Business Week: Ukraine seeks money for gas, Klitschko for the metro, tax authorities – for debts Onlyfans

Russia has intensified its missile strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, leading to the need to increase natural gas imports and forcing Ukrainian businesses to adapt once again to power outages. The funds needed by the Ukrainian economy may come from international partners. In particular, European institutions are considering how to finally transfer seized Russian assets to Kyiv.

This, as well as how the NBU is combating money laundering, why Ukraine needs another state-owned bank, and when the first metro station will be built in Vinohradar, Kyiv – in this digest LIGA.net.

Ukraine to increase gas imports due to a blow to gas production

On October 3rd, Russia launched its largest attack on gas production infrastructure since the beginning of the war, announced in Naftogaz. 35 missiles and 60 drones were launched at facilities in Kharkiv and Poltava regions. For data According to Bloomberg, this has taken 60% of Ukraine's gas production out of service, creating the need for additional imports during the heating season. Sources cited by the publication estimate an additional need of 4.4 billion cubic meters of gas by the end of March – almost equivalent to the volume Ukraine purchased during the off-season.

The additional gas could cost $2.2 billion. Ukraine has the funds to purchase gas in the last months of 2025, said Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk. Regarding the remaining amount, the possibility of expanding existing loans is being discussed. Ukraine has secured loans for gas purchases of $500 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and on $300 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB), Grinchuk reminded.

"We just discussed with the G7 ambassadors the possibility of expanding these loans, also with guarantees from the European Commission. And we are discussing with some countries the possibility of providing us with [funding] on a grant basis specifically to increase natural gas imports," the minister said. However, she added that the total amount needed to purchase gas is still unknown – and will depend on the speed of recovery and the intensity of further shelling.

Energy costs have doubled. How businesses in Chernihiv region are adapting to blackouts

Since the end of August, Ukrainian frontline regions have been suffering more from Russian missile strikes. In Chernihiv Oblast, power outages began on October 1st. How local businesses are coping with these difficulties – relates reports LIGA.net.

The Ichnia plant for the production of powdered milk and butter operates on diesel generators during power outages, but this increases electricity costs by 2.3 times, Leonid Khvist, the plant director, told us.

However, textile enterprises require more powerful power supplies. Therefore, production either stands still or is adjusted to the hours of electricity availability. In turn, retail not only purchases diesel generators, but also resorts to other solutions for self-sufficiency in electricity.

"We survived in 2022, and we will survive now," assured us the owner of the beauty salon chain, Maryna Reiko.

On October 10, Russia again launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities. Emergency power outages for consumers occurred were used in Poltava region, Chernihiv region, Sumy region. Without electricity, stayed and part of Kyiv. Also, the Russian Federation on October 7 fired upon or DTEK Energo thermal power plant.

The European Parliament supported a "reparations" loan to Ukraine

In its resolution of October 9, the European Parliament called for EU member states should urgently support the European Commission's (EC) proposal to provide Ukraine with a "reparation loan." This means using all frozen Russian assets as the basis for a significant grant and loan to Ukraine.

"At the same time, compensation should depend on Russia's future payment of reparations for the war, as a legally sound and financially significant way to support and increase EU assistance to meet Ukraine's military needs, including counter-drone measures," the text reads.

The idea of providing Ukraine with €140 billion in "reparations" loans secured by frozen Russian assets was put forward in September, put forward EC President Ursula von der Leyen. However, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that the relevant decision must be "flawless" from the point of view of international law.

Because of her / Due to her / On account of her in words Since direct confiscation of assets would be illegal, the EU's political leadership is working on a mechanism that would allow Russian funds to be invested in zero-coupon bonds issued by the European Commission, guaranteed by the governments of member states.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Lagarde on October 10 and "discussed how to fairly use frozen Russian assets to defend against the Russian war and rebuild life in Ukraine."

"The solution on how to do this exists," it is said in a statement on the website of the President of Ukraine.

The NBU will not restrict card-to-card transfers, but will strengthen control over "drops" (presumably referring to money laundering)

No new rules or requirements related to card-to-card transfers, financial monitoring, or the implementation of open banking will come into effect on October 1, 2025. This was stated by the National Bank of Ukraine in response to an inquiry LIGA.net.

