Sea of corruption

The Hroshi [ Money ] investigative project decided to start untying the corruption knot from one of the country 's major port cities of Mariupol .
It was here , in one of the naval training centers , that journalists set up a meeting with a ship electrician who has been sailing across the globe for over eight years .
`` The city hosts a seaport .
First I got to the port , I liked the port , it was interesting… All those large ships… Then I engaged with small fleet , cabotage , and so it went… I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take up this good job , '' says Oleksiy , the man who asked not to reveal his full name or show his face , worrying that he might lose his lucrative job over his testimony .
After all , according to him , he receives some $ 5,000 a month .
`` It all depends on the type of ships – dry cargo , container ships , tankers , vessels carrying chemicals – so wages could even be higher , up to $ 7,000 , '' he says .
He claims part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fleet officials .
One of the main areas of extortion , Oleksiy says , is a profile exam run by the state qualification commission .
`` It does n't matter if you studied or not .
You only pass the test if you pay , '' claims Oleksiy .
Legislation says the exam commission is formed by the Inspectorate for the Certification of Seafarers , which , in turn , is subordinated to the Maritime Administration , colloquially known as MorAd .
This is the last link in the infrastructure ministry 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seafarers are ultimately in the field of the ministry 's responsibility .
`` The system works in such a way that they 'll pump money out of you anyway .
Varying figures .
In my case , it was $ 800 per exam if you 're a ship officer .
If you 're an ordinary sailor , it 's $ 500 .
Something like that , '' says Oleksiy .
Not only graduates of specialized educational facilities who have n't yet practiced on ships , but also each of the 200,000 experienced seafarers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the state qualification commission .
`` According to standards of certification , the STCW Convention , every five years seafarers pass tests to extend their paperwork or in cases if they require a skills upgrade , '' says Viacheslav Kyslovskyi , vice president of the Ukrainian Naval Chamber and long-distance captain .
Besides the international convention , Ukraine has a set of unspoken rules , according to which every seafarer is obliged to pay their `` due '' to intermediaries ahead of the exam .
The rules of the game are pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed the exam .
You do n't pay – you go back and study , learning how… to pay .
`` There were some principled people who did n't pay .
I even know someone who did n't pay twice ( you are allowed to take the exam three times ) , but eventually paid for the third time , and only then did he pass , '' says Oleksiy .
But who exactly is the recipient of these mandatory payments and how are they distributed ?
Oleh Hryhorov , a former director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Inspectorate for the Training and Certification of Seafarers and long-distance captain , knows firsthand how those shady schemes work .
He spent more than five years in office – from 2013 to mid-2018 .
The initial t schemes , says the insider , started not so long ago – only some four years back .
Now the system of bribes works like a Swiss watch .
`` Did intermediaries approach me ?
Yes , they did .
They would say : 'Your work should be based on the principle – you work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that they do not confirm the level of skills , do n't allow to pass the exam to those who have n't paid an intermediary .
And the intermediary will be determined by that person from the business , '' Hryhorov says .
He is convinced that the intermediaries are closely connected not only with criminal businesses and the Inspectorate .
They supposedly get assistance in building a corruption vertical from those who are supposed to tackle graft .
`` The man representing the 'business ' was named Dmytro .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite often referred to the names of certain law enforcement officers .
One of those names was Denys Matkovsky , an officer with the SBU state reserve , '' says Oleh Hryhorov .
Journalists stopped short of claiming that the reserve officer of the Security Service , an adviser to former Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Lavreniuk , decided to violate law instead of protecting it , but Mr. Matkovsky 's asset declaration is so eloquent that it can not be ignored .
He has officially declared assets more than 10 times higher than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone , the security official keeps $ 150,000 in cash , while his wife has another $ 55,000 .
Meanwhile , the family 's total income declared is UAH 22,000 per month .
Assuming that the security officer is indeed part of the scheme , the origins of this money can be simply explained .
`` When I was in the Mykolayiv branch , these people approached me and said : 'Here , look , we offer the following terms : you will get $ 60 from each seafarer , another $ 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the chair and at least two members – these people will also receive $ 60 .
They said that $ 5 to $ 10 would be given to the inspection for legal support .
And everything else will be sent to Kyiv ' , '' says Oleh Hryhorov .
According to him , usually the black ledger cash is divided in half .
One half is sent to local performers , and the other – to handlers from influential Kyiv offices who provide cover-up .
But it 's not only money for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyiv .
To prove this , a journalist disguised himself as a seafarer and joined a private Viber chat involving sailors of all kinds .
No one is hiding there that Ukrainians are forced to pay intermediaries not only for the exams , but also for the entire package of documents required for passing the state qualification commission .
Sailors say that a full package of documents could cost some $ 4,000 .
In general , judging by the communication in that chat , everything is bought and sold in their field .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are three motorists on board who passed their exams for money… For four months they ca n't learn to start a fire pump , they do n't know maritime terminology… it 's scary to leave them on duty alone at night shifts… They buy diplomas , get on the ship for a bribe , and then expose people to risk because of their unprofessionalism . ''
It is the state qualification commission that should prevent such ignoramuses from passing .
But it does not seem to filter out unfit seafarers , as required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who have n't paid for the exam or have n't purchased the `` right '' package of maritime documents from intermediaries .
For example , before passing the exam , seafarers must undergo training in a special training center .
There , they refresh their basic knowledge and acquire invaluable practical skills to respond to emergencies .
In fact , the training center 's certificate must guarantee that , in the event of a critical ship malfunction or fire , the seafarer will be able to save lives of their colleagues and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers , passing which will allow you to be hired by any shipowner .
They meet all international maritime standards so they are fine everywhere .
But when you receive their certificate and come to the Commission , they tell you that certificate does n't fit so they tell you to go to a specific training center , with which they have established connections , '' says Oleksiy .
Usually , in these convenient centers , tuition fees are much higher than those offered by less convenient competitors .
`` I 've had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanic since year-start .
Although my captain 's package costs UAH 15,000 , while these centers charge UAH 70,000 .
Nobody comes to me .
Because they ca n't pass the commission with my documents , '' says Ilya Makhno , director of the Kyiv Training Center .
But the problem is not only about the cost of services at a convenient training center , it 's also about the fact that certificates can be easily purchased without applicants having to actually undergo critical training .
Besides the fake practical training , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes the renewal of a seafarer 's certificate , health certificates , and a diploma confirmation called `` endorsement '' .
To find more evidence , Hroshi approached one of such intermediaries .
The journalist disguised as a sailor told the made up story over the phone , claiming he had a break from the job so he has old-type paperwork and endorsement received back in 2001 so he needs an update for the whole package of documents .
And the intermediary agreed to help with a standard price tag of around $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The full package of documents and the exam will cost a seafarer from $ 3,000 to $ 8,000 , depending on position and appetite or those hustlers .
Given the fact that there are 200,000 sailors in Ukraine , the minimum annual turnover of the black market of seafarers ' paperwork is over $ 120 million .
`` The level of professionalism and knowledge ceased to play an important role .
You just have to pay , while they do n't care about your opinion and your skills , '' says Captain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infrastructure Vladyslav Kryklii , who was appointed almost a year ago , aware of these multimillion-dollar schemes ?
In order to talk in detail about total corruption in the maritime sphere and to pass hand over the evidence , some of which journalist have published , the Hroshi host tried to arrange a personal meeting with the minister , called him up and send an inquiry ...
However , all attempts were in vain .
Unfortunately , such an approach to the problem on the part of the minister could have fatal consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of passengers depend on professionalism of all crew members , '' Oleh Semeniuk emphasizes .
Also , Vice President of the Maritime Chamber of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kislovsky says sailors began to flee from Ukraine to seek assistance in other countries ' administrations – to Romania , Bulgaria , Poland , Lithuania , and Latvia .
Finally , before the heart of Ukraine 's maritime industry finally stops due to corruption and the country loses a quarter of foreign exchange earnings , journalists remind the minister of his promises and that on August 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on `` draconian '' extortion targeting sailors .
Vladislav Krykliy then assured that `` Four to five people who will work in the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Infrastructure should be used as carrot and stick for the market . ''
One can only hope that Vladyslav Krykliy did n't confuse the terms because today the promised stick is only hitting active sailors , while the ministry seems to feed carrots to intermediaries , commission members , and officials with the Maritime Administration .

