unian--2020-06-15--Reuters: Russia inaugurates cathedral without mosaics of Putin, Stalin

The richly decorated 95-metre high cathedral , dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two , was built outside Moscow in less than two years .
Russia inaugurated on Sunday a huge new cathedral dedicated to its armed forces that had caused controversy over initial plans to decorate its interior with mosaics depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Soviet-era leader Joseph Stalin .
Russian Orthodox Church officials said last month neither would be depicted in the cathedral , Reuters said .
The richly decorated 95-metre high cathedral , dedicated to the 75th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany in World War Two , was built in less than two years in a theme park about 55 kilometres ( 34 miles ) from Moscow .
The cathedral had been scheduled to open its doors in May when Russia was also planning to hold a military parade , but both events were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
At a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and military and church officials , Patriarch Kirill , head of Russia 's Orthodox Church , thanked Putin and Shoigu for helping to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades in power , Putin has forged close ties with the Orthodox Church .
Originally , the new cathedral was meant to include a mosaic of Putin and Shoigu demonstrating their support for Russia 's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine .
Read alsoRFE/RL : Crimean court jails Jehovah 's Witness for six years for 'extremist ' activity Another mosaic panel would have shown a group of women gathered in front of a sign reading `` Crimea is ours . ''
The Church dropped the planned mosaics .
The Kremlin said Putin felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accomplishments of Russia 's current leadership .
Russian media also reported that one of the cathedral 's mosaic panels was originally designed to show a portrait of Stalin , who is widely held responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people , many in the Gulag labour camps .
The Orthodox Church and other religious groups suffered persecution during Stalin 's three-decade rule in the atheistic Soviet Union .

The richly decorated 95-metre high cathedral, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, was built outside Moscow in less than two years.
Russia inaugurated on Sunday a huge new cathedral dedicated to its armed forces that had caused controversy over initial plans to decorate its interior with mosaics depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Soviet-era leader Joseph Stalin.
Russian Orthodox Church officials said last month neither would be depicted in the cathedral, Reuters said.
The richly decorated 95-metre high cathedral, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, was built in less than two years in a theme park about 55 kilometres (34 miles) from Moscow.
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The cathedral had been scheduled to open its doors in May when Russia was also planning to hold a military parade, but both events were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and military and church officials, Patriarch Kirill, head of Russia's Orthodox Church, thanked Putin and Shoigu for helping to get the cathedral built.
During his two decades in power, Putin has forged close ties with the Orthodox Church.
Originally, the new cathedral was meant to include a mosaic of Putin and Shoigu demonstrating their support for Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Read alsoRFE/RL: Crimean court jails Jehovah's Witness for six years for 'extremist' activity
Another mosaic panel would have shown a group of women gathered in front of a sign reading "Crimea is ours."
The Church dropped the planned mosaics. The Kremlin said Putin felt it was too early to celebrate the accomplishments of Russia's current leadership.
Russian media also reported that one of the cathedral's mosaic panels was originally designed to show a portrait of Stalin, who is widely held responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people, many in the Gulag labour camps.
The Orthodox Church and other religious groups suffered persecution during Stalin's three-decade rule in the atheistic Soviet Union.


unian--2020-06-15--Quarantine easing: Belarus' Belavia resumes flights to Ukraine

The Minsk-Kyiv flight arrived at 09:35 Kyiv time on Monday .
Belarus ' airline Belavia on June 15 made its first regular international flight to Ukraine after the easing of the coronavirus-related quarantine .
The Minsk-Kyiv flight arrived at 09:35 Kyiv time on Monday , as stated on the online scoreboard of Kyiv 's Boryspil International Airport .
In addition , the Odesa-Minsk flight is scheduled for the same day .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine 's Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution on reopening border checkpoints at the country 's international airports from June 15 .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will resume servicing international flights with new criteria introduced for foreigners crossing the border .
Foreigners who are not citizens of countries with a significant spread of COVID-19 and have not been to such countries for the past 14 days will be let in Ukraine .
Ukrainian citizens from June 15 will be able to travel to Albania and the United States ( without restrictions at the border ) , the United Kingdom ( subject to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival ) , Turkey ( without restrictions at the border , but with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from June 27 , with testing upon arrival ) .
Moreover , after the epidemic situation in Ukraine stabilizes , the government will consider the relaunch of air travel with Cyprus , Montenegro , Georgia , and Greece starting from July 1 .

Quarantine easing: Belarus' Belavia resumes flights to Ukraine
12:55, 15.06.20 1864
The Minsk-Kyiv flight arrived at 09:35 Kyiv time on Monday.
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unian--2020-06-15--Moody's upgrades Ukraine's ratings to B3, outlook stable

The main driver of the decision is the result of the announced new financing program with the International Monetary Fund .
Moody 's Investors Service on June 12 upgraded the Government of Ukraine 's long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to B3 from Caa1 , the outlook on the ratings is stable .
The main driver of the decision to upgrade the ratings to B3 is the easing of Ukraine 's near-term funding challenges and the safeguards afforded to recent improvements in its external vulnerability as a result of the announced new financing program with the International Monetary Fund ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release .
It is noted the decision to upgrade the ratings also reflects Moody 's expectation that the new IMF program will help anchor the reform progress achieved in recent years .
Read alsoPM Shmyhal informs how Ukraine will use IMF funds With the economy forecasted by Moody 's to contract by 4.5 % this year and the fiscal response to the coronavirus outbreak , Moody 's expects the government 's budget deficit to increase to 7.5 % of GDP in 2020 , up from a deficit of 2.0 % of GDP in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects Ukraine 's strengthened foreign exchange reserves , which increased markedly in 2019 on the back of strong foreign investor demand , to be preserved as the new IMF program buffers against the country 's large refinancing needs and helps to limit private capital outflows by supporting investor sentiment .
Moody 's forecasts foreign exchange reserves ( excluding gold ) to remain around US $ 22 billion by the end of the year , sufficient to cover around four months of imports and substantially larger than the nadir of US $ 4.7 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy and generally limited external pressures support a continued broad stabilization in the exchange rate .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the IMF says the country 's public and government-guaranteed debt may grow to 65.4 % of GDP in 2020 from 50.4 % of GDP in 2019 .

Moody's upgrades Ukraine's ratings to B3, outlook stable
12:35, 15.06.20 1429
The main driver of the decision is the result of the announced new financing program with the International Monetary Fund.
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unian--2020-06-15--Donetsk region sees record spike in new coronavirus cases in past day

People aged five to 80 are among those infected .
Head of Ukraine-controlled Donetsk Regional State Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko says the number of newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the region grew significantly in the past 24 hours , that is by 42 as of the evening of Sunday , June 14 .
Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 31,800 on June 15 This is a record number of new cases per day recorded in the region since the start of the pandemic , the official says .
People aged five to 80 are among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( eight persons ) are from the town of Kramatorsk .
Another six patients , mostly healthcare workers , are from the town of Druzhkivka , while a five-year-old boy who tested positive for the coronavirus lives in the town of Selydove .
In total , 334 people have contracted the virus since the COVID-19 outbreak in Donetsk region .
As many as 143 patients have already recovered and been discharged from the region 's medical institutions , while six people have died .
The city of Mariupol is in the lead by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region , as over 100 residents have contracted the coronavirus .

People aged five to 80 are among those infected.
Head of Ukraine-controlled Donetsk Regional State Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko says the number of newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the region grew significantly in the past 24 hours, that is by 42 as of the evening of Sunday, June 14.
Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 31,800 on June 15
This is a record number of new cases per day recorded in the region since the start of the pandemic, the official says.
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People aged five to 80 are among those infected. Most of new patients (eight persons) are from the town of Kramatorsk.
Another six patients, mostly healthcare workers, are from the town of Druzhkivka, while a five-year-old boy who tested positive for the coronavirus lives in the town of Selydove.
In total, 334 people have contracted the virus since the COVID-19 outbreak in Donetsk region. As many as 143 patients have already recovered and been discharged from the region's medical institutions, while six people have died.
The city of Mariupol is in the lead by number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the region, as over 100 residents have contracted the coronavirus.


unian--2020-06-15--Average price of imported gas 19% down in May

The average price of imported gas was US $ 122.55 per 1,000 cubic meters in April 2020 .
The average @ @ @ @ @ to Ukraine in May 2020 stood at US $ 98.1 per 1,000 cubic meters , @ @ @ @ @ from April 2020 .
Read alsoUkrainian gas stocks grow by 2.4 % to almost 18.4 @ @ @ @ @ State Fiscal Service of Ukraine has calculated the average cost of imported natural gas , @ @ @ @ @ process of its customs clearance during the importation into Ukrainian territory from May 1 to @ @ @ @ @ which is UAH 2,631.7 , or US $ 98.1 , per 1,000 cubic meters , @ @ @ @ @ Development of Economy , Trade and Agriculture wrote in a statement .
As UNIAN reported @ @ @ @ @ of imported gas was US $ 122.55 per 1,000 cubic meters in April 2020 .

