Ukraine News Updates - October 31, 2025
Ukraine and WithSecure Sign Cybersecurity Agreement
Ukraine's Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture signed a Memorandum of Understanding with European cybersecurity partner WithSecure to strengthen digital defenses. The partnership focuses on testing cybersecurity solutions, expert collaboration, and knowledge exchange. Both parties will jointly test the WithSecure Elements Exposure Management platform to identify and address vulnerabilities in IT systems. WithSecure will provide technical support and training to Ministry specialists, while the Ministry will facilitate testing in its systems and provide feedback to improve solutions.
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Ukraine and Croatia Strengthen Defense Cooperation
Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ivan Anušić signed a Letter of Intent to deepen defense-industrial cooperation in Kyiv. The agreement establishes joint production chains and defense industry cooperation between the two countries. Croatia has provided 13 military aid packages totaling over €200 million, with the 14th and 15th packages announced. The ministers discussed participation in the SAFE mechanism, the PURL initiative, and joint FPV drone production. Croatian company DOK-ING has delivered 69 demining machines and begun producing spare parts in Ukraine.
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Ukraine Launches Licensed 155mm Ammunition Production
Czechoslovak Group announced the launch of licensed production of 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition at Ukrainian Armored Vehicles facilities in Ukraine. This marks the first time Ukraine manufactures large-caliber ammunition through foreign licensing. Initial production capacity is set at 100,000 155mm rounds and 50,000 105mm rounds annually. Current localization is approximately 50%, with plans to reach 80% and transfer detonator production to Ukraine. CSG transferred licenses and technology, while Ukrainian Armored Vehicles manages all production facilities. CSG currently supplies charges and detonators.
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Russian Strike Damages Ukraine Nuclear Safety Infrastructure
A Russian strike on October 30, 2025, damaged substations critical for Ukraine's nuclear safety, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. South Ukraine and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants lost access to one external power line each, while Rivne NPP reduced the capacity of two reactors. IAEA teams sheltered for several hours during the attack. Zaporizhzhia NPP has been operating without external power for one month. Russia launched over 600 drones and 52 missiles, with Ukrainian air defenses destroying 31 missiles and 592 drones.
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Lviv Region Builds $11.3M Industrial Park
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers registered the Phoenix – Valley of Innovations industrial park in Drohobych, Lviv region, on October 29, 2025. The project involves $11.3 million in total investments across 11.12 hectares for manufacturing building materials, timber products, household appliances, agricultural machinery, and alternative energy equipment. The park will create up to 500 jobs. Funding includes $4.8 million in loans, $3.7 million from potential participants, $1.4 million in state support, and $1.4 million from the initiator, Phoenix – Valley of Innovations LLC, owned by Dnipro businessman Oleksandr Redka.
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Ukrainian Startup Fund Invests $2M in Startups
Ukrainian Startup Fund invested $2 million in 57 civilian startups over two years since resuming its grant program, with 90% of those startups continuing operations. The fund received 560 applications from 19 industries, awarding grants of $25,000-$50,000 to 10% of applicants. Grant recipients attracted over $50 million in additional external investments by July 2025. Among funded startups, 29 advanced to later development stages, the workforce grew by 35%, and the combined annual revenue of 44 startups increased by 112% to $2.33 million. USF also operated a joint program with the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund.