Current news on Rebuild Ukraine topic

Businesses in High-Risk War Zones to Receive Extended Preferential Loan Terms: Details

The government has decided to extend the preferential interest rate of 1% per annum for investment loans to businesses operating in high-risk war zones. This rate will now apply for the first five years of the loan period (instead of two years previously), after which it will increase to 5% per annum.

“We have extended the period during which companies in high-risk war zones can repay loans at the preferential 1% rate. It is now five years instead of two. This brings more stability for businesses and more opportunities to reinvest saved funds into growth,” stated First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yuliia Svyrydenko.

“Currently, businesses in high-risk war zones account for more than 20% of all loans issued under the ‘5-7-9%’ program. For many, it is virtually the only way to keep operating. That’s why it’s so important to ensure continued access to concessional loans on improved terms,” she added.

High-risk war zones include entire regions as well as specific districts or communities that have experienced or are currently experiencing active hostilities, regular attacks, or are located near the front line or in areas at risk of strikes. These include certain areas of Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions, as well as nearly all territories in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

Ukraine’s Register of Damages: What You Need to Know

The Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) is an international initiative created to document the damage, losses, and harm caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Its purpose is to record evidence of violations that may later serve as the basis for compensation to victims.

The Register was established by the Council of Europe in May 2023 during the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavík. It operates as an Enlarged Partial Agreement, allowing participation not only from Council of Europe member states but also from other countries. As of today, 43 countries and the European Union have joined the Register.

The Council of Europe is the initiator and coordinator of the Register’s creation. It provides organizational and legal support and facilitates international cooperation for the Register's effective functioning. The RD4U headquarters is located in The Hague (Netherlands), with an office also opened in Kyiv to support applicants in Ukraine.

What types of damage can be documented (categories)?

The Register accepts claims under several categories, including:

• A1.1 – Forced internal displacement
• A2.1 – Death of a close family member
• A2.2 – Disappearance of a close family member
• A2.3 – Serious bodily injuries
• A2.4 – Sexual violence
• A2.5 – Torture or inhuman or degrading treatment
• A2.6 – Unlawful deprivation of liberty
• A2.7 – Forced labor or service
• A3.1 – Damage to or destruction of residential real estate
• A3.2 – Damage to or destruction of non-residential real estate

In total, 45 categories of claims are expected to be opened.

Note: The Register is not a compensation fund and does not make any payments. Its function is to collect and systematize claims and evidence. The consideration of claims and the awarding of compensation will be handled by a Compensation Commission, which is currently in the negotiation phase.

It is planned that the compensation fund will be financed by confiscated sovereign Russian assets held abroad. This issue is actively being discussed at the international level and requires coordination among partner countries.

How to submit a claim

All necessary information—including application forms, submission rules, FAQs, and practical guides—is available on the official RD4U website in both Ukrainian and English.

Claims can be submitted via the Diia portal or directly on the Register’s website.

To submit a claim, you must:

• Log in using an electronic signature.
• Fill out the application form, providing the required information and documents proving the damage.
• Sign and submit the application through the online system.

USA and Ukraine Officially Launch American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund; Government Updates List of Strategic Minerals

On May 23, 2025, Ukraine and the United States officially launched the American-Ukrainian Investment Fund for Reconstruction. This milestone followed the exchange of diplomatic notes and the signing of two commercial partnership agreements between the governments of both countries.

Key points about the fund:

• The fund features equal governance between the US and Ukraine.
• It will finance projects in strategic sectors such as natural resource extraction, oil and gas, ports, and infrastructure.
• It aims to strengthen connections between Ukrainian companies and international investors, including the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
• The fund will operate indefinitely, with results reviewed every 10 years.

Simultaneously, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine updated the list of minerals of national and local significance, adding:

1. Natural hydrogen — a promising source of clean energy.
2. Tight rock gas — a vital resource for the energy sector.
3. Cesium ores — strategically important minerals for electronics and defense industries.

These updates aim to modernize Ukraine’s resource base, enhance energy security, and stimulate investments in exploration and extraction of new mineral types.

The Times highlighted that the fund’s success depends on three main factors:

• The necessity of upfront American capital investments.
• Ukraine’s ability to endure the ongoing war with Russia.
• Ensuring that enterprises and personnel remain safe from risks posed by Russian missile attacks, which is critical for generating profit.

Agreement on Subsoil with the USA: How Many “Dormant” Licenses Are There in Ukraine and What Can Be Extracted?

According to the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine, as of April 2025, there are 154 “dormant” special permits for subsoil use in Ukraine. These are permits where less than 1% of the balance reserves of minerals have been extracted over 10 years.

• This accounts for less than 4.4% of all valid subsoil use permits in Ukraine (3,503 total permits).
• It also represents about 6.3% of extraction licenses (2,444 licenses).

All these 154 permits were issued before Q2 2015.

The breakdown of dormant licenses by mineral type shows:

• Granite — 38 licenses
• Loam — 22 licenses
• Sand — 15 licenses
• Limestone — 10 licenses
• Clay — 8 licenses

Notably, no dormant licenses relate to hydrocarbons (oil, gas, condensate, etc.).

The government plans to conduct a thorough inspection of all dormant special permits to reassess their status and possibly reclaim or reallocate them to more active operators.