In the first 4 months of 2026, more than 11,000 fires broke out in ecosystems across Ukraine, resulting in 27 deaths and 35 injuries, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
“As a result of these fires, 27 people died and another 32 were injured. At the same time, only about 350 of the total fires were caused by Russia’s aggression—all the rest were caused specifically by human negligence or the deliberate burning of dry vegetation,” the service’s Telegram channel quoted Viktor Vitovetsky, Director of the Department of Civil Protection and Preventive Activities at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, as saying.
According to him, to prevent fires, State Emergency Service specialists carried out more than 8,000 preventive measures, of which more than a thousand involved the use of UAVs. The use of drones is a new practice for the State Emergency Service, which helps not only to identify arson of dry vegetation but also to identify those responsible.
” “The State Emergency Service continues to hold accountable those who burn grass and leaves; however, the fines are not sufficient to compensate for the damage caused. As of today, since the beginning of 2026, fines have been imposed on more than 1,600 people for a total amount of approximately 3.5 million UAH,” Vitovetsky noted.
On April 27, an international literary and artistic event titled “Lesya Ukrainka in the Azerbaijani Cultural Space” took place in the capital to mark the 155th anniversary of the poet’s birth, according to the organizers.
“The project demonstrates the interconnection between cultural diplomacy and its impact on humanitarian support for Ukraine,” said Marina Goncharuk, director of the Ukrainian-Turkic Center, in a comment to the agency.
According to reports, the event featured the first-ever comprehensive study of Lesya Ukrainka’s literary presence in Azerbaijan, including the history of the monument to the poet in Lokbatan (Baku), as well as an overview of translations of her works into Azerbaijani, publications, and research by local authors.
A separate part of the program was the presentation of the fairy-tale drama “The Forest Song” in Azerbaijani, published with the support of the Ukrainian Book Institute.
According to Goncharuk, cultural cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan has a practical dimension.
“Back in 2003, Irpin and Lokbatan signed a memorandum of cooperation, and as early as 2004, monuments to Lesya Ukrainka and Zarifa Aliyeva were unveiled. Subsequently, this cooperation evolved into humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan for the restoration of social infrastructure in Irpin,” she said.
The head of the Ukrainian representative office of NEQSOL Holding, Volodymyr Lavrenchuk, noted that the translation of the poet’s works into Azerbaijani is a continuation of cultural and value-based ties.
“Lesya Ukrainka is a symbol of strength of spirit, freedom, and Ukraine’s European identity, so supporting the translation of her works is a natural step for the company,” he noted.
Jalal Huseynov, President of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani Business Association “Terezi,” emphasized the importance of cultural dialogue.
“The highest level of mutual understanding is the word,” he noted.
According to reports, the event was also attended by Olena Odynoka, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Book Institute, who highlighted the role of translations in intercultural dialogue.
“Translations are bridges between nations; they are what enable us to better understand one another,” she said.
A greeting from Azerbaijani poet and translator Salam Sarvan was read aloud during the event.
The artistic program included performances by Ukrainian artists featuring dance and vocal numbers representing Azerbaijani culture, as well as a performance of the Azerbaijani national anthem on the bandura.
An exhibition of artistic collages by Maria Zamay, a student at Mariupol State University, was also presented.
Following the official portion of the event, guests were treated to a traditional Azerbaijani tea ceremony and refreshments.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the diplomatic corps, cultural figures, and the media. Partners included the Radisson Blu Hotel Kyiv City Centre, NEQSOL Holding, SOCAR Energy Ukraine, and other organizations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the signing of six agreements with Azerbaijan during his visit to the country, singling out security as a key area.
“We signed six documents today. Our teams will certainly share the details later. These cover various areas. Today, the top priority is security—specifically, the defense-industrial complex,” Zelenskyy said during a joint statement with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the city of Gabala on Saturday.
The Ukrainian president also announced agreements on joint production and the work of Ukrainian experts in Azerbaijan.
“We will certainly develop our cooperation and joint production. These are very important areas that will definitely enhance the security of our countries and our peoples, as well as trade, which we truly want to increase between our countries,” he said.
Zelenskyy announced a “very significant step” in the form of signing documents on the joint development of the countries’ defense-industrial complexes.
He also thanked Aliyev for 11 support packages in the energy sector and for assistance to children evacuated from border areas, and reported on agreements in the field of education, specifically regarding the training of Azerbaijani students in Ukraine.
Aliyev, in turn, noted that “quite serious cooperation” is currently underway between Ukraine and Azerbaijan and that it was “once again confirmed” during Zelenskyy’s visit.
“Regarding military-technical cooperation, we also discussed this issue. It has quite broad prospects in both Ukraine and Azerbaijan. We see the development of the defense industries, and we can look into joint production. But overall, we have excellent opportunities in manufacturing. And today we also had extensive talks on this,“ he said.
Also, according to the head of the Azerbaijani state, the presidents discussed the need to develop trade between the countries. ”It currently amounts to more than $500 million, and I think it will continue to grow. Because we have every opportunity,” he said.
In addition to political dialogues, the parties also discussed cooperation in the energy sector. “We have achieved certain milestones. SOCAR has been operating successfully in Ukraine for many years. And now there are very good prospects. We have joint projects, joint initiatives, and investments. All these issues were discussed in detail today,” Aliyev said.
Canada is among the group of countries that consistently enjoy a high level of positive perception within Ukrainian society. According to the survey results, 76.2% of respondents describe their attitude toward Canada as positive. Specifically, 39.4% of Ukrainians indicated a “completely positive” attitude, while another 36.8% described it as “mostly positive.” This distribution of responses indicates not only broad support but also a deeply entrenched positive image of the country.
