newsukraine

Monday, February 1

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...

Tuesday, January 5

The Covid economy accelerated Ukrainians’ flight from cash in 2020 The Covid economy accelerated Ukrainians’ flight from cash in 2020, indicate figures from PrivatBank, Ukraine’s largest bank. Last year, Ukrainians’ transactions with PrivatBank terminals increased by...

Russia’s Sputnik V Russia’s Sputnik V: Despite an announcement in Moscow that this vaccine will undergo ‘clinical trials’ in Ukraine, officials here say it will not be allowed. Arsen Zhumadilov, Head of Medical Procurem...

Surfing the net during lockdowns, Ukrainians boosted visits to Ukrainian Wikipedia last year by 21% yoy Surfing the net during lockdowns, Ukrainians boosted visits to Ukrainian Wikipedia last year by 21% yoy. In 2020, 855.1 million pages were visited, raising Ukrainian Wikipedia to the rank of 17th most...

The Covid economy accelerated Ukrainians’ flight from cash in 2020 The Covid economy accelerated Ukrainians’ flight from cash in 2020, indicate figures from PrivatBank, Ukraine’s largest bank. Last year, Ukrainians’ transactions with PrivatBank terminals increased by...

Official numbers indicate Official numbers indicate that Ukraine’s coronavirus epidemic has receded according to official numbers. Hospitalizations are down 20% from the early December level of 28,500, Prime Minister Shmyhal s...

The New Year’s holiday temperatures were some of the warmest on record, with the weather comparable to that of a normal mid-October The New Year’s holiday temperatures were some of the warmest on record, with the weather comparable to that of a normal mid-October, reported Central Geophysical Observatory. On Thursday and Friday, r...

Surfing the net during lockdowns, Ukrainians boosted visits to Ukrainian Wikipedia last year by 21% yoy Surfing the net during lockdowns, Ukrainians boosted visits to Ukrainian Wikipedia last year by 21% yoy. In 2020, 855.1 million pages were visited, raising Ukrainian Wikipedia to the rank of 17th most...

Today, only one third of the nation’s 77,000 Covid beds are occupied Today, only one third of the nation’s 77,000 Covid beds are occupied, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov reported yesterday. This is a sharp contrast to November when Covid hospitals in Kyiv were full an...

Official numbers indicate Official numbers indicate that Ukraine’s coronavirus epidemic has receded according to official numbers. Hospitalizations are down 20% from the early December level of 28,500, Prime Minister Shmyhal s...

The New Year’s holiday temperatures were some of the warmest on record, with the weather comparable to that of a normal mid-October The New Year’s holiday temperatures were some of the warmest on record, with the weather comparable to that of a normal mid-October, reported Central Geophysical Observatory. On Thursday and Friday, r...

Confirmed cases may have dropped because people with mild cases do not want to go through the bother and expense of being tested. Confirmed cases may have dropped because people with mild cases do not want to go through the bother and expense of being tested. In addition, over the last three months, 6% of Ukraine’s population fe...

Today, only one third of the nation’s 77,000 Covid beds are occupied Today, only one third of the nation’s 77,000 Covid beds are occupied, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov reported yesterday. This is a sharp contrast to November when Covid hospitals in Kyiv were full an...

“There is a probability that we actually have fewer people now being infected with this coronavirus “There is a probability that we actually have fewer people now being infected with this coronavirus, and it is possible that the first wave is coming to an end,” Serhiy Komistarenko, a member of Ukrai...

Confirmed cases may have dropped because people with mild cases do not want to go through the bother and expense of being tested. Confirmed cases may have dropped because people with mild cases do not want to go through the bother and expense of being tested. In addition, over the last three months, 6% of Ukraine’s population fe...

In face of falling infection numbers, business groups are pressuring the government to soften In face of falling infection numbers, business groups are pressuring the government to soften the lockdown that starts this Friday, the day after Orthodox Christmas, and runs through Sunday January 24...

“There is a probability that we actually have fewer people now being infected with this coronavirus “There is a probability that we actually have fewer people now being infected with this coronavirus, and it is possible that the first wave is coming to an end,” Serhiy Komistarenko, a member of Ukrai...