More than 200,000 Ukrainian seafarers roam the seas worldwide, generating up to a quarter of all forex earnings of Ukraine's labor migrants – every year sailors bring to Ukraine some UAH 80 billion, which is UAH 20 billion more than Kyiv's annual municipal budget. While part of this money fills the treasury, in the form of taxes and fees, the other one feeds handlers of shady corruption schemes.
The Hroshi [Money] investigative project decided to start untying the corruption knot from one of the country's major port cities of Mariupol. It was here, in one of the naval training centers, that journalists set up a meeting with a ship electrician who has been sailing across the globe for over eight years.
"The city hosts a seaport. First I got to the port, I liked the port, it was interesting… All those large ships… Then I engaged with small fleet, cabotage, and so it went… I met some people who advised that I take up this good job," says Oleksiy, the man who asked not to reveal his full name or show his face, worrying that he might lose his lucrative job over his testimony.
After all, according to him, he receives some $5,000 a month. "It all depends on the type of ships – dry cargo, container ships, tankers, vessels carrying chemicals – so wages could even be higher, up to $7,000," he says.
Видео дня
He claims part of the hard-earned money he must share with fleet officials. One of the main areas of extortion, Oleksiy says, is a profile exam run by the state qualification commission.
"It doesn't matter if you studied or not. You only pass the test if you pay," claims Oleksiy. Legislation says the exam commission is formed by the Inspectorate for the Certification of Seafarers, which, in turn, is subordinated to the Maritime Administration, colloquially known as MorAd.
This is the last link in the infrastructure ministry's pyramid. So the wrongdoings reported by seafarers are ultimately in the field of the ministry's responsibility.
"The system works in such a way that they'll pump money out of you anyway. Varying figures. In my case, it was $800 per exam if you're a ship officer. If you're an ordinary sailor, it's $500. Something like that," says Oleksiy.
Not only graduates of specialized educational facilities who haven't yet practiced on ships, but also each of the 200,000 experienced seafarers have to confirm their skills with money before the state qualification commission.
"According to standards of certification, the STCW Convention, every five years seafarers pass tests to extend their paperwork or in cases if they require a skills upgrade," says Viacheslav Kyslovskyi, vice president of the Ukrainian Naval Chamber and long-distance captain.
Besides the international convention, Ukraine has a set of unspoken rules, according to which every seafarer is obliged to pay their "due" to intermediaries ahead of the exam. The rules of the game are pretty simple: you pay – you successfully passed the exam. You don't pay – you go back and study, learning how… to pay.
"There were some principled people who didn't pay. I even know someone who didn't pay twice (you are allowed to take the exam three times), but eventually paid for the third time, and only then did he pass," says Oleksiy.
But who exactly is the recipient of these mandatory payments and how are they distributed?
Oleh Hryhorov, a former director of the Mariupol and Kherson branches of the Inspectorate for the Training and Certification of Seafarers and long-distance captain, knows firsthand how those shady schemes work. He spent more than five years in office – from 2013 to mid-2018.
The initial t schemes, says the insider, started not so long ago – only some four years back. Now the system of bribes works like a Swiss watch.
"Did intermediaries approach me? Yes, they did. They would say: 'Your work should be based on the principle – you work with the members of the commission to make sure that they do not confirm the level of skills, don't allow to pass the exam to those who haven't paid an intermediary. And the intermediary will be determined by that person from the business," Hryhorov says.
He is convinced that the intermediaries are closely connected not only with criminal businesses and the Inspectorate. They supposedly get assistance in building a corruption vertical from those who are supposed to tackle graft.
"The man representing the 'business' was named Dmytro. He lives in Dnipro. He directly and quite often referred to the names of certain law enforcement officers. One of those names was Denys Matkovsky, an officer with the SBU state reserve," says Oleh Hryhorov.
Journalists stopped short of claiming that the reserve officer of the Security Service, an adviser to former Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Lavreniuk, decided to violate law instead of protecting it, but Mr. Matkovsky's asset declaration is so eloquent that it cannot be ignored.
He has officially declared assets more than 10 times higher than his profits. According to official data alone, the security official keeps $150,000 in cash, while his wife has another $55,000. Meanwhile, the family's total income declared is UAH 22,000 per month.
Assuming that the security officer is indeed part of the scheme, the origins of this money can be simply explained.
"When I was in the Mykolaiv branch, these people approached me and said: 'Here, look, we offer the following terms: you will get $60 from each seafarer, another $60 we will give to the commission – to the chair and at least two members – these people will also receive $60. They said that $5 to $10 would be given to the inspection for legal support. And everything else will be sent to Kyiv'," says Oleh Hryhorov.
According to him, usually the black ledger cash is divided in half. One half is sent to local performers, and the other – to handlers from influential Kyiv offices who provide cover-up. But it's not only money for the qualifying exam that is sent to Kyiv.
To prove this, a journalist disguised himself as a seafarer and joined a private Viber chat involving sailors of all kinds. No one is hiding there that Ukrainians are forced to pay intermediaries not only for the exams, but also for the entire package of documents required for passing the state qualification commission. Sailors say that a full package of documents could cost some $4,000.
In general, judging by the communication in that chat, everything is bought and sold in their field. As a result: "… there are three motorists on board who passed their exams for money… For four months they can't learn to start a fire pump, they don't know maritime terminology… it's scary to leave them on duty alone at night shifts… They buy diplomas, get on the ship for a bribe, and then expose people to risk because of their unprofessionalism."
It is the state qualification commission that should prevent such ignoramuses from passing. But it does not seem to filter out unfit seafarers, as required by law. Instead, they target those who haven't paid for the exam or haven't purchased the "right" package of maritime documents from intermediaries.
For example, before passing the exam, seafarers must undergo training in a special training center. There, they refresh their basic knowledge and acquire invaluable practical skills to respond to emergencies. In fact, the training center's certificate must guarantee that, in the event of a critical ship malfunction or fire, the seafarer will be able to save lives of their colleagues and passengers.
"There are certified training centers, passing which will allow you to be hired by any shipowner. They meet all international maritime standards so they are fine everywhere. But when you receive their certificate and come to the Commission, they tell you that certificate doesn't fit so they tell you to go to a specific training center, with which they have established connections," says Oleksiy.
Usually, in these convenient centers, tuition fees are much higher than those offered by less convenient competitors. "I've had not one captain, not one senior mechanic since year-start. Although my captain's package costs UAH 15,000, while these centers charge UAH 70,000. Nobody comes to me. Because they can't pass the commission with my documents," says Ilya Makhno, director of the Kyiv Training Center.
But the problem is not only about the cost of services at a convenient training center, it's also about the fact that certificates can be easily purchased without applicants having to actually undergo critical training.
Besides the fake practical training, the All-inclusive package of services provided by intermediaries includes the renewal of a seafarer's certificate, health certificates, and a diploma confirmation called "endorsement".
To find more evidence, Hroshi approached one of such intermediaries. The journalist disguised as a sailor told the made up story over the phone, claiming he had a break from the job so he has old-type paperwork and endorsement received back in 2001 so he needs an update for the whole package of documents. And the intermediary agreed to help with a standard price tag of around $3,000.
And now let's count. The full package of documents and the exam will cost a seafarer from $3,000 to $8,000, depending on position and appetite or those hustlers. Given the fact that there are 200,000 sailors in Ukraine, the minimum annual turnover of the black market of seafarers' paperwork is over $120 million.
"The level of professionalism and knowledge ceased to play an important role. You just have to pay, while they don't care about your opinion and your skills," says Captain Oleh Semeniuk.
But is Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Kryklii, who was appointed almost a year ago, aware of these multimillion-dollar schemes?
In order to talk in detail about total corruption in the maritime sphere and to pass hand over the evidence, some of which journalist have published, the Hroshi host tried to arrange a personal meeting with the minister, called him up and send an inquiry... However, all attempts were in vain.
Unfortunately, such an approach to the problem on the part of the minister could have fatal consequences.
"Their own lives and those of passengers depend on professionalism of all crew members," Oleh Semeniuk emphasizes.
Also, Vice President of the Maritime Chamber of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kislovsky says sailors began to flee from Ukraine to seek assistance in other countries' administrations – to Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Finally, before the heart of Ukraine's maritime industry finally stops due to corruption and the country loses a quarter of foreign exchange earnings, journalists remind the minister of his promises and that on August 13, 2019, he was already briefed on "draconian" extortion targeting sailors. Vladislav Krykliy then assured that "Four to five people who will work in the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Infrastructure should be used as carrot and stick for the market."
One can only hope that Vladyslav Krykliy didn't confuse the terms because today the promised stick is only hitting active sailors, while the ministry seems to feed carrots to intermediaries, commission members, and officials with the Maritime Administration.
Oleksandr Sokolov


unian--2020-06-23--Ukraine's Cabinet plans to reduce mortgage rate to 5%-7% – PM Shmyhal

A mortgage at 10 % is just the initial minimum target to move the economy forward .
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says the Cabinet of Ministers plans to reduce the rate on mortgage loans in Ukraine to 7 % , or even 5 % .
`` In general , our goal is 5 % -7 % , rather than 10 % , which is just the initial minimum target for mortgages to move the economy forward , '' he told Pershyi Zakhidnyi TV Channel , as reported by the Ukrainian TSN TV news service on June 23 .
Shmyhal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early as this autumn .
`` We will create conditions to this end this summer , but the system is large and stable , while inertia is a certain guarantee of the stability of the banking and monetary systems , '' he said .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine 's Finance Ministry said that certain legislative restrictions related to residence registration prevented the launch of mortgages at 10 % .
Prior to this , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said mortgage loans would be issued at 10 % per annum in Ukraine soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBU ) says that reducing rates on mortgage loans to 10 % per annum in Ukraine is possible after quarantine-related restrictions are lifted .
This also requires the banks ' proper interest rate policy and a number of legal issues to be solved .

Ukraine's Cabinet plans to reduce mortgage rate to 5%-7% – PM Shmyhal
16:40, 23.06.20 1107
A mortgage at 10% is just the initial minimum target to move the economy forward.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-06-23--Ukraine reports 13 new COVID-19 cases in Armed Forces as of June 23

Some 415 servicemen are now isolated ( including self-isolation ) .
The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in the @ @ @ @ @ by 13 as of the morning of June 23 .
`` As of 10:00 Kyiv @ @ @ @ @ some 154 people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine had acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused @ @ @ @ @ In total , 266 people have recovered and five have died during the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ the Medical Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook on June @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 cases were registered in the past 24 hours . ''
Of those newly-infected , @ @ @ @ @ , while another 10 are self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under doctors ' supervision @ @ @ @ @ of health is satisfactory .
Some 415 servicemen are now isolated ( including self-isolation ) @ @ @ @ @ whose isolation term is expiring in the next three days is 41 people .

