Matthias Schmale
Matthias Schmale is a humanitarian aid specialist who served for many years with United Nations agencies, including as the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine. He has held senior roles with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in various crisis-affected countries.
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Ukraine rolls out dynamic electricity pricing for smart-meter users; UN weighs underground storage after warehouse strikes
Ukraine is preparing to introduce dynamic electricity prices that will fluctuate with energy market rates, available on a voluntary basis to households equipped with smart meters. Separately, the UN is considering moving humanitarian supplies into underground bunkers after ten of its warehouses in Ukraine were struck this year, with damages estimated in the millions of dollars.
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Ukraine tests new interceptor against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on September 15 that Ukraine had successfully tested a new interceptor drone designed to shoot down Russian jet-powered Shahed-type drones, following a briefing from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi. During the test the interceptor hit a Russian Shahed, though Zelensky said some aspects of the interceptor's control still need refinement. The announcement came alongside discussions of long-range strikes on Russia's oil infrastructure and Ukrainian de-escalation conditions.