Average price of imported gas 19% down in May
11:40, 15.06.20 3581
The average price of imported gas was US$122.55 per 1,000 cubic meters in April 2020.
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unian--2020-06-15--Expert predicts stable hryvnia in summer

Significant earnings from exports of agricultural products are expected in late summer .
Director of Expert Assessments Institute Viacheslav Butko has said the official forex rate of the hryvnia , Ukraine 's national currency , will remain stable in summer thanks to financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) and the European Union .
Read alsoUkraine 's hryvnia weakens to UAH 26.73 to U.S. dollar on June 15 '' Since we have received an IMF loan and we have received financial assistance from the EU , we will get [ assistance ] from the World Bank – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be funneled into the country , and serious earnings from exports of agricultural products will be added in late summer , '' he told TV Channel Ukraine 24 .
`` Therefore , I would not predict any extreme fluctuations toward the weakening of the hryvnia , '' Butko said .
According to him , `` everything will be fine with the U.S. dollar and the euro . ''
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine received US $ 2.1 billion of the first tranche from the IMF under an 18-month Stand-By Arrangement ( SBA @ @

Expert predicts stable hryvnia in summer
11:20, 15.06.20 10410
Significant earnings from exports of agricultural products are expected in late summer.
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unian--2020-06-15--Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 31,800 on June 15

Of them , 656 cases were reported in the past 24 hours .
The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Ukraine exceeded 31,800 as of the morning of Monday , June 15 .
Read alsoHealth Minister on quarantine : Ukraine may backtrack as COVID-19 cases grow in number '' According to the Public Health Center , there were 31,810 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of 09:00 Kyiv time on June 15 , '' Ukraine 's Health Ministry said on Facebook in its morning update on June 15 .
Of them , 656 cases were reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus patients died in Ukraine in the past day , bringing the overall death toll to 901 .
As many as 14,253 patients , including 171 in the past day , have already recovered .
Overall incidence per region is the following : 1,423 cases in Vinnytsia region ; 1,438 in Volyn region ; 998 in Dnipropetrovsk region ; 334 in Donetsk region ; 1,087 in Zhytomyr region ; 1,680 in Zakarpattia region ; 529 in Zaporizhia region ; 1,766 in Ivano-Frankivsk region ; 586 in Kirovohrad region ; 3,957 in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; 2,933 in Lviv region ; 57 in Luhansk region ; 321 in Mykolayiv region ; 1,117 in Odesa region ; 278 in Poltava region ; 2,369 in Rivne region ; 227 in Sumy region ; 1,467 in Ternopil region ; 1,542 in Kharkiv region ; 183 in Kherson region ; 559 in Khmelnytsky region ; 3,959 in Chernivtsi region ; 552 in Cherkasy region ; 424 in Chernihiv region .
Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , the city of Sevastopol , parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were conducted by the Public Health Center 's virological reference laboratory and regional laboratories .
As of the morning of June 15 , 2020 , the Center had received 753 reports of suspected cases .
In total , there have been 72,129 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020 .
As UNIAN reported earlier , there were 31,154 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of the morning of June 14 , including 889 COVID-19 deaths and 14,082 recoveries .

Of them, 656 cases were reported in the past 24 hours.
The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Ukraine exceeded 31,800 as of the morning of Monday, June 15.
Read alsoHealth Minister on quarantine: Ukraine may backtrack as COVID-19 cases grow in number
"According to the Public Health Center, there were 31,810 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of 09:00 Kyiv time on June 15," Ukraine's Health Ministry said on Facebook in its morning update on June 15.
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Of them, 656 cases were reported in the past 24 hours.
Twelve coronavirus patients died in Ukraine in the past day, bringing the overall death toll to 901.
As many as 14,253 patients, including 171 in the past day, have already recovered.
Overall incidence per region is the following: 1,423 cases in Vinnytsia region; 1,438 in Volyn region; 998 in Dnipropetrovsk region; 334 in Donetsk region; 1,087 in Zhytomyr region; 1,680 in Zakarpattia region; 529 in Zaporizhia region; 1,766 in Ivano-Frankivsk region; 586 in Kirovohrad region; 3,957 in the city of Kyiv; 2,024 in Kyiv region; 2,933 in Lviv region; 57 in Luhansk region; 321 in Mykolayiv region; 1,117 in Odesa region; 278 in Poltava region; 2,369 in Rivne region; 227 in Sumy region; 1,467 in Ternopil region; 1,542 in Kharkiv region; 183 in Kherson region; 559 in Khmelnytsky region; 3,959 in Chernivtsi region; 552 in Cherkasy region; 424 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 15, 2020, the Center had received 753 reports of suspected cases. In total, there have been 72,129 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.
As UNIAN reported earlier, there were 31,154 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of the morning of June 14, including 889 COVID-19 deaths and 14,082 recoveries.


unian--2020-06-15--Ukraine resuming international flights on June 15

European borders for foreign tourists remain closed at least until the end of June .
International flights of various airlines are already on the airports ' scoreboards , while websites for booking offer tickets abroad .
Yet , some flights have been canceled so far , while some airlines have already announced they are suspending ticket sales , according to the Ukrainian TSN news service .
Ukrainians should not be in a hurry since now it is not enough just to have a ticket to spend a holiday in Cyprus , for example , or travel around Germany , TSN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign tourists remain closed at least until the end of June , and , therefore , the Ukrainians may only hope for permission to freely enter the EU countries from July 1 .
Secondly , not all borders will reopen simultaneously .
No one may predict when exactly this happens .
In addition , much will depend on the epidemic situation in Ukraine .
If a ticket has already been bought , there is a risk of losing money since now the airlines adhere to a strict rule : if an airport requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement of the EU countries now , the carrier can not allow passengers to board without it because it could be fined .
Read alsoAir carriers may postpone relaunch of flights from Ukraine to EU – Ambassador At the same time , airlines are not obliged to return money to passengers who do not adhere to visa requirements , because the flight has taken place , it has not been canceled .
Change in the requirements is passengers ' problem .
If a passenger is allowed to board , he or she still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they successfully get to their destination , there is no guarantee their vacation has already begun .
Travelers may be placed in quarantine or undergo mandatory COVID-19 tests .
In Greece , for example , a seven-day quarantine is mandatory even after a negative test result .
And all additional costs are paid by tourists .
If a person still decides to fly , before leaving for the airport he or she needs to make sure that everyone with whom they go on a trip is healthy and the documents meet all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mind they may bid farewell to relatives only at the terminal doors .
Only passengers and staff will be able to get to the airport and only after body temperature screening .
Everyone should wear face masks at the airport and during the trip .
Also , it is better to have gloves with a bottle of hand sanitizer ( up to 100 ml ) during the trip .
The requirement to keep distance remains unchanged .
Registration should be handled online , and boarding should be contactless .
An information form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health is also advised to be filled out in advance .
Moreover , passengers could be asked to register carry-on bags as checked luggage .
Duty Free outlets , most likely , will not work either at airports or on board the plane .
However , the carriers promise to provide passengers with drinking water .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine 's Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution on reopening border checkpoints at the country 's international airports from June 15 .
According to the document , checkpoints and control points will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced for foreigners crossing the border .
Foreigners who are not citizens of countries with a significant spread of COVID-19 and have not been to such countries for the past 14 days will be let in Ukraine .
Ukrainian citizens from June 15 will be able to travel to Albania and the United States ( without restrictions at the border ) , the United Kingdom ( subject to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival ) , Turkey ( without restrictions at the border , but with testing upon arrival , and Tunisia ( from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Moreover , after the epidemic situation in Ukraine stabilizes , the government will consider the relaunch of air travel with Cyprus , Montenegro , Georgia , and Greece starting from July 1 .

Ukraine resuming international flights on June 15
10:40, 15.06.20 11264
European borders for foreign tourists remain closed at least until the end of June.
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unian--2020-06-15--Number of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide nearing 8 mln

The overall death toll is 433,472 people , while 3,778,083 coronavirus patients have already recovered .
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world was nearing 8 million patients as of the morning of June 13 .
Read alsoEuropean Commission publishes criteria for reopening borders for third countries As many as 7,914,866 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:33 on June 15 , according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering ( CSSE ) at Johns Hopkins University .
The overall death toll is 433,472 people , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The highest death toll was recorded in the United States ( 115,732 people ) , Brazil ( 43,332 ) , the United Kingdom ( 41,783 ) , Italy ( 34,345 ) , France ( 29,410 ) , and Spain ( 27,136 ) .
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States ( 2,094,069 confirmed cases ) , Brazil ( 867,624 ) , Russia ( 528,267 ) , India ( 332,424 ) , the United Kingdom ( 297,342 ) , Spain ( 243,928 ) , Italy ( 236,989 ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 194,153 ) , Germany ( 187,518 ) , Iran ( 187,427 ) , and Turkey ( 178,239 ) .
As many as 188 countries have been affected by the virus .

The overall death toll is 433,472 people, while 3,778,083 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world was nearing 8 million patients as of the morning of June 13.
Read alsoEuropean Commission publishes criteria for reopening borders for third countries
As many as 7,914,866 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:33 on June 15, according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
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The overall death toll is 433,472 people, while 3,778,083 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The highest death toll was recorded in the United States (115,732 people), Brazil (43,332), the United Kingdom (41,783), Italy (34,345), France (29,410), and Spain (27,136).
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States (2,094,069 confirmed cases), Brazil (867,624), Russia (528,267), India (332,424), the United Kingdom (297,342), Spain (243,928), Italy (236,989), Peru (229,736), France (194,153), Germany (187,518), Iran (187,427), and Turkey (178,239).
As many as 188 countries have been affected by the virus.


unian--2020-06-15--One Ukrainian soldier wounded amid 15 enemy attacks in Donbas on June 14

According to intelligence reports , one member of Russia-led forces was killed on June 14 .
Russia 's hybrid military forces on June 14 mounted 15 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas , eastern Ukraine , with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action .
`` The Russian Federation 's armed formations violated the ceasefire 15 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 15 .
`` As a result , one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened fire from proscribed 120mm mortars , as well as cannons installed on infantry fighting vehicles , grenade launchers of various types , heavy machine guns , sniper rifles , and small arms .
Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka , and the villages of Luhanske , Orikhove , Travneve , Khutir Vilny , Kamianka , and Pisky .
According to intelligence reports , one member of Russia-led forces was killed on June 14 .
The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army casualties have been reported since Monday midnight .

According to intelligence reports, one member of Russia-led forces was killed on June 14.
Russia's hybrid military forces on June 14 mounted 15 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action.
"The Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire 15 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 15. "As a result, one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded in enemy shelling."
Read alsoUkraine commemorates crew, paratroopers killed in Il-76 downing over Luhansk (Video)
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Russian-led forces opened fire from proscribed 120mm mortars, as well as cannons installed on infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, sniper rifles, and small arms.
Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Luhanske, Orikhove, Travneve, Khutir Vilny, Kamianka, and Pisky.
Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy attack.
According to intelligence reports, one member of Russia-led forces was killed on June 14.
The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on June 15.
No Ukrainian army casualties have been reported since Monday midnight.


unian--2020-06-15--Ukraine's hryvnia weakens to UAH 26.73 to U.S. dollar on June 15

The official forex rate against the euro for Monday is fixed at UAH 30.21 per euro .
The National Bank @ @ @ @ @ has set the official forex rate for June 15 at UAH 26.73 to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ country 's national currency weaken by 13 kopiykas .
The central bank has fixed the @ @ @ @ @ the hryvnia against key foreign currencies for June 15 : US $ 100 will be @ @ @ @ @ UAH 2,659.99 as of June 12 ) ; EUR 100 will be quoted at UAH @ @ @ @ @ of June 12 ) .
By 16:00 Kyiv time on June 12 , hryvnia quotations @ @ @ @ @ interbank forex market settled at UAH 26.72/26.75 to the dollar , while those against the @ @ @ @ @ .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the National Bank set the official forex rate of @ @ @ @ @ June 12 , at UAH 26.60 to the U.S. dollar , which let the country @ @ @ @ @ four kopiykas .

Ukraine's hryvnia weakens to UAH 26.73 to U.S. dollar on June 15
09:25, 15.06.20 6986
The official forex rate against the euro for Monday is fixed at UAH 30.21 per euro.
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unian--2020-06-15--Reuters: Oil drops as new coronavirus outbreaks raise fuel demand concerns

Brent crude futures fell 89 cents , or 2.3 % , to $ 37.84 a barrel by 0302 GMT , while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $ 1.18 , or 3.3 % , to $ 35.08 a barrel .
Oil fell more than 2 % on Monday , extending losses from last week , as new coronavirus infections hit China and the United States , raising the prospect that renewed outbreaks of the virus could weigh on the recovery of fuel demand .
Brent crude futures fell 89 cents , or 2.3 % , to $ 37.84 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $ 1.18 , or 3.3 % , to $ 35.08 a barrel , as reported by Reuters .
A cluster of infections in Beijing has increased concern of a resurgence of the disease .
The coronavirus pandemic started at the end of last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan .
The oil benchmarks fell about 8 % last week , their first weekly declines since April , as U.S. coronavirus cases started increasing .
Over the weekend , more than 25,000 new U.S. cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states reported record new infections and hospitalizations .
Industrial output in China , the world 's biggest crude oil importer , rose for a second consecutive month in May but the rise was smaller than expected , suggesting the world 's second-biggest economy is struggling to get back on track after containing the coronavirus .
The country 's refineries increased their throughput in May by 8.2 % more than the same period a year ago to about 13.6 million barrels per day ( bpd ) , government data showed .
An OPEC-led monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing record production cuts and see whether countries have delivered their share of the reductions , but will not make any decision , according to five OPEC+ sources .

Brent crude futures fell 89 cents, or 2.3%, to $37.84 a barrel by 0302 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $1.18, or 3.3%, to $35.08 a barrel.
Oil fell more than 2% on Monday, extending losses from last week, as new coronavirus infections hit China and the United States, raising the prospect that renewed outbreaks of the virus could weigh on the recovery of fuel demand.
Brent crude futures fell 89 cents, or 2.3%, to $37.84 a barrel by 0302 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $1.18, or 3.3%, to $35.08 a barrel, as reported by Reuters.
A cluster of infections in Beijing has increased concern of a resurgence of the disease. The coronavirus pandemic started at the end of last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
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Read alsoReuters: Oil prices extend gains on OPEC+ cuts, record China imports
The oil benchmarks fell about 8% last week, their first weekly declines since April, as U.S. coronavirus cases started increasing. Over the weekend, more than 25,000 new U.S. cases were reported on Saturday alone as more states reported record new infections and hospitalizations.
Industrial output in China, the world's biggest crude oil importer, rose for a second consecutive month in May but the rise was smaller than expected, suggesting the world's second-biggest economy is struggling to get back on track after containing the coronavirus.
The country's refineries increased their throughput in May by 8.2% more than the same period a year ago to about 13.6 million barrels per day (bpd), government data showed.
An OPEC-led monitoring panel will meet on Thursday to discuss ongoing record production cuts and see whether countries have delivered their share of the reductions, but will not make any decision, according to five OPEC+ sources.


unian--2020-06-15--Record attempt to bribe chiefs of Ukraine's anti-graft agencies lands suspects behind bars

The senior tax official could only be bailed out if he posts a stunning UAH 84 million ( which is over $ 3 million ) .
The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine on Monday , June 15 , ruled to remand in custody for 60 days another suspect in last week 's foiled attempt to hand a $ 5 million bribe to heads of anti-corruption bodies for shutting a criminal case against ex-ecology minister Mykola Zliochevsky , who is also president of Burisma Group .
The suspect in question is first deputy chief of the State Tax Service 's Main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The senior tax official could only be bailed out if he posts a stunning UAH 84 million ( which is over $ 3 million ) .
Another suspect involved in the scheme , whom the court also ruled to remand in custody , is Andriy Kicha , a person who earlier was a Burisma official before starting to work as a lawyer , Ukrainian media reported .
Kicha was shortly bailed out for over UAH 40 million , Hromadske reported .
It remains unclear , who has posted the bail .
As UNIAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Read alsoZelensky : Ukraine must n't be dragged into U.S. election process over leaks 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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` 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 .
Hunter Biden joined Burisma in 2014 , one of several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company said was an attempt to strengthen corporate governance .
The Bidens deny any wrongdoing and Democrats said Trump was trying to help his re-election prospects .

