DW Akademie has been active in Ukraine since 2014, promoting freedom of expression, media viability and balanced reporting. It supports the public broadcaster in informing the population during the ongoing war.
The Ukrainian media landscape has changed fundamentally since the war broke out in February 2022. However, despite wartime censorship and additional restrictions on press freedoms, the country’s ranking has moved up significantly on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index. Ranked in 2022 at 106 out of 180 countries, it rose to position 79 in 2023 and to position 61 in 2024.
These higher rankings are mainly due to oligarchs losing their influence on the journalism and editorial policies of national TV stations. Their political and economic influence has declined sharply since the war began, and few public political disputes are now conducted via the media. As a result, oligarchs have lost interest in their own media (especially national TV channels) as platforms for political strife. This growing gap is being filled by Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC (Suspilne) and local media.
Nevertheless, ongoing reports jointly produced by and aired on six national TV channels, that are controlled by the president’s office and financed by the state budget, have undermined people’s trust in the media.
Observers point to two clear trends in the media market since 2022: people are moving away from television as their main source of information and towards social and online media (especially Telegram). At the same time, people’s trust in and the relevance of independent (online) media is growing. Although countering (Russian) disinformation is a major challenge as people increasingly consume news via (anonymous) Telegram channels, strengthening the relevance of local media in Ukraine is encouraged.
Our activities
DW Akademie has been active in Ukraine since 2014, supporting local independent media, public broadcasting (UA:PBC) and freelance journalism. Its ongoing projects help improve standards for journalistic qualifications and make basic and advanced training more practice oriented. It also provides comprehensive and needs oriented support to local independent media outlets.
Independent, reliable information is vital in times of war. As a result, the public broadcaster UA:PBC informs people about attacks, even if the alarm system is not working. DW Akademie keeps in close contact with its staff and partner organizations in Ukraine, including UA:PBC.
DW Akademie is supporting the project sponsor Ukrainian Institute for Media and Communication (UIMK) in developing training formats. The aim is to increase the media and digital skills of people over and to break old rigid ways of thinking. An accompanying study is analyzing the needs and ways to reach this target group. One example is for younger relatives to support older people in becoming more involved in social discourse and transformation processes.
Via the Journalism Teachers Academy (JTA), the UIMK offers training in methodology and didactics to teachers from Ukrainian university journalism faculties. The aim is for media outlets to draw from young better-trained media professionals. Cooperation is being planned with six Ukrainian universities.
The Educational Center Nakypilo continues to offer training positions that are practice-oriented and part of the School for Universal Editors (SUR) to enable trained editors to support staff at independent media outlets. The school’s financing is ensured through financial consulting and organizational development.
DW Akademie provides extensive support to local independent media outlets in Ukraine. It offers needs-oriented training for journalists and media managers as well as seminars and study trips to Germany to give space for discussions, reflection and networking. Together with “Maje Sens”, a new project partner and non-governmental organization, media managers will receive training and support in fundraising. The project runs from 2024-2025.
DW Akademie, together with the Ukrainian public broadcaster (Suspilne) and media organization Lviv Media Forum, is conducting the project “Strengthening Independent Media for a Strong Democratic Ukraine” (2024-2026). It is funded by the European Commission with the support from the German Federal Foreign Office.
The project aims to increase the long-term capacity of independent media, including the Ukranian public broadcaster, and promote an open constructive dialogue within the Ukrainian population. It also aims to support the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting as it strives to meet EU standards.
DW Akademie and Ukraine’s Lviv Media Forum are applying their expertise in supporting independent regional media in Ukraine, with a focus on niche media, constructive journalism and social participation. Suspilne is working more on investigative reporting and children’s content, and advancing its digital modernization process.
The project “MIL Initiative for Youth” by DW Akademie in partnership with Suspilne’s Public Academy Juniors is for young people (12-18 years old) and gives them a voice in local democratic processes.
Funding: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), German Federal Foreign Office (AA), European Commission (EU)
Program Directors: Dr. Kyryl Savin (BMZ), Hélène Champagne (EU)
Locations: Kyiv, Lviv, Cherkassy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Odessa, Dnipro, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Kherson, Mariupol, Donesk, Luhansk
Local Partners: Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine UA:PBC (Suspilne), Educational Center Nakypilo, NGO “Maje Sens”, Ukrainian Institute for Media and Communication (UIMC),Lviv Media Forum (LMF)
Focus: Qualification and training for journalists, media viability, business journalism, civic participation (local), social participation, (local) participatory media formats and community media, media and information literacy (MIL), professionalism and journalist networks
https://akademie.dw.com/en/dw-akademie-in-ukraine/a-18549630
The indirect cost of housing construction in Ukraine increased by 2.1% in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter, according to the indices of indirect cost of housing construction in the regions of Ukraine approved by the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories.
