03/24/2015 Daily Highlights by the "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency
Topics of the Day
The Governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, oligarch Kolomoisky resigned. The President of the United States Administration is not ready to give lethal weapons to Ukraine.
Key Events of Ukraine
- President Poroshenko accepted the resignation of the Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration oligarch Kolomoisky. The Kolomoiskiy’s deputy Korban also gone.
- Amendments to the law on joint stock companies in so far as it relates to dividends from their activities were signed. They allow the authorities to receive dividends from the activities of a strategic company Ukrnafta, which is controlled by Kolomoisky.
- Poroshenko created Financial Stability Council, which purpose is to identify and minimize risks in the financial and banking system.
- 8th May declared as "The Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation" - that is how it is celebrated throughout Europe. However, May 9 remains a holiday.
- A presidential bill on reducing the number of the State Security Service of Ukraine members and its structure (in non-war situation, at a special period, while imposing the martial law) was introduced to the Verkhovna Rada. Another bill on increasing the number of border guards was proposed as well.
- Head of the State Security Service of Ukraine Nalyvaychenko assures that he will not allow destabilizing the situation in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
- The National Guard expects to draft into the army up to 7.5 thousand people in 2015. Those who are serving at the moment will be offered to continue their serving on a contract basis.
- Moody's Investors Service lowered the long-term sovereign rating of Ukraine to the pre-default "Ca" with a negative outlook, - private investors fear big losses because of the government’s desire to restructure the bulk of the Eurobond which period of repayment is ending.
- Minister of Finance Yaresko said that the IMF may refuse to grant the next tranche of extended credit, if the external debt is not restructured.
- Fluctuations in the official hryvnia exchange rate against major currencies are negligible: 23.29 UAH/USD (+0.14 UAH), 25.41 UAH/EUR (+0,48 UAH) 3.92 UAH/10 RUR (+0,06 UAH).
Ukraine at War
- The fierce fightings in Shirokino near Mariupol are not stopping. The Ukrainian troops’ positions along the line of war contact in the Donbas were shelled, especially in the area of Mayorsk and the Donetsk airport. In Melove an Ukrainian air defense unit was shelled from the direction of the Russian border. Loss of Ukrainian army during the last day: one man was killed, at least eight were injured.
OSCE observers do not confirm the withdrawal of the militants’ heavy weapons from the battle line.
Russia continues bringing of the heavy equipment, ammunition and mercenaries through the uncontrolled part of Russia-Ukraine border into the occupied territory. - A military helicopter Mi-24 crashed near Kiev, the pilot operator died, two soldiers were injured.
Ukraine and the World
- State Department spokesperson Psaki said that the Obama administration takes into account the position of the Congress that called to provide Ukraine with the lethal weapons, but adheres to the diplomatic means of resolving the situation.
- Head of the EU Delegation in Ukraine Tombinsky said that at the May summit in Riga the decision on visa-free regime will not be accepted.
- In the mountains of France a Lufthansa airliner with 150 passengers and crew members on a board crashed.
- European media reported that Europe is ready to the suspension of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine. Problems may experience only Bulgaria, Greece and Italy, the other countries have alternative routes and energy suppliers.
The Trends
- Dismissal of the prosecutor in Kiev in accordance with the lustration law, experts associate with a number of resonant criminal cases that are filed in the City Prosecutor's Office against some of the judges in Kiev and Ukraine.
- Following the military experts, Head of the Verkhovna Rada’s deputy Paruby said that Ukraine must prepare for a terrorists’ major offensive.
- The unfolding conflict between the oligarch Kolomoisky and the President's team may lead to problems in the banking system of Ukraine, if Kolomoisky’s PrivatBank, through which a third of the country's financial transactions go, collapse. PrivatBank has the largest number of branches, ATMs and POS terminals in retail networks.
- According to a poll conducted by the Razumkov Center, the political parties of the parliamentary majority in Ukraine lost the support of the population, and the Narodny Front party would not overcome the five percent barrier. The ratings of the Opposition Bloc and Samopomich parties have increased.
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