Society

On 14 March, Ukraine honours those who voluntarily stepped forward to defend the nation, taking up arms of their own accord at a critical moment for the country.

The government has expanded the “National Cashback” scheme and introduced a fuel rebate. In addition, the most vulnerable sections of the population will receive a one-off payment of 1,500 UAH.

In Ukraine, there is renewed talk of reforming the administrative structure, which in its current form dates back to 1932. Among the proposals are the abolition of special status for certain territories, a review of Crimea’s role, and the creation of new regions, including Kryvyi Rih, Mariupol, Uman, Tavria, Drohobych and Bila Tserkva.

Vladimir Boreiko, a well-known Ukrainian environmentalist and head of the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Centre, died in a road accident near Kyiv on 13 March. His wife, Olga Musafirova, announced his death.

Ukraine has received a new batch of PAC-3 missiles for its Patriot systems from Germany following a meeting in the ‘Ramstein’ format. The Ministry of Defence describes them as one of the key elements in defending the airspace against the most sophisticated threats – primarily ballistic and hypersonic missiles.

Ukrainian energy companies have already restored 3.5 GW of capacity at thermal power stations, combined heat and power plants and hydroelectric power stations, out of a total of over 9 GW of generation capacity damaged by Russian attacks. By the end of May, they plan to restore a further 2 GW to the grid, which should support the energy sector during the scheduled maintenance of nuclear power units.

The case involving four members of a group suspected of embezzling over 15 million hryvnias through the procurement of repair and construction materials for Ukrzaliznytsia has been referred to court. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the scheme operated through tenders for paint and linoleum, which were awarded to pre-arranged companies.

The Verkhovna Rada has registered draft law No. 15076, which proposes changing the procedure for checking military registration documents and delivering summonses during mobilisation. The document stipulates that summonses to the TCC must be delivered either in person against signature or by registered mail.

The dollar exchange rate of 45 hryvnia set in the state budget for 2026 is a technical indicator and does not mean that this will be the actual exchange rate at the end of the year. The National Bank also stated that if the EU's 90 billion loan to Ukraine continues to be blocked, Ukraine will have to look for other sources to cover the budget deficit.

From 1 September 2026, the minimum scholarship for students of higher education institutions will increase to at least 4,000 hryvnias. Students of private universities will also receive payments if they are studying under a state order.

German defence contractor Rheinmetall has stated that it already has artillery ammunition for Ukraine in stock, but cannot transfer it to the Defence Forces due to a lack of funds for procurement. The company directly links the problem to the delay in approving a 90 billion euro EU loan for Ukraine.

The government is preparing a new support package for the population, which includes a one-time payment of UAH 1,500 for pensioners and other vulnerable groups, as well as temporary cashback on fuel. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the preparation of the programme after discussions with the president.