ukrainetoday

Friday, January 22

Qatar’s state-owned power development company, Nebras, is buying control of 214 MW of Ukraine solar and wind plants Qatar’s state-owned power development company, Nebras, is buying control of 214 MW of Ukraine solar and wind plants from Vasyl Khmelnytsky and his partners, according to a filing with Ukraine’s Antimo...

Germany’s shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd AG is launching three container trains from Odesa – to Dnipro, to Kyiv and to Kharkiv. Germany’s shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd AG is launching three container trains from Odesa – to Dnipro, to Kyiv and to Kharkiv. Each ‘block train’ will leave Odesa three times a week with 30-45 containers...

Ukrzaliznytsia carried 16 million passengers on long distance trains last year, 30% of the volume of 2019. Ukrzaliznytsia carried 16 million passengers on long distance trains last year, 30% of the volume of 2019. About 15% of passengers traveled on the elite Intercity and Intercity + high-speed trains, th...

Ukraine cut its coal import bill last year by 40% yoy, to $1.7 billion Ukraine cut its coal import bill last year by 40% yoy, to $1.7 billion, reports, the State Customs Service. Ukraine cut its volume of imported coal by 22%, to 17 million tons. In dollar terms, the top...

After this week’s cold weather, ice breakers started work yesterday After this week’s cold weather, ice breakers started work yesterday in Ukraine’s four most affected ports: Bilhorod-Dnistrovs’kyi, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Olvia.

Monday, January 18

Ukraine’s Armed Forces plan to order up to eight new An-74 multipurpose transport jets to start replacing its aging An-26 fleet, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleh Uruskiy Ukraine’s Armed Forces plan to order up to eight new An-74 multipurpose transport jets to start replacing its aging An-26 fleet, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleh Uruskiy writes on Facebook. The ...

Epicenter K, Ukraine’s largest retailer, plans to invest $1.2 billion through the end of next year Epicenter K, Ukraine’s largest retailer, plans to invest $1.2 billion through the end of next year, Petro Mykhailyshyn, Director General of the group, said Thursday at a press conference at Interfax-U...

Epicenter, Ukraine’s version of Home Depot, has 62 hypermarkets with a total area of Epicenter, Ukraine’s version of Home Depot, has 62 hypermarkets with a total area of over 1 million square meters nationwide. Recently, the company has invested in farming and logistics. Mykhailyshy...

To reach Ukraine’s smaller cities, Epicenter is building up to 100 smaller format stores – retail spaces with 4-6,000 square meters To reach Ukraine’s smaller cities, Epicenter is building up to 100 smaller format stores – retail spaces with 4-6,000 square meters, Mikhailishin told Interfax-Ukraine in an interview. Aiming at the h...

Although attendance at shopping malls dropped by 26% yoy last year, overall retail sales were up 7.6% for the first 11 months of 2020 Although attendance at shopping malls dropped by 26% yoy last year, overall retail sales were up 7.6% for the first 11 months of 2020, reports NAI Ukraine, the commercial real estate consulting compan...

Online orders through OLX Delivery, one of Ukraine’s largest internet shopping platforms, jumped for the for the period Dec. 9 to Jan 13 Online orders through OLX Delivery, one of Ukraine’s largest internet shopping platforms, jumped for the for the period Dec. 9 to Jan 13, compared to last year, the company’s analytical service report...

Starting this week, service personnel in all stores, restaurants Starting this week, service personnel in all stores, restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, and gas stations, must first address customers in Ukrainian. Customers are not obligated to use Ukrainian and can c...

Facing complaints about coronavirus vaccine profiteering and delays, Ukraine’s Health Ministry signed a contract last week with Crown Agents, a British international development company Facing complaints about coronavirus vaccine profiteering and delays, Ukraine’s Health Ministry signed a contract last week with Crown Agents, a British international development company, to buy the Ch...

In March, the mass vaccination of 2.5 million Ukrainians is to start In March, the mass vaccination of 2.5 million Ukrainians is to start. Later in the spring, people will be able to buy vaccinations – a window for foreigners to get vaccinated here. Minister Stepanov t...

Starting tomorrow, all airline passengers traveling to the US, including US citizens, must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel Starting tomorrow, all airline passengers traveling to the US, including US citizens, must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19...

Russia’s Gazprom resumes construction of Nord Stream 2 this week, aiming to complete work in Danish waters by the end of May and in Germany waters by the end of June, Russia’s Gazprom resumes construction of Nord Stream 2 this week, aiming to complete work in Danish waters by the end of May and in Germany waters by the end of June, reported Bloomberg, citing an off...

Zurich Insurance Group Zurich Insurance Group AG has become the latest European company to pull out of the controversial Russia-Germany pipeline project, bowing to US sanctions, reports Bloomberg in a separate story. Presum...