The relevant document establishes indirect indicators of the cost of housing construction, calculated as of October 1. According to it, the average indicator in Ukraine is 22.6 thousand UAH/square meter.
According to the Ministry, the indirect cost of construction of 1 square meter of housing in Kiev in the third quarter rose to 26.4 thousand UAH, in Kiev region – to 22.6 thousand UAH, in Lviv region – to 22.5 thousand UAH, in Zakarpattya region – 19.6 thousand UAH, Ivano-Frankivsk region – 20.3 thousand UAH, Odessa region – 21.7 thousand UAH. Also high indicators are set in Kharkiv and Donetsk regions – 23.8 thousand UAH/sq. m.
On October 25, 2024, the Kyiv National Academic Operetta Theater hosted the Argentine Tango Evening, a joint international project with the participation of Argentine and Ukrainian artists. The event was organized with the support of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Ukraine and brought together numerous fans of Argentine culture who had the opportunity to enjoy the skills of dancers, musicians, and singers.
“It is a great honor for me to be here today at the Kyiv Opera House, where we can present the richness of the Argentine tango and also show our cultural ties with Ukraine. This event is a testament to the cultural diplomacy that unites our peoples and promotes mutual understanding,” said Ambassador of Argentina to Ukraine Elena Leticia Teresa Mikusinski.
The Ambassador expressed her gratitude to Ukrainian partners, in particular to the General Director of the Kyiv Operetta Bohdan Strutynskyi, whose support was important for the realization of this project.
“Tonight was made possible by the hard work of teams from both countries. Their talent and dedication to tango culture is a valuable contribution to the development of our cooperation. This is not only an artistic event, but also a symbol of our partnership, which will continue in the future,” she added.
The Ambassador paid special attention to the performances of Argentine artists, including dancers Romina Garcia Fleury and Nicolas Correa from Tucumán, as well as the famous tango dancer Analia Celis.
“We are grateful to the Ukrainian people for the hospitality and support that our artists feel here in Kyiv, especially in such difficult times. Such cultural events are an example of the power of art to unite people,” said Jelena Mikusinski.
In conclusion, the Ambassador expressed her hope for further development of cultural ties between Argentina and Ukraine.
“This tango evening is just one of many steps towards a deeper cultural exchange between our countries. We are pleased that Ukraine remains open to Argentine culture,” she concluded.
Famous dancers and choreographers from the city of Tucumán – Nicolás Correa and Romina García Fleury, Argentine tango singer Analia Celis, as well as Ukrainian tenor Yuriy Godo and other artists – performed on stage.
Argentine tango is a unique cultural phenomenon that originated in the late nineteenth century in Buenos Aires and quickly gained popularity around the world. Tango is not only a music and dance style, but also a symbol of Argentine culture that reflects the passion, emotions, and drama of human relationships. This genre of dance and music combines the rich influence of African, Spanish and European rhythms, creating an atmosphere that captivates both the audience and the performers.
The Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Ukraine actively supports cultural exchange and promotes the development of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Argentina. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992, when Argentina officially recognized Ukraine’s independence. Since then, the Embassy has been actively working to deepen cooperation in various fields, including culture, education, economy and science.
ARGENTINA, CULTURE, Elena Leticia Teresa Mikusinski, EMBASSY, UKRAINE, танго
The Swedish government has decided to provide a new humanitarian aid package of SEK110 million ($10.4 million) to Ukraine, which will be used to meet increased needs ahead of the winter period, the Swedish government website said Sunday.
“Russia has targeted civilian infrastructure and deprived Ukraine of much of its heat and electricity supply. Of course, the colder it gets, the more serious the consequences. Therefore, a significant part of the population is experiencing difficulties in heating their homes and cooking. That is why the government has decided to allocate 110 million crowns to a number of humanitarian organizations in Ukraine,” said Benjamin Dusa, Minister of Foreign Development and Foreign Trade.
