Ukraine News Updates – January 29, 2026
Ukrainian Digital Innovation Hubs Secure €3.6M EU Boost
Four Ukrainian European Digital Innovation Hubs will receive over €3.6 million under the EU’s Digital Europe program to expand digital technologies and support local businesses. The funded hubs are EDIH Kyiv HiTech and EUNITED Digital Hub (Kyiv), Green Carpathian EDIH (Ivano-Frankivsk), and West Ukraine EDIH (Lviv). They will help SMEs and public institutions with “test before invest” services, skills training, investment support, and networking, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and energy efficiency.
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DOT-Chain Arsenal: Ukraine Military Procurement Automation
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense says it has fully digitized the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Armed Forces through DOT-Chain Arsenal, a centralized system for managing operational-level deliveries. The platform tracks resource movement in real time, automates supplier interactions, and replaces paper-based documentation with digital records to improve control and decision-making. The ministry plans to expand the system to ammunition, electronic warfare equipment, ground vehicles, uniforms, and other supplies and fuel. Cybersecurity measures follow NIST CSF 2.0, and the developer has been assessed against ISO 27001.
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From 46% to 82%: Ukraine's Path to Self-Sufficiency in Military Equipment
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reports that in 2025, the share of domestically produced military goods contracted by the Defense Procurement Agency (DOT) rose from 46% to 82% compared with the previous year. The ministry says the share of imported military goods fell from 54% to 18%. Purchases from Ukrainian manufacturers totaled nearly UAH 430 billion, according to DOT. For 2026, the agency plans to refine procurement by adding criteria such as production localization and supply diversification.
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€550M Investment Wave for Ukraine's Wartime Recovery
During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukraine signed three cooperation memorandums aimed at financing reconstruction and modernization projects in key sectors, according to the executive director of the Ukrainian House in Davos. Two major vehicles were highlighted: Amber Dragon Ukraine Infrastructure Fund I, which has raised €200 million toward a €350 million target for critical infrastructure, and Horizon Capital’s Catalyst Fund, which has raised an initial €150 million and targets up to €3 billion. After signing, Horizon Capital and Notus Energy announced a 124 MW wind farm in the Odesa region valued at over €240 million.
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€50M EU Package to Unlock Ukraine's Danube Lifeline
Ukraine is implementing port recovery projects funded by a €50 million European Commission package to restore critical port infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks. Ukrainian and EU officials recently agreed on coordination approaches for additional assistance under wartime conditions and reviewed how the EU funding is being used. Discussions focused on infrastructure bottlenecks, including Danube dredging, capacity upgrades, and work plans. The EU also presented options for alternative logistics routes if Black Sea port operations are disrupted or if capacity on the Odesa–Danube corridor declines, aiming to strengthen the resilience of Danube-based logistics and maintain transport links with the EU.
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Ukrainian Startups Attract Record $498M Despite War
AVentures Capital reports Ukrainian tech companies raised $498 million in investments and grants in 2025, up 8% from $462 million in 2024. About half came in late-stage Series D and growth rounds, alongside renewed Series A activity. Early-stage funding reached $191 million, near a historical high. Defense tech attracted over $129 million in funding. Startups with significant AI components raised $302 million, compared with $104 million for others, indicating investor preference for AI-led models.
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Ukraine Allocates 43% of GDP to Security and Defense
Ukraine allocated UAH 3.8 trillion to security and defense in 2025, equivalent to 43% of GDP, according to the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO). The council said the spending complied with the Law on National Security of Ukraine and was executed in full under the monthly budget schedule. It also reported stronger-than-planned inflows to special funds for security institutions, with actual expenditures 4.8 times the annual plan.
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Western Nuclear Chiefs Join Ukraine's Energoatom After $100M Corruption Scandal
Ukraine’s government approved a new seven-member supervisory board for state nuclear operator Energoatom, following a nomination committee process involving the EU, EBRD, IFC, and the business ombudsman. The independent members are Rumina Velshi, Laura Garbenchute-Bakiene, Patrick Fragman, and Brice Bohuon. State representatives are Vitalii Kindrativ, Serhii Sukhomlyn, and Maksym Malashkin. The board was tasked with urgently appointing new management and reviewing prior contracts, procurement, and electricity sales. The appointment follows a prior board’s end in August 2025 and ongoing anti-corruption investigations.