The senior tax official could only be bailed out if he posts a stunning UAH 84 million (which is over $3 million).
The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine on Monday, June 15, ruled to remand in custody for 60 days another suspect in last week's foiled attempt to hand a $5 million bribe to heads of anti-corruption bodies for shutting a criminal case against ex-ecology minister Mykola Zlochevsky, who is also president of Burisma Group. The suspect in question is first deputy chief of the State Tax Service's Main Directorate in Kyiv, Mykola Iliashenko.
The senior tax official could only be bailed out if he posts a stunning UAH 84 million (which is over $3 million).
Another suspect involved in the scheme, whom the court also ruled to remand in custody, is Andriy Kicha, a person who earlier was a Burisma official before starting to work as a lawyer, Ukrainian media reported. Kicha was shortly bailed out for over UAH 40 million, Hromadske reported. It remains unclear, who has posted the bail.
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As UNIAN reported earlier, 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.
Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine mustn't be dragged into U.S. election process over leaks
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.
Read alsoSBI reports senior customs officer in Odesa detained over bribery (Photos)
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.
Hunter Biden joined Burisma in 2014, one of several high-profile names to join what the private company said was an attempt to strengthen corporate governance.
The Bidens deny any wrongdoing and Democrats said Trump was trying to help his re-election prospects.


unian--2020-06-15--Coronavirus confirmed in 5% of PCR-tested Kyiv residents – Mayor Klitschko

More than 85 PCR tests per 100,000 Kyiv residents are run in the country 's capital .
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy @ @ @ @ @ in 5 % of city residents who undergo PCR testing with the use of polymerase @ @ @ @ @ As I already reported , Kyiv today has the highest rate of PCR testing , @ @ @ @ @ 85 tests run per 100,000 Kyiv residents .
I 'd like to note that those @ @ @ @ @ account for 5 % , '' he said during an online-briefing on June 15 .
@ @ @ @ @ new COVID-19 cases , two fatalities in past day According to the mayor , two @ @ @ @ @ first one is aimed to detect the disease and another one – when a patient @ @ @ @ @ UNIAN reported earlier , there were 3,957 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kyiv as of @ @ @ @ @ .
Some 53 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours .

More than 85 PCR tests per 100,000 Kyiv residents are run in the country's capital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko says COVID-19 is confirmed in 5% of city residents who undergo PCR testing with the use of polymerase chain reaction method.
"As I already reported, Kyiv today has the highest rate of PCR testing, that is, more than 85 tests run per 100,000 Kyiv residents. I'd like to note that those who tested positive for coronavirus account for 5%," he said during an online-briefing on June 15.
Read alsoKyiv mayor reports 53 new COVID-19 cases, two fatalities in past day
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According to the mayor, two tests are run: the first one is aimed to detect the disease and another one – when a patient has clinically recovered.
As UNIAN reported earlier, there were 3,957 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kyiv as of the morning of June 15. Some 53 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.


unian--2020-06-15--In a controversial murder case, judge puts under "house arrest" activist who claims acted in self-de

In a controversial murder case, judge puts under "house arrest" activist who claims acted in self-defense

The defense team says the judge 's failure to read out the motivational part makes the ruling illegitimate .
A district court in Kyiv on Monday , June 15 , handed down a ruling to select 60-day round-the-clock house arrest as a measure of restraint in the homicide case where the suspect is Odesa-based activist Serhiy Sternenko .
In 2018 , in what he claims was a third attempt on his life , the activist stabbed one of the attackers in an `` act of self-defense '' .
The assailant eventually died of the injury sustained .
Amid reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , the case sparked public debate on the issue of self-defense boundaries .
Upon hearing the court ruling , Sternenko noted that he could be unable to follow it as the judge ordered that he stay on `` house arrest '' at the address of official registration , which is an actual military base in Odesa where he wo n't be allowed entry as he is not a military serviceman , an UNIAN correspondent reports .
This , Sternenko believes , could give the investigation grounds to claim he refuses to comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further request that the court warrant custody remand , Ukrainian Pravda wrote .
The court put the said address in the ruling despite appeals on the part of defense team to change the address to that where the suspect currently resides , in Kyiv .
Also , the defense team says the judge 's failure to read out the motivational part makes the ruling illegitimate .
Read alsoSternenko case hearing : law enforcers detain five at rally outside Kyiv courthouse ( Updated ) A crowd has been rallying outside the courthouse throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sternenko .
Earlier today , a clash erupted involving riot police and a number of protesters .
Two law enforcers were suspended from service pending an investigation into the alleged use of excessive force against a detainee at the rally .
Tensions have risen at the site after protesters learned of the court judgment .
They started hurling bottles at law enforcers cordoning off the courthouse , an UNIAN correspondent reported .
UNIAN memo : The SBU pressed homicide charges against Serhiy Sternenko , an Odesa activist and former leader of the Right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ivan Kuznetsov , a person identified as one of the attackers who assaulted him in 2018 .
The assault was the third one over the course of the same year , all of which Sternenko claimed were attempts on his life .
At the same time , as earlier reported by Ukrainian media , the attack on Sternenko , which turned out to be fatal for one of the two perpetrators , was qualified as `` hooliganism , committed with the use of weapons or another item adjusted for inflicting bodily injuries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate in Ukraine on whether Sternenko 's actions were justified and whether the attacks on the anti-corruption activist were being properly investigated .

The defense team says the judge's failure to read out the motivational part makes the ruling illegitimate.
A district court in Kyiv on Monday, June 15, handed down a ruling to select 60-day round-the-clock house arrest as a measure of restraint in the homicide case where the suspect is Odesa-based activist Serhiy Sternenko.
In 2018, in what he claims was a third attempt on his life, the activist stabbed one of the attackers in an "act of self-defense". The assailant eventually died of the injury sustained. Amid reports that both attackers were charged with "hooliganism", the case sparked public debate on the issue of self-defense boundaries.
Upon hearing the court ruling, Sternenko noted that he could be unable to follow it as the judge ordered that he stay on "house arrest" at the address of official registration, which is an actual military base in Odesa where he won't be allowed entry as he is not a military serviceman, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
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This, Sternenko believes, could give the investigation grounds to claim he refuses to comply with the court ruling, only to further request that the court warrant custody remand, Ukrainian Pravda wrote.
The court put the said address in the ruling despite appeals on the part of defense team to change the address to that where the suspect currently resides, in Kyiv.
Also, the defense team says the judge's failure to read out the motivational part makes the ruling illegitimate.
Read alsoSternenko case hearing: law enforcers detain five at rally outside Kyiv courthouse (Updated)
A crowd has been rallying outside the courthouse throughout the day, demanding fair trial for Serhiy Sternenko. Earlier today, a clash erupted involving riot police and a number of protesters. Two law enforcers were suspended from service pending an investigation into the alleged use of excessive force against a detainee at the rally.
Tensions have risen at the site after protesters learned of the court judgment. They started hurling bottles at law enforcers cordoning off the courthouse, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
UNIAN memo: The SBU pressed homicide charges against Serhiy Sternenko, an Odesa activist and former leader of the Right Sector movement, over the death of Ivan Kuznetsov, a person identified as one of the attackers who assaulted him in 2018.
The assault was the third one over the course of the same year, all of which Sternenko claimed were attempts on his life. At the same time, as earlier reported by Ukrainian media, the attack on Sternenko, which turned out to be fatal for one of the two perpetrators, was qualified as "hooliganism, committed with the use of weapons or another item adjusted for inflicting bodily injuries."
The high-profile case has sparked public debate in Ukraine on whether Sternenko's actions were justified and whether the attacks on the anti-corruption activist were being properly investigated.


unian--2020-06-15--Ukrainian economy may drop 8% this year – Cabinet outlook

The negative impact of the pandemic on the Ukrainian economy is amplified by the onset of a global economic recession .
The Cabinet of Ministers predicts that as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , Ukraine 's GDP in 2020 may fall by 4-8 % on year .
That 's according to the updated Government Action Program .
`` The negative impact of the pandemic is amplified by the onset of a global economic recession , which could deliver a significant blow to the well-being of the population .
According to IMF forecasts , the global economy is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in turn , is traditionally more vulnerable to economic shocks , and therefore could suffer a significant impact : GDP may fall by 4-8 % against 2019 , '' the Program says .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the International Monetary Fund worsened the outlook for Ukraine 's GDP decline in 2020 to 8.2 % .
The updated Action Plan drawn by government is several dozen pages long , having been structured for each ministry .
On June 4 , the Verkhovna Rada supported the decision to return Denys Shmyhal government 's action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by MPs .
Parliament could consider the updated version of the program at a meeting on June 18 .

