Financial news, community budget and personal finances at Razom UA
Robbers drilled a hole through the concrete wall of a garage and removed valuables from more than 3,000 safety‑deposit boxes — an incident that should be analyzed not only as a criminal case but also in terms of customer security.
Ukrainian Railways (UZ) has retrofitted 100 railcars into autonomous heating, communications and aid points — with no budgetary expenditure. This is not PR, but a tool of local resilience during attacks and energy crises.
Auctions December 29–January 2: lots small in value but important for returning funds to creditors. We explain who is selling what and how this fits into the broader context of the banking sector.
From January 1, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be allowed to spend funds from the general fund on drone parts and upgrades. We explain why this is not just a budgetary issue, but a matter of operational advantage and transparency.
Partners increased funding by 25%. We break down who provided the money, where the payments went, and what risks remain — in plain terms about the key figures and the consequences for Ukraine.
Analysis by the RRR4U consortium: nine Ukraine Facility indicators were not met in Q4 — a total shortfall of €3.6 billion for 2025. Parliament's decisions will now determine whether these funds will go to reconstruction or be lost due to deadlines.
One of the "big" U.S. banks has confirmed the timing for the sale of its Russian subsidiary. We analyze the losses, risks to capital, and the implications for the isolation of Russia's financial system.
The government has postponed the mandatory installation of payment terminals for the smallest entrepreneurs until three months after the end of martial law — the decision gives them time to prepare but raises questions about the pace of the shift to cashless payments.
Stress tests covered more than 90% of the banking system’s assets. We explain what the results mean for depositors, state financial institutions, and market stability.
The regulator has published criteria to safeguard citizens' savings. In brief: how to spot a scam and what steps to take today.
A YouGov poll reveals a paradox: citizens recognize the risk of systemic breakdowns but do not support unpopular measures. Why this matters for Ukraine and how to act so as not to pass the problem on to the next generation.
A 20-hryvnia coin made of 900‑fine gold: what its design means, why it’s more than a souvenir, and how it’s connected to the earlier 2024 silver issue.
Hundreds of amendments delayed the vote and revealed how painful even a technical change to a national monetary tradition can be. We examine what happened and why it matters to everyone.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong reported the arrest of a former support agent in India — the case shows that the fight against cyber fraud is becoming transnational and will have consequences for trust in exchanges and regulatory pressure.
Six Ukrainian banks have issued a three-year syndicated loan of UAH 21.5 billion backed by state guarantees — a sign of the financial sector’s mobilization in support of defense capabilities. We examine where the money will go, why this matters for security and the economy, and what risks remain.
Concessional financing through the ADVANCE Ukraine fund under the SURGE project is more than just money. It is a vote of confidence from partners and a catalyst for budget reforms that strengthen the resilience of public finances.
Kyiv City Council approved the capital’s budget for 2026 (over UAH 106 billion). It’s not just numbers in a table — it’s a test of the city’s ability to provide services, maintain infrastructure and support those defending the country.
The regulator is urging a shift from blanket bans to "targeted" measures: this could reduce market uncertainty and make mortgages more accessible, while protecting affected homeowners.
Political consultations outside Brussels put the €210 billion deal in doubt. We explain why decisions by several capitals could affect Ukraine's finances and security as soon as this week.
On the eve of the European Council summit, the President of the European Commission put two concrete options on the table — using frozen Russian assets or pursuing joint EU borrowing. The decision will affect the volume of aid to Ukraine over the next two years and the EU's willingness to accept risk in the name of security.
A state-owned bank has opened a seven-year, $77 million credit line for the Kernel Group — the largest banking deal with private business in 2025. We examine why this matters for exports, logistics and financial confidence during wartime.
Fitch has placed Euroclear’s ratings on review after the European Commission’s proposal to use frozen Russian assets for a reparations loan to Ukraine. It is a signal of the need for legal and financial clarity: the money may materialize, but at what cost to European infrastructure remains an open question.
Decision final: a former MP has been found guilty of illegally receiving reimbursements for renting a room at the "Kyiv" hotel. We explain why this matters for accountability over public funds and for legal practice in a time of trial for the country.
While the world decides how to punish the aggressor, Ukraine is preparing a separate reconstruction fund — with funding sources, but without a new tax until the end of the war. This could become a historic moment for our children and the economy.
Minister Andriy Sybiha urges the EU to use frozen Russian assets for reparations — a chance to send Moscow a clear signal and strengthen Ukraine's defenses ahead of the December 18–19 summit.
Belgium is stalling an agreement on the use of frozen Russian assets. The decision on a reparations loan of up to €210 billion is at risk ahead of the 18–19 December summit — insiders call it a historic moment for Europe's security.
The Ukrainian economy is demonstrating a steady recovery that accelerated in the third quarter of 2025. The main driver of GDP growth was not merely a rebound but a powerful fiscal impulse, fueled by record budgetary spending made possible by international financing. Economists at the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) confirm: Western funds are working to strengthen the country's defense capabilities and its reconstruction.
