11/05/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Verkhovna Rada failed to vote on the "visa-free package" of laws

Verkhovna Rada failed to vote on the "visa-free package" of laws

11.05.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Verkhovna Rada failed to vote on the "visa-free package" of laws.
• The leader of UKROP party was imposed a pre-trial restraint in the form of house arrest.
• Former Justice Minister Lukash was detained.
• MP Teteruk hit MP Kuzhel in the head with a bottle in Parliament.

10/25/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Local elections took place in Ukraine

Local elections took place in Ukraine

10.25.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Local elections took place in Ukraine.
• Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that the Venice Commission does not object to a complete restart of the judicial system.
• The humanitarian convoy of the International Red Cross was delivered to the occupied territory.

10/17/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - General Attorney Shokin said that the case of the shooting on the Maydan is "practically investigated."

General Attorney Shokin

10.17.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• General Attorney Shokin said that the case of the shooting on the Maidan is "practically investigated."
• 12 people drowned in the Odessa region during the storm.
• Militants violated the ceasefire, one soldier was wounded.

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.

10/14/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukraine celebrated the Defender’s Day

Ukraine celebrated the Defender’s Day

10.14.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Ukraine celebrated the Defender’s Day.
• President Poroshenko flew a fighter aircraft in Zaporizhya.
• Moscow court sentenced a 73-year-old Ukrainian, former plant director, to a prison term for espionage.

10/11/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution in support of Ukraine

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution in support of Ukraine

10.11.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution in support of Ukraine.
• President Poroshenko told the Ukrainians about his plan on reintegration of the Donbass.
• Interior Minister Avakov creates Cyberpolice.
• At the elections in Belarus incumbent President Lukashenko is winning.

10/04/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukraine celebrated Teachers' Day

Ukraine celebrated Teachers' Day

10.04.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Ukraine celebrated Teachers' Day.
• The process of troops withdrawal in Donbas will begin on October 5.
• A tank exploded at a military base in Dnipropetrovsk region.

10/03/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukrainian army began the withdrawal of light artillery in the Luhansk region

Ukrainian army began the withdrawal of light artillery

10.03.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Ukrainian army began the withdrawal of light artillery in the Luhansk region.
• The IMF mission will continue to work in Ukraine.
• Head of the NBU Gontareva believes that Poroshenko is not obliged to sell his assets.

09/23/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukraine announced a technical default in connection with the agreed restructuring of the public debt

Ukraine announced a technical default in connection with the agreed restructuring of the public debt

09.23.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Ukraine announced a technical default in connection with the agreed restructuring of the public debt.
• In Kharkiv, unknown persons in balaclavas  stormed the house of deputy from the Opposition Blok Dobkin and building of the City Council .
• Battalion commander, suspected of bribes for smuggling in the occupied territory, was released on bail.
• The city council decided to return Artemovsk the historical name of Bakhmut.

09/16/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - President Poroshenko imposed sanctions against Russian companies and individuals

President Poroshenko imposed sanctions against Russian companies and individuals

16.09.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• President Poroshenko imposed sanctions against Russian companies and individuals.
• A congress of the “Petro Poroshenko Bloc” was held, which adopted a decision to participate in local elections.
• The leader of the DPR militants Zakharchenko announced that local elections in the occupied territory will be held on 18 October.

09/08/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Poroshenko believes the parliamentary coalition to be viable

Poroshenko believes the parliamentary coalition to be viable

09.08.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Poroshenko believes the parliamentary coalition to be viable.
• Europe does not know what to do with the refugees from the Middle East.
• Head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said that Savchenko is not a prisoner of war and accused Prime Minister Yatsenyuk of participating in the First Chechen War.
• Scandal at the congress of Samopomich Party.

09/07/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Second petition to the President to appoint Saakashvili a Prime Minister, received 25 thousand votes

Petition to the President to appoint Saakashvili a Prime Minister, received 25 thousand votes

09.07.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Second petition to the President to appoint Saakashvili a Prime Minister, received 25 thousand votes.
• Russia's demand for review of the Association Agreement with the EU rejected.
• Russia confirmed the detention of three paratroopers on the administrative border with the Crimea.
• The rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra violated traffic rules.

09/06/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - IMF Managing Director Lagarde visited Ukraine

IMF Managing Director Lagarde visited Ukraine

09.06.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• IMF Managing Director Lagarde visited Ukraine.
• Relative inactivity continues in Donbas.

08/23/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Day of National Flag of Ukraine

The Day of National Flag of Ukraine

08.23.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The Day of National Flag of Ukraine.

06/27/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The UNHCR reported more than 900 thousand refugees from Ukraine

The UNHCR reported more than 900 thousand refugees from Ukraine

06.27.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The UNHCR reported more than 900 thousand refugees from Ukraine.
• The financial crisis in Greece could destroy the euro zone.

