# Finance
The IMF will not insist on VAT for sole traders at this stage – Svyrydenko
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated that, following consultations in Washington, the International Monetary Fund has agreed that introducing VAT for sole traders is not a constructive idea at this stage. At the same time, the matter does not appear to be definitively closed, as the current IMF programme documents previously envisaged an expansion of the VAT base from 2027, and there is already talk in parliament of possibly postponing this discussion until the summer.
Funds from the IMF will last until June — Budget Committee forecast
The Ukrainian economy is currently heavily reliant on external funding. The funds currently available from the International Monetary Fund will only be sufficient to meet the state’s needs until the start of summer
Electricity at half price: DTEK has launched a favourable payment plan for electricity meters
Two-band electricity metering is becoming more accessible to residents of the capital. Thanks to the comprehensive ‘Day-Night’ service, consumers can reduce their costs for electricity used at night by 50%
Kushniruk has spoken out about a new scandal surrounding the AOZ over the procurement of glasses
Economist Boris Kushniruk has criticised a new procurement contract worth 8 million hryvnias awarded by the Defence Procurement Agency, under which ballistic goggles were ordered from TS Trade Ukraine LLC. He believes that this case is not indicative of systemic market reform, but rather of a continuation of old approaches to supplier selection. At the same time, official documents confirm both the contract itself and the fact that law enforcement agencies had previously opened a separate case regarding substandard ballistic goggles supplied to the military.
The EU to resume relations with Syria – Reuters
The European Union intends to strengthen its cooperation with Syria by resuming official political dialogue and opening up opportunities for closer economic and security ties.
Oschadbank is initiating new international arbitration proceedings against Russia
Ukraine's Oschadbank has initiated new international arbitration proceedings against Russia. The case concerns assets seized in four regions of Ukraine.
Card fraud has fallen, but losses have risen to 1.4 billion hryvnia – NBU
In 2025, the number of fraudulent payment card transactions in Ukraine fell, but the total amount of losses rose significantly.
Fraudsters have stolen 1.4 billion hryvnias from Ukrainians’ bank cards: the number of attacks has fallen, but the losses have risen
In 2025, the number of illegal activities and fraudulent transactions involving payment cards in Ukraine fell to 256,000, yet the total amount of losses rose by almost a quarter to reach 1.4 billion hryvnias. The National Bank attributes this trend to the fact that the average value of a single fraudulent transaction over the year has increased significantly.
In 2025, defence spending exceeded 40% of GDP and accounted for 70% of the state budget – Svyrydenko
Ukraine spent the lion's share of last year's budget on defence.
The assets of the ‘Kyiv Radio Plant’ were sold illegally for less than a twentieth of their market value
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged the liquidator of the company, whose actions resulted in the state losing nearly 60 million hryvnias.
The Red Cross has updated its payment system: who is eligible and how much can they receive in 2026
In April 2026, the Ukrainian Red Cross introduced a new model of cash assistance for vulnerable groups. The organisation replaced general-purpose assistance with targeted support for priority categories.
Фінмоніторинг PEP: НБУ офіційно звернувся до банків
Національний банк України рекомендував банкам не підходити формально до обслуговування політично значущих осіб, їхніх родичів і пов’язаних осіб - PEP. Регулятор наголосив, що банки не повинні автоматично відносити всіх таких клієнтів до категорії високого ризику і безпідставно обмежувати їм доступ до фінансових послуг.