Ukrainian economy may drop 8% this year – Cabinet outlook
22:30, 15.06.20 923
The negative impact of the pandemic on the Ukrainian economy is amplified by the onset of a global economic recession.
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unian--2020-06-15--No "Plan B", or PM's rose-colored glasses

Last week , Denys Shmyhal 's government marked their first 100 days in office .
On this occasion , PM held a large press conference where a journalist directly asked him what he intends to do `` if things start falling apart in the fall , '' that is , if the global economic crisis deepens , as some experts predict .
Shmyhal called such forecasts `` a typical boogeyman story about the end of the world '' and said that the government expects the resumption of GDP growth from Q3 .
And although he said that now no government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything more than three months ahead , he cited the encouraging macro outlook of the Ministry of Economy , the IMF , the World Bank , and foreign think tanks as proof of his suggestions .
He also emphasized that the Cabinet `` sees no critical threats that could arise in August-October '' or any `` surprises '' that could collapse the economy and lead to disaster .
From such a bit of self-confident speech , the conclusion suggests that the government simply has no backup plan if something goes wrong .
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided not to sow unnecessary panic .
Considering how the Cabinet of Ministers reacted to the coronacrisis challenges , the first option looks more plausible .
It is entirely possible that after receiving the first tranche of the new IMF SBA and tied loans from other international lenders , the government relaxed a bit and decided that the market itself would gradually find its way out of the quarantine ditch .
Needless to say , such shortsightedness is threatening because Ukraine underwent the previous crises almost worse than everyone else in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister that our country is in crisis that 's much stronger than that of 2008 for some reason does n't add confidence .
And the three quarantine months only confirm these fears .
Apparently , the Cabinet 's top priority is the approval by the MPs of their action program , without which the ministers will not have annual immunity from dismissal .
The first version of the program , following merciless criticism within the walls of the Verkhovna Rada , was sent for revision .
Therefore , the document was urgently rewritten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , once again submitted for consideration by MPs .
It seems that the parliament itself has not yet decided whether it is worth approving the Cabinet program so they decided to develop their own vision of a backup plan for saving the economy , since the ministers are not up to it .
This was confirmed at the meeting of the working group on the elaboration of proposals for the economic rescue of the country , which took place last week .
The ideas that were voiced there so far can hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the very trend is already an important signal .
Dmytro Natalukha , who heads the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development , pointed out that the pandemic actually issued many states carte blanche to choose their own ways to respond to the crisis , and many took unprecedented measures .
As international examples , he cited nationalization of certain industries and the transition to a model of state capitalism , sovereignitizing the economy , and resorting to enormous money emission .
By the way , speaking of money printing ... Head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition at the parliamentary committee on economic development , Liudmyla Buimister , voiced an idea seen as rather seditious by the incumbent leaders of the Cabinet and NBU .
It 's about printing about UAH 300 billion , which is 10 % of the gross domestic product .
She proposed to evenly divide this money into three subprograms of economic incentives .
The first is handing out UAH 3,000 to each resident .
The second one implies free and unconditional loans to support retail chains , small and medium-sized businesses , so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thus , save jobs .
The third one is about investment in building infrastructure and restoring the electricity and energy sectors .
I wonder what inflation and the hryvnia rate will be like after such `` innovations '' as pouring money into the economy are implemented .
So far , the main thing is not how these proposals could be perceived by international creditors but the actual effect of such actions if they are implemented .
It is important that these ideas are being voiced , and the voices promoting them are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that developments do n't go according to the Cabinet 's optimistic scenario and that the economy will face challenges much more serious than those the country faced this spring .
Can people hope for a swift government response ?
It is also important to remember that Ukraine lives on political logic , and now local elections , scheduled for October , are already looming on the horizon .
Since virtually all key decisions in the country are made by president , if the Cabinet lacks Plan B , the said proposals from parliamentarians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , may well be put on Zelensky 's desk .

Last week, Denys Shmyhal's government marked their first 100 days in office. On this occasion, PM held a large press conference where a journalist directly asked him what he intends to do "if things start falling apart in the fall," that is, if the global economic crisis deepens, as some experts predict.
Shmyhal called such forecasts "a typical boogeyman story about the end of the world" and said that the government expects the resumption of GDP growth from Q3.
And although he said that now no government in the world is able to predict anything more than three months ahead, he cited the encouraging macro outlook of the Ministry of Economy, the IMF, the World Bank, and foreign think tanks as proof of his suggestions.
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The government simply has no backup plan if something goes wrong
He also emphasized that the Cabinet " sees no critical threats that could arise in August-October" or any "surprises" that could collapse the economy and lead to disaster.
From such a bit of self-confident speech, the conclusion suggests that the government simply has no backup plan if something goes wrong.
Or maybe there is one, but Shmhgal decided not to sow unnecessary panic.
Considering how the Cabinet of Ministers reacted to the coronacrisis challenges, the first option looks more plausible.
It is entirely possible that after receiving the first tranche of the new IMF SBA and tied loans from other international lenders, the government relaxed a bit and decided that the market itself would gradually find its way out of the quarantine ditch.
Needless to say, such shortsightedness is threatening because Ukraine underwent the previous crises almost worse than everyone else in the world. And the March statement by prime minister that our country is in crisis that's much stronger than that of 2008 for some reason doesn't add confidence. And the three quarantine months only confirm these fears.
Apparently, the Cabinet's top priority is the approval by the MPs of their action program, without which the ministers will not have annual immunity from dismissal.
The parliament itself has not yet decided whether approving the Cabinet program
The first version of the program, following merciless criticism within the walls of the Verkhovna Rada, was sent for revision. Therefore, the document was urgently rewritten and, at the end of last week, once again submitted for consideration by MPs.
It seems that the parliament itself has not yet decided whether it is worth approving the Cabinet program so they decided to develop their own vision of a backup plan for saving the economy, since the ministers are not up to it. This was confirmed at the meeting of the working group on the elaboration of proposals for the economic rescue of the country, which took place last week.
The ideas that were voiced there so far can hardly be called popular among top officials, but the very trend is already an important signal.
Dmytro Natalukha, who heads the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development, pointed out that the pandemic actually issued many states carte blanche to choose their own ways to respond to the crisis, and many took unprecedented measures. As international examples, he cited nationalization of certain industries and the transition to a model of state capitalism, sovereignitizing the economy, and resorting to enormous money emission.
By the way, speaking of money printing... Head of the subcommittee on the development of fair competition at the parliamentary committee on economic development, Liudmyla Buimister, voiced an idea seen as rather seditious by the incumbent leaders of the Cabinet and NBU.
It's about printing about UAH 300 billion, which is 10% of the gross domestic product. She proposed to evenly divide this money into three subprograms of economic incentives. The first is handing out UAH 3,000 to each resident. The second one implies free and unconditional loans to support retail chains, small and medium-sized businesses, so that they are able to pay salaries and, thus, save jobs. The third one is about investment in building infrastructure and restoring the electricity and energy sectors.
Ukraine lives on political logic, and now local elections, scheduled for October, are already looming on the horizon
I wonder what inflation and the hryvnia rate will be like after such "innovations" as pouring money into the economy are implemented.
So far, the main thing is not how these proposals could be perceived by international creditors but the actual effect of such actions if they are implemented. It is important that these ideas are being voiced, and the voices promoting them are rather prominent.
And let's imagine that developments don't go according to the Cabinet's optimistic scenario and that the economy will face challenges much more serious than those the country faced this spring. Can people hope for a swift government response?
It is also important to remember that Ukraine lives on political logic, and now local elections, scheduled for October, are already looming on the horizon. Since virtually all key decisions in the country are made by president, if the Cabinet lacks Plan B, the said proposals from parliamentarians, which will obviously appeal to many voters, may well be put on Zelensky's desk.
Dmytro Shvarts


unian--2020-06-15--Ukraine developing Navy in line with NATO standards – defense minister

The Defense Ministry is currently negotiating with foreign partners on the need to provide assistance and support in the implementation of the said plans .
Minister of Defense has named the three pillars of Navy combat capabilities development in accordance with NATO standards .
`` I 'd like to emphasize the need to pay special attention to the increase in Navy combat capabilities development in accordance with NATO standards , as well as with regard to directions which were approved by President .
In particular , these are the three pillars , '' the defense minister said on June 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy Commander in Odesa .
`` The first pillar is the provision of modern ships with missile armament , aircraft , coastal missile systems , combat service support , and electronic warfare assets .
The second one is the establishment of a proximal maritime zone integrated situation awareness and reconnaissance system , command and control system , as well as an underwater situation awareness system .
The third pillar is the development of a modern base system in both the Black and Azov Sea regions .
The Ministry of Defense will do everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' noted Andrii Taran .
He has also said that the Defense Ministry is currently negotiating with foreign partners on the need to provide assistance and support in the implementation of the said plans .
`` I held these talks during my recent visits to Berlin and Paris and received assurances from foreign partners in support of our aspirations to develop the fleet , '' added Andrii Taran .

