newsukraine

Friday, February 19

Despite corona controls, Ukraine’s Border Service registered 11.2 million exits by Ukrainians last year Despite corona controls, Ukraine’s Border Service registered 11.2 million exits by Ukrainians last year, potentially one quarter of the nation’s adult population. Top destinations were: Poland – 4 mil...

Ukraine received 3.4 million visits by foreigners Ukraine received 3.4 million visits by foreigners. The top countries were Ukraine’s land neighbors: Moldova – 933,000; Belarus – 463,500; Russia – 390,000; Poland – 272,000; Romania – 229,000; and Hun...

The number of Kyivstar subscribers who traveled abroad during the Dec. 24-Jan. 10 holiday season was down 81% yoy, The number of Kyivstar subscribers who traveled abroad during the Dec. 24-Jan. 10 holiday season was down 81% yoy, reports Ilya Polshakov, New Business Director for Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile ...

One year after coronavirus controls shut down air travel, the Infrastructure Ministry wants to give $18 million in tax and airport rent relief to the four Ukrainian airlines One year after coronavirus controls shut down air travel, the Infrastructure Ministry wants to give $18 million in tax and airport rent relief to the four Ukrainian airlines that carried evacuation fl...

On March 28, Mykolaiv airport wins back its lone scheduled flight, a Windrose Airlines flight to Kyiv. On March 28, Mykolaiv airport wins back its lone scheduled flight, a Windrose Airlines flight to Kyiv. On March 1, Windrose resumes its charter flights from Mykolaiv to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.

For summer travel, Pegasus Airlines will launch six routes from Ukrainian cities to Turkish resort towns. For summer travel, Pegasus Airlines will launch six routes from Ukrainian cities to Turkish resort towns. With flights starting as early as April, the Turkish discount airline will fly from Kyiv Borys...

SkyUp, Ukraine’s largest discount airline, started last year with double the fleet – all Boeing 737s – but carried only 1.2 million passengers, half its forecast. SkyUp, Ukraine’s largest discount airline, started last year with double the fleet – all Boeing 737s – but carried only 1.2 million passengers, half its forecast. Despite a bad year, the airline retai...

This spring, SkyUp starts service from Kyiv Boryspil This spring, SkyUp starts service from Kyiv Boryspil to two Polish cities popular with Ukrainian workers: Katowice and Lodz. At the end of May, as the tourism season starts, SkyUp plans to start servi...

Airlines are betting on Ukraine’s enduring love affair with Italy Airlines are betting on Ukraine’s enduring love affair with Italy. Starting in late May, SkyUp will expand its Kyiv flight network to nine Italian cities: Bari, Bergamo, Bologna, Catania, Lamezia Term...

A sign of summer travel A sign of summer travel: people who want to visit Italy’s Sardinia island will have to present a coronavirus vaccination certificate, Governor Christian Solinas tells L’Unione newspaper, according to ...

UIA restores flights from Kyiv to New York, Toronto, Delhi, Cairo and London-Heathrow UIA restores flights from Kyiv to New York, Toronto, Delhi, Cairo and London-Heathrow, according to a new summer schedule that starts in time for the May holidays. The new schedule also restores a hos...

The start date of vaccinations against Covid-19 in Ukraine is slipping by 2-3 weeks The start date of vaccinations against Covid-19 in Ukraine is slipping by 2-3 weeks, Andriy Slavutsky, head of UNICEF health programs said yesterday at a vaccination training event. Due to paperwork d...

Ukraine hopes to sign its long-delayed Open Skies agreement with the EU in 10 days, Ukraine hopes to sign its long-delayed Open Skies agreement with the EU in 10 days, when Charles Michel, president of the European Council, visits Kyiv, Prime Minister Shmyhal tells Ukrinform. Fresh f...

Miss flying? Miss flying? For $95, UIA offers on Sunday, March 7 a “Flight over Kyiv”. This 70-minute excursion features a view of Chornobyl nuclear plant from 900 meters and an overflight of Antonov’s airport at ...

Dnipro airport, Ukraine’s largest airport construction project of the year, will be rebuilt by Kyiv’s Dnipro airport, Ukraine’s largest airport construction project of the year, will be rebuilt by Kyiv’s Altis-Construction LLC. With a $141 million bid for the three-year project, Altis beat six other c...

In a survey of 172 hotels across Ukraine, 23% predict business will return this year to 2019 levels and 57% predict a full return in 2022 In a survey of 172 hotels across Ukraine, 23% predict business will return this year to 2019 levels and 57% predict a full return in 2022, reports the Ukrainian Hotel & Resort Association. Horwath...

