Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
High unemployment and labour shortages: paradoxes in Ukraine’s wartime labour market
Even before Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian labour market lacked transparency due to the enormous shadow economy, involving as many as 3 million people and generating more than 30% of the country’s GDP. The war has acted as a catalyst for several important developments, including a significant rise in wages, particularly...
Ukraine: corruption scandal involving senior government officials continues
On 11 May, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) charged former head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak with money laundering. Investigators allege that 460 million hryvnias (almost €9 million) were used to finance the construction of the luxury Dynasty residential complex near Kyiv. The following day, the High...
Ukrainian attacks on Tuapse: a threat to Russia’s fuel sector and the environment
Since mid-April 2026, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have attacked Russian energy infrastructure facilities in Tuapse, Krasnodar Krai, on at least four occasions: 16, 20 and 28 April, and 1 May. These drone strikes triggered prolonged fires at an oil refinery and an oil terminal owned by the state-controlled company Rosneft. …read more...
The East–West transport axis: between Georgia’s dominance and Armenia’s ambitions
Amid the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East, the South Caucasus is gaining importance as a transit region linking Europe and Asia. This is particularly true of Georgia, which serves as the central hub of the Middle Corridor, owing to regional political conditions and existing infrastructure. In the longer term, however, this...
Estonia: assessments of the Russian threat cause friction between Tallinn and Kyiv
On 20 April, the Estonian government criticised Ukraine’s information policy, including public speculation about a possible Russian attack on the Baltic states. This followed a suggestion by President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia was preparing such an offensive and that not all NATO members would be “willing to defend them”. Estonian...
Oil for a loan: EU unlocks financial assistance for Ukraine
On 22 April, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Denisa Saková and Hungary’s MOL oil company confirmed that Ukraine had resumed the transit of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline. Supplies along this route had been suspended since late January following a Russian strike on a pumping station in Brody....
37 hours of Russian air strikes on Ukraine. Day 1518 of the war
…read more Source:: Centre for Eastern Studies...
Germany–Ukraine intergovernmental consultations: security as the foundation of a strategic partnership
On 14 April in Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Volodymyr Zelensky took part in the first Germany–Ukraine intergovernmental consultations in over 20 years. The Ukrainian president was accompanied by six ministers responsible for defence, foreign affairs, social policy and development, energy, the economy, and the environment and...
Prolonged Russian air strikes against Ukraine. Day 1505 of the war
…read more Source:: Centre for Eastern Studies...
Ukraine’s mobilisation crisis: a new minister, old challenges
On 25 March, the Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced far-reaching changes to Ukraine’s mobilisation system aimed at addressing the armed forces personnel shortages. The reform effort has been endorsed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had previously distanced himself from the issue for fear of negative public reactions, as...
