Aurum Group

Ukraine’s Rail Freight Market vs. Foreign Rolling Stock: What Happened and Why? Explained by Alona Lebedieva Ukraine has long been known for its robust railway network. Thousands of kilometres of tracks stretch from the Carpathians to the Black Sea steppes, supporting logistics for everyone—from farmers to metallurgical giants exporting their products abroad. And now, amid the ongoing war, every Ukrainian railcar has become even more critical, and the government’s role is to ensure that domestic resources are not wasted, idled, or devalued by competition from foreign assets. That is why Ukrzaliznytsia—the national railway operator responsible for most of the country’s freight and passenger transport—recently imposed a ban on the use of foreign-registered wagons for domestic transportation. https://lnkd.in/dJVayyFx

Alona Lebedieva: Ukraine’s Exports Are Declining — and So Are Its Chances for Growth The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has downgraded its global economic growth forecast for 2025 from 3.3% to 3.1%. The figure may seem small, but for Ukraine, it speaks volumes: GDP growth in January–February this year dropped threefold — to 1.1% from 3.6% last year. The economy reacted instantly — and not without reason. Ukraine is highly dependent on global demand, and any decline in external momentum hits the internal balance hard. Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko listed a number of reasons for the slowdown: a shortage of labour, limited access to capital, damaged infrastructure, and high energy prices. But these factors alone don’t paint the full picture. “We are not just facing difficulties. We are receiving signals that cannot be ignored,” says Alona Lebedieva, owner of the Ukrainian diversified industrial and investment group Aurum Group. She emphasizes: the economy is also being affected by the negative trade balance, shaped by what’s called “net exports” — the difference between exports and imports. This year, exports have fallen while imports have increased. “Less foreign currency is entering the country, and more is leaving. And all of this hits GDP immediately. It’s basic math, but it works without emotion,” she explains. https://lnkd.in/dGYsxDUm

Ukrainian Women Are Changing the World: Alona Lebedieva Spoke at the International Forum On March 19, 2025, the Peace Building, Inter-Religious Harmony & Women’s Empowerment Leadership Forum took place in the European Parliament, bringing together politicians, activists, scholars, and representatives of religious communities. The event was opened by civil activist and adviser to European parliamentarians Manel Msalmi and Member of the European Parliament Giusi Princi. As part of the forum, director and media advocate Deborah Paul presented an excerpt from her film highlighting women’s rights in various countries. https://lnkd.in/dYQ9S6Je

Global Trends and Ukrainian Experience: Alona Lebedieva at the International Women's Forum On March 17–19, 2025, the International Women's Forum took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, under the theme "Overcoming Barriers, Shaping the Future of Women." Alona Lebedieva, the owner of the Ukrainian multi-sectoral industrial and investment group of companies Aurum Group, delivered an online speech at the forum, sharing her experience and vision regarding overcoming barriers for women in business and society. In her speech, Alona Lebedieva highlighted several key aspects. She noted that despite the declaration of equality, women in Ukraine often face stereotypes that limit their professional growth. One such barrier is the "glass ceiling"—an invisible restriction preventing women from reaching leadership positions. However, in Ukrainian society, this phenomenon often takes on an even harsher form: there is a prevailing notion that a woman can achieve success only with the support of a man—be it a husband, father, or partner. https://lnkd.in/dNeYrmP8

Alona Lebedieva: 'The Jeddah meeting brought the positions of the US and Ukraine closer' On March 11, a consultative meeting between the delegations of Ukraine and the United States took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, focusing on security issues, the future of peaceful settlement, and international support for Ukraine. Following its conclusions, it became known that the United States continues to support Ukraine, particularly through the resumption of intelligence sharing and the supply of weapons. "Ukraine strives for a stable, fair, and honest peace. That is why a 30-day ceasefire was agreed upon. This step demonstrates responsibility and a willingness to achieve a real cessation of the war. Russia's reaction to this initiative will serve as an indicator of its true intentions," believes Alona Lebedieva, the owner of the Ukrainian multi-profile industrial and investment group of companies "Aurum Group" and a public figure. https://lnkd.in/daWZkTes

Alona Lebedieva: “Women Shape the Future – It’s Time to Acknowledge It” The world is changing, and the role of women in society is evolving along with it. March 8 is not just another date on the calendar; it is a symbol of the struggle for equal rights, opportunities, and recognition of women’s contributions across all spheres of life. In different countries, this day is marked in various ways. In some, it is an occasion for mass demonstrations, strikes, and protests for gender equality, as in Spain or the United Kingdom. In others, it serves as a reminder of the need to continue the fight, as in Scandinavian countries. But everywhere, it is first and foremost a day to talk not about “femininity” but about justice and strength. https://lnkd.in/dwutvGmT

Alona Lebedieva: Public Procurement Between Reforms and Corruption Public procurement in Ukraine, long seen as corruption-prone, has undergone key reforms. War and crisis pushed for stricter oversight and greater automation. In 2024, the volume of competitive procurement increased from UAH 348 billion in 2022 to UAH 625 billion, which indicates progress in the field of public procurement. However, as Alona Lebedieva, owner of the Ukrainian multi-sector industrial and investment group Aurum Group, notes, “the share of non-competitive procedures remains significant, and although the Prozorro system is a key transparency mechanism, it still has vulnerabilities.” https://lnkd.in/d_BCRHZd

Alona Lebedieva: Three Years of Struggle That Changed Ukraine and the World Today marks three years since the day the Russian army, one of the largest in the world, launched a full-scale aggression against Ukraine with the aim of destroying us as a nation. But instead of fear, it encountered our resilience. For three years, Ukraine has defended its sovereignty, freedom, and right to exist. What once seemed impossible has become a reality – the nation has endured. Not only due to military strength but also because of unity. Ukrainians have demonstrated to the world that they cannot be broken. https://lnkd.in/deUYPhg7

Transport Integration of Ukraine into the EU – Challenges and Responses The EU is Ukraine’s main trade and economic partner, accounting for two-thirds of Ukrainian goods exports and half of its imports. European integration for Ukraine is not just about receiving benefits from Europe. Europeans expect mutual advantages, and so therefore this integration should also be viewed from the perspective of what Ukraine can offer Europe. https://lnkd.in/dfNAbb4F

Alona Lebedieva: “Localization Is a Weapon for Protecting the Economy, and We Cannot Afford to Ignore It” The President of Ukraine, at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, instructed the government to solve the problem of trade imbalance by creating greater opportunities for domestic production. As a result, Decree No. 69/2025 was issued, which obliged state bodies to immediately implement an import substitution policy, strengthen support for domestic producers, and attract international assistance for the development of industry. The reason is clear: by the end of 2024, Ukraine’s trade deficit in goods reached $29 billion, which negatively affected the balance of payments and put significant pressure on the hryvnia. “It is critically important for us to transform Ukraine from a large importer into a strong producer. Otherwise, any crisis — energy, financial, or geopolitical — will have a strong impact on our economy and people’s wallets,” says Alona Lebedieva, owner of the Ukrainian industrial and investment group Aurum Group. At the same time, Ukraine remains highly dependent on energy imports: in 2024, the country spent $6.8 billion on petroleum products, and additional spending on gas is expected in 2025. This situation maintains a dangerous imbalance in foreign trade and undermines the country's financial stability. Although significant international assistance (about $42 billion last year) temporarily prevented further deterioration of the situation, the reduction in reserves in early 2025 and the ongoing political turbulence demonstrate that such financial injections cannot continue indefinitely. https://lnkd.in/dJHCDFFh