Foreign holdings of Ukrainian bonds ticked up 3.8% in the first two auctions of 2021 Foreign holdings of Ukrainian bonds ticked up 3.8% in the first two auctions of 2021, hitting UAH 87.6 billion, or $3.1 billion. Foreigners now hold 8.75% of the Ukrainian government bond market, acco...

Air traffic in and out of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, dropped by 51% last year Air traffic in and out of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, dropped by 51% last year, slightly better than the nationwide drop of 64%, reported the Center for Transportation Strategies. Worldwid...

Thursday, January 7

Provided Covid-19 vaccines are distributed extensively, the world economy will rebound this year by 4% Provided Covid-19 vaccines are distributed extensively, the world economy will rebound this year by 4%, nearly recovering from its 4.3% fall last year, predicts the World Bank’s Global Economic ...

Ukrzaliznytsia increased its freight traffic in December by 7.4% yoy, Ukrzaliznytsia increased its freight traffic in December by 7.4% yoy, transporting 26.7 million tons of cargo, reports the state railroad’s press service. By another measure, freight turnover was up 4...

As part of the ‘Small Carpathian Circle,’ a mountain driving circuit through Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions As part of the ‘Small Carpathian Circle,’ a mountain driving circuit through Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions, Lviv region plans to rebuild 75 km of mountain roads this year, including up...

Ukraine ended the year with $29.1 billion in reserves, a 15% yoy increase Ukraine ended the year with $29.1 billion in reserves, a 15% yoy increase, the National Bank of Ukraine reported yesterday. The highest level in eight years, today’s reserves are enough to cover five ...

Alfa-Bank Ukraine’s Oleksiy Blinov wrote: “ Alfa-Bank Ukraine’s Oleksiy Blinov wrote: “This strong increase was delivered via massive FX debt placements by the Ministry of Finance. Overall, MinFin borrowed a net of $2.6 billion in December.”...

In the first government bond auction of the new year, the Finance Ministry raised the equivalent of $308 million — 37% of the amount raised the week before In the first government bond auction of the new year, the Finance Ministry raised the equivalent of $308 million — 37% of the amount raised the week before. Choosing among four hryvnia bonds – 3...

Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes: Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes: “The drop in auction receipts after the record-high results of December is not surprising. Nonetheless, UAH 9 billion in receipts is quite a strong result ...

Dragon Capital writes: Dragon Capital writes: “With the 2021 budget’s deficit target set at 5.5% of GDP, government borrowing needs will remain high this year, keeping it reliant on cooperation with the IMF.”

Ukraine’s 16-day lockdown of restaurants and shopping malls starts tomorrow Ukraine’s 16-day lockdown of restaurants and shopping malls starts tomorrow. Confirmed new coronavirus cases totaled 6,911 yesterday morning – one half the daily average of one month ago. In light of ...

In face of business pressure to soften or shorten the lockdown In face of business pressure to soften or shorten the lockdown, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov told reporters yesterday: “The Health Ministry is against the postponement of the quarantine, against it...

In 2020, 20 Ukrainian films backed by the State Film Agency are now screening in cinemas, and 92 new film projects were launched In 2020, 20 Ukrainian films backed by the State Film Agency are now screening in cinemas, and 92 new film projects were launched, Oleksandr Tkachenko, Culture and Information Policy Minister, told rep...

French President Emmanuel Macron is one of a string of Western leaders expected to visit Ukraine this year French President Emmanuel Macron is one of a string of Western leaders expected to visit Ukraine this year. Next Tuesday, Moldova’s new, pro-EU President Maia Sandu will visit Kyiv, the first such vis...

Odesa region’s Pivdennyi port consolidated its position as Ukraine’s premier sea port last year, increasing cargo by 14.5% yoy, and accounting for 39% for all of Ukraine’s waterborne trade. Odesa region’s Pivdennyi port consolidated its position as Ukraine’s premier sea port last year, increasing cargo by 14.5% yoy, and accounting for 39% for all of Ukraine’s waterborne trade. Ukraine’s ...

To boost cargo on the Dnipro River To boost cargo on the Dnipro River, the Infrastructure Ministry plans to introduce a liberalized regime where captains of foreign flag vessels have to simply email an application for a port call to th...

President Zelenskiy last week signed the law “On Inland Water Transport,” President Zelenskiy last week signed the law “On Inland Water Transport,” legislation that opens the Dnipro to foreign flag vessels and allows for the creation of a dedicated fund to rebuild the locks...

Tuesday, December 29

With demand high for lithium for batteries, Gosgeonadr, the state Geology Service, is trying to conduct a public, online auction of two deposits With demand high for lithium for batteries, Gosgeonadr, the state Geology Service, is trying to conduct a public, online auction of two deposits – a 40-hectare site in Donetsk region and a 300-hectare...

