04/07/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukrainian Rebel Army (UPA) members are recognized as fighters for Ukraine’s independence.

Ukrainian Rebel Army Fighters are heroes of Ukraine

04/09/2015 Daily Highlights by the "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics from the Media and Social Networks

• Сommunist ideology and its symbols have been banned in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian Rebel Army (UPA)  members are recognized as fighters for Ukraine’s independence.
• A project of the National Security Strategy was introduced.
• Maundy Thursday before Easter.
• Inflation can reach 50% in the second quarter.
• Olgarch Firtash enterprises will pay for the use of the gas pipe .

Key Events of Ukraine

• The Verkhovna Rada adopted a law condamning the Communist and the National Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes and prohibiting thier propaganda and symbols, including names. It is forbidden to distribute audio-visual products that justify the crimes of totalitarian regimes or create a positive image of their leaders.
• Ukrainian Rebel Army (UPA), Ukrainian Nationalists’ (Patriots’) Organization (OUN), West-Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR) fighters are given the official status of fighters for independence of Ukraine which grants social guarantees and recognition of their service to the country.
• May 8 will mark the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, same as in Europe, and May 9 will be celrebrated as a Day of Victory over Nazism in World War II.
• Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Turchinov and Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies Gorbulin presented a draft National Security Strategy. In this document Russia is named a country, which is considered the main threat to Ukraine. The project is expected to be approved by the National Security Council unchanged, and military doctrine of the country will be developed on its basis.
• A law on the natural gas market was adopted in the course of Ukraine's plan to join the European Energy Community, under which the natural gas distribution systems remain the property of the state and cannot be handed over for use by non-state operating enterprises (regional gas companies).
• The Verkhovna Rada has canceled the payment of VAT and import duties for supply of medicines that are purchased through international organizations under government programs.
• President Poroshenko’s draft on martial law regime was supported in the first reading.
• The National Council for Radio and Television canceled the warning for the "Inter" Channel in return to the promise to prevent further incidents like broadcasting of the New Year's show with Russian stars.
• Deposit Guarantee Fund prolonged the presence of temporary administration in the "Delta Bank" for 6 more months .
• The National Bank allows for the growth of the annual inflation rate for more than 50% in the second quarter of 2015 due to the increase in tariffs for housing and communal services.
• The official exchange rate of hryvnia against major currencies has changed slightly: 23.44 UAH/USD (-0.07 UAH), 25.25 UAH/EUR (-0,29 UAH), 4.46 UAH/10 RUR (+0,11 UAH).

Ukraine at War

• Shelling of Avdeyevka and Opytne from the territory of Donetsk sharply intensified. Shirokino and settlements on the "Bahmutka" route are suffering from attacks. At least four Ukrainian soldiers were injured during the day.
• Anti-terrorist operation commandment states that more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers are considered missing.
• OSCE can not confirm the removal of militants heavy machinery from the contact line. An intensive delivery of coal from Ukrainian territory takes place through  "Gukovo" checkpoint on the border.
• According to representatives of the President Administration, the OSCE supports the introduction of the peacekeeping mission in Donbass to provide security for mission staff.
• SSU detained in the Odessa area a group of persons who were preparing the proclamation of "the People's Republic of Odessa"

Ukraine and the World

• US calls for investigation of the murder of Ukrainian soldiers captured by rebels and for prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes.
• The Defense Ministers of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland in the joint declaration called Russian a security challenge for the EU, and stressed that the Nordic region should be prepared for possible crises because of the aggressive actions of the Kremlin.

The Trends

• According to experts of Transparency International, the Yatsenyuk-Petrenko project on state funding of parties can become a means of parties deoligarchisation, increase their real competition and be a method of social control on fulfillment of promises. However, without an effective financial control within the parties and the annual independent audit the project could become a waste of state budget money while maintaining non-transparent financing.