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Mikhail Fedorov has been offered the post of adviser to the Italian Minister of Defence
Italy’s Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, has offered Ukraine’s former Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, a position as an adviser in Rome. Crosetto revealed this in an interview with the Italian newspaper *la Repubblica*, according to Reuters. According to the Italian minister, he rang Fedorov the day after his dismissal and said: “When would you like to come to Rome and work with me as an adviser?” Crozetto praised Fedorov’s role in modernising Ukraine’s defence sector, particularly the development of military technology and the use of drones. He described him as one of the people who had “completely changed the rules of the game on the battlefield”. Fedorov, aged 35, previously headed the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. His dismissal caused a significant public outcry in Ukraine. According to media reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also offered him other roles within his team, but Fedorov stated that he was not prepared to accept any position other than that of Defence Minister. The Italian offer has become a symbol of support and recognition of his expertise in the field of defence innovation.
An experienced civil servant has been appointed head of the Consulate-General of Ukraine in Naples
Larysa Polishchuk, the newly appointed Consul-General of Ukraine, has taken up her post at the Consulate-General of Ukraine in Naples. Ms Larysa Polishchuk has over 25 years’ experience in the civil service. Throughout her career, she has worked at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dealing with issues of foreign policy, international economic cooperation and European integration. The new Consul General’s key priorities include protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens, ensuring high-quality consular services, supporting the Ukrainian community in Southern Italy and developing the Ukrainian-Italian partnership. Particular attention is to be paid to protecting the rights of Ukrainian children who are in Italy as a result of the full-scale war. This involves preserving their legal ties with Ukraine, supporting their national identity and cooperating with the Italian authorities to safeguard the best interests of every child in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and international law. The Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples has announced that it will continue to cooperate actively with the Italian authorities, the Ukrainian community, civil society organisations, and educational and cultural institutions to support Ukrainians and strengthen friendly relations between Ukraine and Italy. We wish Ms Larisa Polishchuk every success, inspiration and fruitful work for the benefit of the Ukrainian community and the development of Ukrainian-Italian cooperation.
Recruitment for the Create Ukraine programme: Ukrainians abroad are being encouraged to work for the Government
If you have studied abroad or have international professional experience, you have the opportunity to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction, and this could be an important step in your career. The Create Ukraine programme has opened applications for its third cohort of participants. It offers Ukrainian professionals living abroad the opportunity to return to Ukraine and work for a year within government bodies, implementing projects of national importance. Programme participants will receive: 🔹 a paid one-year contract to work for the Government of Ukraine; 🔹 the opportunity to work directly with ministers and their deputies; 🔹 the chance to contribute to strategically important government projects; 🔹 a certification course in Government Relations at the Kyiv School of Economics. Who can apply? ✔️ Ukrainian citizens aged 22 or over; ✔️ Ukrainians who have been living abroad for at least two years and are ready to return; ✔️ candidates with an international education or professional experience; ✔️ motivated professionals who wish to influence the country’s development. .📅 Applications can be submitted up to and including 14 August. Applications should be sent to: foundation.kse.ua According to UA Service HUB, the programme is funded by the Lithuanian Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. It is implemented by the Lithuanian Centre for International Partnership in collaboration with the KSE Foundation, with the support of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in close cooperation with the Government of Ukraine. For many Ukrainians living abroad, this is an opportunity to use the knowledge and experience they have gained to contribute to the country’s development, as well as to build a career in public administration.
Estonian advert ‘set the Russians alight’: meat producer finds itself at the centre of a scandal
One of Estonia’s largest meat producers, Rannarootsi Lihatööstus, published an advert on its Facebook page which some interpreted as a reference to Russians being ‘grilled’. According to the publication “European Truth”, this was reported by ERR. The image shows two men with Ukrainian flags on their T-shirt sleeves grilling meat against a backdrop of rising plumes of smoke, which closely resemble the aftermath of military strikes. The product advert is accompanied by a slogan in Estonian: “Õige grill muudab kibeda sibula magusaks” (“The right barbecue makes bitter onions sweet”). Some social media users saw the post as an allusion to Russia’s war against Ukraine and as hate speech. The word ‘sibul’ (‘onion’) sparked the most controversy, as in certain colloquial contexts it can be used as a derogatory nickname for Russian-speaking residents of Estonia. Karmo Axel, Executive Director and board member of Rannarootsi Lihatööstus, stated that the company had not intended any political subtext in the advert. “This is directly related to our product and its ingredient – caramelised onions. The text refers specifically to this product,” said Axel. When asked whether the company was aware of the alternative meaning of the word ‘sibul’, the director said he only found out about it after the advert had been published. The visual elements of the advert also raised some questions, in particular the plumes of smoke in the background and the Ukrainian flags. According to Axel, this imagery was inspired by the current news agenda. It should be noted that in May, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it intended to file a complaint against the Baltic states with the International Court of Justice over the alleged oppression of ethnic Russians. In response, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that these statements were intended to divert attention from Russia’s own actions, in particular its attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine.
