The Embassy of Ukraine in Albania has recommended that Ukrainian citizens postpone visits to the consular section in Tirana, if possible, due to the deteriorating security situation caused by mass anti-government protests and clashes between demonstrators and police.
According to the official website of the diplomatic mission, protests are taking place, among other locations, near the Ukrainian Embassy, creating additional risks for visitors.
“Due to the deteriorating security situation during protests in the city of Tirana and near the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Albania, we recommend taking the current security situation into account when planning a visit to the Embassy’s consular section and, if possible, postponing the visit until the situation stabilizes,” the statement said.
At the same time, the diplomatic mission continues to operate as normal. Ukrainians are advised to observe personal safety measures, avoid places of mass gatherings and monitor announcements from local authorities.
The deterioration of the security situation was caused by a new wave of anti-government protests that began on October 13, 2026, and spread across Tirana and other cities in Albania. Students and young people have been at the center of the protest movement, opposing the high cost of education, unsatisfactory learning conditions, difficulties in finding employment and corruption.
The protest movement had been developing over the preceding months. One of the reasons for the mobilization of activists was disputes surrounding a major tourism investment project on the Albanian coast linked to American investor Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Environmental organizations and local activists opposed development in protected natural areas, while the government views the development of tourism infrastructure as a source of investment and new jobs.
Subsequently, the protesters’ demands expanded. Demonstrators began demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, measures to combat corruption and reform of the education system. Supporters of the opposition Democratic Party also joined the protests.
On October 14–15, the protests escalated into large-scale clashes with law enforcement officers. Demonstrators threw stones, used pyrotechnics and set fire to certain administrative and commercial facilities. Police used tear gas and water cannons.
According to Albanian law enforcement authorities, police officers were injured as a result of the unrest, and damage to government institutions, bank branches and private property was recorded. Some protesters were detained.
Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected demands for his resignation and condemned the violent actions. At the same time, he stated that dialogue was necessary regarding the problems that had caused dissatisfaction among young people.
The escalation of the situation has already affected the operation of government institutions and transport services in the Albanian capital. In particular, a scheduled plenary session of parliament was canceled on October 15 due to security risks.
The diplomatic missions of the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom and other European countries also issued warnings to their citizens. The foreign ministries of Bulgaria and Croatia separately recommended that their citizens avoid central areas of Tirana where demonstrations are taking place.
The most tense situation is observed near Skanderbeg Square, Durrës Street, the Ministry of Education and government buildings. Local authorities warn of possible traffic restrictions, street closures and new demonstrations.
For Ukrainians living in Albania or planning trips to Tirana, this means the need to take into account possible transport restrictions and changes in access to government and consular institutions.
Albania is a parliamentary republic and a candidate for accession to the European Union. Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party retained power following the 2025 parliamentary elections. Political tensions are unfolding against the backdrop of negotiations on European integration, reform of state institutions and attraction of foreign investment.
Switzerland continues to enjoy a high level of positive perception among Ukrainians: in August 2026, 66.9% of respondents viewed the country positively, while only 1.4% viewed it negatively. Compared to March, the share of positive assessments has decreased slightly, but the overall structure of public opinion remains stable, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 28.2% of Ukrainians view Switzerland entirely positively, and 38.7% view it mostly positively. A neutral stance is held by 29.7% of respondents. 1.2% view the country mostly negatively, 0.2% view it entirely negatively, and another 2% were undecided.
The balance of positive and negative assessments stands at plus 65.5 percentage points. Thus, positive attitudes outnumber negative ones by nearly 48 to 1. Based on this indicator, Switzerland remains among the countries with the highest level of public favor among Ukrainians.
In March 2026, 67.8% of respondents viewed Switzerland positively: 29.6% viewed it entirely positively and 38.2% viewed it mostly positively. A neutral stance was held by 30.1% of respondents; only about 0.7% viewed the country negatively, while another 1.4% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments decreased by only 0.9 percentage points—from 67.8% to 66.9%. Negative responses increased by 0.7 percentage points, while the neutral segment remained virtually unchanged—30.1% in March versus 29.7% in August. The balance between positive and negative attitudes decreased from approximately plus 67.1 to plus 65.5 percentage points.
The internal structure of positive responses also remains stable. The share of entirely positive assessments decreased from 29.6% to 28.2%, while the share of predominantly positive assessments even rose slightly—from 38.2% to 38.7%. This indicates minor fluctuations in public opinion rather than a significant change in perceptions of the country.
Alexander Pozniy, director of the research firm Active Group, commenting on the results of the previous wave of the survey, highlighted the enduring nature of Switzerland’s positive image.