Some 415 servicemen are now isolated (including self-isolation).
The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in the Armed Forces of Ukraine rose by 13 as of the morning of June 23.
"As of 10:00 Kyiv time on June 23, some 154 people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine had acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In total, 266 people have recovered and five have died during the pandemic," the press service of the Medical Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook on June 23. "Thirteen new COVID-19 cases were registered in the past 24 hours."
Read alsoUkraine sees 833 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours
Видео дня
Of those newly-infected, three people have been hospitalized, while another 10 are self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under doctors' supervision. Currently, their state of health is satisfactory.
Some 415 servicemen are now isolated (including self-isolation). The number of those whose isolation term is expiring in the next three days is 41 people.


unian--2020-06-23--Lithuania may reopen borders for Ukraine, Georgia on July 1

The move will depend on the coronavirus developments , minister says .
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius says Lithuania may @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine and Georgia to cross in starting July 1 , as part of lockdown @ @ @ @ @ outside Schengen will probably reopen from July 1 , but it would be imprudent to @ @ @ @ @ scale – this certainly wo n't happen .
We hope we will be able to @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine , as we imagine , for example , with Israel , but the situation @ @ @ @ @ '' the minister said , as reported by Delfi on June 23 .
According to @ @ @ @ @ standard of no more than 25 COVID-19 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people when allowing @ @ @ @ @ , Portugal and the United Kingdom are not yet allowed into Lithuania , he said @ @ @ @ @ , on May 15 , Latvia , Lithuania and Estonia reopened borders between the two @ @ @ @ @ on movement set amid the quarantine .

The move will depend on the coronavirus developments, minister says.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius says Lithuania may reopen the border for citizens of Ukraine and Georgia to cross in starting July 1, as part of lockdown easing.
"Certain routes outside Schengen will probably reopen from July 1, but it would be imprudent to do this on a massive scale – this certainly won't happen. We hope we will be able to establish routes with Georgia and Ukraine, as we imagine, for example, with Israel, but the situation has worsened there lately," the minister said, as reported by Delfi on June 23.
According to Linkevičius, Lithuania applies the standard of no more than 25 COVID-19 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people when allowing entry. Residents of Sweden, Portugal and the United Kingdom are not yet allowed into Lithuania, he said.
Видео дня
Read alsoFM Kuleba presents interactive online map for Ukrainians traveling abroad amid COVID-19 pandemic
As UNIAN reported earlier, on May 15, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia reopened borders between the two countries, thereby relaxing restrictions on movement set amid the quarantine.


unian--2020-06-23--Russia to continue sowing discord between Ukraine, Poland – Rada vice-speaker

Kondratiuk says Ukraine and Poland `` have no other way than to develop good-neighborly , equal , and mutually beneficial relations of a strategic nature . ''
Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , Olena Kondratiuk says Russia will always try to bring discord in relations between Ukraine and Poland .
`` Our nations and countries have no right to misunderstandings , especially given the difficult historical past .
We must realize Russia will always remain a beneficiary of Ukrainian-Polish strife , they will try to sow discord in relations between Ukraine and Poland .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent anyone from making our two countries fight with each other , thus weakening own resistance to Russian pressure , '' she said during a video meeting of the Ukraine-Poland Parliamentary Assembly , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
Kondratiuk said Ukraine and Poland `` have no other way than to develop good-neighborly , equal , and mutually beneficial relations of a strategic nature . ''
As UNIAN reported earlier , the Polish government criticized an op-ed by Russian President Vladimir Putin about World War II and called it an attempt to manipulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Kondratiuk says Ukraine and Poland "have no other way than to develop good-neighborly, equal, and mutually beneficial relations of a strategic nature."
Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, Olena Kondratiuk says Russia will always try to bring discord in relations between Ukraine and Poland.
"Our nations and countries have no right to misunderstandings, especially given the difficult historical past. We must realize Russia will always remain a beneficiary of Ukrainian-Polish strife, they will try to sow discord in relations between Ukraine and Poland. That is why we must do everything to prevent anyone from making our two countries fight with each other, thus weakening own resistance to Russian pressure," she said during a video meeting of the Ukraine-Poland Parliamentary Assembly, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Read alsoUkraine, Poland to strengthen military cooperation – General Staff
Видео дня
Kondratiuk said Ukraine and Poland "have no other way than to develop good-neighborly, equal, and mutually beneficial relations of a strategic nature."
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Polish government criticized an op-ed by Russian President Vladimir Putin about World War II and called it an attempt to manipulate history to influence current international politics.
MEP Paweł Zalewski has slammed Putin's piece for "destroying historical truth".


unian--2020-06-23--Deputy FM Bozhok suspended at own request pending Poroshenko probe

The relevant government order was issued on June 19 .
The Cabinet of Ministers , Ukraine 's government , has suspended from office Deputy Foreign Minister Yehor Bozhok .
The relevant government order was issued on June 19 following Bozhok 's own request .
Bozhok 's name has been mentioned in a criminal proceeding targeting former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on `` abuse of office '' charges regarding the allegedly illegal appointment of deputy chief of foreign intelligence service Serhiy Semochko .
Poroshenko is being accused of allegedly inciting the foreign intelligence chief to appoint the said official .
Yehor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intelligence Service of Ukraine at the time .
Semochko was a target of journalistic investigations into enrichment sources and his family 's alleged ties with Russia .
`` The government granted my request for suspension .
Now there is not a single reason for further insinuations about any 'obstacles ' to the investigation .
I am convinced that there is no crime as such .
However , it is difficult to believe in impartiality of the investigation .
There remains hope for a fair trial , '' said Bozhok .
Earlier , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restraint targeting Bozhok in the criminal proceeding where one was introduced against Poroshenko ( personal recognizance ) , claiming there is no corpus delicti in Bozhok 's actions .

The relevant government order was issued on June 19.
The Cabinet of Ministers, Ukraine's government, has suspended from office Deputy Foreign Minister Yehor Bozhok.
The relevant government order was issued on June 19 following Bozhok's own request.
Bozhok's name has been mentioned in a criminal proceeding targeting former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on "abuse of office" charges regarding the allegedly illegal appointment of deputy chief of foreign intelligence service Serhiy Semochko.
Видео дня
Read alsoProsecutor general explains essence of charges pressed against Poroshenko
Poroshenko is being accused of allegedly inciting the foreign intelligence chief to appoint the said official. Yehor Bozhok served as Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine at the time.
Semochko was a target of journalistic investigations into enrichment sources and his family's alleged ties with Russia.
"The government granted my request for suspension. Now there is not a single reason for further insinuations about any 'obstacles' to the investigation. I am convinced that there is no crime as such. However, it is difficult to believe in impartiality of the investigation. There remains hope for a fair trial," said Bozhok.
Earlier, the court declined to select any measure of restraint targeting Bozhok in the criminal proceeding where one was introduced against Poroshenko (personal recognizance), claiming there is no corpus delicti in Bozhok's actions.


unian--2020-06-23--Ukraine cuts freight transportation by 16.5%, passenger traffic down by 44% in Jan-May

Get a complete information picture of the day by subscribing to UNIAN ’ s news feeds .
For more information @ @ @ @

Ukraine cuts freight transportation by 16.5%, passenger traffic down by 44% in Jan-May
15:00, 23.06.20 208
Freight turnover also fell by 19.9% and passenger turnover shrank by 51.6%.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-06-23--Light plane crash in Odesa caught on CCTV camera

This way , the exact time of accident was clarified .
Video footage has emerged of the Dolphin light sports @ @ @ @ @ road in the city of Odesa on June 17 .
A video from the scene @ @ @ @ @ online portal .
Thanks to the video , the exact time of accident became known @ @ @ @ @ .
It could be seen the landing gear was down , while the propeller was @ @ @ @ @ at an angle of about 20 degrees , the hull immediately broke in several parts @ @ @ @ @ , a light-engine sports plane crashed in Odesa on June 17 .
A crew of @ @ @ @ @ the accident : the commander died at the scene and his co-pilot died in intensive @ @ @ @ @ to the Odesa Aviation Plant .
It passed certification tests during the crash .

This way, the exact time of accident was clarified.
Video footage has emerged of the Dolphin light sports aircraft crash landing on a road in the city of Odesa on June 17.
A video from the scene was published by the Dumskaya online portal. Thanks to the video, the exact time of accident became known, namely 12:13 Kyiv time.
It could be seen the landing gear was down, while the propeller was idle.
Видео дня
The plane hard-landed at an angle of about 20 degrees, the hull immediately broke in several parts.
As UNIAN reported earlier, a light-engine sports plane crashed in Odesa on June 17. A crew of two people were killed in the accident: the commander died at the scene and his co-pilot died in intensive care.
The plane belonged to the Odesa Aviation Plant. It passed certification tests during the crash.


unian--2020-06-23--Deputy Economy Minister Kachka rigs trade commission's meeting supposed to protect fuel market from

Deputy Economy Minister Kachka rigs trade commission's meeting supposed to protect fuel market from Russian expansion
14:20, 23.06.20 3203
In fact, the meeting was "virtual", some commission members claim.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-06-23--Ukraine's central bank: Economic fallout from COVID-19 will be deeper than anticipated

The regulator says the national economy needs both fiscal and monetary stimuli .
The National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) forecasts that the country 's economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic will be deeper than previously anticipated .
`` The gradual lifting of quarantine restrictions has contributed to the revival in economic activity , the MPC [ the NBU Monetary Policy Committee ] members pointed out at the meeting .
At the same time , there is a significant risk that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic will be deeper and longer-lasting than previously anticipated .
The spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth , will slow the recovery in consumption .
Investment demand will also be subdued , in particular due to deteriorating financial performance and corporate expectations , '' the NBU 's press service said on June 22 in the Summary of the Key Policy Rate Discussion by the NBU Monetary Policy Committee held on June 10 , 2020 .
`` Therefore , the economy needs both fiscal and monetary stimuli , '' the reported said .
In June , the key policy rate should be reduced by 200 bp , to 6 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the MPC members expressed differing expectations about the further dynamics of the key policy rate .
Significant uncertainty remains about the duration and intensity of the quarantine , as well as the speed of recovery in consumer demand and economic activity , both in Ukraine and the rest of the world .
This uncertainty will affect inflationary dynamics , most MPC members said .
`` The potential for an intensive monetary policy easing is almost exhausted , an overwhelming majority of the MPC members agreed , '' the press service said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Bank continued loosening its monetary policy , cutting the key rate to 6 % per annum as of June 12 to prop up the national economy .

