Freight traffic in January-August 2025 amounted to 208.9 million tons, which is 11.3% less than in the same period in 2024, while in January-July the decline was 12.6%, according to the State Statistics Service (Gosstat) website. According to its data, rail transport remains the leader in terms of freight volume, with 106.9 million tons, which is 9.4% less than in the same period last year.
Rail freight turnover for the reporting period amounted to 67.70 billion tons/km, which is 11.8% less than for the same period in 2024.
According to the State Statistics Service, road transport carried 77.4 million tons of cargo in the first eight months of this year, which is 9.3% less than in the first eight months of 2024.
Cargo transportation by water transport in January-August 2025 amounted to only 0.6 million tons, or 53.3% of the volume in January-August 2024.
Data on cargo transportation by pipeline and rail during martial law is not disclosed. As reported, the volume of cargo transportation in 2024 increased by 7.8%, and cargo turnover by 13%, to 184.58 billion tons/km.
At the beginning of this year, the decline in freight traffic in Ukraine accelerated and reached 18.5% in the first four months, including a 21.3% decline in rail transport, but since then the decline has been slowing down every month.
If most hotel projects in Ukraine are completed in 2025–2026 and demonstrate financial stability, the market will see a “second wave of boom,” according to Apartel Resorts partner Yevgeny Kudryavchenko in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“We saw the first boom in 2021-2022, but the war interrupted these processes. Now there is cautious growth, and if the facilities prove their effectiveness, there will be a new surge of interest and significantly more foreign investors,” he said.
Kudryavchenko emphasized that apart-hotels could become an important part of the infrastructure for future tourism and business travel in Ukraine.
Apartel resorts is a development company specializing in apart-hotel and hotel real estate projects in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s economy may grow by about 4% in 2025, but the outlook remains fragile and depends entirely on external factors. This is stated in the latest report of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Regional Economic Prospects: Under Pressure.
According to the document, the main source of support for the Ukrainian economy is international financial aid, which is used to cover budget expenditures, social payments and defense. An additional driver of growth is the export of agricultural products through the EU “solidarity corridors” and alternative routes along the Danube and overland, which partially compensates for restrictions on maritime transportation.
There has also been a gradual recovery of infrastructure, including roads, bridges and the power grid, which is supporting economic activity.
However, the EBRD warns of high risks. Among them are a protracted war, high levels of public debt and inflation, as well as the vulnerability of export flows, which could be sharply reduced if sea routes are blocked.
According to the bank’s experts, digitalization of public services, agro-technology and development of renewable energy remain promising areas for Ukraine. However, this requires sustainable peace or conflict freezing, deeper integration with the EU market, as well as progress in judicial and anti-corruption reforms.
At the end of 2024, Ukraine’s GDP was estimated at around $160 bln. More than 60% of exports were agro-products (grain, oilseeds and processed products). The metallurgy, IT and energy sectors also retain potential for recovery.
The EBRD emphasizes that the Ukrainian economy is “under pressure”, but with continued international support and access to external markets, it can grow rapidly, laying the foundations for post-war transformation.
Digitalization is becoming a key driver of private medicine development in Ukraine, with online appointment, electronic medical histories, telemedicine consultations and automatic reminders forming a “new culture of care”, Oxford Medical claims.
“Today’s patient wants to get a consultation quickly and conveniently. Online appointment in two clicks, test results in an app, personalized treatment plans – this is the standard without which private medicine no longer exists,” said Angelina Moroz, medical director of the Kiev branch.
The company also introduces personalized support: administrators and managers act as guides for patients, and doctors remain involved at all stages – from diagnosis to postoperative follow-up.
Oxford Medical – a network of clinics, founded in 2005, covers dozens of cities in Ukraine. Hundreds of specialists work in the staff. The company relies on digitalization, telemedicine and integration with the NHS, developing standards of quality service and focusing on the needs of patients.
In terms of total trade volume, Ukraine cooperates most closely with China, Poland, and Germany. These countries form the basis of the state’s foreign economic relations, exerting a critical influence on imports and exports.
China remains the leader with a total trade volume of $8.99 billion. Poland ranks second with $6.04 billion, while Germany and Turkey are almost equal with $4.28 billion and $4.25 billion, respectively. The United States ranks fifth with $2.86 billion.
The top 10 also includes Italy ($2.38 billion), the Czech Republic ($1.64 billion), Bulgaria ($1.54 billion), Hungary ($1.53 billion), and Romania ($1.50 billion).
“The top ten partners form the basis of Ukraine’s foreign trade balance. China and the EU countries account for the largest volumes of trade, but it is important to take into account the significant negative balance in relations with these countries,” said Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts Club and economist.
He added that although the large volume of trade indicates Ukraine’s integration into global supply chains, dependence on imports from China and Europe creates strategic risks.
“Poland and Germany are key hubs for Ukrainian exports, but at the same time they are significant sources of imports. Therefore, it is critically important to balance trade flows, preserving positive sectors such as agriculture and metallurgy, and reducing dependence on critical imports,” Urakin noted.
BULGARIA, CHINA, CZECH REPUBLIC, ECONOMY, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, GERMANY, HUNGARY, ITALY, POLAND, ROMANIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE, USA, МАКСИМ УРАКИН
Vitamin D test has become one of the most demanded analyses in Ukraine, which surprises specialists, Deputy Director General of Sinevo Ukraine Mykola Skavronsky said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“I am a bit surprised by the great popularity of this expensive analysis. Moreover, it is paid for by the state through the medical guarantee program. Even many rich countries do not cover the vitamin D test at the expense of the budget,” he said.
Skavronsky noted that the popularity of the test is due to the active promotion of vitamin D preparations on the market since 2017-2018. “Pharmaceutical companies have made it part of the medical discourse, and the demand has taken hold,” he added.
“Synevo Ukraine is part of Synevo’s international laboratory network operating in more than 10 countries in Europe.”