“Switzerland is traditionally perceived by Ukrainians as a stable and neutral country with a high level of trust. At the same time, we see that some respondents are shifting to a neutral position, which may be linked to a lack of visibility regarding specific actions or projects. This does not mean a deterioration in Switzerland’s image, but rather points to the need for more active communication,” Pozniy noted.
The new round of the survey effectively confirms the stability of the ratings: the shares of positive and neutral responses changed by less than one percentage point. The negative segment, despite a slight increase, remains minimal—less than 2% of respondents view Switzerland negatively.
The previous phase of the study was conducted in March 2026 among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older using self-administered online questionnaires on the SunFlowerSociology panel. The sample was representative by age, gender, and region; the maximum theoretical margin of error for indicators at the 50% confidence level was ±3.5 percentage points.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, international relations, Pozniy, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, SWITZERLAND, UKRAINE, WESTERN EUROPE
According to Experts Club, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Vietnam in August 2026 remain predominantly neutral: 60.5% of respondents hold this view. Twenty-one point five percent of those surveyed view the country positively, while 12.2% view it negatively. Compared to March, the share of positive assessments has increased slightly, although the negative segment has also grown, reports the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 5.5% of Ukrainians have a completely positive attitude toward Vietnam, while 16% have a mostly positive attitude. 60.5% of respondents chose a neutral response. 11.2% expressed a mostly negative attitude, 1% a completely negative one, and another 5.9% were undecided.
According to the rounded data in the table, the balance of positive and negative assessments is approximately plus 9.3 percentage points, while in the consolidated survey results, it is reported at plus 9.4 percentage points. Vietnam thus remains in the positive balance zone, but the main feature of its perception is not explicit sympathy or antipathy, but a significant proportion of neutral responses.
In March 2026, 6.1% of respondents had a completely positive attitude toward Vietnam, and 13.3% had a mostly positive attitude. The overall positive rating in the survey was 19.3%. A neutral stance was held by 66.9% of respondents, a negative attitude accounted for 10.5%, and another 3.3% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments increased by approximately 2.2 percentage points—to 21.5%—while negative assessments rose by 1.7 percentage points, to 12.2%. In contrast, the neutral group shrank by 6.4 percentage points—from 66.9% to 60.5%. The share of those who found it difficult to answer rose from 3.3% to 5.9%.
These changes indicate the gradual formation of a more defined attitude toward Vietnam, although the process is moving in both positive and negative directions simultaneously. At the same time, the positive balance has remained virtually unchanged: in March it stood at approximately plus 8.8 percentage points, and in August—at approximately plus 9.4 percentage points.
At the same time, Vietnam is one of Ukraine’s major trading partners in Southeast Asia. Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center and a candidate of economic sciences, emphasized the importance of geographic diversification in Ukraine’s foreign trade.
“The latest foreign trade data demonstrate not only the geographic diversification of Ukraine’s trading partners but also a clear focus on integration into the European and global markets. Despite the challenging security situation, Ukrainian businesses continue to expand into international economic networks, particularly in the sectors of agricultural products, metallurgy, and machine building. Significant growth in trade with EU countries and the U.S., as well as the maintenance of strong cooperation with China and Turkey, indicate that Ukraine has not lost its ability to be an active player in the global market,” Urakin noted.
In the case of Vietnam, the survey results show significant potential for shaping a more distinct public image of the country. Despite a decline in the neutral segment, three out of five Ukrainians still do not have a clearly positive or negative attitude toward Vietnam.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires in the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. The previous wave in March also included 800 respondents; the sample was representative by age, gender, and region, with a maximum theoretical margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points for indicators at the 50% confidence level.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, international relations, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, Southeast Asia, UKRAINE, VIETNAM
In August 2026, the majority of Ukrainians maintained a neutral attitude toward Saudi Arabia—57.5% of respondents gave this answer. Twenty-nine percent of those surveyed viewed the country positively, while 9% viewed it negatively. Compared to the previous wave of the survey, the distribution of opinions changed only slightly, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 5.5% of Ukrainians have a completely positive attitude toward Saudi Arabia, while 23.5% have a mostly positive attitude. A neutral stance is held by 57.5% of respondents. Seven percent view the country mostly negatively, 2% view it entirely negatively, and another 4.5% were undecided.
The balance of positive and negative assessments stands at plus 20 percentage points. Thus, positive attitudes outnumber negative ones by more than three to one; however, the large neutral group remains the defining characteristic of perceptions of Saudi Arabia. In the overall picture of Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia also ranks among those toward which neutral assessments predominate.
