01/01/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The country celebrates the New Year

The country celebrates the New Year

01.01.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The country celebrates the a New Year.
• In Kiev, mass rallies in honor of Stepan Bandera’s Birthday took place .
• Residents of the Crimea, interviewed by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, do not want the peninsula to be called Ukrainian territory.
• 1 + 1 TV Channel cut off a part of  the New Year's greetings of President Poroshenko.
• Song of the "Shablya" became the official anthem of the ATO.

10/15/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukraine became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council

Ukraine became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council

10.15.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Ukraine became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
• 11 Ukrainian soldiers were injured as a result of landmine explosions in Donbas.
• The EU will cooperate with Turkey to resolve the problem of illegal migrants.
• Mobile operator MTS is ready to work in Ukraine under the Vodafone brand under a franchise agreement.
• Poroshenko wants to make English the second working language of the Ukrainian state institutions.

Key Events in Ukraine

• Minister of Economic Development and Trade Abromavicius said that Russian companies will not be allowed to take part in the privatization of Ukrainian enterprises.
• The Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case against the SBU employees for hindering the work of journalists. Head of Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv instructed the First National TV Channel not to release a program on the luxury cars of SBU employees, considering it a violation of the law.
• MP Leshchenko released the evidence of the involvement of the Head of Presidential Administration Lozhkin in money laundering case investigated by Austrian prosecutors.
  Former SBU head Nalyvaychenko reported at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Combating Corruption on the results of the investigation conducted by the FBI and the Latvian Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering on offshore companies related to Kononenko, Deputy Chairman of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction. Journalists released information on another flat in London owned by the head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Nasirov.
• NBU slightly strengthened the official hryvnia rate: 21.69 ₴/$ (-0.24 UAH), 24.81 ₴/€ (-0.13 UAH), 3.48 ₴/10 ₽ (-0.04 UAH).

Ukraine at War

• Two women tripped over tripwire in the village of Stanytsya Luhanska. Two soldiers walked over tripwire in the same village, and nine other people were blown up by a land mine in the Stanytsya Luhanska district.
  The Information Resistance NGO reports that the militants are finishing the construction of the second line of defense and concealing military equipment near the line of fighting.
  The UK is trying to find out where the LPR militants got TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket launchers manufactured only in Russia.
  Anti-Terrorist Operation Headquarters stated that there have been no violations of the Minsk Agreement and that the Ukrainian army continues the withdrawal of weapons.
• Reconnaissance has found centers to recruit mercenaries to Syria in the occupied Donbas.
• The OSCE mission reported that the access for DPR militants to the border with Russia was banned.
• Ukraine has resumed its TV and radio broadcast for the occupied city of Luhansk and the adjacent territories.

Ukraine and the World

• The EU granted Frontex, the European External Borders Agency, the authority to forcibly deport illegal immigrants on its own initiative.
• Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed protest to Russia over the biased ruling of a Moscow court against the former director of the Poltava defense plant Soloshchenko.
• European leaders agreed to grant €3 billion to Turkey, to easy visa requirements and to hold talks on EU membership in exchange for preventing illegal migrant traffic from Turkey to the EU territory and for providing them with necessary facilities in Turkey.
  German parliament passed a law tightening the immigration legislation.
  Bulgarian border guards shot dead an illegal migrant from Afghanistan during a clash at the border.
• American Republican Party presidential candidate Trump sees no sufficient grounds to accuse Donbas militants of downing flight MH17. He believes that the US should neither take action in this respect nor intervene in the conflict in Ukraine.
• The EBRD will grant a loan of €100 million to Chernihiv, Odesa, Chernivtsy and other cities to purchase public transport and improve infrastructure.
• The meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of Creditors of Ukraine in London failed to reach the quorum. However, its attendees issued a resolution stating the terms of restructuring of Ukraine's external debt. Prime Minister Yatsenyuk stated that the creditors "decided to reduce an overall debt of Ukraine by a total amount worth US$3 billion and to restructure the corresponding debt for a total sum of US$8.5 billion."  The Committee of Creditors is scheduled to meet again on October 29. The Ministry of Finance stated that Russia had the last chance to join Ukrainian Eurobonds holders for the final decision on Ukrainian debt restructuring.