In recent weeks, Telegram channels and media outlets have published statements claiming that, starting October 1, transactions exceeding 30,000 UAH per month will automatically be subject to additional verification. Transactions exceeding 400,000 UAH will be subject to mandatory control, requiring documentation proving the source of funds.

The NBU believes that these rumors are likely based on a draft resolution from March 2025. It concerned increasing the transparency of payment transactions and protecting the rights of payment service users. However, it was not finalized and is "being revised based on the results of reviewing submitted proposals and other changes to the regulator's regulatory framework."

In October 2024, the NBU (National Bank of Ukraine) limited card-to-card transfers (P2P) to UAH 150,000 per month. This decision was not extended, but from April 2025, banks began introducing their own limits on transfers as part of a memorandum they signed. Currently, the transfer limit for clients without confirmed income is UAH 100,000.

The limits were explained as a fight against "drops" – clients who hand over their accounts for shadow schemes. As LIGA.net found out from banks, after the introduction of the restrictions, cards became less attractive for use in schemes involving "drops" and tax minimization. Over a year, from July 2024 to July 2025, card-to-card or card-to-account transfers decreased by 14.3% in value, says Dmytro Hlynskyi, Executive Director of the NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau).

However, these limits create inconvenience for honest clients, including volunteers. Furthermore, according to our sources, limiting the amount of transfers will not completely eliminate fraud. Therefore, banks plan to strengthen client monitoring. More details – in material LIGA.net.

Ukraine to create a "bank of banks" for the country's reconstruction

On Wednesday, October 8, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the law on the creation of the National Development Institution (NDI) – a state-owned specialized institution with the status of a "bank of banks". Its main mission is the implementation of lending programs for the reconstruction of the country, explained Head of the relevant committee of the Council Danilo Hetmantsev.

The National Development Bank will be a partial analogue of the German bank KfW (Credit Institution for Reconstruction), which became a systemic support for economic recovery after World War II. The bank will not compete with commercial banks, but will help where the market fails – it will take on some of the risks and make loans for important sectors cheaper.

The National Development Fund will consolidate and expand existing business support programs of the Entrepreneurship Development Fund. This includes, in particular, the ability to pool funds from microfinance institutions and private investors and direct them through partner banks to targeted segments of the economy – from manufacturing to innovation and critical infrastructure.

The Entrepreneurship Development Fund (EDF), which will be transformed into the National University Fund (NUR), has long been cooperates with KfW, including within the framework of its most well-known project – the 5-7-9 preferential loan program for small and medium-sized businesses. In July 2025, KfW provided The German government provided a grant of €40.5 million to the Ukrainian government. And in April, the German government announced plans to help Ukraine create an analogue of KfW.

"Germany has very good experience with the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, which pioneered the economic miracle of the 1950s and 1960s. It still provides cheap loans for investment to companies and citizens. We can contribute this experience to the reconstruction of Ukraine," – said German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze.

UPG received another 60 "PrivatBank" gas stations

The company "Ukrpaletsystem" (the UPG gas station network) on Thursday, October 9, received permission from the Antimonopoly Committee to lease another batch of gas stations associated with the Privat Group. 60 gas stations are registered to 17 LLCs, whose ultimate beneficial owner is Yuriy Kiperman, a business partner of Igor Kolomoisky.

Earlier, during 2025, UPG received permission to lease 219 gas stations: in July 34 "PrivatBank" gas stations "Avias" and ANP, and then another 47, in August – 46, in September – on 75 plus 17.

The acquisition of gas stations that previously belonged to the Privat Group will allow UPG to become the fourth largest company in Ukraine in terms of the number of gas stations.

UPG's strategy involves a phased acquisition of assets: initially leasing, then purchasing outright. Due to the need for reconstruction, the first 34 gas stations acquired by UPG in July, started work in September.

In an interview LIGA.net UPG owner Volodymyr Petrenko said that creating a gas station complex in the UPG network format costs about $5 million, while building a small gas station in Ukraine as of 2025 will cost $1.3-1.4 million. Therefore, the company is considering options for buying and reconstructing gas stations in poor condition.