The National Bank, together with the UAnimals foundation, raised more than UAH 2 million in coins through the #PowerCoins campaign. The funds will be used for treating animals, setting up doghouses and enclosures, and providing food for shelters and stray animals in frontline areas.
The U.S. Department of Justice lifted supervision of Danske Bank after the completion of a three-year probationary period under a guilty-plea agreement for money laundering through its Estonian branch; the bank paid $2 billion.
In November, Ukraine's real GDP growth rose to 5.3% compared with 2.3% in October. The increase was driven by the agricultural sector, domestic trade, construction and manufacturing; public spending and international support also contributed.
The Baltic states have approved record budgets for 2026: Lithuania and Estonia are allocating 5% or more of GDP to defense, while Latvia aims to reach that level in 2027.
British commercial banks oppose using about £8 billion of frozen Russian funds for a loan to Ukraine, citing potential legal consequences and the absence of government guarantees.
Rosen Zhelyazkov submitted his resignation after two weeks of protests sparked by the draft 2026 budget proposing changes to taxes and social contributions. The resignation was announced ahead of a vote of confidence in the government.
The National Bank of Ukraine kept its key rate at 15.5% amid uncertainty over external financing, notably a delay in a reparations loan, and elevated inflation expectations. November inflation was 9.3% year‑on‑year.
Starting December 11, the UAH 1,000 from the "Winter Support" program must be spent on Ukrainian-made food products using the "National Cashback" card. There are restrictions on eligible goods, retail chains and the timeframes for use.
The Federal Reserve cut its key rate for the third consecutive time to 3.5–3.75%, citing rising risks to employment. Inflation is around 3%, and unemployment has risen to 4.4%. The decision was supported by nine members, with three opposed. The National Bank of Ukraine will decide its rate on December 11.
Starting January 1, 2026, a national screening for people aged 40 and over will begin. The program is allocated 10 billion hryvnias; 2,000 hryvnias will be credited to each participant's card to pay for examinations.
The President signed the 2026 budget, with revenues of UAH 2.92 trillion and a deficit of UAH 1.9 trillion. Expenditures total UAH 4.78 trillion, a significant share allocated to defense; the budget provides for increases in social standards.
ECB President Christine Lagarde described the latest version of the European proposal for financial support to Ukraine as best aligned with international law and urged Europeans to continue their support. She stressed the initiative's legal exclusivity.
According to the State Statistics Service’s preliminary estimate, real GDP in July–September 2025 rose 2.1% year‑on‑year; quarter‑on‑quarter growth was 0.8%. The National Bank of Ukraine forecasts annual growth of 1.9%.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has completed its investigation into the former head of the Oblast Military Administration and other individuals suspected of embezzling more than UAH 392 million during road repairs.
The International Finance Corporation is investing in the equity of two Ukrainian insurers — Knyazha and the Ukrainian Insurance Group (USG), acquiring 20% stakes in each company. This is IFC's first entry into Ukraine’s insurance sector.
After the London meeting, Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of France and Germany expressed hope for a swift agreement on a mechanism to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's defence and reconstruction.
The Council of the EU approved the EDIP programme for 2025–2027 with funding of €1.5 billion. A separate €300 million instrument is earmarked for Ukraine, while the remaining €1.2 billion will be directed to joint European defence projects.
French Mfex director Olivier Yubi, linked to Russia, allegedly used influence and threats during negotiations over the use of frozen Russian assets. This has raised questions about the protection of Euroclear’s leadership and access to €193 billion.
Prime ministers of seven European countries urged the swift approval of a reparations loan drawn from frozen Russian assets, saying it would bolster Kyiv in peace negotiations and would not hamper peace efforts.
Law enforcement has seized cryptocurrency assets worth $107 million that, according to authorities, were intended to finance pro‑Russian parties and influence networks. A Kyiv statement also describes a wide‑ranging Russian operation and steps to protect electoral systems.
In 2025, transfers to monobank's "banks" fell by 19%, while the three largest charitable funds received a record UAH 105.87 billion — 37% more than in the previous three years combined.
Prime Minister Alexander Muntianu said the government will seek a new agreement with the IMF as confirmation of macroeconomic stability, although there is currently no immediate need for financing. The article mentions previous programs and outstanding tranches.
The United Kingdom will join the EU initiative and plans to allocate £8 billion from frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. The mechanism has not yet been agreed; a decision is expected at the EU summit on 18–19 December.
The adopted budget gives the Finance Ministry the right to swap government bonds held by the National Bank of Ukraine. The central bank will agree only to a partial operation; talks are underway to exchange inflation-indexed OVDPs of 2017 with a nominal value of UAH 145.2 billion for new securities with a more favorable rate.
In November, Ukraine’s international reserves rose by more than 10% — to $54.75 billion, setting a new record. The increase was driven by large international inflows, a decline in the NBU’s net foreign‑currency sales and support for imports.
Parliament passed two bills exempting from VAT the importation of components and equipment for UAVs, electronic warfare systems, demining machines and other defense equipment; they also set out accounting rules and the duration of the exemptions.