The humanitarian package is distributed among four organizations. The Ukrainian Red Cross received SEK50 million; the support focuses on, among other things, guaranteed access to heat and electricity, distribution of food, hygiene products, medicines and water. UNHCR received SEK20 million; Sweden will contribute to help internally displaced persons prepare and protect themselves before and during the coming winter. UNDP received SEK30 million for demining. UNFPA will receive SEK10 million to address women’s sexual and reproductive health needs, prevent sexual and gender-based violence and support survivors of violence.
Earlier, on October 17, the Nordic and Baltic countries presented a new support package to Ukraine to repair damaged and replace destroyed energy systems with new ones before winter. Sweden’s contribution amounted to SEK320 million ($30 million).
“This support package is important to support the Ukrainian energy sector and help keep Ukrainian society functioning and Ukrainian homes warm,” Dusa said.
According to the government, Sweden has previously allocated a total of SEK57.4 billion ($5.4 billion) in support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022: humanitarian, military and financial support, as well as support for reconstruction and reform work. Including the new support packages, Sweden’s total contribution will amount to more than SEK57.8 billion.
Including in 2024 alone, the Swedish government has decided to allocate a total of SEK1.8 billion for additional support for the Ukrainian energy sector. After two aid packages in October, this amount exceeded SEK2.2bn (over $210m).
In Ukraine this week there is a tendency of reduction of prices for white cabbage, analysts of EastFruit project report. Producers attribute this price situation to the excess of production in the market, and a significant part of the market supply is cabbage of medium-late varieties, which is not suitable for long-term storage.
At the moment, the prices for white cabbage are voiced by producers within the range from 15 to 23 UAH/kg ($0.36-0.56/kg), which is on average 16% cheaper than at the end of last week. Market participants explain the wide price range in this segment by different qualitative characteristics of the offered vegetables.
According to the project analysts, most farms are still active harvesting works, as a result of which the supply on the market is growing. At the same time, the demand for these products remains extremely low. Wholesale companies and retail chains are ready to purchase only in small wholesale, referring to the very limited period of realization, as most farmers offer for sale cabbage of low quality.
It should be noted that despite the negative price trend, the current prices for white cabbage in Ukraine are on average 2.9 times higher than in the same period last year. At the same time, market participants do not exclude that prices for this product will continue to decline, as many farms are actively harvesting due to improved weather conditions. As a result, the gradual growth of cabbage supplies to the market will force agrarians to continue to concede in price, if the situation with the rate of sales does not change.
You can get more detailed information about the market development of white cabbage and other horticultural products in Ukraine by subscribing to the operative analytical weekly – EastFruit Ukraine Weekly Pro. Detailed information about the product can be found here.
More than half of the bankrupts are Ukrainians aged 25 to 45
651 bankruptcy cases are currently open, according to the Supreme Court of Ukraine. The number of cases has almost doubled in the last 4 months of this year. The largest number of bankrupts is in Kyiv and its region and in Dnipropetrovs’k region. 64% of bankrupts are people aged 25 to 45.
651 bankruptcy cases have been opened in Ukraine this year. The number of cases has almost doubled since the beginning of summer.
So far, more bankruptcy cases have been opened against Ukrainians than in the whole of last year: 575 such cases were considered then.
Most often, people aged 25 to 45 apply to be declared insolvent – 64.1% of bankrupts. Another 28.7% are over 45 years old.
51% of bankrupts are women, and another 48% are men.
Most bankrupts are in the capital: 95 cases or 15% of the total number. Kyiv region follows with 58 or 9%. Dnipropetrovs’k region closes the top with 53 cases, which is 8% of the total.
Denys Lykhopiok, Insolvency Receiver, believes that the current dynamics is most likely a “pent-up demand” rather than a rapid growth caused by any one factor.
“It should be understood that at the beginning of the full-scale war, people did not have time to deal with debts – they were prioritizing survival.
At the same time, there was a moratorium on the collection of most debts in enforcement proceedings for more than a year. Even after the moratorium was lifted, private and public bailiffs reminded debtors of their obligations. This may have been the driving force that prompted people to seek a solution to their debts through insolvency proceedings.
In addition, Ukraine is already developing a positive judicial practice in bankruptcy matters,” comments Denys Lykhopiok, attorney at law, insolvency officer, member of the Qualification Commission of Insolvency Officers, and bankruptcy specialist.
Context.
The Verkhovna Rada allowed citizens to become bankrupt back in October 2018. The procedure became fully operational in 2019. Since then, a person in a difficult financial situation can initiate bankruptcy and, after going through the entire procedure, get rid of debts.
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/people-bankrupts-2024-10