The Defense Ministry is currently negotiating with foreign partners on the need to provide assistance and support in the implementation of the said plans.
Minister of Defense has named the three pillars of Navy combat capabilities development in accordance with NATO standards.
"I'd like to emphasize the need to pay special attention to the increase in Navy combat capabilities development in accordance with NATO standards, as well as with regard to directions which were approved by President. In particular, these are the three pillars," the defense minister said on June 15 at the ceremony to appoint a new Navy Commander in Odesa.
"The first pillar is the provision of modern ships with missile armament, aircraft, coastal missile systems, combat service support, and electronic warfare assets. The second one is the establishment of a proximal maritime zone integrated situation awareness and reconnaissance system, command and control system, as well as an underwater situation awareness system. The third pillar is the development of a modern base system in both the Black and Azov Sea regions. The Ministry of Defense will do everything necessary to implement this program in practice," noted Andrii Taran.
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Read alsoWhy Russia is afraid of Ukraine's Neptune missiles
He has also said that the Defense Ministry is currently negotiating with foreign partners on the need to provide assistance and support in the implementation of the said plans.
"I held these talks during my recent visits to Berlin and Paris and received assurances from foreign partners in support of our aspirations to develop the fleet," added Andrii Taran.


unian--2020-06-15--Russian propaganda set to stage "Ukrainian trail" in U.S., EU protests – media

This could be an infamous boogeyman story about `` Ukrainian nationalists `` partaking in and even almost `` supervising '' protests .
Taking advantage of the raging protests in the U.S. and the EU , Russia is preparing another move to compromise Ukraine in the eyes of international community .
Against exposures of Russian involvement in all major destabilizing efforts , from cyber-penetration of Bundestag websites in Germany and coronavirus hospitals in the Czech Republic to fueling violence and looting at U.S. protests , Russians are now trying to offer a false trail to shift suspicions away from themselves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This false trail , obviously , could be an infamous boogeyman story about `` Ukrainian nationalists `` partaking in and even almost `` supervising '' protests .
Online resources of the unrecognized `` republics '' in Eastern Ukraine , are massively spinning a claim that Ukrainians with combat experience are allegedly set to be deployed to support protests on foreign soil .
It 's not the first time Russian propaganda is playing a game by this plot .
Last year , photos were span across social networks and media outlets of Ukrainians who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests in Hong Kong .
`` Having seized from the fallen Soviet Union the baton of global choaos architect , Russia exploits any destabilizing events happening on foreign soil , '' the report reads .
`` Also , Russia shifts on others the blame for fueling unrest , just like Russian media did when they accused Ukraine of 'exporting the Maidan ' to the rest of the world . ''
Four Ukrainians , covered with unequivocal tattoos and sporting peculiar T-shirts with the inscription in Ukrainian `` Who is behind the murder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutal murder for anti-corruption efforts sparked outrage among activists and drove some to the streets to protest government inaction ) then starred in Russian media reports .
Chinese Ambassador to Russia , Zhang Hanhui then claimed `` reliable '' data on the `` Ukrainian trace ” in the Hong Kong protests , accusing the Ukrainians of sharing their `` experience '' with Hong Kong protesters .
It was the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine who had to issue explanations over the stunt done by just four Ukrainian nationals .
Today , now that NATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opportunity Partnership , another campaign could be launched to compromise Kyiv in the eyes of international community .
`` Cameras are just waiting to capture at the protest rallies in the U.S. and the EU some young people with peculiar tattoos or distinctive T-shirts with Ukrainian inscriptions looting stores or just being part of the violent crowds .
So if anyone wants to tar Ukraine , this is the perfect opportunity amid global public focus on the ongoing rallies across Western democracies , '' the report reads .
These actors could be both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
`` Most of the times though those who are being manipulated tend to remain blind to what 's really happening , '' the author wrote .
`` Also , it can also be that there 'll be no need to send anyone anywhere as Russian assets from among all sorts of ultra-radicals and neo-Nazi scum could simply use in their act some distinctive objects attributed to Ukraine or simply put pseudo-Ukrainian graffiti on some walls – like Russian Wagner PMC troops clumsily did as they were retreating from a Libyan town @ @ @ @ @ @

This could be an infamous boogeyman story about "Ukrainian nationalists "partaking in and even almost "supervising" protests.
Taking advantage of the raging protests in the U.S. and the EU, Russia is preparing another move to compromise Ukraine in the eyes of international community.
Against exposures of Russian involvement in all major destabilizing efforts, from cyber-penetration of Bundestag websites in Germany and coronavirus hospitals in the Czech Republic to fueling violence and looting at U.S. protests, Russians are now trying to offer a false trail to shift suspicions away from themselves, the Information Resistance OSINT group reports.
This false trail, obviously, could be an infamous boogeyman story about "Ukrainian nationalists "partaking in and even almost "supervising" protests.
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Online resources of the unrecognized "republics" in Eastern Ukraine, are massively spinning a claim that Ukrainians with combat experience are allegedly set to be deployed to support protests on foreign soil.
Read also"Foreign adversaries" targeting U.S. over ongoing unrest – media
It's not the first time Russian propaganda is playing a game by this plot. Last year, photos were span across social networks and media outlets of Ukrainians who allegedly took an active part in the protests in Hong Kong.
"Having seized from the fallen Soviet Union the baton of global chaos architect, Russia exploits any destabilizing events happening on foreign soil," the report reads. "Also, Russia shifts on others the blame for fueling unrest, just like Russian media did when they accused Ukraine of 'exporting the Maidan' to the rest of the world."
Four Ukrainians, covered with unequivocal tattoos and sporting peculiar T-shirts with the inscription in Ukrainian "Who is behind the murder of Katia Handziuk" (the activist whose brutal murder for anti-corruption efforts sparked outrage among activists and drove some to the streets to protest government inaction) then starred in Russian media reports.
Chinese Ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui then claimed "reliable" data on the "Ukrainian trace” in the Hong Kong protests, accusing the Ukrainians of sharing their "experience" with Hong Kong protesters. It was the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine who had to issue explanations over the stunt done by just four Ukrainian nationals.
Today, now that NATO has just included Ukraine in the Enhanced Opportunity Partnership, another campaign could be launched to compromise Kyiv in the eyes of international community.
"Cameras are just waiting to capture at the protest rallies in the U.S. and the EU some young people with peculiar tattoos or distinctive T-shirts with Ukrainian inscriptions looting stores or just being part of the violent crowds. So if anyone wants to tar Ukraine, this is the perfect opportunity amid global public focus on the ongoing rallies across Western democracies," the report reads.
Read alsoJournalist debunks fake report alleging Ukrainian fighters took part in Libya hostilities
These actors could be both aware and oblivious of being exploited by Russia. "Most of the times though those who are being manipulated tend to remain blind to what's really happening," the author wrote.
"Also, it can also be that there'll be no need to send anyone anywhere as Russian assets from among all sorts of ultra-radicals and neo-Nazi scum could simply use in their act some distinctive objects attributed to Ukraine or simply put pseudo-Ukrainian graffiti on some walls – like Russian Wagner PMC troops clumsily did as they were retreating from a Libyan town," the report concludes.


unian--2020-06-15--Government plans to introduce funded pension system from 2021

The Cabinet also intends to adapt to the EU laws Ukrainian legislation on private pension funds to enhance protection of @ @ @ @ @ pensioners .
The Cabinet of Ministers , Ukraine 's government , plans to introduce a @ @ @ @ @ from 2021 and stimulate the development of a private pension system .
The Cabinet also @ @ @ @ @ EU laws Ukrainian legislation on private pension funds to enhance protection of property rights and @ @ @ @ @ to the finalized action plan .
Read alsoUkraine-IMF new cooperation program provides for no raise @ @ @ @ @ Shmyhal Pension spending at 12 % of GDP , ensuring the minimum level of pensions @ @ @ @ @ earned , annual recalculations for 11 million pensioners , as well as attracting over 130,000 @ @ @ @ @ system are among the expected results of the said steps .
As UNIAN reported earlier @ @ @ @ @ Shmyhal said the government plans to gradually implement pension reform , which provides for the @ @ @ @ @ system .