Starting at 12:01 am on Friday, mandatory closures cover: Starting at 12:01 am on Friday, mandatory closures cover: all restaurants, bars, schools, gyms, swimming and non-food stores. Allowed will be: food stores, pharmacies, medical clinics, sales of hygien...

In face of falling infection numbers, business groups are pressuring the government to soften In face of falling infection numbers, business groups are pressuring the government to soften the lockdown that starts this Friday, the day after Orthodox Christmas, and runs through Sunday January 24...

To prepare for economic pain from the coming lockdown To prepare for economic pain from the coming lockdown, the government has distributed $130 million in grants to almost half a million small business owners and their employees, Prime Minister Shmygal ...

Starting at 12:01 am on Friday, mandatory closures cover: Starting at 12:01 am on Friday, mandatory closures cover: all restaurants, bars, schools, gyms, swimming and non-food stores. Allowed will be: food stores, pharmacies, medical clinics, sales of hygien...

The government is heeding Health Minister Stepanov’s call to stick with the Friday shutdown The government is heeding Health Minister Stepanov’s call to stick with the Friday shutdown. “Many people ask whether we plan to postpone or cancel the quarantine, as the number of cases has been fall...

To prepare for economic pain from the coming lockdown To prepare for economic pain from the coming lockdown, the government has distributed $130 million in grants to almost half a million small business owners and their employees, Prime Minister Shmygal ...

Ukraine will only start to return to normal this spring Ukraine will only start to return to normal this spring, Viktor Lyashko, chief sanitary doctor, predicts in an interview with Ukraina 24 TV. “We will start out a step-by-step return to our usual rhyth...

The government is heeding Health Minister Stepanov’s call to stick with the Friday shutdown The government is heeding Health Minister Stepanov’s call to stick with the Friday shutdown. “Many people ask whether we plan to postpone or cancel the quarantine, as the number of cases has been fall...

In coming weeks, Ukraine hopes to receive almost 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, enough to vaccinate 10 million people, about one third of the adult population this year In coming weeks, Ukraine hopes to receive almost 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, enough to vaccinate 10 million people, about one third of the adult population this year. The Health Ministry...

Ukraine will only start to return to normal this spring Ukraine will only start to return to normal this spring, Viktor Lyashko, chief sanitary doctor, predicts in an interview with Ukraina 24 TV. “We will start out a step-by-step return to our usual rhyth...

China’s Sinovac Biotech China’s Sinovac Biotech: Last week Ukraine’s Health Ministry of Health signed a $34 million ProZorro contract for delivery of 1.9 million doses. Health Minister Maksym Stepanov predicts the first vacc...

In coming weeks, Ukraine hopes to receive almost 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, enough to vaccinate 10 million people, about one third of the adult population this year In coming weeks, Ukraine hopes to receive almost 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, enough to vaccinate 10 million people, about one third of the adult population this year. The Health Ministry...

COVAX COVAX – President Zelenskiy wrote Thursday on Telegram: “We are working to increase supply through COVAX [from 8 million] to 16 million doses.” COVAX is a multinational collaboration organize to ensur...

China’s Sinovac Biotech China’s Sinovac Biotech: Last week Ukraine’s Health Ministry of Health signed a $34 million ProZorro contract for delivery of 1.9 million doses. Health Minister Maksym Stepanov predicts the first vacc...

Poland has offered to transfer 1.5 million vaccine doses to Ukraine Poland has offered to transfer 1.5 million vaccine doses to Ukraine, Yevhen Enin, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister, told Interfax-Ukraine.

COVAX COVAX – President Zelenskiy wrote Thursday on Telegram: “We are working to increase supply through COVAX [from 8 million] to 16 million doses.” COVAX is a multinational collaboration organize to ensur...

Russia’s Sputnik V Russia’s Sputnik V: Despite an announcement in Moscow that this vaccine will undergo ‘clinical trials’ in Ukraine, officials here say it will not be allowed. Arsen Zhumadilov, Head of Medical Procurem...

