newsintheukraine

Thursday, August 13

The day after President Zelenskiy signed a law giving tax breaks to foreign film productions, Kyiv City officials announced a list of streets to be closed Aug. 12-25 for the filming of a Jean-Claude Van Damme film — ‘The Last Mercenary.’ The day after President Zelenskiy signed a law giving tax breaks to foreign film productions, Kyiv City officials announced a list of streets to be closed Aug. 12-25 for the filming of a Jean-Claude V...

About 200 more state companies will be transferred to the State Property Fund for privatization, About 200 more state companies will be transferred to the State Property Fund for privatization, the Cabinet of Ministers decided yesterday. The companies are either unprofitable or are used “for vari...

Until the coronavirus pandemic started, several foreign investor groups had planned to come to Ukraine this summer to study state companies scheduled for sale. Until the coronavirus pandemic started, several foreign investor groups had planned to come to Ukraine this summer to study state companies scheduled for sale. Dmytro Sennychenko, head of the Property...

Ukravtodor presented yesterday a project to build $3 billion, 150km, three quarter circle Kyiv ring road. Ukravtodor presented yesterday a project to build $3 billion, 150km, three quarter circle Kyiv ring road. Designed to intercept traffic about 40 km outside capital, the bypass would link all major int...

A US company is negotiating with Mykolaiv regional authorities to build a $250 million waste recycling plant for the entire region A US company is negotiating with Mykolaiv regional authorities to build a $250 million waste recycling plant for the entire region, Alexander Stadnik, regional head, tells NikVesti, a local news site....

Fighting to preserve a joint venture with a Chinese company to control Ukraine’s aircraft engine maker Fighting to preserve a joint venture with a Chinese company to control Ukraine’s aircraft engine maker, Ukraine’s DCH conglomerate told Reuters and NV business news site yesterday that it has signed a...

President Zelenskiy signed a law creating the legal and regulatory framework for President Zelenskiy signed a law creating the legal and regulatory framework for derivatives – the financial instrument that helps to provide hedging opportunities against prices, interest rates or cu...

Timur Khromaev, head of the Commission, said of the derivatives law: “I Timur Khromaev, head of the Commission, said of the derivatives law: “It represents a big step forward in creating the conditions in which our economy can move to a more sophisticated stage of develop...

The day after President Zelenkiy signed the law legalizing gambling, Parimatch, the largest betting company in Ukraine, announced that it will bid for hotel casino licenses in Ukraine. The day after President Zelenkiy signed the law legalizing gambling, Parimatch, the largest betting company in Ukraine, announced that it will bid for hotel casino licenses in Ukraine. Founded in Kyiv...

The Finance Ministry raised the equivalent of $366 million in its weekly government bond auction Tuesday – virtually the same amount as one week earlier. The Finance Ministry raised the equivalent of $366 million in its weekly government bond auction Tuesday – virtually the same amount as one week earlier. To keep, hryvnia rates from rising, the Minist...

Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko concludes: Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko concludes: “There is no improvement in the sentiments of the broader circle of market players regarding the risk level of UAH debt at the moment.”

Planes left Kyiv Sikorsky Airport half full last month Planes left Kyiv Sikorsky Airport half full last month. In July, Kyiv’s right bank airport handled 1,314 flights — 48% the number of flights of one year earlier. But the number of passengers was...

SkyUp Airlines returned in July to 50% of its pre-coronavirus traffic levels. SkyUp Airlines returned in July to 50% of its pre-coronavirus traffic levels. Operating 704 domestic and international flights from Kyiv Boryspil, the low cost airline carried 96,407 passengers in Jul...

Air Astana resumes flights between Almaty and Kyiv Boryspil next Wednesday Air Astana resumes flights between Almaty and Kyiv Boryspil next Wednesday. From Almaty, the Kazakh national carrier flies to 26 destinations, including Beijing and Delhi. Air Astana suspended flights...

Tuesday, August 11

“ “We are partners and strive to keep Motor Sich on Ukrainian soil,” wrote Wang, whose company is based in Beijing. “It is Chinese investment that sustains the company’s prosperity, saving thousan...

For his part, For his part, Yaroslavsky denounces as “state raiding” the government pressure on the investors in Motor Sich. From his base in Kharkiv, Yaroslavsky refutes press reports that key parts of the factory...

Iran will not compensate UIA for its jet Tehran shot down Jan. 8 because the Boeing 737-800 was insured by European firms Iran will not compensate UIA for its jet Tehran shot down Jan. 8 because the Boeing 737-800 was insured by European firms, the head of Iran’s Central Insurance Organisation said Monday, Reuters report...