Compared to March 2026, the figures remained nearly stable. In the previous survey, 8.4% of respondents had a completely positive attitude toward Saudi Arabia, and 19.6% had a mostly positive attitude—meaning the combined share of positive responses was 28%. A neutral stance was held by 58.7% of respondents, 8.2% viewed the country negatively, and another 5.1% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments increased by 1 percentage point—from 28% to 29%—while negative assessments rose by 0.8 percentage points, to 9%. The neutral segment decreased by 1.2 percentage points. The balance between positive and negative attitudes remained virtually unchanged: approximately +19.8 percentage points in March and +20 percentage points in August.
At the same time, changes occurred within the positive segment. The share of fully positive assessments fell from 8.4% to 5.5%, while the share of mostly positive assessments rose from 19.6% to 23.5%. In other words, the overall share of favorable responses remained stable but became less categorical.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center and a candidate of economic sciences, commenting on the survey results and the significant share of neutral attitudes toward a number of Ukraine’s partners, emphasized the need for more active public communication.
“The first recommendation is to regularly showcase concrete achievements, specific actions, and the presence here of foundations, embassies, teams, and diplomats in the humanitarian sphere and in science. Second, we must be open to questions and inquiries from the media and the public. We also need to use our sociological data to draw conclusions and strengthen our relationships, particularly trade relations,” Urakin noted.
In the case of Saudi Arabia, the results of the two survey waves show a high degree of stability in public perceptions. Nearly three-fifths of Ukrainians continue to hold a neutral position, while positive attitudes consistently outweigh negative ones by approximately 20 percentage points.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using an online self-administered questionnaire via the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. The previous survey wave in March also included 800 respondents; the sample was representative by age, gender, and region, with a maximum theoretical margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points for indicators at the 50% confidence level.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, international relations, MIDDLE EAST, PUBLIC OPINION, SAUDI ARABIA, SOCIOLOGY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
Austria continues to be viewed predominantly positively by Ukrainians: in August 2026, about 52.7% of respondents expressed a positive attitude toward the country, while only 2.7% expressed a negative one. At the same time, 41.7% of those surveyed hold a neutral position, which remains a distinctive feature of perceptions of Austria, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 15.3% of Ukrainians have a completely positive attitude toward Austria, and 37.4% have a mostly positive attitude. A neutral response was chosen by 41.7% of respondents. 2.3% view the country mostly negatively, only 0.4% view it entirely negatively, and another 2.9% were undecided.
Thus, the balance of positive and negative assessments, when rounded, stands at approximately plus 50 percentage points. There are nearly 20 times as many positive responses as negative ones; however, Austria differs from a number of other Western European countries in having a significantly higher proportion of neutral attitudes.
Compared to March 2026, the proportion of positive assessments has decreased slightly. In the previous survey wave, 17.5% of respondents had a completely positive attitude toward Austria, and 38.5% had a mostly positive attitude, meaning the combined positive rating was about 55.9%. A neutral stance was held by 40.3% of respondents, while about 2.6% expressed a negative attitude.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments decreased by approximately 3.2 percentage points—to 52.7%. The share of negative assessments remained virtually unchanged—about 2.6% in March compared to 2.7% in August—while the neutral segment increased by 1.4 percentage points. The most notable decline was in the share of entirely positive responses—from 17.5% to 15.3%.
This pattern indicates that the slight weakening of the positive rating is not accompanied by a shift toward a negative attitude among a significant portion of respondents. A neutral stance remains the primary alternative to a positive assessment of Austria.
Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group, when commenting on Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Austria, previously highlighted precisely this combination of a positive image of the country with a large neutral group.
“Austria is traditionally perceived by Ukrainians as a European country with high social standards, a rich cultural heritage, and a stable political system. Although Austria is not Ukraine’s main partner in foreign policy, the overall level of favorability remains positive,” Pozniy noted.
The current wave of the survey generally confirms this assessment: the negative segment remains very small, and changes are occurring primarily among positive and neutral responses. More than nine out of ten respondents view Austria positively or neutrally.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires in the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. The previous survey wave in March also included 800 respondents; the sample was representative by age, gender, and region, with a maximum theoretical margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points for indicators at the 50% confidence level.
ACTIVE GROUP, AUSTRIA, EUROPEAN UNION, EXPERTS CLUB, international relations, Pozniy, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, UKRAINE, WESTERN EUROPE
Ferrexpo plc, a mining and ore processing company with its main assets in Ukraine, produced 2,041,789 metric tons of pellets in January–September of this year, which is 27% lower than in January–September of last year (2,808,594 metric tons), and in the third quarter, it reduced production of this product by 24% compared to the second quarter—to 656,650 thousand metric tons from 860,213 thousand metric tons.
