Financial analyst Serhiy Fursa explained the hryvnia exchange rate fluctuations by seasonality and NBU policy. He advises Ukrainians not to rush to exchange offices, but to consider government bonds with an annual rate of 16%.
Russian troops most actively stormed the positions of Ukrainian border guards in the Pokrovsk, Lyman directions, and Kharkiv region. Over the past week, the enemy lost 161 killed and 146 wounded occupiers.
Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, reported a significant decrease in passenger traffic at the state border after the holidays. Over the past day, 63,000 citizens crossed the border, which is lower than average.
After the New Year's pause, the Ukrainian hryvnia came under pressure, but its weakening fits into the managed logic of exchange rate policy. Expert Oleh Pendzyn explains that there is no classic foreign exchange market in Ukraine, and the NBU is the key seller of foreign currency.
Increased electricity imports from the EU do not guarantee overcoming the consequences of blackouts due to limited volumes and high costs. Expert Yuriy Korolchuk explains that the maximum import volume is 2.45 GW, with the main volumes occurring during night hours when the price is lower.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukraine plans to sign security guarantee agreements with the United States and an $800 billion economic recovery deal. President Zelenskyy expects the documents to be approved, despite Donald Trump's ambiguous position.
The new Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, presented anti-crisis measures to overcome the consequences of blackouts. Experts assess these decisions as quick managerial gestures that do not solve systemic problems.
