Porn decriminalization petition in Ukraine reaches 25,000 signatures, forcing Zelensky response
Pornography production and distribution are illegal in Ukraine, with broad interpretations meaning even sharing nude photos can result in jail time.
Business
Iran reportedly preparing to mine Strait of Hormuz, a possible boon for Russia's Ukraine war coffers
If the Strait were mined, Iran could block one-fifth of global oil demand and spike world energy prices — a boon for Russia's oil-dependent economy.
Russia's Rosatom seeks to sell 49% stake in Turkey's first nuclear plant
The project remains a cornerstone of Russian-Turkish energy cooperation.
Ukrainian-founded Grammarly to acquire AI email app Superhuman
Grammarly, a company with Ukrainian roots, announced its intent to acquire AI email writing app Superhuman as part of its expansion into an AI productivity platform, the company said in a press release on July 1.
Russia cannot launch 500 drones every day, Ukraine's intel chief says
Russia has the capacity to launch as many as 500 Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones at Ukraine in a single attack, but doing so on a daily basis is not possible, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on July 2.
Russia plans gas extraction in Sea of Azov, Ukrainian officials warn
According to the Berdiansk Municipal Military Administration, Russia's Federal Subsoil Resources Agency (Rosnedra) has announced plans to explore and possibly develop gas fields such as the Morske, Pivnichno-Kazantypske, and Skhidno-Kazantypske deposits.
Ukraine to launch joint weapons production program with Ramstein summit countries
As part of a new joint production program, new factories and weapons manufacturing facilities will be built in Ukraine and abroad, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on July 1.
Ukraine's power exports surge 2.5 times, recovering to pre-Russian attack levels
Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 150% in June 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching over 237,000 megawatt-hours (MWh), according to consulting firm ExPro Electricity.
As US aid to Ukraine dries up, new platform connects American investors with Ukrainian startups
Hans Braunfisch wants Americans to invest in Ukrainian startups, but there's a problem: there's no clear path for individual investors to put money into the more than 26,000 Ukrainian startups out there. The former PwC consultant plans to change that with Pravo Venture, a platform streamlining foreign investment for
Ukraine receives $500 million in IMF funding, maintaining growth forecasts
Ukraine received approximately $500 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), marking the ninth tranche under the country's Extended Fund Facility program, the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance announced in a press release on July 1.
Ukraine developing new anti-drone ammunition to counter Russian aerial attacks
The manufacturer Brave1 has already codified the new rounds according to NATO standards. The goal is to supply every infantry soldier with a magazine of specialized ammunition for use in case of aerial threats.
Oil tanker damaged by blast weeks after visiting Russian ports
According to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), the vessel belongs to Russia's shadow fleet, used by Moscow to evade sanctions.
Russia seizes Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits, but US minerals deal not at risk, investor says
Russian troops have taken over the site of one of Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits near the village of Shevchenko, Donetsk Oblast, as Russia ramps up its summer offensive. While Ukrainian troops control territories near the site, the deposit is now under Russian occupation, Roman Pohorilyi, founder of open-source
Russia reviving efforts to expand LNG exports after US sanctions, Bloomberg reports
An LNG ice-class tanker has reportedly docked at Russia's Arctic LNG 2 facility for the first time since October, according to ship-tracking data and satellite images.
McDonald's to open 10 new restaurants in Ukraine this year, NYT reports
The 10 new locations will bring the total number close to 120 — more than were operating in Ukraine before the war.
Zelensky to impose long-term moratorium on business inspections in Ukraine
The moratorium is intended to "protect businesses from any pressure by unscrupulous individuals in various government positions," the president said at the State and Business Forum in Kyiv on June 27.
Clashes ongoing in eastern Ukrainian village near lithium deposits, as military rejects claims of Russian capture
Active fighting is still taking place around the village of Shevchenko in Donetsk Oblast, home to one of Ukraine's largest lithium deposits, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces told the Kyiv Independent on June 27, denying reports Russia had occupied the village.
Ukraine to seek EU sanctions against Bangladesh over Russia-stolen grain import
"It's a crime," Ukraine's ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, told Reuters. "We will share our investigation with our European Union colleagues, and we will kindly ask them to take the appropriate measures."
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 31
Editor’s note: This is issue 31 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from June 17–June 24, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks
Putin insists the Russian economy is fine, but Kremlin officials say otherwise
In a rare public sign that all is not well in Russia, two high-ranking Moscow officials last week issued separate warnings about the state of the country's economy. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina and Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov both highlighted that amid the Kremlin's full-scale war against Ukraine, the
Amid relentless Russian strikes, Ukraine’s businesses rebuild alone
It took firefighters two days to extinguish the flames at Oleksiy Tarnopolskiy's warehouse in Kyiv after a Russian attack on June 10. Nothing inside could be saved from his tea and coffee business. Tarnopolskiy arrived on site to an "apocalyptic" scene at 5 a.m., one hour after a Russian
Ukraine can produce 8 million drones annually but needs funding, Zelensky says at NATO summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to scale up investments in joint weapons production, including drone technologies, artillery, and interceptors. He argued that Ukraine's defense capabilities are not only key to defending its own territory, but essential to strengthening NATO's long-term security.
Ukrainian energy giant to build $115 million solar program with British partner
Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK and British clean energy group Octopus Energy have launched a program to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems at Ukrainian businesses and public institutions, DTEK announced in a press release on June 23.
Zelensky slaps new sanctions over business activities in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the sanctions are targeting "those who cooperate with the (Russian) occupier on our land," as they "help justify the aggression, consider it normal to make money in the occupation, and pay taxes" to Russia.
Not content with waging war inside Ukraine, Russia has now taken it into the virtual world
The new game is the first to focus on Russia’s war in Ukraine, featuring real battles and characters.
Russia's war-fueled economy is running on empty, Central Bank chief warns
"We grew for two years at a fairly high pace because free resources were activated," Russia's Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said.
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 30
Editor’s note: This is issue 30 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from June 9–June 15, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks
EU reportedly eyes riskier investments for frozen Russian assets to boost Ukraine aid
According to Politico, the proposed plan would redirect the frozen Russian assets into a special investment fund under EU control, allowing for higher returns without confiscating the principal.
Russia 'on the verge' of recession, Kremlin economy minister warns
"According to current business perceptions, we are already, it seems, on the verge of a transition to a recession," Russian Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
For the first time, Australia sanctions Russian shadow fleet oil tankers
"Russia uses these vessels to circumvent international sanctions and sustain its illegal and immoral war against Ukraine," Australia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
After 3 years of full-scale war in Ukraine, Europe finally lays out road map to detox from Russian oil and gas
After three years of limited measures and political hangovers, the European Union has laid out a legal roadmap to finally end its long-standing addiction to Russian oil and gas. Under a new legislative proposal announced in Strasbourg on June 17, Brussels aims to cut off all remaining imports of Russian
Ukraine moves forward on lithium mining under US minerals deal, NYT reports
On June 16, the Ukrainian government reportedly agreed to begin drafting recommendations for a bidding process to develop the Dobra lithium field in central Ukraine.
Business
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