According to the company’s press release on Wednesday, total production of marketable products (pellet and iron ore concentrate) for the first nine months of 2026 fell by 54% compared to the first nine months of 2025—to 2,336,135 metric tons. In particular, production of premium-grade Fe67% concentrate totaled 294,346 thousand metric tons, compared to 2,259,294 thousand metric tons (a decline of 87%). The company also produced 1,737,398 thousand metric tons of premium-grade pellets (a 36% decrease) and 304,391 thousand metric tons of DR pellets (compared to 81,787 thousand metric tons produced in the first nine months of 2025).
The press release notes that Ferrexpo remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its personnel and continues to take extensive measures to protect employees, their families, and local communities.
At the end of August 2026, the Group recorded an increase in the Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)—calculated as a 12-month rolling average—to 0.28 (compared to 0.18 at the end of June); however, this rate remains below the five-year average (0.44). August 2026 marked the sixth consecutive year without a single fatality at the
Group’s production facilities; however, as reported in July 2026, an incident occurred involving a chartered vessel carrying Ferrexpo cargo: it was struck and damaged by Russian drones, resulting, unfortunately, in the death of a crew member.
A liquidity shortage, limited logistics capacity, and a temporary halt in production led to a decline in output during the reporting quarter: total production in the third quarter amounted to 780,000 metric tons, down from 963,000 metric tons in the second quarter.
The share of high-quality DR (direct reduction) pellets in the overall product mix remained stable throughout the quarter, and in quantitative terms, their production volume from the beginning of the year through the end of September increased by 272% compared to the same period last year.
On September 4, 2026, the Group announced that it had successfully raised approximately $100 million in capital; this decision received overwhelming support from shareholders on September 21, 2026. The funds raised strengthened the company’s balance sheet and enabled it to resume production.
The Group continues to actively manage its cash expenditures. These measures include reducing staff working hours, steadily cutting back on purchases of goods and services, and suspending all non-critical capital expenditures (CapEx), overhead costs, and expenditures on corporate social responsibility programs. The Group remains in the final stages of negotiations with a reputable trade finance provider regarding a secured credit line (as previously reported); however, the timing of the finalization of the definitive documents has been affected, in particular, by prolonged logistical disruptions on the Group’s Black Sea export route and, as a result, the Group’s ability to deliver products to the trade finance provider under the relevant purchase and sale agreement. Since the potential financing agreement has not yet been concluded, there is no certainty that it will be signed on the terms described or concluded at all.
Commenting on the Group’s performance, Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors Lucio Genovese noted: “In September, we were pleased to note that Ferrexpo’s shareholders approved, by an overwhelming majority, a $100 million capital raise. This process took place under challenging conditions. Over the summer months, the economic situation in Ukraine deteriorated, which, combined with various legal proceedings against the group, posed a serious test of investors’ willingness to invest in Ukraine. Despite this, we managed to successfully complete the capital raise, receiving subscriptions that exceeded the planned amount.”
According to him, raising funds was necessary because the decision by Ukrainian tax authorities to delay VAT refunds significantly weakened our cash position. Limited liquidity forced us to cut production volumes and implement even stricter cost-cutting measures. “We took extensive measures to address this situation, including making difficult decisions to place employees on mandatory leave or switch them to a reduced workweek. We recognize that this has been a source of immense stress for our employees amid already difficult circumstances, and that the resulting reductions in wages, procurement volumes, and tax payments have had a broader socioeconomic impact on the community,” the press release states.
It also notes that, despite our significant efforts, it eventually became clear that additional funds were needed to maintain production, as well as to preserve jobs and livelihoods.
“Raising funds has allowed us to resume production, albeit at significantly lower volumes compared to the period before the full-scale invasion. Due to significant restrictions on access to Ukrainian ports, opportunities to increase exports—and thus production capacity—are currently limited. Due to the temporary suspension of production in
August and the launch of a single pellet production line in September, total production for the quarter amounted to just under 800,000 metric tons,” the press release states.
As previously reported, Ferrexpo produced 3,221,461 metric tons of pellets in 2025, which is 47% lower than in the previous year (6,070,541 metric tons). At the same time, total production of marketable products (pellets and iron ore concentrate) for 2025 decreased by 9%—to 6,141,759 metric tons. Specifically, production of marketable concentrate amounted to 2,920,298 metric tons, compared to 709,803 metric tons, respectively. The company also produced 81,787 thousand metric tons of DR pellets (489,720 thousand metric tons in 2024) and 3,139,674 thousand metric tons of premium-grade pellets (a 44% decrease).
In 2024, Ferrexpo increased pellet production by 58% compared to 2023—to 6,070,541 metric tons from 3,845,325 metric tons. In 2023, the company produced 3.845 million metric tons of pellets, which is 36.5% less than in 2022.
Ferrexpo owns a 100% stake in Yeristivsky GZK LLC, a 99.9% stake in Bilanivsky GZK LLC, and 100% of the shares in Poltavsky GZK PJSC.