At the same time, the level of negative perception of Canada is minimal—only 2.3% (1.4% “mostly negative” and 0.9% “completely negative”). This is one of the lowest figures among all countries included in the study. This result confirms that negative assessments are isolated and do not significantly influence overall perception.
The share of neutral responses is 20.3%, which is a moderate figure. This means that while most Ukrainians have already formed a positive attitude toward Canada, a certain portion of respondents lack sufficient personal experience or information to make a clear assessment. At the same time, only 1.2% of respondents were unable to decide on an answer, which further underscores the high level of certainty in public opinion regarding this country.
Overall, Canada demonstrates one of the most balanced and positive perception profiles: the combination of a high share of “fully positive” assessments with virtually no negativity forms a solid reputation capital. This indicates that the country’s image in Ukraine is based not only on general perceptions but also on a systematic view of Canada as a reliable partner.
“Canada is among those countries toward which Ukrainians have formed not just a positive, but a consistently positive attitude. This is the result of long-term interaction, support, and presence in the Ukrainian information space. In such cases, even neutral responses do not blur the overall picture, but only underscore its consistency,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
Thus, Canada ranks among the top countries with the highest level of trust in Ukrainian society. The combination of high positive perception and minimal negativity creates a foundation for further strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of politics, the economy, and humanitarian cooperation.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Canada ranks 41st in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $416.2 million.
Imports of Canadian goods are twice as high as Ukrainian exports, resulting in a trade deficit of $139.9 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, CANADA, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
According to the results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, perceptions of Brazil in Ukrainian society show moderately positive trends, although a high level of neutrality remains the key characteristic. Most Ukrainians do not have a clearly formed attitude toward this country, but the share of positive assessments is gradually increasing.
Overall, the positive attitude toward Brazil stands at 29.4%, which is a noticeable increase compared to August 2025 (24.3%). At the same time, 9.8% of respondents chose the “completely positive” option, and another 19.6% selected “mostly positive.” This trend indicates a gradual strengthening of the country’s positive image, although it remains relatively moderate.
At the same time, negative assessments have decreased—from 12.3% to 8.4%. Within the structure of negative perceptions, 7.7% fall under the “mostly negative” category and only 0.7% under “completely negative.” This means that critical perceptions of Brazil in Ukraine are diminishing and are not systemic in nature.
Most telling is the high level of neutrality—58.7% of respondents. This indicates that for most Ukrainians, Brazil remains a country that does not occupy a significant place on the informational or political agenda. The absence of active interaction or regular information flows shapes precisely this model of perception.
Additionally, 3.5% of respondents were unable to determine their position. Combined with neutral assessments, this creates a significant segment of “undecided attitudes,” which could potentially change depending on the development of bilateral relations or the country’s media presence.
From a dynamic perspective, Brazil shows a positive trend: an increase in the share of positive assessments is accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in negative ones. This indicates a gradual improvement in the country’s image in Ukraine, although it is occurring against a backdrop of general inertia in neutral perception.
Overall, Brazil remains a “peripheral” country for Ukrainians in terms of emotional perception, yet with potential for further improvement of its image. The high proportion of neutral assessments means that future changes in perception will largely depend on the level of economic, diplomatic, and informational interaction between the two countries.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Brazil ranks 50th in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $335.6 million. At the same time, imports from Brazil are nearly four times higher than Ukrainian exports, resulting in a bilateral trade deficit of $193.5 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, BRAZIL, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
According to the results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, perceptions of Mexico in Ukrainian society are characterized by a high level of neutrality and a relatively moderate share of both positive and negative assessments. At the same time, the trend shows a gradual increase in positive attitudes and a simultaneous decrease in negative ones, indicating a cautious normalization of the country’s image.
The total share of positive attitudes toward Mexico stands at 21.5%, of which 5.4% of respondents chose the option “completely positive,” and another 16.1% selected “mostly positive.” Compared to August 2025, this figure has increased (from 19.7% to 21.4%), indicating a gradual strengthening of positive perceptions, although they remain relatively limited.
Negative assessments, conversely, show a decline—from 10.0% to 8.6%. Within the structure of negative attitudes, 7.7% fall into the “mostly negative” category and only 0.9% into the “completely negative” category. This means that while a critical perception of Mexico exists, it is not dominant and is rather moderate in nature.
Neutrality remains the key characteristic of Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Mexico—66.2% of respondents chose this option. Such a high figure indicates the absence of a clearly formed image of the country in the public consciousness. For most respondents, Mexico is neither an important political partner nor a country with distinct emotional significance.
Additionally, 3.7% of respondents were unable to decide on their assessment, which, together with the high proportion of neutral responses, forms a significant segment of “undetermined attitudes.” This means that perceptions of Mexico depend to a large extent on the level of awareness and the country’s presence in the Ukrainian information space.
From a dynamic perspective, the situation appears moderately positive: the increase in positive assessments is accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in negative ones. This may indicate the gradual formation of a more favorable, albeit still weakly expressed, image of the country.
Ultimately, Mexico remains a country with a predominantly neutral perception among Ukrainians, but with a trend toward a slow improvement in its image. The high proportion of neutral assessments creates significant potential for future changes, which will depend on the development of economic, cultural, and informational ties between the countries.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Mexico ranks 49th in total trade volume with Ukraine, which amounts to $350.0 million. At the same time, imports of Mexican goods exceed Ukrainian exports by more than seven times, resulting in a trade deficit of $264.7 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, MEXICO, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