The Trends

• According to experts, the introduction of excise duty on imported cars significantly increased their cost, but neither revived Ukrainian car manufacturers nor increased tax revenues.

07/29/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Russia blocked the establishment of an international tribunal by the UN Security Council to investigate the MH-17 flight accident

U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin vetoes U.N.Security Council Proposa;

07.29.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Russia blocked the establishment of an international tribunal by the UN Security Council to investigate the MH-17 flight accident.
• The IMF is ready to continue the financing of Ukraine in case the moratorium on debt payments is introduced.
• The possibility of creating of joint patrols of Ukrainian law enforcers and militants in Shyrokino was rejected.
• Clashes between police and amber miners in Rivne region.
• Former Prime Minister Azarov announced about the creation in Moscow of a "government in exile".

07/20/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The NSDC adopted a decision on coordination of the intelligence agencies activities

The NSDC meeting 20.07.2015

07.20.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine adopted a decision on coordination of the intelligence agencies activities and on the nuclear facilities threat countermasures.
• Prime Minister Yatsenyuk demands to bring to order the benefits and subsidies system.
• In Dzerzhinsk  the monuments to Lenin and Dzerzhinsky were demolished.
• In Yavorivsky training area a military exercises involving the US military began.

06/05/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - President Poroshenko hold extended press conference on the results of the first year of the ruling

President Poroshenko at the press conference

06.05.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• President Poroshenko hold extended press conference on the results of the first year of the ruling.
• Less than a quarter of members of parliament were present during the "Government Hour" in the Verkhovna Rada.
• Cabinet wants to dismiss the head of the Donetsk regional administration Kikhtenko.
• UN Security Council session on the events in Marinka.

19/03/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - There was a conflict over control of Ukrtransnafta between the government and the oligarch Kolomoisky

03/19/2015 Daily Highlights  by the "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the Day

There was a conflict over control of Ukrtransnafta between the government and the oligarch Kolomoisky. The public television created on the basis of the state-owned TV. The procurement procedure for medicinal drugs on the budgetary basis was changed.

06/03/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The head of the National Bank reported on its activities to the deputies of Verkhovna Rada

03/06/2015 Daily Highlights by the "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the Day

Ukraine continues to withdraw its heavy weapons from the front line in the Donbass. The head of the National Bank reported on its activities to the deputies of Verkhovna Rada. Election of Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Bureau reached the finish line.

23/02/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukrainian mobile operators obtained licenses for building 3G networks

02/23/2015 Daily Highlights by the "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

Ukrainian mobile operators obtained licenses for building 3G networks. Hryvnia continues to fall. The UN Security Council discussed a possibility of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine.

15/02/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Critical situation is developing at the Debaltseve foothold

15/02/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

Millitants disrupted the regime of artillery silence in Donbass. Critical situation is developing at the Debaltseve foothold. The dismissal of 20% of state officials is announced.

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 .

25/01/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Martial law was not announced at an emergency meeting of the National Security Council

25/01/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day 

Martial law was not announced at an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. Fighting in the Donbass doesn’t cease.

24/01/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - 30 people has been killed as a result of the shelling of Mariupol by pro-Russian militants.

24/01/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

30 people has been killed as a result of the shelling of Mariupol by  pro-Russian militants.

22/01/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - There were mass civilian casualties as a result of shelling in Donetsk

22/01/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

There were mass civilian casualties as a result of shelling in Donetsk. The situation in the battle zone in the Donbass escalated.

21/01/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Foreign Ministers' of “Normandy four" expressed the need for the withdrawal of troops from the front line.

21/01/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

Poroshenko said in Davos that he is the president of peace, not war. Ukrainian army withdrew from Donetsk airport. Shelling of Donbass cities intensified. The Foreign Ministers' of  “Normandy four" expressed the need for the withdrawal of troops from the front line.

12/11/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - UN security council meeting on Ukrainian issues ended with no resolution.