Staffing crisis in Italy: there is a shortage of IT specialists, construction workers and drivers
The paradox of the Italian labour market is becoming increasingly apparent: the number of job vacancies is rising, yet it is becoming ever more difficult to find staff for many professions. The labour shortage affects not only high-tech sectors but also quite ordinary professions — from bus drivers and healthcare workers to construction workers, tourism staff and those in the cultural sector. According to Italian media reports (Rai News, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica and La Stampa), the labour shortage in Piedmont’s transport sector is forcing employers to look for staff outside Italy. For example, the bus company Atap, which operates in the provinces of Biella and Vercelli, has begun recruiting new drivers in Morocco. To this end, a special project to attract foreign workers has been launched with the support of the Moroccan Consulate. The reason is an acute staff shortage. The region needs over 8,000 drivers, whilst there are only around 5,300 potential candidates. The situation is no better in the healthcare system. The Piedmont region is short of more than 6,000 doctors and nurses, whilst there are just over 4,300 available specialists. This is precisely why healthcare facilities are increasingly recruiting staff from abroad, and current legislation allows doctors to work until the age of 72–73. At the same time, demand for IT specialists is also growing. The region needs over 2,500 software developers, but it has not yet been possible to find the required number of specialists. According to UA Service Hub, the staff shortage is particularly acute in the tourism and culture sectors. Indeed, there are only 183 potential candidates for nearly 21,000 vacancies. These include tour guides, librarians, entertainers, sound engineers, and staff at museums and exhibition centres — professions without which the tourism sector cannot function properly. There is also a shortage of skilled construction workers and manual labourers. At the same time, the opposite situation is observed for low-skilled roles. For example, more than 12,000 people are applying for unskilled industrial jobs, whilst employers are offering fewer than 4,000 vacancies. Experts note that the situation in the labour market is changing not only due to technological developments. Key factors include an ageing population, demographic decline, the rapid growth of the service sector, and a shift in young people’s attitudes towards professions involving heavy physical labour or low pay. Today, Italy is increasingly facing a new reality: simply creating jobs is no longer enough. The main question is a different one — where to find people who are willing to take them.
The EU has extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until 2028: there are conditions for men
The Council of the European Union has endorsed the extension of the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainian citizens until 4 March 2028. This means that Ukrainians will continue to be able to live, work and access healthcare and social services legally, as well as ensure their children have access to education in EU countries. ⚠️ At the same time, a new condition is being introduced for future applicants. Once the decision comes into force, temporary protection will, as a rule, not be granted to persons who left Ukraine without the right to do so under Ukrainian legislation on military service. This rule will apply only to new applications for temporary protection status. ✅ For Ukrainians already under temporary protection in EU countries, nothing will change. Their status will remain valid and will not be reviewed under the new rules. 📌 The decision will enter into force following its official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. UA Service Hub continues to monitor changes in European legislation and keep Ukrainians in Italy and other EU countries informed about the most important news
The UKRO Ukrainian Culture Festival invites artists to take part
In October 2026, the Italian town of Treviglio (in the province of Bergamo) will host UKRO – Festival della Cultura Ucraina — one of the most famous cultural events of the Ukrainian diaspora in Italy. The UKRO Festival was founded in 2015 and has been promoting Ukrainian culture in various Italian cities for over ten years. During this time, it has brought together hundreds of artists, dozens of community organisations and thousands of spectators, becoming an important platform for cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Italy. The organisers invite the following to take part: 🎤 singers and music bands; 💃 dance troupes; 🎭 theatre groups; 🎨 artists and folk craftspeople; 👗 designers of Ukrainian clothing; 🍯 producers of traditional Ukrainian goods and gastronomic brands. According to UA Service HUB, both professional and amateur creative groups, individual performers, decorative and applied arts craftspeople, community organisations and entrepreneurs representing Ukrainian culture are eligible to take part in the festival. To take part, you must submit an application to the organisers and agree on the format of your performance or product presentation. Places are limited, so it is recommended that you register in advance. Festival guests can look forward to two days filled with Ukrainian music, folklore, art, gastronomy, creative workshops and a friendly atmosphere. Please note that a coach transfer will be organised for participants from southern Italy: 🚌 departure from Naples — 3 October 2026; 🚌 return from Treviglio — 4 October after the festival has ended; 📍 arrival in Naples — on the morning of 5 October. If you’d like to showcase your work, reach a new audience, meet fellow artists and join the largest Ukrainian cultural movement in Italy — UKRO is waiting just for you! For detailed information on participation and registration, please contact the organisers via the festival’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.
