Stories from Kyiv · Ukraine

Ukraine's average monthly salary increased by 7 percent in March, according to State Statistics Service data. The new average wage stands at 30,356 hryvnias.

The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has launched the 'Health Screening 40+' program to simplify medical check-up access. Citizens reaching age 40 no longer need to wait 30 days after their birthday to apply for free screenings. Applications can be submitted at any time via the Diia mobile application or at local administrative service centers. The government has also established specific timelines for the utilization of these funds once credited. The program provides free medical examinations for individuals aged 40 and older. Applicants can now submit requests via the Diia bot at any time without being restricted to their birth month.

The family of a Portuguese soldier who died in Ukraine has denied statements made by the government. Teresa Freire stated she has not been contacted by Portuguese authorities for nine months regarding the soldier who died in combat near Kupiansk on May 29.

Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau is investigating defense contracts involving the company Farpoint and the production of Flamingo rockets. The investigation is being conducted under Operation Midas. The probe follows statements from President Zelenskyy regarding Ukraine's plans for arms exports. The investigation reportedly involves businessman and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umurov. The bureau has recorded details related to these defense-related discussions. The investigation involves businessman Atimura Mindich, former presidential advisor Sergey Sherem, and former Defense Minister Rustym Mumer. The recordings were made as part of the Midas case, which concerns collateral. The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has collected materials related to the Midas case involving defense contract collateral.

The Russian democratic forces group has removed Ruslan Kutayev, former president of the Assembly of the People of the Caucasus, from its platform.

Jornalene Guerreiro, a former Portuguese army soldier and volunteer with the international legion, died on May 29, 2025, while fighting in Ukraine. The Minister stated that the operation was not communicated to NATO allies before it occurred, preventing them from establishing a prior position. He added that the risk of the United States leaving the alliance would be highly undesirable. The Portuguese Ministry is tracking the case of a soldier who died in combat in Ukraine on May 29, 2000, in the Kopiansk zone. Jusdos has also requested assistance from the Presidency of the Republic without receiving a response. Defense expert Ruiz Vilar stated that the Red Cross cannot currently access the war zone where Geronimo Guerreiro was fighting to identify or recover his body.

A mass messaging scam is spreading through Viber groups and private messages in Ukraine. The scheme promises citizens generous monetary assistance from the UN in the amount of 7,400 hryvnias.

A report presented in Kyiv by the Ukrainian National Agency (ONJ) and the International Labour Organization examines recruitment methods for foreign fighters in the Russian army. The report, titled 'Mercenary Fighter or Victim of Human Trafficking,' highlights illegal exploitation mechanisms used by Moscow. Emmanuel Chaz noted that while recruitment is not new, it increases annually to compensate for a lack of volunteers. Researcher Kenzahar Maui reported that Russia is using fraudulent civilian job offers to recruit foreign fighters for the war in Ukraine. The International Federation for Human Rights published reports regarding the recruitment of mercenaries for the Russian army to participate in the war against Ukraine. Ilya Nuzov, the head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia department at the Federation, discussed the profile of the average mercenary.

Some regions in Ukraine are currently experiencing a deficit of precipitation. The shortage is noted during the current transitional season. Affected areas include the Volyn, Rivne, Ternopil, and Zakarpattia regions, according to the report.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated in an interview with NewsMax that allies requested Ukraine refrain from attacking Russian oil facilities due to Middle East tensions. Kyiv reportedly declined these requests. Zelenskyy also proposed an energy-related truce, but the proposal was not accepted by other parties. The report was discussed by political analyst Andrey Korotonov. This request is reportedly due to a global energy crisis. The source noted the context of the ongoing conflict. President Zelenskyy stated that a priority for the coming months is to strike enemy assets at a depth of 120 to 150 kilometers. The targets include military logistics, warehouses, headquarters, and air defense systems. The President noted that five times more Mid Stryker vehicles have been contracted this year compared to last year.