In Ukraine, the excise tax on fuel increased from the new year. Autogas prices rose by an average of 30 kopecks, while there were almost no changes in gasoline and diesel prices.
Russians are increasingly feeling the consequences of the Kremlin's bet on the defense-industrial complex to continue the "special military operation. " This leads to rising inflation and a decline in the quality of life. Putin has increased VAT, shifting the burden of war onto the population.
The Cabinet of Ministers plans to introduce additional payments for energy workers of repair crews who go to the sites of attacks in freezing weather. This applies to specialists who restore the supply of heat, electricity, water, and gas.
SAPO has completed the pre-trial investigation in the case of the embezzlement and legalization of over UAH 54 million from the state budget. The former MP organized the scheme by misleading the ECHR regarding Kyivenergo's debt, and the funds were legalized through conversion centers.
At the beginning of the year, the hryvnia began to weaken against the dollar and euro due to seasonal factors and the influence of external financing. A fintech expert predicts a gradual weakening of the hryvnia without sharp collapses.
In December 2025, Russian oil companies sharply reduced crude oil production. This happened against the backdrop of increased Western sanctions pressure and falling world prices.
Law enforcement officers exposed the director of a contracting company and a technical supervision engineer who embezzled UAH 5. 5 million during the repair of shelters in the Kherson region. The director inflated the cost of works, and the engineer approved unreliable acts.
The Prosecutor General's Office is stepping up its efforts to combat human trafficking. In 2025, 162 criminal offenses were registered, which is 47.1% more than in 2024.
Starting from February 1, 2026, a new procedure for affixing an apostille to official documents will come into force in Ukraine. The cost of the service will also increase from January 1, 2026.
Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who is under investigation, has been granted political asylum in Hungary. The move has heightened tensions between Warsaw's new government and its conservative predecessors.
The US dollar exchange rate showed its sharpest decline in three weeks. The reason was a legal conflict between the US presidential administration and the Fed, which intensified investors' fears.
The District of Columbia Attorney's Office has launched a criminal investigation against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The case concerns the reconstruction of the Fed's headquarters and alleged misinformation provided to Congress regarding the project's details.
The occupation administration of Kherson region eliminated transparent procedures in the agricultural sector by creating the "Kherson Grain Company. " This structure became a monopolistic intermediary in the distribution of land, concentrating resources in the hands of cronies.
Kepler Communications Inc. has successfully launched 10 new satellites into low Earth orbit using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. These satellites, each weighing 300 kg, will serve as "orbital data centers" and use lasers for data transmission.
Colombia is preparing a large-scale UAV countermeasure project after the US conducted a special operation in Venezuela and amid new threats from Trump.
The UK is investing over £210 million in cybersecurity, establishing a Government Cyber Unit to centralize risk management. This unit will coordinate responses to cyber incidents and protect government digital services.
Russian regions are experiencing an increasingly deep sense of hopelessness, as sanctions and the loss of external markets have exposed the structural weakness of their budgets. The worst situation is observed in depressed regions, as well as in industrial and metallurgical regions, where significant budget deficits are predicted.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call early general elections in February 2026 to convert high approval ratings into a stable majority. The vote could take place on February 8 or 15.
Ukraine and the United States plan to sign an $800 billion agreement for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Details are expected to be finalized in Davos between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
A Swiss arbitration tribunal has ordered an American company to return over $18 million to Ukraine. This decision concerns the under-delivery of artillery ammunition under a Ministry of Defense contract.
A scheme to supply unsuitable mines for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which caused almost UAH 3 billion in damages to the state, has been exposed in Ukraine. Four out of ten suspects in this case have been detained.
The Central Election Commission has developed proposals for holding elections after the termination of martial law in Ukraine. They primarily propose holding presidential elections six months after the lifting of martial law.
French farmers have blocked roads to Paris and landmarks, protesting against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. They demand an end to government policies destroying cattle herds.
Former head of the National Guard engineering service served with notice of suspicion for groundlessly accruing over 72 million hryvnias. This happened due to a report with false information about military personnel's participation in combat operations.
The arrest of Nicolas Maduro and potential US control over Venezuela's oil assets would deal a financial and geopolitical blow to Russia. This could undermine its position in Latin America and threaten budget stability, as well as lead to the loss of control over Venezuelan oil assets.
The state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" sold 91. 4 thousand New Year trees, generating 16.5 million hryvnias in revenue. The highest demand was recorded in the Volyn and Rivne regions, and the lowest in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation announced the elimination of 45,000 paid places in universities, which is about 13% of the total. Universities are sharply increasing tuition fees, and the state is depriving students of preferential loans.
President Zelenskyy stated that information policy is not a priority for Kyrylo Budanov. He also mentioned that there is no deputy for economic affairs yet, but Oksana Markarova and Chrystia Freeland will join the Presidential Office as advisors to work on Ukraine's recovery, economic issues, and investments in particular.
Ukraine's international reserves grew by 30. 8% in 2025, reaching $57.3 billion, the highest figure in the entire history of independence. This was made possible by record financial support of $52.4 billion from international partners.
Nadiia Leshchyk familiarized herself with the investigation into the activities of the illegal school at the "Holosiivska Pustyn" monastery and sent a letter to the State Service for Quality of Education regarding an unscheduled inspection of general secondary education institutions, and also appealed to certain institutions and law enforcement agencies.
