10/29/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - In Svatovo exploded ammunition depot

In Svatovo exploded ammunition depot

10.29.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• In Svatovo exploded ammunition depot.
• On the spire of the Verkhovna Rada building was placed trident instead of Soviet star.
• In the Rivne region a deceased man was elected a deputy of the district council.
• Ukraine started criminal proceedings against former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, who visited the Crimea.

Key Events in Ukraine

• Parliamentary coalition failed to set the date of new elections in Mariupol again .
  The Coalition Council is considering replacing the members of the Central Election Commission, whose mandate expired in June 2014.
  The Court finally approved a second round of elections in Pavlograd.
• The Cabinet launches service of electronic petitions on its web portal.
• Separate Special Forces were created as a part of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
• Former head of the SBU Nalyvaychenko personally handed over the materials  on the shooting at the Maidan to the General Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor's Office said that the Russian security services had some influence on the events of winter 2014.
• Ukraine bought 2 billion m3 of natural gas from Russia at $ 227 per 1000 m3. Further purchases depend on the price reduction. On November 1, the purchases will not stop but will sharply decrease. Head of Naftogaz Kobolev said that next year, Ukraine will do without purchasing of Russian natural gas. He stressed that today the price for European natural gas is lower than the price for Russian natural gas.
• Leadership of Naftogaz expects full implementation of the plan of corporate governance reforming . Otherwise, according to them, default on the loan provided by the EBRD under the terms of reforming the company is possible.
• Energoatom signed documents on cooperation with two Belgian companies that will transport nuclear fuel and waste, and enhance the operational safety of nuclear power units.
• The IMF mission will arrive in Ukraine next week to review the program for extended funding. A key issue discussed will be the formation of the state budget for next year.
• The Board of the National Bank decided to leave the interest rates at 22% per annum, taking into account the short-term inflation risks.
• The NBU said that in October, Ukraine's foreign exchange reserves exceeded $ 13 billion, while at the end of the year they could reach $ 15 billion.
• Fluctuations in the hryvnia's official exchange rate are minor: 22,90 ₴ / $ (+0,01 UAH), 25,03 ₴ / € (-0,34 UAH), 3,57 ₴ / 10 ₽ (+0,07 UAH).

Ukraine at War

• In Svatovo exploded an ammunition depot located in the city. The locals are hiding from explosions in the basements, some residential areas are on fire, mobile communication is not functioning. The evacuation of the residents started. Chief of General Staff Muzhenko headed there. According to Head of Lugansk military-civilian administration Tuka, the fire started as a result of a shot from a flare gun into the warehouse. At least two people were killed and dozens were wounded.
• The Headquarters of the Anti-Terrorist Operation confirmed the information about three wounded Ukrainian soldiers and one killed during the clashes in the area of ​​the Butovka mine . Late at night the militants shelled Maryinka
• 11 militants were exchanged for 9 Ukrainian servicemen. According to representative of the President on the settlement in the Donbass Gerashchenko, 139 Ukrainians are still held by the militants as hostages .

Ukraine and the World

• The EU suspended the sanctions against Belarusian officials for four months - until February 29, 2016.
• Turkmenistan is ready to supply oil and natural gas to Ukraine and to carry out joint projects in this area. Presidents of Ukraine and Turkmenistan signed an agreement on deepening of the partnership between the two countries, including in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
• Russia did not agree to the restructuring of the "Yanukovych credit". According to experts, Russia will definitely take the case to the court in the event of failure of Ukraine to pay Eurobonds in the amount of $ 3 billion.
• Russian authorities accused the director of Ukrainian library in Moscow in the presence of the books of Korchinskiy there.

Trends

• The Draft Tax Codes, proposed by the Ministry of Finance and the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada, have different approaches to forming of the budget. On the basis of the new Code a draft budget for next year must be developed , and further loans of the IMF to Ukraine depend on its adoption. The project, developed by parliamentarians in cooperation with civil society organizations and business, implies a significant reduction of the tax burden, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, and can give a boost to their  development, which will further lead to a significant increase in revenues due to the exit of entrepreneurs from the shadow sector. On the other hand, the proposed changes will reduce the revenues in 2016 by almost USD 200 billion . The project, presented by Minister of Finance Yaresko, is much more conservative, and according to experts, is not aimed at revitalizing the business. Parties are ready for further negotiations to work out a common project.