18-24.08.2014 | Weekly Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

War In Ukraine

• DNR militants celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day by parading Ukrainian hostages and POWs on the streets of Donets'k and trampling on Ukrainian flag.
• Half-empty “humanitarian convoy” from Russia containing more than 200 trucks has broken through the border avoiding inspection by Ukrainian border guards. It did not include International Red Cross personnel as well. Within 24 hours it left Ukrainian territory again avoiding inspection. Media reports have been circulated that on the way back the convoy carried equipment of Ukrainian military plants and bodies of Russian military personnel killed in action on Ukrainian territory.
• Massive shellings of Ukrainian towns in the Russian border zone are continuing. They use heavy artillery and internationally banned cluster bombs.
• Intense fighting with use of tanks and heavy artillery is ongoing in Donets'k region near strategic height of Savur-Mohyla and in the town of Illovays'k.

20.08.2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• While speaking to the Deputy of the UN Secretary General Feltman, President Poroshenko stated that conflict in Donbass couldn’t be solved solely by military means.
• National Bank once again strongly devaluated Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) to new historical minimum: 13.22 UAH/1$ (-27 cop), 17.65 UAH/1€ (-32 cop), 3.66 UAH/10 RUR (-7 cop).
  National Bank implemented obligatory sales of all foreign currency revenues for exporters for the period of three months starting from August 20th, as well as ordered to conduct all import/export transactions during up to 90 days, in order to compensate pressure on the Fx rate.
  

18/08/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• Luhansk mayor, who had been collaborating with terrorists and have been recently captured by Aydar battalion, was reelased from detention by the court.
• National Bank slightly strengthened Ukrainian hryvnia: 13.07 UAH / 1$ (+6 cop), 17.50 UAH / 1€ (+6 cop), 3.63 UAH / 10 RUR (+1 cop).
• As terrorists weren’t able to guarantee security to the Red Cross specialists, customs clearance of the “humanitarian aid” haven’t been performed yet. Ukrainian border guards prevented the attempt of several Russian trucks to enter Ukraine through the checkpoint “Izvaryno”.
• As reported by the Washington Post, “Motor Sich” company from Zaporizhya continue to supply Russia with military produce.

Kyiv

• Kyiv authorities launched the investment competition on creation of the major network of points of sales, with direct access to consumers by the bread producers, aimed to prevent sharp price increases for the social types of bread.

War in Ukraine

• As per official reports from NSDC, fights are ongoing in the center of Luhans’k, Stanitsa Luhanska, Ilovays’k, as well as in the outskirts of Donets’k.
  Donbass terrorists receive powerful weapons such as multiple rocket launchers “Uragan”, use of prohibited by the international conventions antipersonnel mine cassette ammunition have been evidenced. Russia supply hundreds of heavy ammunition, armored technique, artillery systems and mercenaries to Donbass, through parts of the border uncontrolled by Ukrainian troops. Technique is being supplied without the license plates, mercenaries carry no insignia. Russia put surface-to-air missile systems on their side, that prevents the use of Ukrainian aviation in the borderline zones.
• Water supply to Donets’k was cut as terrorists damaged  main filtration station. 94 settlements have been cut from electricity supply within the Donets’k region, around half a million of inhabitants are cut off from the electricity supply, as reported by the region authorities.
• Organized refugees column was shelled by terrorists with multiple rocket launcher “Grad”, dozens of civilians were killed, including children. As stated by the head of the polish humanitarian mission this accident could be recognized as the crime against humanity.

International

• Energy Minister of Ukraine Prodan met with the Deputy Minister of Energy of the US, questions of energy security during absence of gas supply from Russia were discussed and participation of the US specialists to the work of the anticrisis energy council agreed.
• As reported by the Eurostat, since the beginning of the year export of goods from the EU member states to Russia declined by -14%, import from Russia by -7%.
• Bulgaria fully stopped construction of the “South Stream” pipeline until the project will not comply with the European legislation.
• Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Klimkin, announced during the breeding, that German Chancellor Merkel will come to Ukraine with special visit on 23rd of August. He also stressed that during negotiations in Berlin Russia refused to recognize facts of ammunition and mercenaries supply through its border, shillings of Ukrainian territory, as well as to allow effective border control by the OSCE observers.
• Verkhovna Rada speaker Turchynov during the joint press conference of the parliament spacers in Lithuania stressed, that compromises with aggressors hadn’t ever led to anything good. Ukraine is ready to protect Europe from Russian aggression but arms supply is necessary.
• European Union is ready to provide Ukraine with extra financial aid for refugees and re-settled subjects from the east of Ukraine, as confirmed by the EU representative responsible for humanitarian aspects and civil defense during the meeting with the Vice-Prime Minister Groysman.
• Prime Minister of Finland stressed that provision of the military aid to Ukraine from the side of the EU is impossible.
• OSCE observers, responsible for monitoring of the situation in Ukraine, will be provided by surveillance drones not earlier than by the end of the month.
• As reported by the Radio Liberty, anti Ukrainian propaganda in Russia have been just launched on children’s channels.

Trends

• Intensive preparation of troops for the winter campaign is ongoing from Russian and Ukrainian sides.
• Russia has no other option to resolve the transport connection with Crimeas but through the land route through Ukraine.