In January, hotel occupancies were: In January, hotel occupancies were: Lviv – 35%; Kharkiv – 31%; Kyiv – 23%; and Odessa – 19%. The average room rate in Kyiv was $57, according to Hotel Matrix, a web-based analy...

Due to controls surrounding coronavirus, the world tourism industry lost $935 billion Due to controls surrounding coronavirus, the world tourism industry lost $935 billion during the first 10 months of 2020, reports United Nations World Tourism Organization. To allow safe travel, the E...

Wednesday, February 10

Talks with IMF will be delayed to the spring, making a staff level agreement in May the optimistic scenario Talks with IMF will be delayed to the spring, making a staff level agreement in May the optimistic scenario, Liga.net reported in a lengthy story, citing unnamed Rada members and Central Bank official...

Dragon writes Dragon writes: “The government has sufficient liquidity buffers to proceed without IMF financing until end-May (assuming full rollover of domestic debt), but faces an increase in fiscal funding needs ...

The Finance Ministry increased 2.5-fold its sale of bonds yesterday The Finance Ministry increased 2.5-fold its sale of bonds yesterday, but kept yields largely unchanged at the weekly auction, according to results posted on Facebook. Of the total $467 million in doll...

With snow and sub-freezing temperatures forecast through Friday, restrictions on trucks entering Kyiv are expected to continue off and on. With snow and sub-freezing temperatures forecast through Friday, restrictions on trucks entering Kyiv are expected to continue off and on. At a peak, 3,000 trucks were stopped outside the capital, wit...

Due to the cold temperatures, coal reserves at thermal power plants fell sharply during the first week in February, hitting 57% of minimum, required volumes Due to the cold temperatures, coal reserves at thermal power plants fell sharply during the first week in February, hitting 57% of minimum, required volumes, Ukrenergo reported yesterday. To fill the ...

DTEK Energy has announced a tentative agreement with bond and bank debt holders to restructure much of its $2 billion bond and bank debt DTEK Energy has announced a tentative agreement with bond and bank debt holders to restructure much of its $2 billion bond and bank debt. After 10 months of negotiations, the deal’s center piece is ex...

Analysts generally welcomed the proposed exit from a default that rattled investors last March: Analysts generally welcomed the proposed exit from a default that rattled investors last March:

Ukraine’s economic activity in the fourth quarter of last year was only down 1% yoy, far better than the forecast drop of 3% Ukraine’s economic activity in the fourth quarter of last year was only down 1% yoy, far better than the forecast drop of 3%, Economy Minister Ihor Petrashko told reporters Tuesday at the Ukraine 30 C...

Adamant Capital wrote: “The updated terms look significantly better than those disclosed at the end of November…We confirm our ‘Buy’ recommendation.”

Ukraine’s steel production could increase by as much as 6% this year, to 21.8 million tons, Ukraine’s steel production could increase by as much as 6% this year, to 21.8 million tons, according to a study prepared by the GMK Center, a metals industry analytical and consulting group: “Forecas...

Concorde Capital wrote Concorde Capital wrote: “The updated DTEK’s offer provides more clarity about minimum payments to bondholders…the updated restructuring terms look balanced.”

Ukraine’s full bore coronavirus vaccination campaign may be delayed from March to April Ukraine’s full bore coronavirus vaccination campaign may be delayed from March to April because of government paper work delays in China and Ukraine, reports Reuters. Last week, Ukraine’s Lekhim asked...

Dragon Capital wrote Dragon Capital wrote: “The updated restructuring terms mark a significant improvement over the previous version…The new proposed DTEK Energy bond structure is also simpler than the previous variant an...

Vaccinations are scheduled to start Monday, drawing on an expected shipment of 117,000 Pfizer vaccines. President Zelenskiy talked on the phone Monday afternoon with Albert Bourla, Vaccinations are scheduled to start Monday, drawing on an expected shipment of 117,000 Pfizer vaccines. President Zelenskiy talked on the phone Monday afternoon with Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer Pharm...

All Ukrainians should have access to vaccines by the end of this year, All Ukrainians should have access to vaccines by the end of this year, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov told ICTV’s Freedom of Speech program. He vowed: “We want to ensure that 100% of the population h...

Ukraine’s turn last month to Britain’s Crown Agents to buy coronavirus vaccines illustrates the difficulty in breaking ingrained traditions of drug profiteering at the Health Ministry Ukraine’s turn last month to Britain’s Crown Agents to buy coronavirus vaccines illustrates the difficulty in breaking ingrained traditions of drug profiteering at the Health Ministry, Pavlo Kovtoniuk...