The regulator says the national economy needs both fiscal and monetary stimuli.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) forecasts that the country's economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic will be deeper than previously anticipated.
"The gradual lifting of quarantine restrictions has contributed to the revival in economic activity, the MPC [the NBU Monetary Policy Committee] members pointed out at the meeting. At the same time, there is a significant risk that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic will be deeper and longer-lasting than previously anticipated. The spike in unemployment, coupled with weak wage growth, will slow the recovery in consumption. Investment demand will also be subdued, in particular due to deteriorating financial performance and corporate expectations," the NBU's press service said on June 22 in the Summary of the Key Policy Rate Discussion by the NBU Monetary Policy Committee held on June 10, 2020.
Read alsoUkraine's National Bank cuts key policy rate to 6%
Видео дня
"Therefore, the economy needs both fiscal and monetary stimuli," the reported said.
In June, the key policy rate should be reduced by 200 bp, to 6%, the MPC members unanimously agreed.
However, the MPC members expressed differing expectations about the further dynamics of the key policy rate.
Significant uncertainty remains about the duration and intensity of the quarantine, as well as the speed of recovery in consumer demand and economic activity, both in Ukraine and the rest of the world. This uncertainty will affect inflationary dynamics, most MPC members said.
"The potential for an intensive monetary policy easing is almost exhausted, an overwhelming majority of the MPC members agreed," the press service said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the National Bank continued loosening its monetary policy, cutting the key rate to 6% per annum as of June 12 to prop up the national economy.


unian--2020-06-23--UAE's Mubadala interested in privatization of seven Ukrainian enterprises

UAE's Mubadala interested in privatization of seven Ukrainian enterprises
13:40, 23.06.20 309
Mubadala is one of the world's leading investment funds, with over US$850 billion worth of assets.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-06-23--Bloody trail of Russian military in Libya – media

UN mission monitors in Libya said they welcomed the decision to set up an investigation committee , and called on its members to study the sites of mass graves , identify victims , establish cause of death , and hand over the bodies to families .
Although Moscow has officially rejected allegations of its involvement in Libya hostilities , there is sufficient evidence backing reports on Russian military and mercenaries actively fighting on Libyan soil .
During this civil war , Russian mercenaries marked their participation with acts of vandalism , torture , and extrajudicial killings – a bloody trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe outlet reports .
After the most recent retreat of renegade warlord Halifa Haftar 's forces alongside Russian mercenaries in the area of Tarhuna , a lot of bodies were found in city hospitals ( including bodies of women and children ) , containers where prisoners had been burnt alive , wells with the bones of executed captives , and at least eight fresh mass graves .
Preliminary reports claim dozens were buried alive there .
It remains a challenging task to find out the exact number of bodies thrown into those mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites , for example , at least two dozen badly decomposed bodies , which could be of entire families , had been exhumed .
Read alsoRussia hands fighter jets to its unexperienced mercenaries in Libya UN mission monitors in Libya said they welcomed the decision made by the Libyan justice chief to set up an investigation committee , and called on its members to start work as soon as possible to study the sites of mass graves , identify victims , establish cause of death , and hand over the bodies to families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonio Guterres expressed shock at the morbid findings and demanded a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible .
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the EU was concerned about the discovery of mass graves in the area of Tarhuna , and called for authorities to punish those responsible for the massacres .
Being directly affected by the situation in Libya due to geographical factors ( primarily due to refugee flows ) , Italy has separately called for an independent and transparent investigation to identify and punish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the discovery of mass graves as a “ terrifying event.
” As for the methods employed by the Russian military and PMC Wagner militants , `` nothing is surprising any longer following their incursion in Syria where they fought the civil war on the side of Bashar al Assad , backing his authoritarian regime '' , the report adds .
In Syria , there were reports of `` indiscriminate , wide-effects area missile attacks by the Russian navy Caspian flotilla leading to massive civilian casualties ; carpet bombings by Russian air force that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , schools and hospitals ; the repeated use ( along with Assad 's troops ) of chemical weapons ; executions of local dissenters , as well as torture and killing of PoWs '' .
Meanwhile , a source in one of the European intelligence services , who is closely focused on Libya developments , says General Kochetkov is now in the lead of the Russian contingent in Libya ( headquartered in El-Merj ) .
His general ignorance , exaggerated self-esteem , poor professional training and dubious moral qualities are clearly reflected with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the same time , the source notes , having come to Libya in hope to cash in on the deployment , Russian fighters , `` rather than following their superior 's ignorant orders , resort to robberies and looting , as well as taking locals hostage for ransom '' .
`` In general , despite the fact that hostilities inevitably lead to casualties , participation of Russian military and mercenaries ( in Libya , Syria , the Congo , and Sudan ) is invariably marked with torture , intimidation , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article notes , adding that only a thorough investigation with international involvement could `` stop them in their bloody trail that has been stretching across the globe '' .

UN mission monitors in Libya said they welcomed the decision to set up an investigation committee, and called on its members to study the sites of mass graves, identify victims, establish cause of death, and hand over the bodies to families.
Although Moscow has officially rejected allegations of its involvement in Libya hostilities, there is sufficient evidence backing reports on Russian military and mercenaries actively fighting on Libyan soil.
During this civil war, Russian mercenaries marked their participation with acts of vandalism, torture, and extrajudicial killings – a bloody trail they have left behind, the Democratic Europe outlet reports.
After the most recent retreat of renegade warlord Halifa Haftar's forces alongside Russian mercenaries in the area of Tarhuna, a lot of bodies were found in city hospitals (including bodies of women and children), containers where prisoners had been burnt alive, wells with the bones of executed captives, and at least eight fresh mass graves. Preliminary reports claim dozens were buried alive there. It remains a challenging task to find out the exact number of bodies thrown into those mass graves. In one of those horrific sites, for example, at least two dozen badly decomposed bodies, which could be of entire families, had been exhumed.
Видео дня
Read alsoRussia hands fighter jets to its unexperienced mercenaries in Libya
UN mission monitors in Libya said they welcomed the decision made by the Libyan justice chief to set up an investigation committee, and called on its members to start work as soon as possible to study the sites of mass graves, identify victims, establish cause of death, and hand over the bodies to families.
In turn, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed shock at the morbid findings and demanded a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the EU was concerned about the discovery of mass graves in the area of Tarhuna, and called for authorities to punish those responsible for the massacres.
Being directly affected by the situation in Libya due to geographical factors (primarily due to refugee flows), Italy has separately called for an independent and transparent investigation to identify and punish the perpetrators. The Italian diplomacy described the discovery of mass graves as a “terrifying event.”
Read alsoNew evidence published of Russian mercenaries torturing, killing Syrian man – media
As for the methods employed by the Russian military and PMC Wagner militants, "nothing is surprising any longer following their incursion in Syria where they fought the civil war on the side of Bashar al Assad, backing his authoritarian regime", the report adds.
In Syria, there were reports of "indiscriminate, wide-effects area missile attacks by the Russian navy Caspian flotilla leading to massive civilian casualties; carpet bombings by Russian air force that didn't even spare of residential neighborhoods, schools and hospitals; the repeated use (along with Assad's troops) of chemical weapons; executions of local dissenters, as well as torture and killing of PoWs".
Meanwhile, a source in one of the European intelligence services, who is closely focused on Libya developments, says General Kochetkov is now in the lead of the Russian contingent in Libya (headquartered in El-Merj). His general ignorance, exaggerated self-esteem, poor professional training and dubious moral qualities are clearly reflected with his subordinates' actions towards the local population.
Read alsoRussian mercenaries evacuate from western Libya after Haftar losses
At the same time, the source notes, having come to Libya in hope to cash in on the deployment, Russian fighters, "rather than following their superior's ignorant orders, resort to robberies and looting, as well as taking locals hostage for ransom".
"In general, despite the fact that hostilities inevitably lead to casualties, participation of Russian military and mercenaries (in Libya, Syria, the Congo, and Sudan) is invariably marked with torture, intimidation, and shocking acts of violence," the article notes, adding that only a thorough investigation with international involvement could "stop them in their bloody trail that has been stretching across the globe".


unian--2020-06-23--MP behind "Poroshenko tapes" addresses Sytnik on Burisma Group case