The Prosecutor General’s Office yesterday charged Oleksandr Tupytsky The Prosecutor General’s Office yesterday charged Oleksandr Tupytsky, chairman of the Constitutional Court, with bribing a witness to make him give false testimony. The charge comes one week after Rad...

The Cabinet of Ministers approved yesterday seven production-sharing agreements with private and state companies for the production of oil and gas. The Cabinet of Ministers approved yesterday seven production-sharing agreements with private and state companies for the production of oil and gas. Only one foreign company is involved – Houston-based...

Ukraine’s biggest ski resort Bukovel is fully booked through the New Year’s holidays Ukraine’s biggest ski resort Bukovel is fully booked through the New Year’s holidays, Reuters reports from the Carpathians. With EU skis closed or inaccessible to Ukrainian tourists, Bukovel is jammed...

Ukraine faces a second year of high foreign debt payments in 2021– $16.1 billion. Ukraine faces a second year of high foreign debt payments in 2021– $16.1 billion. This is almost double the payments expected for 2022 – $8.6 billion – and $8.9 billion in 2023, the ...

AVELLUM law firm is emerging as Ukraine’s leading advisor on Eurobond issuances, advising on $1.2 billion worth of bonds AVELLUM law firm is emerging as Ukraine’s leading advisor on Eurobond issuances, advising on $1.2 billion worth of bonds in the second half of 2020. They were: Kernel’s $300 million offering of 2027 n...

Since freight service started in June 2020, 22 Chinese container trains have arrived at Kyiv-Liski Left Bank station Since freight service started in June 2020, 22 Chinese container trains have arrived at Kyiv-Liski Left Bank station, reports Ukrzaliznytsia. The trains take about two weeks to travel 9,000 km from Ch...

Ukrzaliznytsia is forcing the first private freight operator on UZ tracks to charge haulage tariffs seven times those of the state railroad, Ukrzaliznytsia is forcing the first private freight operator on UZ tracks to charge haulage tariffs seven times those of the state railroad, reported RBK Ukraina. Earlier this month, UZ signed the fir...

To take tractor-trailer trucks off the roads, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to offer shippers the option of sending semi-trailers to the EU on flatbed wagons To take tractor-trailer trucks off the roads, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to offer shippers the option of sending semi-trailers to the EU on flatbed wagons, Volodymyr Zhmak, the railroad’s CEO, tells Mintran...

Five or six “large domestic and foreign investors are ready to participate” in leasing some of Ukraine’s busiest rail stations Five or six “large domestic and foreign investors are ready to participate” in leasing some of Ukraine’s busiest rail stations, Alexander Pertsovsky, head of UZ’s ‘Passenger Company,’ tells Mintrans. ...

Thefts of parts from private company wagons in UZ workshops has become so bad that Lemtrans has started painting its removable parts a signature lemon yellow Thefts of parts from private company wagons in UZ workshops has become so bad that Lemtrans has started painting its removable parts a signature lemon yellow, reported Rail.Insider. Lemtrans, the owne...

VR Capital, the London-based emerging markets hedge fund, is pursuing litigation against Ukrzaliznytsia over a $300 million package of defaulted loans VR Capital, the London-based emerging markets hedge fund, is pursuing litigation against Ukrzaliznytsia over a $300 million package of defaulted loans that VR acquired two years ago at auction from Ru...

In the first quarter of 2021, DTEK Energy will launch Ukraine’s first industrial-scale energy storage system project In the first quarter of 2021, DTEK Energy will launch Ukraine’s first industrial-scale energy storage system project, DTEK CEO Maksym Timchenko announced last week. US company Honeywell is build...

Monday, December 28

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.

Ukrainian Insurance Group, a unit of Vienna Insurance Group, has paid $1.3 million for a cargo of wheat destroyed on August 4 in the massive port explosion in Beirut Ukrainian Insurance Group, a unit of Vienna Insurance Group, has paid $1.3 million for a cargo of wheat destroyed on August 4 in the massive port explosion in Beirut. The cargo was insured against all...

ukrainetoday

Ukraine cut its coal import bill last year by 40% yoy, to $1.7 billion Ukraine cut its coal import bill last year by 40% yoy, to $1.7 billion, reports, the State Customs Service. Ukraine cut its volume of imported coal by 22%, to 17 million tons. In dollar terms, the top...

After this week’s cold weather, ice breakers started work yesterday After this week’s cold weather, ice breakers started work yesterday in Ukraine’s four most affected ports: Bilhorod-Dnistrovs’kyi, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Olvia.