12/11/2014 Daily Highlights from “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Official results of the Parliamentary elections were announced. UN security council meeting on Ukrainian issues ended with no resolution.

31/10/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Future parliamentary coalition has nothing against Yatsenyuk being Prime Minister

31/10/2014 Daily Highlights from “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Future parliamentary coalition has nothing against Yatsenyuk being Prime Minister. The World community warned that elections in DPR and LPR are illegitimate and are not going to be recognized. Militants are getting ready for an active phase of the combat actions before the «elections», planned for the 3rd of November.

24/10/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Russian President Putin claimed Russian right to intervene into internal affairs of other states

24/10/2014 Daily Highlights from “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Early parliamentary elections campaign have finished in Ukraine. Law enforcement agencies are preparing for defending elections against terrorist threats. Russian President Putin claimed Russian right to intervene into internal affairs of other states during the Valday forum in Sochi.

28/08/14 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - President Poroshenko has cancelled his official visit to Turkey and issued an order to enforce secret decisions of NSDC - Situation in Donbass have rapidly deteriorated due to invasion by Russian troop

28.08.2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• President Poroshenko has cancelled his official visit to Turkey for the inauguration of the President Erdogan due to a sharp worsening of the situation in Donbass and Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his speech at the NSDC he urged not to panic and called situation in Donbass extremely difficult but controlled. He has also informed that consultations have started at the level of military headquarters of Russia and Ukraine, aimed to establish border control and exchange of prisoners of war. President Poroshenko issued an order to enforce decisions of NSDC from 27th of August. Most parts of the document are being kept secret. He as well approved military plan for Donbass for the nearest future. Deputy head of the Presidential Administration Zubko stressed that introduction of the martial law is of benefit for aggressor, because as he said the country introducing such law can’t receive military and technical support from other countries.
• As claimed by the Advisor of the Minister of Internal Affairs Gerashenko, the ministry fully supports immediate introduction of the martial law.
  

22.08.2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• President Poroshenko conducted consultations with parliament fractions leaders, that according to the legislation in place should precede the dismissal of Verkhovna Rada, where he pointed out that dismissal doesn’t mean termination of activities, as deputies have to adopt significant amount of laws, including, ratification of the association agreement with the EU, amendments to the 2014 budget, 2015 budget, and the elections law.
• Prime Minister Yatsenyuk gave an interview on to main Ukrainian TV channels, concerning key challenges Ukraine is facing, where he claimed that simple and clear to everyone Ukraine revival plan will be presented during next Government meeting on August 27. In his opinion, exchange rate of Ukrainian Hryvnya should be kept at the level of 12 UAH / 1$ in case the situation in the Country will stabilize. More than 3bln. $ have been reserved on NBU accounts for gas purchases in case compromise with Russia will be reached. But most probably this will not happen, as Russian mercenaries destroy coal mines in the east, that could make the situation in the energy sector even worse.

08/08/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• In response to the strong Russian military convoy with a «humanitarian mission», ostensibly agreed with the Red Cross, approached border of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign affairs of Ukraine stressed that any attempt to interfere into Ukrainian internal affairs under the pretext of «peacekeeping forces» to «defend the humanitarian mission» will be treated by Ukraine as aggression. The country is fully capable to manage any humanitarian issues with the assistance of western partners and the Red Cross. US representative stressed at the UN Security Council meeting that unilateral entry of Russian «peacekeepers» to Ukraine will be treated by the US as invasion with all forthcoming consequences. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UK called Russia to abstain from  «humanitarian intervention» to Ukraine.
• As reported by the Minister of Justice Petrenko, Ukraine is supposed to submit the legal suit on Russia to the International UN court in accusation for financing and support of terrorism in eastern Ukraine.
• President Poroshenko approved extension of the age limit for overall population of citizens subject to call-up for military services up to 60 years and for higher ranked officers up to 65 years.
• Ukrainian Government prepared the list for sectoral sanctions against Russia, including 65 enterprises and 172 citizens of Russia. Sanctions should be enacted by the law that Verkhovna Rada aims to adopt on August 12. Possible measures could include termination of the gas transit and no-fly zone for Russian aviation over the territory of Ukraine.