Contents tagged with Ukraine

  • Entire Factory Illegally Transported from Ukraine to Russia Resumes Operations

    A Ukrainian factory which was repossessed by Russia and illegally transported from eastern Ukraine has started its work in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky in Russia's Rostov Oblast. The factory was removed from the Lugansk region of Ukraine in 2014 under the cover of military groups, as reported by Rossiiskaya Gazeta.

    The Kamensky Transport Machinery Plant, formerly the Lugansk Electromechanical Plant, specializes in the production of equipment for rail transport and ore-mining. The equipment produced by …

  • Russia refutes claims that expropriated Ukrainian warship will be used in Syrian operation

    Russia has refuted claims that the large Ukrainian landing ship, "Konstantin Olshansky", which was captured during the annexation of Crimea, will be used for military operations in Syria.

    This was reported to the Interfax news agency by an informed source.

    “The General Staff of the Russian Navy does not plan to use the ship in the operation which has been called the 'Syrian Express' by foreign media.  This ship’s return, along with others, to Ukraine is currently suspended due to the conflict …

  • Poroshenko to IMF: Ukraine will continue reforms despite crisis in relations in the government

    The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, held a phone conversation with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, in which an agreement was reached to prepare a road map for reforms, the Press Service of the President stated.

    As noted, Poroshenko stressed that Ukraine will continue reforms despite the crisis in relations between the government and the parliamentary coalition.  In addition, the President stressed the need to restart the Cabinet of Ministers …

  • Lysenko: Most Russian 'journalists' in eastern Ukraine are spies

    According to the speaker of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration on issues in the conflict area, Andrei Lysenko, most “Russian journalists” who wish to work in eastern Ukraine are spies.  He stated this in an interview with Novaya Gazeta.

    “It is simple.  There are no joint activities with Russian journalists in the ATO area [eastern Ukraine].  The majority of Russian Federation citizens who were identified as belonging to the press were found to be spies.  They failed a background check …

  • IMF says Ukraine's Bailout is at Risk

    After the resignation of the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Aivaras Abromavičius, the IMF has warned Kiev of a possible cessation of financial support. The Managing Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, stated on the 10th of February that it is difficult to imagine that the Fund could further support the country without significant efforts by the Ukrainian Government.

    She also expressed concern about how slowly Ukraine is moving in the fight against corruption. The …

  • Kremlin Spends up to $2 Billion per Year on International Anti-Ukrainian Information Campaign

    The Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Vadym Prystaiko, said in his interview with Glavkom that Russia spends about $2 billion a year on its international anti-Ukraine campaign. “Moscow spends about $2 billion on promoting the policies of the Party abroad,” Prystaiko stated, noting that this money is used to fund mass media, such as Life News, Sputnik News, Russia Today and others. He noted that this was the amount estimated by Ukrainian diplomats and this figure could be higher.

    “How did we …

  • Russian Military Observers Accused of Intending to Distribute Instruction Manuals for Weapons in Ukraine

    Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have accused two Russian military observers of attempting to distribute instruction manuals for rocket launchers, hand grenades, and mines, as well as teaching material concerning modern tank warfare, as reported by Interfax on February 9th.

    “On the 2nd of February 2016, our investigation brought a criminal case under Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the procedure for transfer of goods, which are subject to State control). The …

  • Poroshenko: MPs shouldn't have absolute parliamentary immunity

    On the 9th of February, at a meeting with employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine stated that MPs don't need absolute parliamentary immunity.

    “I didn’t wait until the People’s Deputies took the initiative to develop draft constitutional amendments concerning the revocation of parliamentary immunity. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted in favor of it and for sending it to the Constitutional Court. Then, they became very busy and they didn’t have the …

  • IMF Recommends that Ukraine Raise Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco

    By increasing the excise tax on cigarettes and beer, Ukraine will add approximately UAH 28.7 billion and UAH 4.5 billion to its budget, respectively in 2016, as stated in a report by the International Monetary Fund. The text of this report was made available to the Ukrainian news agency UKRINFORM.

    Based on the IMF estimates, by increasing the excise tax on tobacco by 40% Ukraine would receive an income of UAH 28.7 billion (1.3% of GDP) this year.  Raising the excise tax on beer by 100% would …

  • Ukrainian Ambassador to Czech Republic demands that a map depicting Crimea as part of Russia be fixed

    The Ukrainian Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Boris Zaychuk, demanded that the Czech publisher, Ottovo Nakladatelství, rectify a map of Ukraine in their “World Atlas of Football” edition in order for it to be in accordance with national law.

    “In this atlas, Crimea is colored the same as Russia.  In addition, the general map of the world in this edition does not show Crimea as a part of Ukraine.  Therefore, the map violates international law and ignores the consolidated position of the EU …