The share of oil and gas revenues in Russia's budget will decrease to 23% this year, compared to 50% a few years ago. The reason is the war against Ukraine and sanctions that force Russia to sell oil at significant discounts.
In Bashkortostan, payments for signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense have been increased again from 500,000 to 1 million rubles. New payments will take effect on January 1, 2026, despite previous reductions and budget problems.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has vowed to defend the island's sovereignty, citing China's expansionist ambitions. This came after Beijing concluded live-fire military exercises off Taiwan's coast.
A program of one-time assistance of 6,500 hryvnias has been introduced in Ukraine for the most vulnerable categories of the population. The total number of applications submitted is 463,671, of which 385,170 have been approved. The state has financed over 381,346 applications for a total of over 2.5 billion UAH.
Starting today, the salaries of pedagogical and scientific-pedagogical staff in Ukraine will increase by 30%. The State Budget for 2026 allocates 64.6 billion hryvnias for salary increases.
In 2026, the salary requirements for granting deferrals to employees of critically important enterprises will change, increasing to 21,617. 5 hryvnias. This is due to an increase in the minimum wage, which will be 8,647 hryvnias from January 1.
A health screening program for Ukrainians aged 40+ is launching, which can be ordered through "Diia. "
From February 1, the Bulgarian lev will cease to be legal tender. From August 2025, all stores will display prices in both currencies.
The Tax Service included 4,558 business inspections in its 2026 plan, slightly fewer than last year, with peak activity in March-April. The inspections will primarily concern companies (78%), as well as individual entrepreneurs, with Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions leading in the number of visits.
From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in Ukraine will increase to UAH 8,647. The living wage for various categories of the population will also increase, which will affect taxes and social benefits.
In England, trains were canceled and delayed on New Year's Eve due to the theft of 200 meters of signal cables between Doncaster and Sheffield. This led to the cancellation of 13 services and the delay of 83 trains for more than 15 hours.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba summarized the results of 2025 in the transport industry, noting an increase in seats on international trains and the launch of the Eurotrack. The "transport visa-free regime" with the EU was extended, and digital systems such as eCherha and e-TTN were introduced.
Since September 2025, over 1200 IDPs and residents of frontline territories have applied for preferential mortgages. The state covers 70% of the down payment and monthly payments, as well as 40 thousand hryvnias for related expenses.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to extend restrictions on the export of timber and scrap metal until the end of 2026. This decision provides for a licensing regime with zero quotas to preserve strategic raw materials in Ukraine and direct them to the needs of domestic processing.
The government approved the procedure for implementing the Medical Guarantees Program for 2026, allocating over UAH 191. 6 billion, which is UAH 16.1 billion more than last year. This will allow for an increase in medical workers' salaries, and increased funding for primary healthcare and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
The Cabinet of Ministers has allowed healthcare facilities to purchase housing for medical workers in frontline regions. Housing will be provided for the period of employment in the settlement or within 30 km of it.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has cost Russian taxpayers approximately $550 billion, which is equivalent to 24 annual Russian higher education budgets. A significant portion of these expenditures is hidden, and the financing of the war is shifted to the population through new taxes and rising prices.
In Bukovyna, an official of the Service for Restoration and Infrastructure Development is suspected of abuse of office. He signed acts of acceptance of work for the construction of a bridge, which led to an overpayment to the contractor of more than UAH 2.5 million in budget funds.
This refers to UAVs, sights, thermal imagers, anti-drone rifles, and other critically important goods for Ukraine.
The United Nations has approved a 7% budget cut to $3. 45 billion for 2026, which is $270 million less than the current budget. This decision is due to a financial crisis caused by US debt and involves cutting 2,900 positions.
Romania has contributed 50 million euros to the PURL initiative, aimed at purchasing American weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This step, according to Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu, will strengthen regional security and is in line with Romania's NATO commitments.
The hryvnia exchange rate at the end of 2025 turned out to be stronger than predicted, which casts doubt on the government's pessimistic expectations for 2026. Expert Ihor Garbaruk points to the risk of budget non-fulfillment due to an overestimated planned exchange rate.
Discounts on Russian oil at export terminals again approached historical highs, reducing margins and leading to losses. More than half of Russian oil companies are eligible for zero or reduced mineral extraction tax rates.
In December 2025, demand for "female beauty" services in Russia decreased by 25–30%, which was the worst indicator in a decade. This is due to the rising cost of living, increased tax burden, and the impact of the war against Ukraine.
Kyivzelenbud officials and a contractor have been notified of suspicion of embezzling UAH 1. 2 million during the major renovation of Hydropark. They inflated the prices of building materials in the estimate.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykola Trofymenko announced a complete update of the Admission Procedure to higher education institutions in 2026. Changes include the cancellation of motivational letters and a reduction in the number of applications from 15 to 12.
In 2025, Ukraine attracted over $52. 4 billion in external aid, of which more than 70% came from frozen Russian assets. These funds allowed for the full provision of social and humanitarian expenditures, while domestic resources were directed to security and defense.
In Ukraine, annual inflation is 9. 3%, but the situation remains stable. The expert predicts predictable inflation for the next two years thanks to international support, not expecting hyperinflation.
Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe in 2025 decreased by 44% to 18 billion cubic meters, which is the lowest figure since the mid-1970s. This happened after the closure of the Ukrainian route and the cessation of fossil fuel imports from Russia.
Ukraine's government bonds rose on Monday after positive signs in peace talks to end the war. Some bonds reached their highest level since the sovereign debt restructuring.
