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Farm animals owned by Marinka Hritsik on her farm in Chernihiv, Ukraine on Sept. 30, 2026.
Business

Sign of the times: Ukraine’s small dairy farms are disappearing

by Alex McDonald

Marinka Hritsik has watched Ukraine’s dairy farming traditions change before her eyes. "There were eighteen (household-owned) cows in our village in 2022, but now there are seven," said the family farmer from near Chernihiv. "By winter, there probably won’t be any left." Hritsik's story reflects a national shift: Ukraine's smaller dairy farms are disappearing while the biggest keep growing. High costs and low prices, EU rules, and the war are pushing small producers out even as the government'

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Ukraine war latest: Kharkiv devastated by Russian glide bombs, children among victims

Key developments on Oct. 5: * Children among dozens injured as Russian glide bombs hit Kharkiv, 5 dead * New automatic gun turrets successfully down first Russian jet-powered drones, Air Force says * Russian drones strike cargo ship in Black Sea, kill captain, Zelensky says * Ukrainian pilots to soon start training on French Rafale jets, Zelensky says * Estonia moves troops closer to Russian border amid shift in strategic thinking At least five people have been killed, and 53 others, incl

Trump's Ukraine-Russia peace gambit begins to unravel. Again

U.S. President Donald Trump's latest push for peace between Ukraine and Russia is facing growing uncertainty, with few in Kyiv believing it can deliver a breakthrough — or even bring the three sides together for talks, the Kyiv Independent can reveal. The latest effort began in early September, when Trump's envoys traveled to Kyiv and Moscow seeking progress before the U.S. midterm elections. The trips produced one tangible outcome: an agreement in principle to hold a trilateral meeting betwee

What does Russia's rising military budget say about its plans for the war?

The Russian government began the month by submitting a three-year budget plan to parliament, proposing yet another increase in funding for its war against Ukraine. On the surface, the planned increase looks substantial. Russia's overall military budget is set to rise to around 17 trillion rubles (approximately $200 billion) in 2027, up from 12 trillion rubles in 2026 — a 27% increase in nominal spending. When combined with spending on law enforcement, another heavy budget line, expenditures on

About Business

The Kyiv Independent’s Business Desk covers the biggest news in business, economics, and tech from Ukraine, as well as global developments that shape the economy of the region.

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