Ukrtelecom, the nation’s largest Internet service provider, plans to invest $110 million to lay 50,000 km of fiber optic cable to bring broad band to 2.6 million rural Ukrainians by the end of 2022. Ukrtelecom, the nation’s largest Internet service provider, plans to invest $110 million to lay 50,000 km of fiber optic cable to bring broad band to 2.6 million rural Ukrainians by the end of 2022. T...

Vodafone Ukraine says that within two years its LTE 4G network should reach 90% of Ukraine’s population Vodafone Ukraine says that within two years its LTE 4G network should reach 90% of Ukraine’s population. By the summer of 2024 Vodaphone high speed network should cover “roads of international and nat...

Kyivstar, plans to invest $180 million over the next two years to expand its 4G mobile Internet service to reach 90% of Ukraine’s population Kyivstar, plans to invest $180 million over the next two years to expand its 4G mobile Internet service to reach 90% of Ukraine’s population, says Kyivstar President Oleksandr Komarov. In the last six...

To promote the economic revival of government-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk To promote the economic revival of government-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk, the government is drawing up plans for a special status zone that would include major tax breaks and international arbitra...

A “Donbas Economic Development Road Map” is to be submitted next month to the Cabinet of Ministers, according to Oleksii Reznikov is deputy Prime Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories. A “Donbas Economic Development Road Map” is to be submitted next month to the Cabinet of Ministers, according to Oleksii Reznikov is deputy Prime Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied...

the cost to rebuild the Donbas under Russian control would be $10 billion. the cost to rebuild the Donbas under Russian control would be $10 billion. Speaking to Radio Donbas.Realii, an RFE/RL unit, he said that this would include donor money. The UN has fell far short in re...

As rail freight volumes recover, Ukrzaliznytsia carried 25.2 million tons in July, only 3% less than the tonnage carried in July 2019, As rail freight volumes recover, Ukrzaliznytsia carried 25.2 million tons in July, only 3% less than the tonnage carried in July 2019, reports Rail.Insider news site. Volumes have increased steadily s...

Ukrainian farmers have harvested 33 million tons of grain and legumes, one third of this year’s forecast crop. Ukrainian farmers have harvested 33 million tons of grain and legumes, one third of this year’s forecast crop. Farmers have threshed 23 million tons of wheat, 87% of the forecast crop, and 8 million t...

Ukraine’s forecast bumper crop for corn may run into geopolitical barriers as the US makes record corn sales – totaling 3.7 million tons — to China Ukraine’s forecast bumper crop for corn may run into geopolitical barriers as the US makes record corn sales – totaling 3.7 million tons — to China, warns AgWeek, the Fargo, North Dakota-based n...

Charges of “high treason” and a Presidential investigation surround a Chinese company’s attempt to assert 75% ownership of a Ukrainian company Charges of “high treason” and a Presidential investigation surround a Chinese company’s attempt to assert 75% ownership of a Ukrainian company that once was the largest manufacturer of airplane engine...

In a double barreled response, In a double barreled response, Wang Jing, Board Chairman of Skyrizon, and Alexander Yaroslavsky, the owner president of DCH, issued statements denouncing the government interference in the transaction...

Monday, August 10

Jason Pellmar, IFC’s Regional Manager, said: Jason Pellmar, IFC’s Regional Manager, said: “IFC’s extensive global experience has proven that investments providing environmental benefits are not only more ecologically sustainable but also more co...

Ukraine’s Commission recently joined the Sustainable Banking Network — a group of regulatory agencies and banking associations from 40 emerging markets committed to advancing sustainable finance. Ukraine’s Commission recently joined the Sustainable Banking Network — a group of regulatory agencies and banking associations from 40 emerging markets committed to advancing sustainable finance. The ...

UIA only plans to return to regularly scheduled flights to New York, Toronto and Delhi in April, UIA only plans to return to regularly scheduled flights to New York, Toronto and Delhi in April, according to Evgeny Dykhne, president of Ukraine’s largest airline. He says: “As governmental restricti...

Kyiv Boryspil passenger traffic was down 80% yoy in July, Kyiv Boryspil passenger traffic was down 80% yoy in July, to 328,667, from 1.6 million in July 2019. Hubbing, a key component of UIA’s model, was wiped out. Last month, the airport recorded 3,146 tran...

