology plays a crucial role in supporting communications during the war in Ukraine.
Mirchev criticized Bulgarian law enforcement agencies and special services for failing to provide public information about the incident. He also questioned whether the competent authorities had received warnings from partner intelligence agencies about a possible sabotage plot.
The politician reported that, together with MP Bozhidar Bozhanov, he had submitted parliamentary inquiries to the Bulgarian State Agency for National Security (DANS) and the Ministry of the Interior, demanding an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
On October 13, Bulgarian media reported that an investigation was underway. According to their reports, law enforcement agencies are reviewing surveillance camera footage and other materials that could help identify the attackers.
On October 14, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that an intensive investigation into the case is underway, involving the relevant authorities and partner agencies. At the same time, he declined to disclose details, citing the need to maintain the confidentiality of the investigation.
The incident occurred amid increased attention from European countries toward protecting critical telecommunications infrastructure. In particular, law enforcement agencies in Poland are investigating a separate case of arson targeting Starlink equipment in the Masovian Voivodeship. In October, German police detained two Turkish citizens on suspicion of involvement in this crime.
Starlink is a satellite-based broadband internet access system developed by the American company SpaceX. In Ukraine, it is used by civilian institutions, emergency services, businesses, and the military to maintain communications when ground-based infrastructure is damaged.
However, there is currently no official confirmation that the antennas damaged in Bulgaria were directly serving specific Ukrainian units or that the incident caused communication disruptions in Ukraine.
Source: Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA)
Retail Expo 2026—the 10th annual Ukrainian retail congress—will take place on October 29–30. The event will bring together over 500 participants: owners and executives of retail chains, manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies, and industry experts. The program features over 50 speakers, practical case studies, panel discussions, and an exhibition area showcasing retail solutions.
How is consumer behavior changing?
What helps maintain sales, teams, and customer loyalty today?
Where can you find opportunities for efficiency when resources are limited and challenges are mounting?
These and other questions will form the basis of the Retail Expo 2026 program. The focus will be on market analytics and consumer trends, automation and technological transformation, sales, customer experience and service, labor shortages, team management, and partnerships. There will be a special emphasis on real-world case studies from Ukrainian companies that are finding solutions and continuing to grow despite all the challenges.
Retail Expo is not just about presentations on stage. It’s two days of lively conversation, new connections, professional discussions, and meetings with those who work every day to advance the Ukrainian retail sector.
Today, as businesses operate amid war, constant uncertainty, and new challenges, such gatherings are especially valuable. It’s important not to become isolated by our own problems, but to come together, speak openly, share experiences, and support one another—so we can find solutions, grow stronger, and move forward.
Retail Expo 2026 will take place on October 29–30. The event will be held in a shelter, which will allow the congress to continue even during air raid alerts.
The program, speakers, and registration are available on the Retail Expo 2026 website https://retailexpo.com.ua
Open4Business is an information partner.
According to Experts Club, Moldova continues to be viewed predominantly positively by Ukrainians: in August 2026, 55.4% of respondents had a positive attitude toward the country, while 7.3% had a negative one. At the same time, more than a third of those surveyed—35.6%—hold a neutral view. Compared to March, the share of positive assessments has decreased slightly, reports the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 20.4% of Ukrainians view Moldova entirely positively, and 35% view it mostly positively. A neutral attitude was expressed by 35.6% of respondents. 6.1% view the country mostly negatively, 1.2% completely negatively, and another 1.8% were undecided.
According to the rounded data in the table, the balance of positive and negative assessments is approximately plus 48.1 percentage points. Thus, positive attitudes toward Moldova outnumber negative ones by more than seven to one. Among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, it is second only to the Czech Republic in terms of the balance of assessments.
In March 2026, 60.1% of respondents had a positive attitude toward Moldova: 22.8% viewed it entirely positively and 37.3% viewed it mostly positively. A neutral stance was held by 32.9% of respondents, 5.4% viewed the country negatively, and another 1.6% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive responses decreased by 4.7 percentage points—from 60.1% to 55.4%. Negative assessments increased by 1.9 percentage points, while the neutral segment grew by 2.7 percentage points. The balance between positive and negative attitudes decreased from approximately plus 54.7 to plus 48.1 percentage points, respectively.