Government plans to introduce funded pension system from 2021
19:50, 15.06.20 1883
The Cabinet also intends to adapt to the EU laws Ukrainian legislation on private pension funds to enhance protection of property rights and interests of pensioners.
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unian--2020-06-15--Sternenko case hearing: law enforcers detain five at rally outside Kyiv courthouse

Activists demand fair trial for someone they believe acted in self-defense .
Law enforcement officers detained five protesters who had been rallying outside a district court in Kyiv , where the judge is set to select a preventive measure in the case of Odesa activist Serhiy Sternenko who has been charged with homicide .
`` At first , one of the men provoked a conflict with journalists , while others prevented the police from detaining the offender , '' the press service of the interior ministry reported .
The Interior Ministry said that the brawl between police and protesters erupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apprehended .
Read alsoRight not to be killed : why is it still possible to be imprisoned for self-defense in Ukraine '' The most pro-active participants were detained .
They are being taken to the police station to be identified and interviewed .
After a preliminary check , their actions will be qualified from a legal perspective , '' the statement said .
At the same time , Kyiv PD chief Andriy Krishchenko told Ukrainian Pravda two of riot police officers were suspended from service pending probe into the possible use of excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The investigation will be carried out by the State Bureau of Investigation .
UPDATE : MP with the Holos faction , Olha Stefanyshyna , reported on Facebook that all detained persons had been released from police custody in a few hours .
As UNIAN reported earlier , on June 12 , the court hearing on the selection of preventive measure regarding Sternenko was postponed to June 15 .
An SBU investigator has requested that the court rule to impose round-the-clock house arrest .
UNIAN memo : The SBU pressed homicide charges against Serhiy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a person identified as one of the attackers who assaulted the Odesa activist in 2018 .
The assault was the third one over the course of the same year , all of which Sternenko claimed were attempts on his life .
At the same time , as earlier reported by Ukrainian media , the attack on Sternenko , which turned out to be fatal for one of the two perpetrators , was qualified as `` hooliganism , committed with the use of weapons or another item adjusted for inflicting bodily injuries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate in Ukraine on whether Sternenko 's actions were justified and whether the attacks on the anti-corruption activist were being properly investigated .

Activists demand fair trial for someone they believe acted in self-defense.
Law enforcement officers detained five protesters who had been rallying outside a district court in Kyiv, where the judge is set to select a preventive measure in the case of Odesa activist Serhiy Sternenko who has been charged with homicide.
"At first, one of the men provoked a conflict with journalists, while others prevented the police from detaining the offender," the press service of the interior ministry reported.
The Interior Ministry said that the brawl between police and protesters erupted as one of the protesters was being apprehended.
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Read alsoRight not to be killed: why is it still possible to be imprisoned for self-defense in Ukraine
"The most pro-active participants were detained. They are being taken to the police station to be identified and interviewed. After a preliminary check, their actions will be qualified from a legal perspective," the statement said.
At the same time, Kyiv PD chief Andriy Krishchenko told Ukrainian Pravda two of riot police officers were suspended from service pending probe into the possible use of excessive force during the clash with protesters. The investigation will be carried out by the State Bureau of Investigation.
UPDATE: MP with the Holos faction, Olha Stefanyshyna, reported on Facebook that all detained persons had been released from police custody in a few hours.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on June 12, the court hearing on the selection of preventive measure regarding Sternenko was postponed to June 15.
An SBU investigator has requested that the court rule to impose round-the-clock house arrest.
UNIAN memo: The SBU pressed homicide charges against Serhiy Sternenko over the death of Ivan Kuznetsov, a person identified as one of the attackers who assaulted the Odesa activist in 2018.
The assault was the third one over the course of the same year, all of which Sternenko claimed were attempts on his life.
At the same time, as earlier reported by Ukrainian media, the attack on Sternenko, which turned out to be fatal for one of the two perpetrators, was qualified as "hooliganism, committed with the use of weapons or another item adjusted for inflicting bodily injuries."
The high-profile case has sparked public debate in Ukraine on whether Sternenko's actions were justified and whether the attacks on the anti-corruption activist were being properly investigated.


unian--2020-06-15--Right not to be killed: why is it still possible to be imprisoned for self-defense in Ukraine

The life of Serhiy Pankratov of Izmail was broken in 40 seconds .
The brawl in a roadside diner in the fall of 2015 lasted about that long .
There were 15 attackers wielding iron sticks , knives , and handguns .
`` When 15 people attack you , you defend yourself… They shoot , stab , and kill .
After the shot to the head , I no longer could… That 's truly scary , '' he told TSN.Tyzhden .
The video of a man being knocked off his feet , stabbed and shot in the head was captured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't remember what happened after the shooting , the video shows that the man 's instincts kicked in .
He grabbed a pistol from the ground after one of his stabbers dropped it .
He started firing at the gang .
Then it turned out that he fatally wounded two of them… And then the cops took Serhiy from the hospital… to throw him into a pretrial detention center for three and a half years , suspecting him of the alleged premeditated murder of two or more persons .
At the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the assailants and the very attack on Pankratov .
`` I 've never met such an outrageous case , '' says Serhiy 's lawyer .
`` I 'd been a judge for 10 years and lawyer for another 25 years .
In Soviet times , I personally acquitted people in self-defense cases .
But this case is so obvious – after all , the actions of all 15 of the attackers have been caught on video , on four CCTV cameras ! ''
Moreover , all attackers were identified within the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names , whereabouts , phone numbers ...
But they are still noted as 'unidentified persons . '
Meanwhile , Pankratov had been in custody for 3.5 years . ''
Five years into the day of the attack , Serhiy Pankratov is no longer behind bars , while still being investigated .
And the charges pressed are still messing up his life .
`` While the probe is underway , I ca n't even get a job or leave country… And I ca n't even imagine what it will further be like , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TSN.Tyzhden report is Anton Farb , a martial arts instructor .
He teaches students to defend themselves from a knife-wielding attacker .
`` Most people are killed in knife attacks .
The other top deadly weapon is… you 'll never guess – an ax !
At one time , in the 1970s , researchers did an experiment in the U.S. before coming up with the 21 foot rule .
If the attacker wields a knife , while a policeman has a pistol in his holster , the 21-feet distance is enough for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Demonstrating how psychologically and physically difficult it is to draw a knife when a group of attackers are trying to kill you , Anton seems to be telling his own story .
`` No matter how hard I prepared for this , believing that one day I might be assaulted , they caught me off my guard .
It was unexpected , '' he recalls the terrible event .
In the spring of 2017 , three attackers assaulted Anton in the center of Zhytomyr .
They sought revenge for a petty argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They ran up from behind , grabbed me by my backpack and started beating me .
I tried to hit back .
I knocked one of the attackers off his feet , while realizing there are two more .
I draw a knife and start waving it .
I hit the guy in the neck and the other in the arm .
I imagine what three fit men could do with one .
How far they would have gone , I do n't know .
It is better not to expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with just a few bruises .
You must assume the worst .
Most often , it 's precisely such stupid petty conflicts that end up in murder , '' says Anton .
Eventually , the well-trained man stopped the assailants , got into a taxi and drove off .
And in a few hours , police came and took him to the station where he was charged with an attempted premeditated murder of two or more persons .
And here only wide publicity and a good lawyer helped the man .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts , got questioned , identified , and the probe could have ended up totally differently .
We went , gathered all CCTV footage from the area and quickly identified eyewitnesses of the incident .
We gathered all that evidence and in two days brought it in , appealing to shut the case .
And the prosecutor , tnahkfully , decided to close the case , '' said Anton 's lawyer Vitaliy Kolomiets .
Ironically , Ukraine 's self-defense legislation is better than in some American states .
If you were attacked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportionate – you may inflict light or medium injuries , but you will be held liable for inflicting grievous bodily harm or death as exceeding the limits of self-defense .
However , in three cases , you are allowed to defend yourself as you wish , using weapons or other tools , without having to bear any responsibility .
Here are these cases : If the attacker is armed ; If you are being assaulted by a group ; and If someone tries to break and enter your home .
However , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` So , someone has been injured or killed , proceedings are instituted , and the investigation begins .
The investigator collects material for a month or two , putting it into two or three volumes of case file , and here a question is raised – the detective has indeed found that the person really was fighting off a group attack .
But what is he going to do ?
The investigator thinks to themselves : `` I have poor results in this reporting period .
I did a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I wo n't get a promotion . '
And people are told : 'Let 's just go for Article 118 , you will get deferred sentence or a fine , and then we will close this case .
For the investigator , this would be a positive result .
And that person thinks : 'Well , okay , I might have some criminal record of one year of deferred sentence… ' , '' lawyer Vitaliy Kolomiets tells about the sad realities of such cases .
Two proceedings are instituted at once in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , victim is the one who defended themselves .
And in another one , he is suspected of attacking those whom he fought back .
So everything here depends only on quality of lawyers and public response .
As isin the case of Serhiy Sternenko .
Serhiy Sternenko is an Odesa-based activist .
TSN.Tyzhden earlier reported about all three attacks he had survived .
The last time was two years ago when two persons attacked Serhiy and his girlfriend Natalia outside their own house .
`` At one point , I drew my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been stabbed .
And then I started waving around the knife , '' he says .
Serhiy was defending himself against two armed thugs and fatally injured one of them .
By law , his actions were justified .
But Sternenko 's enemies are too influential .
`` It couldn ’ t be a coincidence .
In four months , three attacks outside my house .
This clearly testifies to these attacks having been orchestrated , '' says Serhiy .
For the two years since the attack , he has been walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been defending his right not to be convicted of murder .
`` Definitely , my life has turned upside down .
It 's changed a lot .
That 's because while I used to fight off the assaults , now I am fighting off the Ukrainian punitive system , which seeks to put me behind bars for repelling the attacks on me .
But people should understand that they can find a way out of prison , but they will never find one out of the grave , '' Sternenko said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is of no interest to anyone but him .
After all , law enforcers have only pressed `` hooliganism '' charges against the assailants .
Sternenko says that a huge amount of evidence has been gathered in the case , which would allow to press charges against a few people , except masterminds : `` There are grounds to do so .
But these decisions are not being made .
And this can be done only from the high offices at the SBU and the Office of the Prosecutor General . ''
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Security Service to be charged .
But Sternenko 's case is no longer just a criminal investigation .
This is also about corruption , PR , and political pressure .
And the trouble is that this case affects the interests of all other citizens – because it completely devalues the basic human right to protect people 's own lives .
The government enforcement machine in a brutally unjust attack on an individual is sending a bunch of signals : from the unscrupulousness of the law enforcement system to the murder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , when you are attacked , you will defend your life anyway as instincts kick in .
However , when someone sees a woman being raped or some old man being mugged , they might think it is wiser to just flee from the scene .
Currently , Serhiy is being defended not only by lawyers as everyone who still believes in their own dignity and the right not to be killed is on his side .

