Bulgaria
The State Aviation Service transferred the authority to repair Mi-8 helicopters to the foreign company AAL Group Ltd, which has ties to the Russian defense complex. Experts consider this a threat to Ukraine's national security.
German manufacturer Rheinmetall is opening Europe's largest artillery shell production plant near Hanover on August 27. The enterprise will produce up to 350,000 shells per year after reaching full capacity in 2027.
A quarter of Ukraine's territory is contaminated with mines and explosive remnants of war, which has led to the deaths of 359 people, including 18 children. Clearing Ukrainian lands of mines will be the largest and most complex humanitarian demining operation in the world.
The Criminal Service of the Lithuanian Customs Department uncovered a scheme to circumvent sanctions against Russia, organized by 11 individuals. A company from Kaunas supplied water treatment equipment to Russian oil enterprises through Portugal, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
NATO's easternmost countries are experiencing a sharp increase in radio and satellite jamming, affecting air and sea communications. Lithuania accused Russia of a 22-fold increase in GPS jamming.
Taisiia Onofriichuk took 4th place at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, losing to the bronze medalist by 0. 55 points. Daria Varfolomeev won gold, and Stiliana Nikolova won silver.
Romania proposes expanding the joint mine-clearing mission with Bulgaria and Turkey in the Black Sea. The goal is to strengthen the protection of energy infrastructure and trade routes from threats posed by Russia.
The National Investigation Service of Bulgaria is conducting searches at the company "SAGE CONSULTANTS AD", which trades in weapons. The NABU investigation in Ukraine concerns price gouging, and there are also suspicions of sanctions circumvention and trade with the Russian Federation.
Since March, a Register of Dietary Supplements has been operating in Ukraine, where all dietary supplements must be entered by the end of September. Market representatives consider the allotted time insufficient, comparing it with European practice.
An international coalition, led by Canada and Ukraine, called on Russia to unconditionally return abducted Ukrainian children. 38 countries, the Council of Europe, and the EU signed a joint statement, emphasizing the violation of international law.
The number of representatives of Georgia's ruling party "Georgian Dream" and related individuals who have fallen under Western sanctions has exceeded 230. Restrictions were imposed by the USA, Great Britain, the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine.
Ukraine's leading allies in Europe plan to approach the EU for tens of billions of euros in loans for joint procurement of weapons for Ukraine and to strengthen their own defense. The SAFE program envisages loans for weapons, financed by EU debt with a 45-year repayment period.
Nine countries have officially expressed interest in borrowing funds from the EU military procurement program SAFE by the deadline. Poland plans to request 25 billion euros, and Greece – at least 1.2 billion euros.
Ukraine increased booking capacity of the Trans-Balkan gas route by 2. 6 times, which expands access to resources from the southern direction. The cost of transportation through this corridor decreased by 25%, opening new opportunities for supply diversification.
Ukraine has received Azerbaijani gas via the Trans-Balkan route for the first time, which is a positive step for supply diversification. Expert Volodymyr Omelchenko noted that the volumes are still small, but in the future they could reach billions of cubic meters, provided production in Azerbaijan increases.
Naftogaz Group has concluded its first agreement on the purchase of Azerbaijani gas with SOCAR Energy Ukraine. The test gas supply is being carried out via the Trans-Balkan corridor through Bulgaria and Romania.
The European Commission has sent warning letters to 18 EU member states for failing to notify the full implementation of the Directive on criminalizing the violation of EU restrictive measures. Countries have two months to respond and complete implementation.
The Pechersky District Court of Kyiv is considering a motion to choose a pre-trial detention measure for Ruslan Magamedrasulov, who is suspected of assisting the Russian Federation. The session is being held in a closed regime due to sensitive information and state secrets.
The average duration of working life in the EU in 2024 is 37. 2 years, with notable differences between countries. The Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark lead with indicators of over 42 years, while Romania, Italy, and Croatia have the lowest indicators.
Ukrainians are adapting to new recreation conditions, choosing short trips within the country, mainly to the West and Odesa. Bulgaria has become popular abroad due to its accessibility and lower prices.
The end of the duty-free trade agreement with the EU will cost Ukraine about 1 billion euros in losses. Denys Marchuk noted that the statements of some EU countries about the harm of Ukrainian agricultural products are often based on myths.
In June 2025, solar energy accounted for 22. 1% of the EU's total electricity, surpassing nuclear energy and fossil fuels. The Netherlands and Greece became record-breakers, while dependence on coal sharply decreased.
40 years after the establishment of the Schengen area, internal border controls are being tightened, limiting freedoms. Poland has introduced controls at its borders with Germany and Lithuania, and other EU countries are also strengthening checks.
An express analysis showed that about 2,300 people died in 12 European cities from the severe heatwave that ended last week. Climate change made temperatures significantly higher, leading to 1,500 additional deaths.
Extreme heat has caused a critical drop in water levels in rivers across Central and Eastern Europe. In Hungary, the water level in the Tisza has decreased by 60%, and in the Danube by 40%, leading to the suspension of ferry services between Bulgaria and Romania.
A Flixbus bus, en route to Vienna, veered off the A19 highway near Röbel and overturned. 31 people were injured, one of them seriously, and Ukrainians are among the casualties.
In the first quarter of 2025, housing prices in the European Union increased by 5. 7%, and rental prices by 3.2% compared to the same period in 2024. Since 2010, housing prices in the EU have risen by 57.9%, and rental prices by 27.8%.
Ukraine extended the agreement with Poland on gas imports until September 2024, doubling the permitted volume to 12. 4 million cubic meters per day. This strengthens the country's energy security and opens access to new supply sources, including LNG terminals in Poland and Lithuania.
In Romania, a bus with 60 Ukrainian citizens was involved in a road accident with a minibus. A Romanian citizen died, one Ukrainian woman and two Romanian citizens were injured.
Romania has extended the mandatory licensing requirement for Ukrainian products until December 31, 2025. This measure, introduced to protect local farmers, covers the entire agri-food supply chain.