Stories from Kyiv · Ukraine

Switzerland will fund water supply and wastewater treatment projects in Ukraine over the next three years. The source noted that water supply problems are context-specific and have persisted for at least two and a half years in some visited locations. A new project allows families to receive monthly payments for childcare services, private kindergartens, or additional services in state educational institutions. The subsidy amount is 8,000 hryvnias per month for each child. For families raising a child with a disability, the payment is 12,000 hryvnias. Funds cannot be counted toward a special Diia card account and must be used exclusively for childcare and education services. Ukraine is receiving 90 billion euros in funding to cover civil servant salaries, bureaucratic costs, and military maintenance.

Discussions in Ukraine have highlighted irregularities regarding housing rentals for military personnel. Reports indicate that some service members are being charged high rates for rentals, sometimes even failing to receive coverage for basic utilities. Advocates are calling for legislative changes to regulate these practices and to establish mechanisms for transferring housing to frontline communities. The current system lacks sufficient oversight regarding the financial obligations of soldiers in rental agreements. Military administrations in frontline communities are conducting inventories of abandoned houses to facilitate housing transfers to military personnel. A formal mechanism to determine if a property is truly abandoned and how to execute lease agreements without owners is currently lacking. The process also faces risks from bad-faith actors in the real estate market.

Ukrainian esports organization Monte won the CCGlobal Finals 2026 Counter-Strike 2 tournament. The team earned $30,000 in prize money for the victory. This achievement follows the team's previous top-8 placement in a Counter-Strike Major tournament. The win is noted as a professional milestone for the organization. The winning team Monte is a resident of Diia City since 2020, meaning a portion of their tournament winnings will be paid into the Ukrainian budget as taxes.

The Ukrainian military is implementing an experimental three-day adaptation course for soldiers before basic training begins. The program includes instruction on civilian topics and history of Ukraine. Following the course, recruits face a 'day zero' involving intense psychological and physical pressure. This initiative is being tested in select training centers before potential permanent implementation.

Ukrainian authorities have prepared questions regarding the Moscow Patriarchate's continued claim over Ukrainian Orthodox churches. They are asking why the Moscow Patriarchate still considers Ukrainian churches part of its structure, despite Ukraine's exit from its jurisdiction. This inquiry follows Ukraine's departure from the Moscow Patriarchate. Putin has previously spoken of imminent victories but has returned to manipulative themes. A proposed ceasefire on March 9th is seen as a typical Putin diplomatic manipulation that will be widely used. Ukraine is considering increasing the base monthly pay for military personnel from 20,000 to 30,000. The discussion included plans for demobilization and the introduction of fixed-term contracts this year. Additionally, the use of F-16 fighter jets with AIM-120C or AIM-120D missiles and enhanced long-range radar systems was mentioned.

Ukraine will have a pavilion at the Biennial, featuring a project by Zhanna Kadyrova. The decision on whether to participate or boycott is being considered, with a focus on using art to speak about Ukraine. The presence of supporters is seen as opening doors that will not close.

Ukrainian Radio UR-1 reported that Ukrainian officials are perceived as active participants in current events. The station highlighted a statement from Finnish politicians who refused to attend an event due to Russia's presence. This action was described as a strong gesture, more understandable to Europeans.

Ukraine's treasury has only 12.7 billion Euros in freely disposable funds as of April 19th. Over 1200 trees collapsed in the Moscow region due to abnormal snow and squally winds. This indicates a severe financial strain on the government's resources. The situation raises concerns about the country's ability to sustain essential services and operations. This situation is particularly surprising as the Italian government, despite having a representative on the board of a bilateral entity, was reportedly unaware of the decision. The rhetoric suggests their own representative did not warn them, indicating a potential political game within Italy's domestic political system.

A Ukrainian foundation is facing a severe funding crisis, with its resources reportedly depleted to near zero. Pressure from over 20 countries and the European Commission is cited as a factor. The foundation's continued participation with Russia is a point of concern.

Ukrainian Railways has updated its regulations for transporting animals. The changes are expected to mitigate price speculation on the market. The changes include revised compensation amounts based on the time before departure. These new conditions will apply exclusively to domestic routes, implementing a progressive compensation scale. The refund amount will now depend on how early the ticket is returned, with earlier returns receiving a larger portion of the cost. These changes were announced on the "Ukrzaliznytsia" Facebook page. Service members purchasing tickets through the army PLUS app will retain their previous return conditions. The Sixth Appellate Administrative Court has ruled against a church, identified as part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, in a lawsuit against the State Service for Ethnopolitics. Ukrainian Radio UR-1 reported the decision.