The legislator also called for setting up a `` large-scale Anti-corruption platform '' .
Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach has addressed the Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau , Artem Sytnyk , over the case involving the Burisma Group gas company .
The MP spoke Monday at a joint press conference with a former chief of a prosecutorial group with the Prosecutor General 's Office for investigating economic crimes of the Yanukovych regime in 2016-2019 , Kostiantyn Kulyk , following a presentation of a second part of the leaked recordings of what purportedly is communications between the ex-President Petro Poroshenko and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UNIAN correspondent reported .
`` We appeal to NABU chief Artem Sytnyk to answer the following questions : why did companies close to Biden disappear from the criminal proceedings in [ case # ] 1590 ?
How did the case concerning a bribe of US $ 50 million end ?
If Burisma representatives were detained on a $ 6 million bribe , then where did $ 44 million go ?
Does NABU intend to summon for questioning any of Biden 's contacts ? ''
said the deputy .
The appeal followed a claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conference that in 2019 former ecology minister Mykola Zlochevsky , who had been in office during Viktor Yanukovych era , allegedly offered $ 50 million to shut the case involving Burisma .
Also , Kulyk claimed it was due to a change of prosecutor general that stopped the investigation into the bribe attempt : `` Ruslan Riaboshapka came in and then the probe into that bribe attempt halted .
Meanwhile , Riaboshapka said there was no such case whatsoever . ''
In an interview with LB.ua , Riaboshapka said : `` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It only exists in the mind of those who invented it .
There may simply be some proceedings in which the word 'Burisma ' may appear .
Maybe there are several such proceedings . ''
Ruslan Riaboshapka – who has been fired earlier this year to be replaced by Iryna Venediktova – dismissed Kostiantyn Kulyk in late November 2019 after the latter failed to undergo re-evaluation tests , according to a statement .
MP Derkach added that the main question is : `` If there is no such case ... then why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars in cash ?
What is left in case 1590 anyway except for [ businessman Serhiy ] Kurchenko 's name and the Kherson oil transshipment station ?
Where are the papers related to financial monitoring related to Latvia and Cyprus : deleted , dissected , or disposed of ?
And what about the charges against [ former ecology minister Mykola ] Zlochevsky and why is he still not on the international wanted list ? ''
Derkach asked journalists to consider these questions as an official appeal to Artem Sytnyk .
Also , Derkach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anti-corruption platform '' that would investigate such cases .
As UNIAN reported earlier , citing the Telegraph , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked that his country be left out of November 's U.S. presidential election after a Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach published tapes apparently intended to embarrass Joe Biden .
Volodymyr Zelensky denied involvement in the first portion of leaks last month of conversations between ex-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko , his predecessor , and told the Telegraph he did not want the scandal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
`` Why is it necessary to drag Ukraine into this , again ? ''
Zelensky told the Telegraph in an interview over Skype .
`` Now we are enjoying bipartisan support in the United States both in Congress and the Senate .
We have the support of the president .
These tapes are not a priority . ''
Audio quality and background noises in leaked tapes of what MP Derkach says are phone conversations between Petro Poroshenko and U.S. officials suggest they were recorded on the Ukrainian side , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his counterparts .
Investigation has been launched into eavesdropping on presidential commuinications .
Last week , Ukraine received from the United States $ 60 mln worth of military aid , including Javelin anti-tank systems , to boost defenses and repel Russian aggression .
The U.S. is also poised to sell Ukraine patrol boats , guns , and sensors worth a total of $ 600 million .
UNIAN memo .
On June 12 , three persons were detained upon the attempt to hand a $ 5 million bribe to the leadership of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office for closing the criminal proceeding targeting ex-ecology minister and president of Burisma Group Mykola Zlochevsky .
The case concerns his alleged complicity in embezzlement of the NBU 's stabilization loan , which was issued to a bank controlled by businessman Serhiy Kurchenko , and the subsequent laundering of these funds .
Currently , the investigation in this case has been suspended , while Zlochevsky remains on the wanted list .
Law enforcers detained three persons in what appears to have been a sting raid .
Burisma said in a statement it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters reported .
It did not respond to a request for comment from the company 's founder Mykola Zlochevsky .
The Ukrainian company was thrust into the global spotlight last year in the impeachment inquiry into whether U.S. President Donald Trump improperly pressured Kyiv into opening a case against his rival Joe Biden for the November election race .
`` Let 's put an end to this once and for all .
Biden Jr. and Biden Sr. do not appear in this particular proceeding , '' Nazar Kholodnytsky , head of anti-corruption investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's briefing .
The country 's former prosecutor general told Reuters in June that an audit he commissioned while in office of thousands of old case files had found no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden while he worked for Burisma .

The legislator also called for setting up a "large-scale Anti-corruption platform".
Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach has addressed the Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau, Artem Sytnyk, over the case involving the Burisma Group gas company.
The MP spoke Monday at a joint press conference with a former chief of a prosecutorial group with the Prosecutor General's Office for investigating economic crimes of the Yanukovych regime in 2016-2019, Kostiantyn Kulyk, following a presentation of a second part of the leaked recordings of what purportedly is communications between the ex-President Petro Poroshenko and ex-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
"We appeal to NABU chief Artem Sytnyk to answer the following questions: why did companies close to Biden disappear from the criminal proceedings in [case #]1590? How did the case concerning a bribe of US$50 million end? If Burisma representatives were detained on a $6 million bribe, then where did $44 million go? Does NABU intend to summon for questioning any of Biden's contacts?" said the deputy.
Видео дня
The appeal followed a claim former prosecutor Kulyk voiced at the same press conference that in 2019 former ecology minister Mykola Zlochevsky, who had been in office during Viktor Yanukovych era, allegedly offered $50 million to shut the case involving Burisma .
Also, Kulyk claimed it was due to a change of prosecutor general that stopped the investigation into the bribe attempt: "Ruslan Riaboshapka came in and then the probe into that bribe attempt halted. Meanwhile, Riaboshapka said there was no such case whatsoever."
In an interview with LB.ua, Riaboshapka said: "There's no such thing as Burisma case. It only exists in the mind of those who invented it. There may simply be some proceedings in which the word 'Burisma' may appear. Maybe there are several such proceedings."
Ruslan Riaboshapka – who has been fired earlier this year to be replaced by Iryna Venediktova – dismissed Kostiantyn Kulyk in late November 2019 after the latter failed to undergo re-evaluation tests, according to a statement.
MP Derkach added that the main question is: "If there is no such case... then why did Burisma bring bags with millions of dollars in cash? What is left in case 1590 anyway except for [businessman Serhiy] Kurchenko's name and the Kherson oil transshipment station? Where are the papers related to financial monitoring related to Latvia and Cyprus: deleted, dissected, or disposed of? And what about the charges against [former ecology minister Mykola] Zlochevsky and why is he still not on the international wanted list?"
Derkach asked journalists to consider these questions as an official appeal to Artem Sytnyk.
Also, Derkach initiated the creation of a "large-scale Anti-corruption platform" that would investigate such cases.
As UNIAN reported earlier, citing the Telegraph, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked that his country be left out of November's U.S. presidential election after a Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach published tapes apparently intended to embarrass Joe Biden.
Volodymyr Zelensky denied involvement in the first portion of leaks last month of conversations between ex-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, his predecessor, and told the Telegraph he did not want the scandal to undermine Ukraine's strategic alliance with the United States.
"Why is it necessary to drag Ukraine into this, again?" Zelensky told the Telegraph in an interview over Skype. "Now we are enjoying bipartisan support in the United States both in Congress and the Senate. We have the support of the president. These tapes are not a priority."
Read alsoPoroshenko-Biden calls: Ukraine starts probe into illegal interception of communications – media
Audio quality and background noises in leaked tapes of what MP Derkach says are phone conversations between Petro Poroshenko and U.S. officials suggest they were recorded on the Ukrainian side, in the office where Poroshenko held talks with his counterparts. Investigation has been launched into eavesdropping on presidential commuinications.
Last week, Ukraine received from the United States $60 mln worth of military aid, including Javelin anti-tank systems, to boost defenses and repel Russian aggression. The U.S. is also poised to sell Ukraine patrol boats, guns, and sensors worth a total of $600 million.
UNIAN memo. On June 12, three persons were detained upon the attempt to hand a $5 million bribe to the leadership of the National Anti-corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office for closing the criminal proceeding targeting ex-ecology minister and president of Burisma Group Mykola Zlochevsky.
The case concerns his alleged complicity in embezzlement of the NBU's stabilization loan, which was issued to a bank controlled by businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, and the subsequent laundering of these funds. Currently, the investigation in this case has been suspended, while Zlochevsky remains on the wanted list. Law enforcers detained three persons in what appears to have been a sting raid.
Burisma said in a statement it had nothing to do with the matter, Reuters reported. It did not respond to a request for comment from the company's founder Mykola Zlochevsky. The Ukrainian company was thrust into the global spotlight last year in the impeachment inquiry into whether U.S. President Donald Trump improperly pressured Kyiv into opening a case against his rival Joe Biden for the November election race.
"Let's put an end to this once and for all. Biden Jr. and Biden Sr. do not appear in this particular proceeding," Nazar Kholodnytsky, head of anti-corruption investigations at the prosecution service, told Saturday's briefing.
The country's former prosecutor general told Reuters in June that an audit he commissioned while in office of thousands of old case files had found no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden while he worked for Burisma.


unian--2020-06-23--One in seven wage-earning Ukrainians employed abroad – media

The volume of remittances is expected to fall sharply amid COVID-19 lockdowns .
Ukrainians are taking advantage of eased restrictions to find work in the European Union , data show , creating an economic lifeline for Ukraine 's embattled economy .
State Migration Service data show that in 2010-12 , almost 1.2 million Ukrainians worked abroad .
In 2019 , the number stood at 3.2 million , according to Ukraine 's Ministry of Social Policy , Eurasianet reports .
Of that 2019 total , upwards of 2.7 million found work in the EU , according to a European Commission paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly one in seven wage-earning Ukrainians is a labor migrant .
Prior to 2014 , Russia was the primary destination for Ukrainian labor migrants .
But the Kremlin 's seizure of Crimea and its aggression in Donbas produced a sudden shift in Ukrainian migration patterns toward the EU , especially Poland .
From 2014-2016 , the EU experienced a 42 % increase in the number of Ukrainian labor migrants .
In 2019 , Almost 1 million Ukrainians worked in Poland 's agricultural sector .
Read alsoBill on protection of labor migrants passes first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a law on external labor migration in 2015 that aims to strengthen social and legal protections for those who find work abroad .
The government additionally implemented an action plan in 2017 to ensure the reintegration of migrant workers and their family members into society .
That same year authorities approved a labor migration strategy through 2025 .
Regulatory changes streamlined the process for Ukrainians to travel and work abroad , and made hiring procedures easier for employers in host countries .
In 2019 , almost 1,800 firms in the EU had formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
Remittances have risen along with the number of labor migrants .
In 2018 , Ukrainian labor migrants sent home over $ 14.7 billion in remittances , according to the World Bank , marking a 17 % year-on-year increase .
In 2019 , the figure rose to $ 15.8 billion , equivalent to 9.5 % of GDP .
The number is expected to fall sharply across the region during the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` The Ukrainian economy depends on external labor migration , '' said Maryna Prykhnodko , a board member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education and entrepreneurship in Ukraine .
`` Many regions , especially those along the Western border of Ukraine , build their entire local and regional economies around labor migration and have fully integrated labor migration into their organizational structures . ''

