02/02/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform

The Parliament adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform

02.02.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform.
• First anniversary of the death of the singer and public figure Kuzma Skryabin.
• Infamous judge Vovk returned to work in the Pechersk district court of Kyiv.
• Military Prosecutor Matios called the Volunteer Ukrainian Corps of the Right Sector an illegal armed group.

01/31/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that the number of contract servicemen in the army has reached 140,000

Yatsenyuk said that the number of contract servicemen in the army has reached 140,000

01.31.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that the number of contract servicemen in the army has reached 140,000.
• Samopomich party faction threatened to leave the parliamentary coalition.

08/09/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Prime Minister Yatsenyuk promises the personnel purges in the Cabinet in September

Prime Minister Yatsenyuk promises the personnel purges in the Cabinet in September

08.09.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Prime Minister Yatsenyuk promises the personnel purges in the Cabinet in September.

• The situation is escalating in the Donbass, many casualties among military and civilians.

26/01/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Heavy fighting continues in the area of the Debaltseve foothold

26/01/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

The Cabinet has announced the introduction of the state of emergency in Donbass. Heavy fighting continues in the area of the Debaltseve foothold. The United Nations lean towards recognition Russia as a state sponsoring terrorism. The Ukrainian pilots Savchenko, starving in Moscow prison, granted international immunity .

Ukraine: December 2014 at a glance

Vadym Khomakha "DAU"

December 2014 became for Ukraine a logical conclusion to one of the hardest years since gaining independence in 1991.

The situation in the economy was almost catastrophic. The decline in industrial production at the end of the year was 6.5%, the official unemployment rate was about 10%. Because of  war, the number of temporary migrants from the Eastern Ukraine is approaching 900 thousand.

23/12/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Parliament have abolished the non-aligned status of Ukraine

23/12/2014 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

The Parliament have abolished the non-aligned status of Ukraine . The government introduced a draft budget and legislation package as its foundation in the Parliament  Terrorist threat increased in Ukraine.

8-14 December 2014 Ukraine: Weekly Highlights - The Parliament adopted the government’s program of action

08-14 December 2014 Weekly Highlights by the “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

The Parliament adopted the government’s program of action. 2015 state budget was immediately withdrawn from the Parliament for revision by the Cabinet. The IMF is not ready yet to grant the next tranche of the stand-by credit for Ukraine. "Silent regime" was announced in the Donbass. The US Congress adopted a bill to support Ukraine. President Poroshenko’s visit to Southeast Asia did not achieve the results expected.

11.12.2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The US Senate approved a law to provide assistance to Ukraine, which gets a status of a special partner outside the NATO

11.12.2014 Daily Highlights by the "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

The Parliament approved the government’s Program of Action. The US Senate approved a law to provide assistance to Ukraine, which gets a status of a special partner outside the NATO. Russia continues concentrating its troops in Donbass during the announced "Regime of Silence".

09/12/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Government announced a program of action for 2015-2016

09/12/2014 Daily Highlights by the "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

The Ukrainian government announced a program of action for 2015-2016. Militants continued shelling residental areas and positions of Ukrainian troops during the "Day of Silence" announced yesterday. Europe is looking for alternative gas supplies which bypass Russia.

1-7 December 2014 Ukraine: Weekly Highlights - The world is being drawn into the Cold War with Russia

1-7 December 2014 Weekly Highlights by the “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

The new coalition government of Ukraine has been formed. Emerging issues in the energy sector of the country. The fierce fighting for the Donetsk airport, and the villages of Avdiyivka and Debaltsevo are continuing in Donbas. Dozens civilians have been killed as a result of shelling by the separatists. The world is being drawn into the Cold War with Russia.

05/12/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Problems in Ukrainian energy sector are growing

05/12/2014 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

Problems in Ukrainian energy sector are growing. The fight for the Donetsk airport is not ceasing. Russia prevents the expansion of OSCE monitoring in the combat zone in the Donbass.

04/12/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Russian President Putin does not intend to change his policy towards Ukraine

04/12/2014 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the Day

National public broadcaster has be established. Militants have sharply intensified their attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops in Donbass. Russian President Putin does not intend to change his policy towards Ukraine.

02/12/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Parliament approved the new Cabinet

02/12/2014 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the Day

The Parliament approved the new Cabinet, it will include foreigners who have been granted Ukrainian citizenship. Russian forces suffered heavy casualties while attacking Donetsk airport.

12/01/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Fierce fighting continues in the Donetsk airport.

12/01/2014 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day 

Negotiations on forming a new Cabinet are on the finishing line. Fierce fighting continues in the Donetsk airport. The new head of the European Parliament Tusk expressed support for Ukraine.

24-30 November 2014 Ukraine: Weekly Highlights - NATO does not object to the Ukraine's accession to the Alliance

24-30 November 2014 Weekly Highlights by the “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

The Ukrainian Parliament has started its work; the Speaker and the Prime Minister have been elected. NATO does not object to the Ukraine's accession to the Alliance. The USA and the EU are interested in the reforms in Ukraine. World oil prices dropped to a five-year low. Fierce battles for the Donetsk airport are continuing.

26.11.2014 Ukraine: Daily Highligts - Russia demands from Ukraine to walk away from a possibility to become a member of NATO and the EU

26.11.2014 Daily Highligts from ”Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Topics of the day

According to the media, Russia strikes Ukraine with ultimatum. Russia demands from Ukraine to walk away from a possibility to become a member of NATO and the EU. Ukraine forwarded in the intent to sue Russia in the European Court of Human Rights. Political Parties which are members of the coalition in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, fighting for seats in the new Government.