At the same time, Moldova is of great importance to Ukraine not only as a neighboring country but also as a sales market. In the first half of 2026, Ukraine’s trade surplus with Moldova amounted to approximately $467 million, placing it third among partners with the largest trade surpluses, after Spain and Egypt.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center and a candidate of economic sciences, emphasizes that it is important for Ukraine not only to maintain a presence in such markets but also to transform the positive trade balance into long-term economic results.
“To establish a foothold in these markets, it is not enough to simply produce a competitive product. We need long-term contracts, affordable insurance against military and commercial risks, export credit facilities, systematic trade diplomacy, harmonization of veterinary and phytosanitary procedures, as well as investments in ports, railways, border infrastructure, and overseas logistics centers. A trade surplus should not merely be a statistical difference between exports and imports, but rather a steady flow of foreign exchange earnings, taxes, investments, and jobs in Ukraine,” Urakin noted.
He also identifies Moldova as one of the markets where Ukraine already has a favorable starting position: “The most promising ‘growth points’ for Ukraine are a combination of markets with an already positive trade balance—Egypt, Moldova, and, to some extent, EU trade hubs—along with tools that reduce barriers: agreements, standardization, and logistics,” Urakin emphasized.
Thus, the latest round of the survey reveals a slight decline in positive attitudes toward Moldova, but no change in the overall picture: more than half of Ukrainians view the country positively, the negative segment remains small, and economic relations are characterized by a significant trade surplus for Ukraine.
ACTIVE GROUP, CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, international relations, MOLDOVA, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, UKRAINE
Kyiv ranked first among 33 European capitals for the lowest electricity costs for households in September 2026, reports the Experts Club information and analytical center. The cost of one kilowatt-hour, including taxes, in the Ukrainian capital was 8.4 euro cents, according to data from the international Household Energy Price Index (HEPI) study, published by Euronews Business on October 14.
Budapest ranked second at 10.3 euro cents per kWh, while Podgorica came third, where electricity cost 11.3 euro cents. The five cheapest capitals also included Belgrade (11.6 euro cents) and Valletta (12.3 euro cents).
The average cost of electricity in the capitals of European Union countries was 27.2 euro cents per kWh. Thus, electricity in Kyiv was approximately 69.1% cheaper than the EU average, in Budapest 62.1% cheaper, in Podgorica 58.5% cheaper, and in Belgrade 57.4% cheaper.
The most expensive electricity for households was recorded in Brussels, where the price reached 41.3 euro cents per kWh. It was followed by Berlin (39.6), Dublin (38.7), Bern (38.6) and London (38.3).
Among other European capitals, high tariffs were recorded in Rome (36.6 euro cents), Vienna (34.4) and Prague (34.3). In Madrid, electricity cost 28.3 euro cents per kWh, and in Paris, 28.1 euro cents.
The difference between the most expensive and the cheapest capitals was almost fivefold: 41.3 euro cents in Brussels compared with 8.4 euro cents in Kyiv.
According to HEPI, from the beginning of February to the beginning of September 2026, the average cost of electricity for households in EU capitals increased by 4.2%. Meanwhile, natural gas prices rose by 12% over the same period.
The differences between European capitals are explained by the structure of their energy mix, dependence on imported energy resources, tariff policies, taxes and government mechanisms for supporting households.
At the same time, researchers emphasize that comparing nominal tariffs does not fully reflect the affordability of electricity for the population. When purchasing power is taken into account, the ranking changes significantly, as household incomes and overall price levels differ considerably across European countries.
The Household Energy Price Index study has been conducted monthly since 2009 with the participation of the Austrian energy regulator Energie-Control, the Hungarian regulator MEKH and the international consulting company VaasaETT. It covers 33 European capitals and takes into account supplier tariffs, network charges, taxes and government subsidies.