Despite the fact that Ukrainian legislation clearly defines in which cases citizens are allowed to protect themselves from assailants in any way, even employing weapons or other objects, and not bear any responsibility for this, these rules actually don't work. And the proof of this claim goes beyond the high-profile case of Serhiy Sternenko.
Deadly self-defense
The life of Serhiy Pankratov of Izmail was broken in 40 seconds. The brawl in a roadside diner in the fall of 2015 lasted about that long. There were 15 attackers wielding iron sticks, knives, and handguns.
"When 15 people attack you, you defend yourself… They shoot, stab, and kill. After the shot to the head, I no longer could… That's truly scary," he told TSN.Tyzhden.
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The video of a man being knocked off his feet, stabbed and shot in the head was captured on CCTV footage. Although Serhiy doesn't remember what happened after the shooting, the video shows that the man's instincts kicked in. He grabbed a pistol from the ground after one of his stabbers dropped it. He started firing at the gang. Then it turned out that he fatally wounded two of them…
And then the cops took Serhiy from the hospital… to throw him into a pretrial detention center for three and a half years, suspecting him of the alleged premeditated murder of two or more persons. At the same time, law enforcers simply "forgot" about the assailants and the very attack on Pankratov.
"I've never met such an outrageous case," says Serhiy's lawyer. "I'd been a judge for 10 years and lawyer for another 25 years. In Soviet times, I personally acquitted people in self-defense cases. But this case is so obvious – after all, the actions of all 15 of the attackers have been caught on video, on four CCTV cameras!"
Moreover, all attackers were identified within the first month of the probe: "Their names, whereabouts, phone numbers... But they are still noted as 'unidentified persons.' Meanwhile, Pankratov had been in custody for 3.5 years."
Five years into the day of the attack, Serhiy Pankratov is no longer behind bars, while still being investigated. And the charges pressed are still messing up his life.
"While the probe is underway, I can't even get a job or leave country… And I can't even imagine what it will further be like," says Serhiy.
Another man from the TSN.Tyzhden report is Anton Farb, a martial arts instructor. He teaches students to defend themselves from a knife-wielding attacker.
"Most people are killed in knife attacks. The other top deadly weapon is… you'll never guess – an ax! At one time, in the 1970s, researchers did an experiment in the U.S. before coming up with the 21 foot rule. If the attacker wields a knife, while a policeman has a pistol in his holster, the 21-feet distance is enough for the attacker to kill," he says. Demonstrating how psychologically and physically difficult it is to draw a knife when a group of attackers are trying to kill you, Anton seems to be telling his own story.
"No matter how hard I prepared for this, believing that one day I might be assaulted, they caught me off my guard. It was unexpected," he recalls the terrible event.
In the spring of 2017, three attackers assaulted Anton in the center of Zhytomyr. They sought revenge for a petty argument on a bus over an open window.
"They ran up from behind, grabbed me by my backpack and started beating me. I tried to hit back. I knocked one of the attackers off his feet, while realizing there are two more. I draw a knife and start waving it. I hit the guy in the neck and the other in the arm. I imagine what three fit men could do with one. How far they would have gone, I don't know. It is better not to expect that you will go through the mess with just a few bruises. You must assume the worst. Most often, it's precisely such stupid petty conflicts that end up in murder," says Anton.
Eventually, the well-trained man stopped the assailants, got into a taxi and drove off. And in a few hours, police came and took him to the station where he was charged with an attempted premeditated murder of two or more persons. And here only wide publicity and a good lawyer helped the man.
"The victims came to the station with their cuts, got questioned, identified, and the probe could have ended up totally differently. We went, gathered all CCTV footage from the area and quickly identified eyewitnesses of the incident. We gathered all that evidence and in two days brought it in, appealing to shut the case. And the prosecutor, tnahkfully, decided to close the case," said Anton's lawyer Vitaliy Kolomiets.
Ironically, Ukraine's self-defense legislation is better than in some American states. If you were attacked by a single assailant, self-defense must be proportionate – you may inflict light or medium injuries, but you will be held liable for inflicting grievous bodily harm or death as exceeding the limits of self-defense. However, in three cases, you are allowed to defend yourself as you wish, using weapons or other tools, without having to bear any responsibility.
Here are these cases:
If the attacker is armed;
If you are being assaulted by a group; and
If someone tries to break and enter your home.
However, in reality, things are way more complicated.
"So, someone has been injured or killed, proceedings are instituted, and the investigation begins. The investigator collects material for a month or two, putting it into two or three volumes of case file, and here a question is raised – the detective has indeed found that the person really was fighting off a group attack. But what is he going to do? The investigator thinks to themselves: "I have poor results in this reporting period. I did a lot of work but no one will praise it and I won't get a promotion.' And people are told: 'Let's just go for Article 118, you will get deferred sentence or a fine, and then we will close this case. For the investigator, this would be a positive result. And that person thinks: 'Well, okay, I might have some criminal record of one year of deferred sentence…'," lawyer Vitaliy Kolomiets tells about the sad realities of such cases.
Two proceedings are instituted at once in such cases – in one of them, victim is the one who defended themselves. And in another one, he is suspected of attacking those whom he fought back. So everything here depends only on quality of lawyers and public response. As isin the case of Serhiy Sternenko.
Prison or grave
Serhiy Sternenko is an Odesa-based activist. TSN.Tyzhden earlier reported about all three attacks he had survived.
The last time was two years ago when two persons attacked Serhiy and his girlfriend Natalia outside their own house.
"At one point, I drew my left hand forward and felt that I had been stabbed. And then I started waving around the knife," he says.
Serhiy was defending himself against two armed thugs and fatally injured one of them. By law, his actions were justified. But Sternenko's enemies are too influential.
"It couldn’t be a coincidence. In four months, three attacks outside my house. This clearly testifies to these attacks having been orchestrated," says Serhiy.
For the two years since the attack, he has been walking around with bodyguards. Also, he has been defending his right not to be convicted of murder.
"Definitely, my life has turned upside down. It's changed a lot. That's because while I used to fight off the assaults, now I am fighting off the Ukrainian punitive system, which seeks to put me behind bars for repelling the attacks on me. But people should understand that they can find a way out of prison, but they will never find one out of the grave," Sternenko said.
In fact, the attack on Serhiy is of no interest to anyone but him. After all, law enforcers have only pressed "hooliganism" charges against the assailants. Sternenko says that a huge amount of evidence has been gathered in the case, which would allow to press charges against a few people, except masterminds: "There are grounds to do so. But these decisions are not being made. And this can be done only from the high offices at the SBU and the Office of the Prosecutor General."
Last week, Serhiy was summoned to report to the Security Service to be charged.
But Sternenko's case is no longer just a criminal investigation. This is also about corruption, PR, and political pressure. And the trouble is that this case affects the interests of all other citizens – because it completely devalues the basic human right to protect people's own lives. The government enforcement machine in a brutally unjust attack on an individual is sending a bunch of signals: from the unscrupulousness of the law enforcement system to the murder of the moral laws of society.
Of course, when you are attacked, you will defend your life anyway as instincts kick in. However, when someone sees a woman being raped or some old man being mugged, they might think it is wiser to just flee from the scene. Currently, Serhiy is being defended not only by lawyers as everyone who still believes in their own dignity and the right not to be killed is on his side.
Stanislav Yasynsky, Serhiy Osadchuk, Olena Kuznetsova