US criminal charges against Ihor Kolomoisky could follow last week’s civil forfeiture complaints by the US Department of Justice US criminal charges against Ihor Kolomoisky could follow last week’s civil forfeiture complaints by the US Department of Justice, speculate Concorde Capital and the Kyiv Post. “Given that they [Kolomo...

Ukrzaliznytsia is doubling the frequency of Kyiv’s ‘train-to-the-plane’, the Boryspil Express. Ukrzaliznytsia is doubling the frequency of Kyiv’s ‘train-to-the-plane’, the Boryspil Express. The train now travels 12 times a day between central Kyiv and Ukraine’s largest airport. The ride takes 4...

Igor Kolomoisky rejects Igor Kolomoisky rejects US Justice Department allegations that he and his partners bought office buildings and steel mills in the US property as part of a “conspiracy to launder money embezzled and fr...

The US moves seem to come partly in response to last month’s purge of bank reformers from the National Bank of Ukraine The US moves seem to come partly in response to last month’s purge of bank reformers from the National Bank of Ukraine. In 2016, faced with a $5.5 billion hole at Kolomoisky’s bank, PrivatBank, the Ce...

Zawada writes: Zawada writes: “These accusations offer added insurance that Kolomoisky will not regain control over Privatbank. We believe they mark the peak of Kolomoisky’s influence in Ukraine, which will wane onc...

Timothy Ash writes from London: Timothy Ash writes from London: “With recent moves against the reform team at the NBU, the US Government might have reached the conclusion that if they don’t move now, then the risk is the whole domes...

Oleksiy Shaban has been named a Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Oleksiy Shaban has been named a Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, giving Kyrylo Shevchenko, the new Governor, a majority on the central bank board. Shaban worked as director of the bank...

Timothy Ash writes from London: Timothy Ash writes from London: “The new Governor Shevchenko is now fully in charge at the NBU…The IMF is signaling they will want to take some time to assess the changes at the NBU and give She...

The use of payment cards jumped 17% yoy during the first half of this year in Ukraine, The use of payment cards jumped 17% yoy during the first half of this year in Ukraine, to 2.74 billion transactions, reports the National Bank of Ukraine. The size of the average transaction edged up ...

As Ukrainians shifted rapidly to cashless transactions, As Ukrainians shifted rapidly to cashless transactions, the number of cash transactions with cards – largely withdrawals from ATM machines – dropped by 12% during the first half of this year.

During the first half, the number of point of sale terminal increased by 5%. During the first half, the number of point of sale terminal increased by 5%. The number of issued cards also increased by 5%, to 71.7 million, or two for every Ukrainian.

Increasingly popular are contactless and tokenized cards Increasingly popular are contactless and tokenized cards. In June, almost 10 million contactless cards were used, up 25.6% since January. In June, 2.7 million tokenized cards were in use, up 22.5% fro...

Ukraine is moving to introduce green finance standards in the country, with a focus on green bonds. Ukraine is moving to introduce green finance standards in the country, with a focus on green bonds. The World Bank’s IFC signed a cooperation agreement on green finance Friday with Ukraine’s National ...

Monday, December 30

With Brexit expected to take place in 2020, a UK-Ukraine free trade deal is “75% ready,” With Brexit expected to take place in 2020, a UK-Ukraine free trade deal is “75% ready,” Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK, Natalia Galibarenko, tells Ukrinform. “This is a matter of several months,” she...

Ireland plans to open an embassy in Kyiv in 2020 Ireland plans to open an embassy in Kyiv in 2020, reports Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. The timing and location was decided at a recent meeting between Simon Coveney, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs ...

With the Boryspil express train to Kyiv increasingly popular, Ukrzaliznytsia is doubling capacity during peak hours With the Boryspil express train to Kyiv increasingly popular, Ukrzaliznytsia is doubling capacity during peak hours, running a 3-car train with 170 seats between the capital and the nation’s busiest a...

With Russia-Ukraine gas transit talks stretching into today, Gazprom showed its seriousness Friday by paying Naftogaz $2.9 billion. With Russia-Ukraine gas transit talks stretching into today, Gazprom showed its seriousness Friday by paying Naftogaz $2.9 billion. The money was paid in full – principal plus 10-months interest ̵...

Lease tenders for restaurants, duty-free shops, and ATMs at Boryspil are to go through ProZorro, Lease tenders for restaurants, duty-free shops, and ATMs at Boryspil are to go through ProZorro, Infrastructure Minister Vladislav Krykliy, tells the Center for Transportation Strategies. “I definitel...