The volume of remittances is expected to fall sharply amid COVID-19 lockdowns.
Ukrainians are taking advantage of eased restrictions to find work in the European Union, data show, creating an economic lifeline for Ukraine's embattled economy.
State Migration Service data show that in 2010-12, almost 1.2 million Ukrainians worked abroad. In 2019, the number stood at 3.2 million, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Social Policy, Eurasianet reports.
Of that 2019 total, upwards of 2.7 million found work in the EU, according to a European Commission paper published in April, which adds that roughly one in seven wage-earning Ukrainians is a labor migrant.
Видео дня
Prior to 2014, Russia was the primary destination for Ukrainian labor migrants. But the Kremlin's seizure of Crimea and its aggression in Donbas produced a sudden shift in Ukrainian migration patterns toward the EU, especially Poland. From 2014-2016, the EU experienced a 42% increase in the number of Ukrainian labor migrants. In 2019, Almost 1 million Ukrainians worked in Poland's agricultural sector.
Read alsoBill on protection of labor migrants passes first reading in Ukraine's parliament
Kyiv adopted a law on external labor migration in 2015 that aims to strengthen social and legal protections for those who find work abroad. The government additionally implemented an action plan in 2017 to ensure the reintegration of migrant workers and their family members into society. That same year authorities approved a labor migration strategy through 2025.
Regulatory changes streamlined the process for Ukrainians to travel and work abroad, and made hiring procedures easier for employers in host countries. In 2019, almost 1,800 firms in the EU had formal employment arrangements in place for skilled Ukrainian workers.
Remittances have risen along with the number of labor migrants.
In 2018, Ukrainian labor migrants sent home over $14.7 billion in remittances, according to the World Bank, marking a 17% year-on-year increase. In 2019, the figure rose to $15.8 billion, equivalent to 9.5% of GDP. The number is expected to fall sharply across the region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The Ukrainian economy depends on external labor migration," said Maryna Prykhnodko, a board member of Razom, a U.S.-based non-profit that promotes education and entrepreneurship in Ukraine. "Many regions, especially those along the Western border of Ukraine, build their entire local and regional economies around labor migration and have fully integrated labor migration into their organizational structures."


unian--2020-06-23--Russia intensifies jamming Ukrainian FM radio signal in occupied Crimea – rights group

The number of Ukrainian radio stations that could be accessed from the peninsula has also decreased significantly .
Experts with the Crimean Human Rights Group ( CHRG ) say Ukrainian FM radio signal jamming has intensified in Russian-occupied Crimea .
`` In June , Ukrainian FM radio stations are available only in five out of 19 settlements , '' the CHRG said on its website on June 22 , referring to own report on broadcast monitoring in the north of the peninsula .
Previous monitoring in March 2020 showed that nine Crimea settlements received signal of Ukrainian FM radio stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ villages of Chonhar and Chaplynka installed close to the de-facto border with the occupied peninsula .
The number of Ukrainian radio stations that could be accessed from across the peninsula has also decreased significantly .
Meanwhile , Russian FM stations broadcast over Ukrainian radio frequencies in 14 settlements .
In March , signal of a single Ukrainian radio station was available in four settlements .
In June , it was already gone .
At the same time , simultaneous broadcasting of Ukrainian and Russian stations was recorded at some frequencies in 16 out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests a targeted jamming of Ukrainian FM broadcasting by Russian stations .
In such a way , Crimean residents are being deprived of the opportunity to receive information about Ukraine and systemic human rights violations on the peninsula .
The Kremlin-controlled Russian media conceal most of these facts , '' the CHRG added .

The number of Ukrainian radio stations that could be accessed from the peninsula has also decreased significantly.
Experts with the Crimean Human Rights Group (CHRG) say Ukrainian FM radio signal jamming has intensified in Russian-occupied Crimea.
"In June, Ukrainian FM radio stations are available only in five out of 19 settlements," the CHRG said on its website on June 22, referring to own report on broadcast monitoring in the north of the peninsula.
Previous monitoring in March 2020 showed that nine Crimea settlements received signal of Ukrainian FM radio stations broadcast via transmitting towers installed in the villages of Chonhar and Chaplynka installed close to the de-facto border with the occupied peninsula.
Видео дня
Read alsoRussia seizes over 500 Ukrainian frequencies – National Broadcasting Council
The number of Ukrainian radio stations that could be accessed from across the peninsula has also decreased significantly.
Meanwhile, Russian FM stations broadcast over Ukrainian radio frequencies in 14 settlements.
In March, signal of a single Ukrainian radio station was available in four settlements. In June, it was already gone.
At the same time, simultaneous broadcasting of Ukrainian and Russian stations was recorded at some frequencies in 16 out of 19 monitored settlements. "This suggests a targeted jamming of Ukrainian FM broadcasting by Russian stations. In such a way, Crimean residents are being deprived of the opportunity to receive information about Ukraine and systemic human rights violations on the peninsula. The Kremlin-controlled Russian media conceal most of these facts," the CHRG added.


unian--2020-06-23--Hryvnia strengthens to UAH 26.67 to U.S. dollar on June 23

Hryvnia strengthens to UAH 26.67 to U.S. dollar on June 23
11:40, 23.06.20 1196
The official forex rate against the euro for Tuesday is fixed at UAH 29.90 per euro.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-06-23--Retail trade turnover in Jan-May up 3.1% in Ukraine

Retail trade turnover in Jan-May up 3.1% in Ukraine
11:20, 23.06.20 910
At the same time, it sprang 15% in May against April.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-06-23--Highlights of new Derkach tapes: Influencing Yatsenyuk, Groysman, Avakov; safeguarding Kobolyev

Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach on June 22 , 2020 , released a new portion of records of conversations allegedly featuring Petro Poroshenko and Joe Biden .
Member of Parliament Andriy Derkach has released new recordings of conversations between the fifth president of Ukraine , Petro Poroshenko , and the then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden , which , in the MP 's opinion , provide new details about international corruption and external control over Ukraine .
The recordings were played during a press conference during which Derkach , in particular , stated that a bribe of US $ 50 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burisma .
Yet , a mere US $ 6 million of this sum was allegedly reported to the public , while companies close to the Biden family disappeared from the case , according to the news outlet Glavred .
`` If one assumes that the tapes are authentic , then immediately striking is Poroshenko 's immediate readiness to comply with all instructions received from Biden , '' Glavred writes .
Moreover , he allegedly regularly claimed that he was very glad to hear the U.S. vice president 's voice and even once called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It follows from the records that in 2016 , Biden explicitly demanded that Poroshenko provide Kobolyev with safeguards against criticism and actions of the then Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk who sought [ Kobolyev ] dismissal from Naftogaz .
Moreover , the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian state-owned gas company included a personal representative of Biden 's interests – Amos Hochstein , Derkach says .
Poroshenko promised the then U.S. Vice President that Kobolyev and his deputies would be immune .
MP Derkach claims that Biden controlled Naftogaz of Ukraine in order to earn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas ( when gas is bought from Slovak companies with a EUR 50 mark-up per 1,000 cubic meters ) .
Read alsoUkraine boosts gas imports by almost 60 % in Jan-April Joe Biden allegedly required that the then Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman , who sought to adjust the terms of an IMF loan for Ukraine , be stopped from doing so .
The then U.S. Vice President informed Petro Poroshenko that nothing could be changed in the IMF requirements and Ukraine should fulfill them without discussion .
Poroshenko promised to talk with Groysman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At that , Poroshenko tried to persuade Biden to conduct an official ceremony of signing a loan agreement with the IMF before the fulfillment of all conditions and , in fact , the transfer of the first disbursement , saying that the signing of the deal would demonstrate the international community 's support of Ukraine .
On a record dated October 2016 , Poroshenko asked Biden to engage Yatsenyuk for influencing Interior Minister Arsen Avakov ( with whom the then president had a feud ) .
Secondly , Poroshenko wanted Yatsenyuk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to convince lawmakers from the Yatsenyuk-led People 's Front to vote for the 2017 budget and the laws necessary to implement the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas .
Another conversation between Biden and Poroshenko about Yatsenyuk took place a little earlier – in February 2016 .
Biden informed Poroshenko about Yatsenyuk 's concerns over his imminent resignation and possible criminal cases .
Poroshenko , however , assured his counterpart that Yatsenyuk would be immune from prosecution .
According to the recordings , Poroshenko allegedly asked Biden to send an adviser from the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general , Yuriy Lutsenko .
Later , the U.S. vice president allegedly said that the adviser had been hired but no name was mentioned .
`` If one considers the recordings released by Derkach to be authentic , then Petro Poroshenko was very nervous about fugitive MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko ( who accused the fifth president of widespread corruption ) , '' Glavred wrote .
`` He was especially worried about Onyshchenko 's possible communication with the FBI and he asked Biden for help .
The latter reassured Poroshenko – they say the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recording with a later date , Poroshenko thanked Biden for having engaged CIA officers in addressing that matter . ''
As UNIAN reported earlier , Derkach on May 19 , 2020 , released the first portion of recordings that may prove Biden 's alleged influence on Poroshenko .

Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach on June 22, 2020, released a new portion of records of conversations allegedly featuring Petro Poroshenko and Joe Biden.
Member of Parliament Andriy Derkach has released new recordings of conversations between the fifth president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and the then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, which, in the MP's opinion, provide new details about international corruption and external control over Ukraine.
The recordings were played during a press conference during which Derkach, in particular, stated that a bribe of US$50 million was offered for closing a case against Burisma. Yet, a mere US$6 million of this sum was allegedly reported to the public, while companies close to the Biden family disappeared from the case, according to the news outlet Glavred.
"If one assumes that the tapes are authentic, then immediately striking is Poroshenko's immediate readiness to comply with all instructions received from Biden," Glavred writes. Moreover, he allegedly regularly claimed that he was very glad to hear the U.S. vice president's voice and even once called Biden his "guardian angel."
Safeguards for Andriy Kobolyev as Naftogaz chief
It follows from the records that in 2016, Biden explicitly demanded that Poroshenko provide Kobolyev with safeguards against criticism and actions of the then Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk who sought [Kobolyev] dismissal from Naftogaz. Moreover, the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian state-owned gas company included a personal representative of Biden's interests – Amos Hochstein, Derkach says.
Poroshenko promised the then U.S. Vice President that Kobolyev and his deputies would be immune. MP Derkach claims that Biden controlled Naftogaz of Ukraine in order to earn on the quasi-reverse supply of Russian natural gas (when gas is bought from Slovak companies with a EUR 50 mark-up per 1,000 cubic meters).
Read alsoUkraine boosts gas imports by almost 60% in Jan-April
Pressing Groysman over IMF loan for Ukraine
Joe Biden allegedly required that the then Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, who sought to adjust the terms of an IMF loan for Ukraine, be stopped from doing so. The then U.S. Vice President informed Petro Poroshenko that nothing could be changed in the IMF requirements and Ukraine should fulfill them without discussion. Poroshenko promised to talk with Groysman and invite him to the presidential administration.
At that, Poroshenko tried to persuade Biden to conduct an official ceremony of signing a loan agreement with the IMF before the fulfillment of all conditions and, in fact, the transfer of the first disbursement, saying that the signing of the deal would demonstrate the international community's support of Ukraine.
Seeking pressure on Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Arsen Avakov
On a record dated October 2016, Poroshenko asked Biden to engage Yatsenyuk for influencing Interior Minister Arsen Avakov (with whom the then president had a feud). Secondly, Poroshenko wanted Yatsenyuk, under pressure from the United States, to convince lawmakers from the Yatsenyuk-led People's Front to vote for the 2017 budget and the laws necessary to implement the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas.
Another conversation between Biden and Poroshenko about Yatsenyuk took place a little earlier – in February 2016. Biden informed Poroshenko about Yatsenyuk's concerns over his imminent resignation and possible criminal cases. Poroshenko, however, assured his counterpart that Yatsenyuk would be immune from prosecution.
U.S. supervisor at Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office
According to the recordings, Poroshenko allegedly asked Biden to send an adviser from the United States for the then newly appointed prosecutor general, Yuriy Lutsenko. Later, the U.S. vice president allegedly said that the adviser had been hired but no name was mentioned.
U.S. special services' assistance in handling fugitive MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko
"If one considers the recordings released by Derkach to be authentic, then Petro Poroshenko was very nervous about fugitive MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko (who accused the fifth president of widespread corruption)," Glavred wrote. "He was especially worried about Onyshchenko's possible communication with the FBI and he asked Biden for help. The latter reassured Poroshenko – they say the FBI will not work with Onyshchenko. In a recording with a later date, Poroshenko thanked Biden for having engaged CIA officers in addressing that matter."
As UNIAN reported earlier, Derkach on May 19, 2020, released the first portion of recordings that may prove Biden's alleged influence on Poroshenko.


unian--2020-06-23--Ukraine sees 833 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours

Twenty-three coronavirus patients died in Ukraine in the past day .
Ukraine has reported a new daily spike of COVID-19 cases when the number of new positive coronavirus patients grew by 833 in the past 24 hours against 681 cases reported on the morning of Monday , June 22 .
`` According to the Public Health Center , there were 38,074 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of 09:00 Kyiv time on June 23 , '' Ukraine 's Health Ministry said on Facebook in its morning update on June 23 .
Twenty-three coronavirus patients died in Ukraine in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll to 1,035 .
At the same time , over the past 24 hours , 314 patients recovered .
Overall incidence per region is as followes : 1,690 cases in Vinnytsia region ; 1,894 in Volyn region ; 1,049 in Dnipropetrovsk region ; 368 in Donetsk region ; 1,295 in Zhytomyr region ; 2,291 in Zakarpattia region ; 555 in Zaporizhia region ; 2,091 in Ivano-Frankivsk region ; 631 in Kirovohrad region ; 4,429 in the city of Kyiv ; 2,285 in Kyiv region ; 4,220 in Lviv region ; 73 in Luhansk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,333 in Odesa region ; 296 in Poltava region ; 3,038 in Rivne region ; 263 in Sumy region ; 1,744 in Ternopil region ; 1,844 in Kharkiv region ; 188 in Kherson region ; 622 in Khmelnytsky region ; 4,419 in Chernivtsi region ; 605 in Cherkasy region ; 485 in Chernihiv region .
Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , the city of Sevastopol , parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is not available .
COVID-19 tests were conducted by the Public Health Center 's virological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the morning of June 23 , 2020 , the Center had received 1,278 reports of suspected cases .
In total , there have been 81,125 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020 .

Twenty-three coronavirus patients died in Ukraine in the past day.
Ukraine has reported a new daily spike of COVID-19 cases when the number of new positive coronavirus patients grew by 833 in the past 24 hours against 681 cases reported on the morning of Monday, June 22.
"According to the Public Health Center, there were 38,074 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of 09:00 Kyiv time on June 23," Ukraine's Health Ministry said on Facebook in its morning update on June 23.
Twenty-three coronavirus patients died in Ukraine in the past day, bringing the overall death toll to 1,035.
Видео дня
At the same time, over the past 24 hours, 314 patients recovered.
Read alsoAdaptive quarantine: education ministry comments on new academic year prospects
Overall incidence per region is as followes: 1,690 cases in Vinnytsia region; 1,894 in Volyn region; 1,049 in Dnipropetrovsk region; 368 in Donetsk region; 1,295 in Zhytomyr region; 2,291 in Zakarpattia region; 555 in Zaporizhia region; 2,091 in Ivano-Frankivsk region; 631 in Kirovohrad region; 4,429 in the city of Kyiv; 2,285 in Kyiv region; 4,220 in Lviv region; 73 in Luhansk region; 366 in Mykolaiv region; 1,333 in Odesa region; 296 in Poltava region; 3,038 in Rivne region; 263 in Sumy region; 1,744 in Ternopil region; 1,844 in Kharkiv region; 188 in Kherson region; 622 in Khmelnytsky region; 4,419 in Chernivtsi region; 605 in Cherkasy region; 485 in Chernihiv region.
Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is not available.
COVID-19 tests were conducted by the Public Health Center's virological reference laboratory and regional laboratories. As of the morning of June 23, 2020, the Center had received 1,278 reports of suspected cases. In total, there have been 81,125 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.


unian--2020-06-23--Kyiv house blast: Residents claim smelled gas mixture following maintenance works

Residents said gas meters had been removed for vetting and replaced with end caps in some apartments on the eve of the accident .
Following a deadly gas mixture blast in an apartment block in Kyiv on June 21 that has so far taken five lives and left many families homeless , residents are speaking up about maintenance works the gas distribution firm had been carrying out prior to the accident .
One resident , Oksana Khodulich , told journalists gas meters had been removed in some flats on the eve of the explosion to be replaced by end caps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety standards , the Apostrophe online media outlet suggested .
`` I smelled gas in a bathroom and WC .
It went from the ventilation holes .
Also , in my kitchen .
I thought someone had been exterminating roaches .
But they could n't be poisoning roaches like that because the smell was present for days , '' said another resident , Tetiana Oleksiivna .
According to her , if a cap got accidentally dislodged in some apartment , gas went in at full swing .
`` When that gas guy put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked him to put some soap there and turn on the gas to check for leaks .
Had I not asked , he would 've just left .
But did everyone do the same ? ''
the woman said .
As UNIAN reported , several apartments in a nine-storied apartment block at 1/5 Solomii Krushelnytskoi Street in Kyiv 's Darnytsky district were damaged by an explosion at about 10:00 a.m. on Sunday , June 21 .
The explosion destroyed interfloor structures between the fourth and eighth floors .
A leak of household gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 100 people lived in the destroyed part of the building , they were evacuated .
The incident is being investigated under Part 2 of Article 270 ( violation of fire safety requirements established by law ) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine .
Police conducted searches at the gas distribution company and all utility firms servicing the apartment block .
As of Tuesday morning , the death toll reached five .

Residents said gas meters had been removed for vetting and replaced with end caps in some apartments on the eve of the accident.
Following a deadly gas mixture blast in an apartment block in Kyiv on June 21 that has so far taken five lives and left many families homeless, residents are speaking up about maintenance works the gas distribution firm had been carrying out prior to the accident.
One resident, Oksana Khodulich, told journalists gas meters had been removed in some flats on the eve of the explosion to be replaced by end caps. The caps could have not met safety standards, the Apostrophe online media outlet suggested.
"I smelled gas in a bathroom and WC. It went from the ventilation holes. Also, in my kitchen. I thought someone had been exterminating roaches. But they couldn't be poisoning roaches like that because the smell was present for days," said another resident, Tetiana Oleksiivna.
Видео дня
According to her, if a cap got accidentally dislodged in some apartment, gas went in at full swing.
Read alsoPolice raiding gas company that services exploded building in Kyiv
"When that gas guy put a cap at my apartment, I asked him to put some soap there and turn on the gas to check for leaks. Had I not asked, he would've just left. But did everyone do the same?" the woman said.
As UNIAN reported, several apartments in a nine-storied apartment block at 1/5 Solomii Krushelnytskoi Street in Kyiv's Darnytsky district were damaged by an explosion at about 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 21. The explosion destroyed interfloor structures between the fourth and eighth floors.
A leak of household gas is reportedly the cause behind the incident.
More than 100 people lived in the destroyed part of the building, they were evacuated.
The incident is being investigated under Part 2 of Article 270 (violation of fire safety requirements established by law) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Police conducted searches at the gas distribution company and all utility firms servicing the apartment block.
As of Tuesday morning, the death toll reached five.


unian--2020-06-23--Police reportedly not allowed into Parliament premises to fine MPs for ignoring face mask rules

It was one of the MPs who brought up the issue before the Speaker .
Ukrainian MP with the Servant of the People parliamentary faction , Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Healthcare Mykhailo Radutsky claims security stopped police officers from entering Parliament premises to write tickets for quarantine violations on the part of a number of lawmakers .
`` I personally approached parliament speaker on Thursday , asking him to call the police to impose fines .
Unfortunately , there are reports that the police together with the State Consumer Control agents were unable to enter the Verkhovna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fixed , '' he told Ukraine 24 TV channel , commenting on certain MPs failing to wear mandated face mask at parliamentary sessions .
Radutsky said the lawmakers are no different from any other citizens of Ukraine , so they must also pay fines for violating the law .
Earlier , police wrote a ticket to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for violating quarantine rules during his visit to Khmelnytsky region where he dropped by a local cafe for a cup of coffee , along with other officials – that 's despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catering establishments over the COVID-19 spread .
The Supreme Court is yet to decide whether president can be subject to administrative liability while in office .
At the same time , Zelensky expressed readiness to pay the fine and cover the cost of the relevant fine to the café involved .
`` As a citizen of Ukraine , I feel responsible for violating quarantine in Khmelnytsky , '' the president said , according to his press service .