The vaccination of 10 million Ukrainians at risk – about one third of all adults – is a condition for Ukraine receiving The vaccination of 10 million Ukrainians at risk – about one third of all adults – is a condition for Ukraine receiving a $30 million World Bank loan this spring under its Covid-19 Emergency Response ...

US support to Ukraine for combatting the pandemic totals $48 million over the last year US support to Ukraine for combatting the pandemic totals $48 million over the last year, Kristina A. Kvien, US Chargé d’Affaires, told the Coronavirus Forum on Monday. She said the money has gone to b...

Germany is proving Ukraine with a €13.1 million medical care grant that includes supplying equipment for outpatient diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus Germany is proving Ukraine with a €13.1 million medical care grant that includes supplying equipment for outpatient diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus. This grant, and a second one for €23.5 milli...

Monday, February 1

IKEA opens its first bricks and mortar store in Ukraine today IKEA opens its first bricks and mortar store in Ukraine today, at Kyiv’s Blockbuster Mall, the company announces on Instagram. The store will be the first in SE Europe new ‘city format’ – 5,000 square...

French sportswear brand Decathlon opens this spring its third store in two years in Kyiv French sportswear brand Decathlon opens this spring its third store in two years in Kyiv. With the new store, Decathlon will have 8,500 square meters of retail space in Kyiv – in Prospekt mall, Lavina...

Last Monday, the first day after the January lockdown, about 300,000 shoppers visited Epicenter shopping centers around Ukraine – up 50% yoy, reports the Epicenter K press service. Last Monday, the first day after the January lockdown, about 300,000 shoppers visited Epicenter shopping centers around Ukraine – up 50% yoy, reports the Epicenter K press service. Best sellers were h...

Despite the harsh spring lockdown, Foxtrot achieved a 20% growth in sales of its retail electronics last year Despite the harsh spring lockdown, Foxtrot achieved a 20% growth in sales of its retail electronics last year, Foxtrot CEO Alexey Zozulya reports. On line sales grew strongly, with 9 million people vi...

Marriott International expects to open its first Sheraton in Ukraine, at Kyiv’s Olympiysky complex, by the end of this year Marriott International expects to open its first Sheraton in Ukraine, at Kyiv’s Olympiysky complex, by the end of this year, according to a press release. Delayed for a decade, the hotel project recei...

The Kyiv City Council has made a preliminary decision to expand Sikorsky’s airport’s lone runway by 22% The Kyiv City Council has made a preliminary decision to expand Sikorsky’s airport’s lone runway by 22%, to 2,810 meters. This would allow larger aircraft, such as Airbus A321, to land at Kyiv’s Right...

Russia-controlled Donbas has virtually closed itself off from Ukraine-controlled Donbas, Russia-controlled Donbas has virtually closed itself off from Ukraine-controlled Donbas, according to figures cited by the Kyiv Post. From 250,000 weekly crossings in January, 2020, the number of week...

State Security agents yesterday broke up a ‘shareholders meeting’ in Zaporizhia of Chinese and Ukrainian investors claiming ownership of Motor Sich State Security agents yesterday broke up a ‘shareholders meeting’ in Zaporizhia of Chinese and Ukrainian investors claiming ownership of Motor Sich, the helicopter and jet engine giant. On Friday, Pre...

Two weeks earlier, Wilbur Ross, then US Commerce Secretary, added Skyrizon to a list of companies classified as prohibited military end-users Two weeks earlier, Wilbur Ross, then US Commerce Secretary, added Skyrizon to a list of companies classified as prohibited military end-users, saying its activities threaten U.S. national security. Ro...

Before sending agents to break down the doors of the meeting, Before sending agents to break down the doors of the meeting, Ukraine’s State Security agency, or SBU, warned Sunday that it “is documenting the facts of preparation for the destruction of the product...

Ukraine’s “ Ukraine’s “actions are a barbaric robbery and a serious violation of the legal rights and interests of Chinese companies operating abroad, an unprecedented disrespect for the principles and rules of i...

Skyrizon vowed to proceed with its $3.5 billion suit against Ukraine Skyrizon vowed to proceed with its $3.5 billion suit against Ukraine. China last year became Ukraine’s large trading partner. Ukraine’s two-trade with China through October was $12 billion. By contras...

Skyrizon’s Ukraine partner, DCH Group of Oleksandr Yaroslavsky, was more cautious, Skyrizon’s Ukraine partner, DCH Group of Oleksandr Yaroslavsky, was more cautious, saying yesterday that “leading law firms” had concluded that “the Chinese investors are bona fide buyers and legal ow...