Epicenter, Ukraine’s version of Home Depot, has 62 hypermarkets with a total area of Epicenter, Ukraine’s version of Home Depot, has 62 hypermarkets with a total area of ​​over 1 million square meters nationwide. Recently, the company has invested in farming and logistics. Mykhailyshy...

Starting this week, service personnel in all stores, restaurants Starting this week, service personnel in all stores, restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, and gas stations, must first address customers in Ukrainian. Customers are not obligated to use Ukrainian and can c...

In March, the mass vaccination of 2.5 million Ukrainians is to start In March, the mass vaccination of 2.5 million Ukrainians is to start. Later in the spring, people will be able to buy vaccinations – a window for foreigners to get vaccinated here. Minister Stepanov t...

Zurich Insurance Group Zurich Insurance Group AG has become the latest European company to pull out of the controversial Russia-Germany pipeline project, bowing to US sanctions, reports Bloomberg in a separate story. Presum...

Foreign holdings of Ukrainian bonds ticked up 3.8% in the first two auctions of 2021 Foreign holdings of Ukrainian bonds ticked up 3.8% in the first two auctions of 2021, hitting UAH 87.6 billion, or $3.1 billion. Foreigners now hold 8.75% of the Ukrainian government bond market, acco...

Air traffic in and out of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, dropped by 51% last year Air traffic in and out of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, dropped by 51% last year, slightly better than the nationwide drop of 64%, reported the Center for Transportation Strategies. Worldwid...

Ukrzaliznytsia increased its freight traffic in December by 7.4% yoy, Ukrzaliznytsia increased its freight traffic in December by 7.4% yoy, transporting 26.7 million tons of cargo, reports the state railroad’s press service. By another measure, freight turnover was up 4...

Ukraine ended the year with $29.1 billion in reserves, a 15% yoy increase Ukraine ended the year with $29.1 billion in reserves, a 15% yoy increase, the National Bank of Ukraine reported yesterday. The highest level in eight years, today’s reserves are enough to cover five ...

Alfa-Bank Ukraine’s Oleksiy Blinov wrote: “ Alfa-Bank Ukraine’s Oleksiy Blinov wrote: “This strong increase was delivered via massive FX debt placements by the Ministry of Finance. Overall, MinFin borrowed a net of $2.6 billion in December.”...

Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes: Concorde Capital’s Evgeniya Akhtyrko writes: “The drop in auction receipts after the record-high results of December is not surprising. Nonetheless, UAH 9 billion in receipts is quite a strong result ...

Dragon Capital writes: Dragon Capital writes: “With the 2021 budget’s deficit target set at 5.5% of GDP, government borrowing needs will remain high this year, keeping it reliant on cooperation with the IMF.”

Ukraine’s 16-day lockdown of restaurants and shopping malls starts tomorrow Ukraine’s 16-day lockdown of restaurants and shopping malls starts tomorrow. Confirmed new coronavirus cases totaled 6,911 yesterday morning – one half the daily average of one month ago. In light of ...

In face of business pressure to soften or shorten the lockdown In face of business pressure to soften or shorten the lockdown, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov told reporters yesterday: “The Health Ministry is against the postponement of the quarantine, against it...

To boost cargo on the Dnipro River To boost cargo on the Dnipro River, the Infrastructure Ministry plans to introduce a liberalized regime where captains of foreign flag vessels have to simply email an application for a port call to th...

President Zelenskiy last week signed the law “On Inland Water Transport,” President Zelenskiy last week signed the law “On Inland Water Transport,” legislation that opens the Dnipro to foreign flag vessels and allows for the creation of a dedicated fund to rebuild the locks...

The Prosecutor General’s Office yesterday charged Oleksandr Tupytsky The Prosecutor General’s Office yesterday charged Oleksandr Tupytsky, chairman of the Constitutional Court, with bribing a witness to make him give false testimony. The charge comes one week after Rad...

Ukraine’s biggest ski resort Bukovel is fully booked through the New Year’s holidays Ukraine’s biggest ski resort Bukovel is fully booked through the New Year’s holidays, Reuters reports from the Carpathians. With EU skis closed or inaccessible to Ukrainian tourists, Bukovel is jammed...

Ukraine faces a second year of high foreign debt payments in 2021– $16.1 billion. Ukraine faces a second year of high foreign debt payments in 2021– $16.1 billion. This is almost double the payments expected for 2022 – $8.6 billion – and $8.9 billion in 2023, the ...

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.

Epicenter, Ukraine’s version of Home Depot, has 62 hypermarkets with a total area of Epicenter, Ukraine’s version of Home Depot, has 62 hypermarkets with a total area of over 1 million square meters nationwide. Recently, the company has invested in farming and logistics. Mykhailyshy...