It was one of the MPs who brought up the issue before the Speaker.
Ukrainian MP with the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Healthcare Mykhailo Radutsky claims security stopped police officers from entering Parliament premises to write tickets for quarantine violations on the part of a number of lawmakers.
"I personally approached parliament speaker on Thursday, asking him to call the police to impose fines. Unfortunately, there are reports that the police together with the State Consumer Control agents were unable to enter the Verkhovna Rada premises. I believe this should be fixed," he told Ukraine 24 TV channel, commenting on certain MPs failing to wear mandated face mask at parliamentary sessions.
Radutsky said the lawmakers are no different from any other citizens of Ukraine, so they must also pay fines for violating the law.
Видео дня
Read alsoAdaptive quarantine: education ministry comments on new academic year prospects
Earlier, police wrote a ticket to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for violating quarantine rules during his visit to Khmelnytsky region where he dropped by a local cafe for a cup of coffee, along with other officials – that's despite the ban on indoor servicing of clients in catering establishments over the COVID-19 spread.
The Supreme Court is yet to decide whether president can be subject to administrative liability while in office. At the same time, Zelensky expressed readiness to pay the fine and cover the cost of the relevant fine to the café involved. "As a citizen of Ukraine, I feel responsible for violating quarantine in Khmelnytsky," the president said, according to his press service.


unian--2020-06-23--Derkach's tapes: Poroshenko assured Biden there would be no criminal cases against Yatsenyuk

The conversation took place in February 2016 .
Ukrainian Member of Parliament Andriy Derkach has released a new portion of records of talks between the then U.S .
Vice-President Joe Biden and the fifth Ukrainian President , Petro Poroshenko , who pledged that no criminal cases would be opened against the then Prime Minister , Arseniy Yatsenyuk , after the latter 's resignation .
According to the Ukrainian news outlet Glavred , this is evidenced by the recording of the corresponding conversation between Poroshenko and Biden , which was released by Ukrainian Member of Parliament Andriy Derkach on June 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over lack of corpus delicti – Venediktova Voices similar to those of Biden and Poroshenko are heard on an audio recording dated February 11 , 2016 , discussing Yatsenyuk 's fears about his resignation and possible criminal cases .
Poroshenko allegedly assured Biden that Yatsenyuk might not be afraid of persecution .
On another recording dated October 2016 , Poroshenko is heard asking Biden to influence Yatsenyuk .
He wanted the latter to exert his influence on Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov , with whom Poroshenko had a feud .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance in pledging the Yatsenyuk-led People 's Front parliamentary faction 's support in the vote on the national budget of Ukraine , Cabinet initiatives , as well as laws needed for the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Derkach released new records , which in particular suggest that the CIA could help Poroshenko in the confrontation with fugitive MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko .

The conversation took place in February 2016.
Ukrainian Member of Parliament Andriy Derkach has released a new portion of records of talks between the then U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and the fifth Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, who pledged that no criminal cases would be opened against the then Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, after the latter's resignation.
According to the Ukrainian news outlet Glavred, this is evidenced by the recording of the corresponding conversation between Poroshenko and Biden, which was released by Ukrainian Member of Parliament Andriy Derkach on June 22.
Read alsoThree cases against Poroshenko closed over lack of corpus delicti – Venediktova
Видео дня
Voices similar to those of Biden and Poroshenko are heard on an audio recording dated February 11, 2016, discussing Yatsenyuk's fears about his resignation and possible criminal cases. Poroshenko allegedly assured Biden that Yatsenyuk might not be afraid of persecution.
On another recording dated October 2016, Poroshenko is heard asking Biden to influence Yatsenyuk. He wanted the latter to exert his influence on Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, with whom Poroshenko had a feud. In addition, Poroshenko allegedly asked Biden for assistance in pledging the Yatsenyuk-led People's Front parliamentary faction's support in the vote on the national budget of Ukraine, Cabinet initiatives, as well as laws needed for the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Derkach released new records, which in particular suggest that the CIA could help Poroshenko in the confrontation with fugitive MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko.


unian--2020-06-23--Ukrainian soldier wounded amid 16 enemy attacks in Donbas on June 22

According to intelligence reports , two members of Russia-led forces were killed and another three were wounded on June 22 .
Russia 's hybrid military forces on June 22 mounted 16 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas , eastern Ukraine , with one member of the Joint Forces reported as wounded in action .
`` The Russian Federation 's armed formations violated the ceasefire 16 times in the past day , '' the press center of Ukraine 's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 23 .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wounded in enemy shelling . ''
Russian-led forces fired proscribed 122mm artillery systems , 120mm and 82mm mortars , anti-tank missile systems , grenade launchers of various types , heavy machine guns , and small arms .
Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Popasna and Maryinka , and the villages of Orikhove , Novozvanivka , Khutir Vilny , Novotoshkivske , Katerynivka , Novhorodske , Shyrokyne , Pavlopil , Novomykhailivka , and Starohnativka .
Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy attack .
According to intelligence reports , two members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three were wounded on June 22 .
The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on June 23 .
No Ukrainian army casualties have been reported since Tuesday midnight .

According to intelligence reports, two members of Russia-led forces were killed and another three were wounded on June 22.
Russia's hybrid military forces on June 22 mounted 16 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with one member of the Joint Forces reported as wounded in action.
"The Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire 16 times in the past day," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 23. "As a result, a Joint Forces serviceman was wounded in enemy shelling."
Russian-led forces fired proscribed 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms.
Видео дня
Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Popasna and Maryinka, and the villages of Orikhove, Novozvanivka, Khutir Vilny, Novotoshkivske, Katerynivka, Novhorodske, Shyrokyne, Pavlopil, Novomykhailivka, and Starohnativka.
Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine calls for ceasefire in Donbas amid pandemic
Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy attack. According to intelligence reports, two members of Russia-led forces were killed and another three were wounded on June 22.
The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on June 23.
No Ukrainian army casualties have been reported since Tuesday midnight.


unian--2020-06-23--Adaptive quarantine: education ministry comments on new academic year prospects

Acting minister says the main task is to keep students and teachers safe .
The start date of the new academic year in schools depends on the epidemiological situation in Ukraine , while being tentatively scheduled for September 1 , says acting Minister of Education and Science Liubomyra Mandziy .
She explained that there is no decision confirmed in Cabinet yet to open schools on September 1 or to continue online studies , RBC-Ukraine reports .
`` So far , adaptive quarantine has been extended until July 31 .
It 's hard to judge how the epidemic situation will develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the children to return to schools .
But conditions of school studies must be safe .
So we are now preparing to conduct school finals and run an admission campaign .
Our main task is to keep students and teachers safe , '' the official explained .
Mandziy also clarifier her previous statement on the `` online school '' in the new academic year .
Read alsoDaily rise of COVID-19 cases slightly down in Ukraine '' I 'd like to refute the fake piece .
In a comment to one of the TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process will already involve tools and technologies that the teachers have mastered .
But this does n't mean that we will switch to online learning from September 1 .
No one has canceled live communication .
That 's the essence of school , '' said Mandziy .
`` By the end of June , together with the Ministry of Health , we are preparing additional protocols that will designate safety measures in educational facilities to ensure the return of children from September 1 .
I am sure that the new academic year for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For freshmen in universities , it will be from September 17 .
We provide for corrective training next year so that each teacher sees how their students have mastered the material , '' she added .

Acting minister says the main task is to keep students and teachers safe.
The start date of the new academic year in schools depends on the epidemiological situation in Ukraine, while being tentatively scheduled for September 1, says acting Minister of Education and Science Liubomyra Mandziy.
She explained that there is no decision confirmed in Cabinet yet to open schools on September 1 or to continue online studies, RBC-Ukraine reports.
"So far, adaptive quarantine has been extended until July 31. It's hard to judge how the epidemic situation will develop. It's indisputable that I want the children to return to schools. But conditions of school studies must be safe. So we are now preparing to conduct school finals and run an admission campaign. Our main task is to keep students and teachers safe," the official explained.
Видео дня
Mandziy also clarifier her previous statement on the "online school" in the new academic year.
Read alsoDaily rise of COVID-19 cases slightly down in Ukraine
"I'd like to refute the fake piece. In a comment to one of the TV channels, I said that the education process will already involve tools and technologies that the teachers have mastered. But this doesn't mean that we will switch to online learning from September 1. No one has canceled live communication. That's the essence of school," said Mandziy.
"By the end of June, together with the Ministry of Health, we are preparing additional protocols that will designate safety measures in educational facilities to ensure the return of children from September 1. I am sure that the new academic year for school students will begin on September 1. For freshmen in universities, it will be from September 17. We provide for corrective training next year so that each teacher sees how their students have mastered the material," she added.