4-10.08.2014 Weekly Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

War in Ukraine

• Russia continue to concentrate invasive military units on Ukrainian border, continuously shelling Ukrainian military strongholds and cities from its territory, supply LPR and DPR terrorists with armored vehicles, artillery, ammunition and mercenaries through parts of the border not covered by Ukrainian border guards.
• Ukrainian army, contain terrorists forces near big cities, advance to their territories, recently cut the supply between Donetsk and Luhansk, successfully combat near the border and liberated Popasna and Miusinsk. Terrorists are trying to build massive strongholds in big sites and use civilians as a shield.

31/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• Ukrainian parliament almost completely passed a package of bills proposed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine during the dedicated closed session, including in particular: reduction of parliamentary salaries to 6500 UAH, as well as the salaries of all other top-level officials and the ban on inspections of all regulatory agencies, except the state fiscal services. The war tax of 1.5% on any personal income including wins in state lotteries, have been introduced. Deputies didn’t support the project to send civil servants for two months of unpaid leave, proposed by the Government. Law on the management of the Ukrainian gas transportation system haven’t been as well supported and sent to the second reading. Fee for use of natural resources has risen slightly, especially for oil and gas production. 9 billion UAH have been allocated for the needs of Ukrainian army as well as 2 billion UAH to restore the infrastructure of eastern Ukraine.
• Ukrainian parliament ratified the agreement with the Netherlands on admission to the territory of Ukraine of  700 foreign police force officers, composed of representatives of Australia, the Netherlands and possibly other countries, whose citizens were killed in catastrophe of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight, shot down by terrorists, in order to protect the catastrophe investigation mission.
• No-confidence vote for the Government of Yatsenuk failed in Ukrainian parliament, having marginal number of votes, so that the Government will continue to work in its current structure.
• President Poroshenko, when speaking in Parliament, stressed his satisfaction of the voting results as well as inevitability of the parliamentary re-elections.
• Leader of the pro-Russian organization "Ukrainian choice" Medvedchuk, filled defamation legal action against the head of the National Security and Defense Council Parubiy, who called him a criminal, funding extremists in Donbass.
• National Bank of Ukraine further reduced the exchange rate of Ukraainian Hryvnia (UAH): 12.09 UAH / 1$ (+9 cop), 16.21 UAH / 1€ (+10 cop), 3.36 UAH / 10 RUR (+2 kopecks). Accordingly, during the UAH devaluated vs USD by 24 copecks (~2%). Interbank exchange rates fluctuated in the range of 12,15 – 12,60 UAH / 1$.
• State Aviation Agency published a draft order permitting domestic and international routes for airlines. According to experts, planned changes are supposed to destroy competitiveness of the industry, as being shaped for a single carrier – Ukrainian International Airlines, while prospects for having new low-cost carriers in Ukrainian market are close to zero.

Kyiv

• Changes in the budget, adopted by Verkhovna Rada, will enable to finance the most urgent needs of the city and social benefits, as stated by the mayor of Kiev Klitschko. In addition, the city council decided to cut funding of some authorities and introduce savings on mass events and celebrations.
• Kyiv mayor Klitschko commented that cut of hot water supply for more than half of the city consumers, is related to the preparation for the winter heating season and gas savings, as well as advised Kyiv citizens to insulate homes and buy boilers.
• Maidan activists tents suffered a fire on Mykhaylivska  square in the capital. Authorities have repeatedly stated the need to free Maidan from tents and self-defense, but activists adamantly refused to leave the center of Kiev.

War in Ukraine

• Tripartite meeting of the contact group to resolve the situation in Donbass, held in Minsk, with representatives of Ukraine, OSCE and Russian Federation, delivered agreement on immediate release of the hostages, as a condition for the ceasefire, opening of access corridor to the crash site of MH17 flight for international experts, as well as mode of monitoring and verification of the border between Ukraine and Russia. Negotiations will continue next week.
• Luhansk is completely disconnected from the power supply due to ongoing  shelling. More than 50 stations of Donetsk railway are closed, more than half the cargo traffic couldn’t be alternatively re-routed. Terrorists continue shelling of residential areas and infrastructure destruction of controlled cities.
• Russia continues to deploy military units on the borders of Ukraine and in Crimea, preparing positions for artillery and heavy armor on the main directions, shells from its territory Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, supply of military equipment, ammunition and mercenaries to DPR and LPR terrorists continues.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces engaged in fights in Shakhtersk, Avdyivka, Mospiyno, Pervomaysk, Ilovaysk and in the south of Luhansk region.
• Head of the Investigation Commission of MH17 flight catastrophe Groisman, stressed at the briefing that terrorists continue to hinder the admission of foreign experts to the crash site. Ukrainian army doesn’t carry any actions in the range of 20 around the crash site, as well in the range of 10 kilometers around the route of experts move.

International

• The European Union imposed sanctions on five Russian state banks: Sberbank, VTB, Gazprombank, Vnesheconombank and the Agricultural Bank, as well as all their subsidiaries. Investors are prohibited to conduct any transactions of securities of these financial institutions. Norway intends to join EU sanctions against Russia. Moscow Stock Exchange practically did not react to the introduction of the sanctions.
• Republican majority of the US House of Representatives voted to file a lawsuit against President Obama's abuse of the office when introducing health care reform. Decision was made on the eve of the November congressional elections.
• On top of the payment of $ 50 billion in favor of Yukos, defined by The Hague Court against the Russian Federation, Russia is also obliged to pay $ 2 billion to the company's shareholders, as per European Court decision.
• "Ukrtelecom" company, belonging to Akhmetov, underwent re-registration in Crimea under Russian law and will provide services under the brand "Nashtelekom."