A Voice of Freedom in Venice: a new pavilion dedicated to resistance against Russian aggression
The ‘Padiglione del (Dis)Senso’ — an independent space for artistic resistance — has opened in Venice. In Venice, as part of the 61st Venice Biennale, the Padiglione del (Dis)Senso (‘Pavilion (Dis)Senso’ — an independent art platform dedicated to creative freedom, human rights and resistance to political repression — has opened in Venice as part of the 61st Venice Biennale. The exhibition will run from 7 July to 7 August in the former Church of San Leonardo. The opening symbolically took place almost 50 years after the historic 1977 Biennale del Dissenso, which became a landmark event for the artistic dissident movement. The project was conceived by the Arts Against Aggression initiative and organised by Memorial Italia in collaboration with Katya Margolis. It emerged as a response to the exploitation of culture for political ends, as well as a continuation of artistic protests against Russia’s state presence at international cultural venues. The exhibition brought together artists, curators and activists from various countries. The central themes were political repression, human rights, exile, cultural memory and the role of art as a form of resistance. Among the most significant projects were: an installation by Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot), dedicated to the works of political prisoners; the DecolonizArt project by artist Pavlo Rotets, exploring the memory and cultural identity of colonised peoples; the Little Queer Art Project — an exhibition dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists and dissidents in exile; the installation ‘Death in Venice’ by the Latvian artist Kriss Salmanis; Invisible Pavilion — an urban memorial campaign dedicated to Ukrainian artists who lost their lives as a result of the war. The project was initiated by Katya Margolis in collaboration with NAU (Network Associazioni per Ucraina). The pavilion also features works by Danil Tkachenko, Nadiya Skidan, Iryna Regina Hoffmann, Filip Pishchyk (Bluemoloko), Katya Margolis and other contemporary artists. The organisers emphasise that ‘The (Dis)Agreement’ is not merely an exhibition, but a space for dialogue, reflection on contemporary challenges and a collective re-examination of the role of art in times of war and social upheaval. According to the organisers, on 4 June 2026, the Russian authorities added the organisation Memorial Italia to the list of ‘extremist and terrorist’ organisations. This decision relates to the legislation of the Russian Federation and does not imply international recognition of such a status.
‘The Awakening of Europe’: Ukrainians to take part in a military parade in Paris
The military parade to mark Bastille Day, which will be presided over for the tenth and final time by French President Emmanuel Macron, is set to be one of the most spectacular yet – with a record number of troops taking part in the march. Among them, for the first time, will be Ukrainians. Alongside them, representatives from 35 countries of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ – established by France and the United Kingdom to support Ukraine’s security – will take part in the parade. ‘This is a historic parade, as it is international in nature – it marks the awakening of Europe, which is taking its destiny into its own hands, – and because it will be on a grand scale,” officials at the Élysée Palace promised. The number of parade participants this year will be a record high – 6,800 military personnel will march across the Champs-Élysées, 15 per cent more than last year. There are also plans to increase the number of military vehicles and aircraft by 30 per cent. As noted in the statement, for the first time the parade will feature “aircraft equipped with simulated weaponry”, as well as helicopters that “will fly over the tanks to recreate what might happen on the battlefield”. According to media reports, this is intended to be not merely a spectacle, but a strategic signal.