Poland has offered to transfer 1.5 million vaccine doses to Ukraine Poland has offered to transfer 1.5 million vaccine doses to Ukraine, Yevhen Enin, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister, told Interfax-Ukraine.

Monday, December 28

The budget is built around these numbers for 2021: The budget is built around these numbers for 2021: GDP growth — 4.6%; inflation — 7.3%, public debt to GDP at 65%; average exchange rate — UAH 29.1 per dollar (versus UAH 28.39 today...

In 2021, the Infrastructure Ministry plans to spend $21 million to upgrade the runway of Vinnytsia In 2021, the Infrastructure Ministry plans to spend $21 million to upgrade the runway of Vinnytsia, the nation’s 11th busiest airport. At the same time, the city is going to upgrade the terminal to si...

Retail sales for this year through November are up 8% in real terms, compared to the same 11-month period in 2019, Retail sales for this year through November are up 8% in real terms, compared to the same 11-month period in 2019, reports the State Statistics Service. In November alone, retail sales were up 12.1% y...

Starting today, Turkey, the top foreign travel destination for Ukrainians, requires a negative result of PCR coronavirus test performed 72 hours before arrival Starting today, Turkey, the top foreign travel destination for Ukrainians, requires a negative result of PCR coronavirus test performed 72 hours before arrival. Egypt, the other leading destination fo...

Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes: “Retail sales in Ukraine are booming, backed by fast growth of real wages. Strong household consumption is helping the economy to offset falling investment...

Investments were down 24% in the third quarter Investments were down 24% in the third quarter, compared to the same July-September period in 2019. The Central Bank attributes this to uncertainty over the Covid-19 pandemic and freezing of solar and...

To mitigate the impact of the upcoming Covid quarantine, the government last week distributed $80 million in aid to 278,000 employees and small business owners To mitigate the impact of the upcoming Covid quarantine, the government last week distributed $80 million in aid to 278,000 employees and small business owners, the Digitalization Ministry reports. Wi...

Restaurants and bars can stay open until 7 am on New Year’s Day Restaurants and bars can stay open until 7 am on New Year’s Day, the Cabinet of Ministers has decreed. The following weekend, on Friday January 8, a 2-week strict lockdown is to be imposed nationwide,...

China, already Ukraine’s largest trading partner, could increase its two-way trade with Ukraine by 50%, to $20 billion by 2025, China, already Ukraine’s largest trading partner, could increase its two-way trade with Ukraine by 50%, to $20 billion by 2025, Irina Nikorak, executive director of Silk Link, Ukraine’s Silk Road Asso...

Ukraine is negotiating with a Chinese manufacturer for a supply of vaccines against Covid-19, Ukraine is negotiating with a Chinese manufacturer for a supply of vaccines against Covid-19, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said Thursday on Ukraine 24 TV channel.

Of the 30 million ‘economically active’ Ukrainians, only 37%, or 10.9 million, pay taxes Of the 30 million ‘economically active’ Ukrainians, only 37%, or 10.9 million, pay taxes, Oleksiy Lyubchenko, Head of the State Tax Service, said recently on the Freedom of Speech show of Ukraina TV. ...

The top tax dodging regions are largely in the West The top tax dodging regions are largely in the West: Uzhgorod – 63%; Chernivtsi – 53%; Odesa — 48%; and Lviv — 46%. In central Ukraine, rates are better: Kyiv – 30%; Cher...

Off the books transactions account for “somewhere over 50%” of GDP Off the books transactions account for “somewhere over 50%” of GDP, Danil Getmantsev, ruling party MP and chair of the Rada committee on finance, tax and customs policy, told Radio Liberty. He called ...

In one step, 100,000 small businesses have downloaded the ‘cash register in a smart phone’ app since its debut August 1 In one step, 100,000 small businesses have downloaded the ‘cash register in a smart phone’ app since its debut August 1, 2020 Getmantsev said. As a result, there have been 100 million sales receipts u...

Legalized gambling will bring in $270 million in new tax revenues in 2021 Legalized gambling will bring in $270 million in new tax revenues in 2021, Hetmantsev predicted in the Radio Svoboda interview. Gambling in high-end hotel casinos is to start in Ukraine next year.