Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft law of the Ministry of Culture, which for the first time defines patronage activities, patrons, and recipients of assistance. The document also covers forms of support for culture, including the renewal of the material and technical base and the restoration of cultural heritage sites.
The government approved three educational reforms concerning refugee teachers, colleges, and the evaluation of scientists. Refugee teachers will retain their experience, and colleges will gain autonomy starting in 2026.
The government has decided to terminate the powers of the supervisory boards of a number of state energy companies. New members will be elected by the end of December, and the supervisory boards of defense sector enterprises will also be rebooted.
In six months, the state agency PlayCity updated gambling market rules, blocked over 2,500 online casinos, and collected over UAH 52 million in fines for illegal advertising. The lottery market was also relaunched, which will bring billions of hryvnias to the budget.
The Verkhovna Rada extended the testing period for the eExcise system until October 12, 2026. The system is expected to launch on November 1, 2026, giving businesses 10 months for testing.
SE "Forests of Ukraine" has started selling New Year's trees, having already sold about 10,000 trees. The prices for coniferous trees are affordable, ranging from UAH 210 to UAH 280, and have hardly changed compared to last year.
President Zelenskyy discussed personnel reshuffle in the energy sector with Prime Minister Svyrydenko. Today, the powers of some supervisory board members of state energy companies are being terminated, and new members will be appointed in December.
The Verkhovna Rada has begun considering the draft law "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026". A vote on the document may take place 75 minutes after the discussion of reports by Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and Budget Committee Chairwoman Roksolana Pidlasa.
The shortage of flu vaccines at the beginning of the 2025-2026 epidemic season is due to the world's transition to trivalent vaccines. Ukraine received 236,667 doses of flu vaccines, but their quantity on the private market was less than usual.
As of December 3, 99% of the heating season has been launched in Ukraine in the residential and social sectors. This includes 70.5 thousand buildings and 24.5 thousand social facilities, including kindergartens, schools, and healthcare institutions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's readiness to immediately open three clusters in EU membership negotiations, and the rest by the end of this year. He emphasized that the European Commission recognizes that Ukraine can open three clusters, which is half.
The Verkhovna Rada meeting has been postponed to 12:00 on December 3 due to the Budget Committee meeting scheduled for 9:00. MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported that this is related to the budget discussion and an attempt to gather votes.
Starting December 3, the "Ukrzaliznytsia" application allows users to book up to four trips totaling 3000 kilometers as part of the "3000 km across Ukraine" program, which is available to frontline communities. Free tickets are offered on 24 designated routes in open-plan carriages, compartments, regional trains, and Intercity 2nd class.
The document covers the period from 2022 to the first half of 2025 and contains statistics of violations, descriptions of incidents, and response measures by lawyers.
The Ministry of Health must immediately inspect all legal entities under which the Odrex clinic operates. After all, the horrifying stories of former patients of the clinic may indicate systemic violations of licensing conditions and a real threat to people's lives at Odrex. Without a full and comprehensive inspection of the entire structure of the Odrex clinic, the state will not be able to protect Ukrainians from new possible tragedies.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is likely to consider the draft State Budget for 2026 on December 3. Negotiations on amendments to it are currently underway.
The Ministry of Education and Science has submitted a resolution on co-financing joint scientific projects of higher education institutions, scientific institutions, and businesses for public discussion. The state will cover 40% to 60% of the costs, depending on the size of the enterprise.
A group of deputies blocked the rostrum during the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada. Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk was forced to announce a break.
The draft extended financing program between Ukraine and the IMF provides for a package of changes to strengthen public finances and enhance anti-corruption policy. These innovations will affect tax policy, customs rules, the energy sector, and the state's interaction with business.
A new state support program for veteran IDPs is being launched in Ukraine, allowing them to receive a housing voucher for UAH 2 million through "Diia". The funds can be used to purchase housing, invest in a new building, or arrange a mortgage; applications can be submitted starting December 1.
The Cabinet of Ministers has set a special gas price for cogeneration plants in frontline regions, which will be valid for one year. The government also simplified the procedure for installing distributed generation facilities and resumed the tender for the construction of generating capacity.
The Cabinet of Ministers sent the resolution on 3,000 free kilometers by Ukrzaliznytsia for revision. The final decision is expected soon, said MP Oleksiy Honcharenko. This program is part of the winter support announced by President Zelenskyy.
Lawyers claim that the Ministry of Health should conduct unscheduled inspections of clinics where there is a threat to the life and health of patients, even during wartime. This became relevant after the scandal with the death of a businessman in the Odesa clinic Odrex and numerous complaints about improper medical care.
From January 1, 2026, the Calendar of preventive vaccinations in Ukraine will be updated, covering 11 infectious diseases, including HPV for girls aged 12-13. The changes will affect vaccination schedules against hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, BCG, and a complete transition to inactivated polio vaccine.
The "Servant of the People" faction will hold a meeting today at 7:00 PM with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and government officials. The main topic is the adoption of the State Budget for 2026, as reported by MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak.
On December 4, employers will be able to reserve their employees if the latter have accounting problems, and employees must also be aware of updated medical examinations.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa stated that each combat brigade should receive a predictable number of recruits. This will allow soldiers to know their unit, commander, and team from day one, as well as plan training and rotations.
Oksana Markarova has been appointed presidential adviser on Ukraine's reconstruction and investment attraction. Her work will focus on improving the country's business climate and financial stability.
The Washington Post reports that the US will increase pressure on Zelenskyy next week to advance a deal to end the war with Russia. This comes amid a domestic political crisis in Ukraine, including a corruption scandal and shelling.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the need to change basic documents on Ukraine's defense, including the country's defense plan. He agreed with Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal on preparing detailed proposals for government approval.