# Finance
Why did the dollar rise at the start of 2026, and how did the National Bank respond?
In early 2026, the hryvnia hit new lows against the US dollar on several occasions. The exchange rate was affected by both domestic economic issues and external events, whilst the National Bank of Ukraine responded with interventions and a tight monetary policy.
Compensation for destroyed homes in the occupied territory – how to apply
Internally displaced persons from the temporarily occupied territories who hold the status of combatant or person with a war-related disability may, from 1 December 2025, apply for a housing voucher worth 2 million hryvnias via the ‘Diy’ platform. Here’s a guide to the procedure and the timeframe within which the funds can be used.
Moldovan billionaire Vladimir Plahotniuc has been sentenced to 19 years in prison
Vladimir Plahotniuc, the former leader of Moldova’s Democratic Party, has been found guilty of bank fraud, organising a criminal group and money laundering. A court in Chișinău has sentenced him to 19 years’ imprisonment.
Якими будуть прожитковий мінімум і зарплата з 1 травня 2026: з’явилися точні цифри
Monitoring police stations for violence: Deputy Police Chief Pavlichenko earns a monthly salary of $4,000
For the past two years, Kateryna Pavlichenko has been responsible within the Ministry of Internal Affairs for combating gender-based violence and promoting gender equality within law enforcement agencies. But the key question here is: has this work yielded any results, and why is she being paid such a huge sum for it?
EU ambassadors have approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and a 20th package of sanctions against Russia
European Union ambassadors, meeting at the Coreper level, have approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. Final approval is to be given via a written procedure.
Loans are growing by more than 30%: what the NBU’s statistics reveal
The National Bank reported that lending to businesses and households remained at a high level at the start of 2026.
Petrol stations have begun to cut fuel prices following the global fall in the cost of petroleum products
Between 13 and 20 April, the average wholesale price of diesel fell by 4.78 UAH/litre, whilst that of A-95 petrol fell by almost one hryvnia.
The euro has hit a new all-time high in Ukraine – nearly 51.9 UAH
On 21 April, the National Bank raised the official exchange rate for the euro by 13 kopecks and for the dollar by 21 kopecks, to 44.10 UAH.
The number of sole traders in Ukraine has risen by 11,000 since the start of 2026
Since the start of 2026, the number of sole traders in Ukraine has increased by 11,297. During this period, 63,920 people started their own businesses; however, Danylo Getmantsev, chair of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax and customs policy, stated that this trend does not in itself indicate either a business boom or a rapid economic recovery.
Ukraine has deferred payments on its sovereign debt until 2030
Ukraine has reached an agreement with international creditors to defer payments on sovereign and state-guaranteed debt. A memorandum to this effect was signed by representatives of the government and partner countries.
Banks report a decline in funding and a rise in its cost – NBU survey
In the first quarter of 2026, banks recorded a decline in the volume of funding alongside a simultaneous rise in its cost, primarily due to funds from the public. At the same time, financial institutions expect a return to growth in both the volume of funds raised and their cost as early as the second quarter.
