Digests & Analytics Ukraine

07/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• Ukrainian government declared decision to create the State Fiscal Service (SFS) of Ukraine. Accordingly, Ministry of Revenues and Collections will be liquidated. In 2014, SFS scope of activity will be within the range of expenses previously considered for the Ministry of Revenues and Collections. Tax police will operate under SFS and its regional affiliates.
• New Archbishop of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (under Moscow Patriarchate) supposed to be elected on August 13. Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate will take place for this reason in Kiev.
• Official exchange rates of Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) established as follows by the Ukrainian National Bank: 11.78 UAH / 1$ (-4 cop),  16,01 UAH / 1€ (-12 cop) and 3.43 UAH / 1 RUB (-2 kopecks). Market exchange rate fluctuated within the range of 11,72-11,84 UAH / 1$ and 15,92-16,06 UAH / 1€.
• President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko appointed Vasily Gritsak as First Deputy Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Simultaneously, President of Ukraine appointed Mr. Gritsak as Chief of the Anti-terrorist Center and fired previous incumbent Mr. Krutov.
• Temporary investigative commission of Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) concluded that ex-president Viktor Yanukovych had been a boss of the criminal organization as well some members of the government, security forces, judges and Kyiv City Administration officials are guilty of shooting people of Maydan in February, 2014.

Kyiv

• 4 individuals were traumatically injured as a result of night shooting at the Independence Square. Mayor, Mr. Klitschko stressed at press conference that city center is not so far safe for Kyiv citizens, but elimination of Maidan is not being considered. Maidan Council claimed that attacks were planned provocation.

War in Ukraine

• Only 4 checkpoint closed by Russia out of 9 officially closed from Ukrainian side. Terrorists, infiltrating from Russian side, changed their tactics and now use focal attacks with prior drone reconnaissance and mine-laying. Despite claims from National Security & Defense Council of Ukraine, terrorists continue to penetrate through Russian border to Ukraine.
• Terrorists continue shelling Lugansk with multiple rocket launchers "Grad". Airport being shelled by tanks.
• Terrorists started “bridge war” in Donbass. Bridges over Siversky Donets and Kozenyi Torets destroyed in Donetsk region, over Siversky Donets in the Luhansk region, railway bridge over Donetsk-Mariupol highway, bridge over the Teplaya river near Stanitsa Luganskaya, dam and bridges in Zugres have been mined.

Ukraine and world affairs

• Russian government approved funding of 46 federal programs for 2015. No budget have been allocated for socio-economic development of Crimea peninsula and Sevastopol City, respective programs have been put on the "waiting list."
• Former Foreign Minister of USSR and ex-president of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze passed away at 87 in Tbilisi.
• EU Council haven’t yet launched previously planned 3 round of sanctions against Russia but only widened the scope of persons sanctioned with assets freezes and travel bans.