Economy
Import procedures for components have been simplified for arms manufacturers: what has changed
Ukraine has simplified the import of foreign components for the production of weapons and military equipment. The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution that speeds up customs clearance for materials and components for the defence sector.
A prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to trigger a crisis similar to that of 2008 and a global recession
A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger an economic downturn comparable to the 2008 crisis. This was stated by analysts at Rapidan Energy Group against the backdrop of the escalating situation surrounding Iran.
Housing prices in Ukraine will be calculated according to new rules set by the State Statistics Service
The State Statistics Service launched a new system for calculating house price indices in the first quarter of 2026.
Drone procurement will switch to open tenders as early as this summer
Ukraine is preparing to switch to open tender procedures for the procurement of drones.
A court in Kazakhstan has allowed Naftogaz to recover $1.4 billion from Gazprom
The Court of the Astana International Financial Centre has authorised Naftogaz of Ukraine to enforce the recovery of approximately $1.4 billion from Russia’s Gazprom within Kazakhstan. This marks the first public foreign court ruling permitting the enforcement of an arbitral award against a Russian company in a separate jurisdiction.
The reform of the State Customs Service will cost around €1.2 billion
The reform of Ukraine’s State Customs Service requires funding of around €1.2 billion. A significant portion of the funds is expected to come from international donors.
The global volume of illegal online gambling has reached $5.9 trillion
The turnover in the unregulated online gambling sector reached $5.9 trillion in 2025. This is according to a new study by Gaming Compliance International.
Russia's gold reserves have fallen to their lowest level since 2022, with nearly 28 tonnes of gold sold
The Russian Central Bank’s gold reserves fell for the fourth consecutive month in April 2026. Over the first four months of the year, the regulator reduced its reserves by almost 28 tonnes of gold.
“ARMA transferred Oksana Marchenko’s holiday resort to the Security Service of Ukraine for one hryvnia,” – Telegram channels
The National Agency of Ukraine for the Identification, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes has transferred a holiday resort formerly owned by Oksana Marchenko to the Security Service of Ukraine for management, for a fee of one hryvnia.
Against the backdrop of the growth of the illegal gambling market, the ESBU’s performance in this area has more than halved
Despite the rise in underground gambling, the Economic Security Bureau has significantly scaled back its efforts to combat the illegal gambling market.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume operations on the Baku–Supsa oil pipeline
Azerbaijan and Georgia have signed an agreement to resume operations on the Baku–Supsa oil pipeline. The agreement provides for the conclusion of an operating contract covering the Georgian section of the pipeline.
Unified Social Contribution: who is exempt from paying the USC in 2026
Here’s what determines whether you have to pay the Single Social Contribution or are exempt from it.