Over six months, PlayCity shut down more than 2,500 illegal online casinos, removed over 280 social media pages, fined bloggers and media outlets more than UAH 52 million, and secured over UAH 1.4 billion from licenses.
The President ordered the Minister of Defense to urgently reconstitute the supervisory boards of defense enterprises to ensure full control, instructed the Prime Minister to inform partners; at the same time, changes in the energy sector have been launched.
The EU will add Russia to the list of countries with an increased risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, forcing banks to tighten transaction checks. FATF suspended Russia’s membership, but had not previously placed it on its blacklist.
On December 3, parliament adopted the draft budget for 2026; the document foresees revenues of UAH 2.92 trillion, expenditures of UAH 4.78 trillion, and a significant share of funding for defense.
The initiative to introduce VAT for some individual entrepreneurs has been temporarily removed from the faction’s agenda due to a lack of votes in parliament. Negotiations with the IMF on a new financing program are ongoing in parallel.
Lawmakers are preparing final amendments to the 2026 state budget: part of the personal income tax (PIT) will be transferred to local communities to cover energy costs, additional funds will be allocated to defense and the State Bureau of Economic Security (BEB), and increases in teachers' salaries are planned.
Binance announced the appointment of Yi He as co-CEO alongside Richard Teng. She will be responsible for strategy, engagement with regulators and platform development; the appointment followed the pardon of the previous CEO.
Winter bills often arrive between paychecks and can derail a household budget. Clear prioritization, frugal household practices, and cautious use of microloans help avoid debts and fines.
On December 1, the National Bank of Ukraine introduced TrekSEP into the electronic payments system. The service allows individuals and legal entities to track the status of transfers at any time, from initiation to crediting. From April 1, 2026, UETR will be implemented for participants in the Electronic Payments System.
The European Central Bank has refused to act as lender of last resort for the European Commission’s plan for a €140 billion loan that was to be backed by frozen Russian assets; the Commission is seeking other options to secure liquidity.
The National Bank of Ukraine has begun minting the "We Are Strong. We Are Together" series: the reverse features a stylized map of Ukraine with highlighted oblasts. The first three coins (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk) were issued on December 1; the series' total mintage is 54 million.
Ukrainian traders have reserved 1.2 million cubic meters per day for December deliveries from Greece — the highest level since the route's launch. At the auction on November 24, more than half of the offered capacity was booked.
U.S. President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of former GPB Capital manager David Gentile, who was convicted in a sprawling financial fraud. Gentile spent less than three weeks in prison; the case involved losses by more than 10,000 investors totaling $1.6 billion.
The National Bank of Ukraine fined microfinance company "Ye Groshi" for applying a daily rate above 1%, charging additional payments and imposing simultaneous penalties. The total fine exceeded UAH 2.8 million, and the company was issued a written warning.
The Ministry of Economy allocated approximately UAH 259.3 million to five industrial parks for the construction of roads, power networks, water supply and treatment facilities under the "Made in Ukraine" program.
In the second phase of assistance, about 2.5 million additional people will receive support, with the total amount exceeding UAH 3 billion. As of December 1, more than 14 million applications have been submitted; applications are being accepted until December 24.
Employees of a municipal medical institution in the capital are suspected of embezzling more than UAH 1.6 million through fictitious records of mobile palliative care. The suspects are a former director and a doctor; authorities are considering pretrial detention.
The National Bank of Ukraine's November 2025 survey showed that about a third of managers expect the sector's condition to worsen over the next six months; the main threat is the war, with corruption rising to second place.
Western diplomats accuse Belgium of reluctance to disclose how tax revenues from frozen Russian reserves are being used, making it harder to verify whether its commitments to Ukraine are being met.
Jakarta rejected terms that threatened the country’s economic sovereignty.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever proposes allocating €45 billion a year to Ukraine through joint borrowing.
The Prosecutor General's Office reported that in Poltava region three city council employees and the director of a private company are suspected of embezzling more than UAH 5 million during the procurement of 70 satellite phones.
The Constitutional Court upheld the legality of fines for late registration of tax invoices and noted that the supervisory authority must prove the taxpayer’s culpability rather than impose sanctions automatically.
Due to U.S. tariffs, the risk of sanctions and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, the Indian rupee in 2025 became the weakest currency in Asia; roughly $16.3 billion was withdrawn from the market, and the RBI sold over $30 billion of reserves.
Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov have failed to comply with an English court ruling requiring them to pay $3 billion to PrivatBank. The bank is launching enforcement proceedings in several jurisdictions, including Ukraine.
S&P Global Ratings downgraded its assessment of the stablecoin USDT's reliability to the lowest level after an increase in the share of risky assets in its reserves, notably bitcoin. The agency warned that a fall in cryptocurrencies could leave USDT undercollateralized.
In Ukraine, we have a clear understanding of the magnitude of the corruption problem - dating back to the early years following the restoration of Ukraine's independence, when the first systemic corrupt officials gained access to power.