The first metro station in Vynohradar will open in 2026. Funding is being sought for Troyeshchyna

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced the opening of one of two stations on the Syretsko-Pecherska metro line, which is under construction towards the Vynohradar residential area, for 2026. He announced this said at the Kyiv City Council meeting on Thursday. Earlier, Klitschko predicted, that two new metro stations, "Mostytska" and "Prospekt Pravdy" (now – "Varsavska"), will appear in 2027, in accordance with the terms in the contract with the current contractor.

Construction of the metro line to Vynohradar in Kyiv began in 2019. The initial contractor, Kyivmetrobud, delayed construction and sought court extensions. In 2021, it became known that the company had misused part of the advance payment for the work, depositing 1.7 billion hryvnias in Ukrgazbank. From this, Kyivmetrobud received an unjustified profit of 139.5 million hryvnias. Kyiv Metro requested the court to recover part of this amount (1.6 million hryvnias) for its benefit.

Despite these scandals, the company continued construction in February 2023. However, work stopped again in the autumn. In 2024, the contract with Kyivmetrobud was terminated. A new contract was concluded with the company Autostrada.

According to it, Autostrada is to complete the construction in 30 months (i.e., at the beginning of 2027). The cost of completion is 13.785 billion UAH.

The owner of the highway. Maksym Shkil In August 2024, he said he doubted that such a large sum would be allocated during the war. As for the start of construction of the new Podilsko-Vyhurivska line, which is to go to the Troyeshchyna residential area, needed 68 billion UAH.

This estimate is included in the draft decision of the Kyiv City Council, which, if adopted, will allow the city to begin negotiations with international financial organizations to secure a loan for construction. The draft decision was submitted to the Kyiv City Council for consideration on Thursday, October 9, but was sent sent back to the deputies for revision.

Ukrainian OnlyFans models owe almost 385 million UAH in taxes

The tax debt of Ukrainian citizens who posted content on the OnlyFans platform in 2020-2022, amounts to is equal 384.7 million UAH. This was reported by the State Tax Service of Ukraine "To the Economic Truth".

The State Tax Service also noted that on March 10, 2025, it received data from the platform owner, Fenix International Ltd, on the income of Ukrainians on OnlyFans for 2023. This information was sent to the territorial tax authorities for processing on September 5.

The OnlyFans platform is primarily used for posting and monetizing pornographic content. The tax authorities urge models to pay taxes, however, according to Article 301 of the Criminal Code, the production of pornography can be punished by up to 7 years imprisonment. Law enforcement agencies are purchasing content from models and are achieving for them, a fine in court.

Since last year in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) registered a draft law on decriminalizing pornography, but it is still awaiting consideration in the session hall.

The government has determined which countries it will introduce multiple citizenship with

October 8, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted or a resolution defining the criteria for selecting foreign states with which multiple citizenship will be introduced. Priority will be given to countries that are among the closest and most reliable allies. The criteria for countries include: membership in the G7 and the EU, the application of sanctions against Russia, their position during votes in international organizations, financial support for Ukraine, etc.

For in words Foreign Minister Andriy Sybega The key target audience for these innovations is the Ukrainian diaspora around the world. The list of specific countries will be determined separately.

AI errors in a report cost an international auditor part of a contract

One of the largest international auditing firms will return the Australian government received a portion of the 440,000 Australian dollars ($290,000) earned for compiling a report on the audit of Australia's national system that manages social benefits and unemployment assistance.

At least 20 errors were found in the 237-page document: a fabricated quote from a federal court decision, references to non-existent scientific studies. Deloitte acknowledged the inaccuracies.

The first to identify the errors in the report was Chris Raj, a researcher from the University of Sydney. In his opinion, AI from Azure OpenAI was used during the preparation of the report.

Deloitte is actively implementing AI into its workflows. Recently, the auditing firm partnered with the American technology corporation Anthropic. Their AI-powered assistant model, Claude, will be available to nearly 500,000 Deloitte employees worldwide. This is the largest corporate deployment of Claude to date.