unian--2020-07-31--Kyiv mayor reports 110 new COVID-19 cases in past day

As of today , the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,241 .
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases in the city rose by 110 in the past day .
`` In the past day , another 110 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus , including four healthcare workers , '' he said during an online briefing on July 31 .
`` As of today , the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,241 . ''
Read alsoKyiv may become `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Klitschko , 48 women and 55 men are among those infected .
In addition , seven children tested positive for the coronavirus .
Klitschko said 26 new patients had been hospitalized , while the rest were self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision .
Sixty-four people recovered from the disease in the past day , he said .
In total , 2,941 Kyiv residents have already recovered .
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district ( 28 ) , Desniansky district ( 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
As UNIAN reported earlier , 1,090 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Ukraine in the past day , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 69,884 as of the morning of July 31 .

As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,241.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the city rose by 110 in the past day.
"In the past day, another 110 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus, including four healthcare workers," he said during an online briefing on July 31. "As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,241."
Read alsoKyiv may become "orange" zone from Aug 1
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According to Klitschko, 48 women and 55 men are among those infected.
In addition, seven children tested positive for the coronavirus.
Klitschko said 26 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest were self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision.
Sixty-four people recovered from the disease in the past day, he said.
In total, 2,941 Kyiv residents have already recovered.
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district (28), Desniansky district (16), and Dniprovsky district (11).
As UNIAN reported earlier, 1,090 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Ukraine in the past day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 69,884 as of the morning of July 31.


unian--2020-07-31--Belarus gives Ukraine list of detained Ukrainian members of Russia PMC Wagner

The Ukrainian authorities plan to establish their involvement in war crimes in Donbas .
The Belarusian authorities have given Ukraine a list of Ukrainian members of Russia 's private military company ( PMC ) Wagner detained in Belarus .
Commenting on the issue at a briefing on July 31 , Ukraine 's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the question is not only how many Ukrainians are among those detained and who they are .
`` It is also very important to establish who of the members of the group on that list took part in hostilities [ in Donbas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia-controlled ] occupation forces , illegal armed groups , whether they were involved in any crimes , '' he said .
The minister did not specify the number of the Ukrainians detained in Belarus , but noted that there were not seven of them , as previously reported by the media .
As UNIAN reported earlier , on July 29 , Belarus ' law enforcement agencies detained 32 members of PMC Wagner just outside Minsk and another individual in the south of the country .
Media reports said among them were those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donbas .
According to the law enforcers , they had been tipped about the arrival of more than 200 militants to destabilize the country during the election campaign .
The Belarusian authorities state the detainees are part of Russia 's PMC Wagner .
A criminal case has been launched .
The group members are charged with plotting an act of terror and being interrogated .
The SBU Security Service of Ukraine , in turn , announced that they would initiate the extradition of Ukrainians from the group detained in Belarus .

The Ukrainian authorities plan to establish their involvement in war crimes in Donbas.
The Belarusian authorities have given Ukraine a list of Ukrainian members of Russia's private military company (PMC) Wagner detained in Belarus.
Commenting on the issue at a briefing on July 31, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the question is not only how many Ukrainians are among those detained and who they are.
Read alsoBelarus asks Ukraine to check detained Russian Wagner PMC members' criminal record
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"It is also very important to establish who of the members of the group on that list took part in hostilities [in Donbas] on the side of the [Russia-controlled] occupation forces, illegal armed groups, whether they were involved in any crimes," he said.
The minister did not specify the number of the Ukrainians detained in Belarus, but noted that there were not seven of them, as previously reported by the media.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on July 29, Belarus' law enforcement agencies detained 32 members of PMC Wagner just outside Minsk and another individual in the south of the country.
Media reports said among them were those who had fought against Ukrainian government forces in Donbas. According to the law enforcers, they had been tipped about the arrival of more than 200 militants to destabilize the country during the election campaign. The Belarusian authorities state the detainees are part of Russia's PMC Wagner.
A criminal case has been launched. The group members are charged with plotting an act of terror and being interrogated.
The SBU Security Service of Ukraine, in turn, announced that they would initiate the extradition of Ukrainians from the group detained in Belarus.


unian--2020-07-31--Buyer of Kyiv's Dnipro Hotel vetted by Ukraine's State Property Fund

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Buyer of Kyiv's Dnipro Hotel vetted by Ukraine's State Property Fund
11:55, 31.07.20 2467
The asset was sold for US$40.1 million.
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unian--2020-07-31--Hryvnia set at UAH 27.69 to U.S. dollar on July 31

Hryvnia set at UAH 27.69 to U.S. dollar on July 31
11:35, 31.07.20 4663
The official forex rate against the euro for July 30 is set at UAH 32.55 per euro.
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unian--2020-07-31--Truce in Donbas: Ukraine reports two incidents on July 30

There have been no Joint Forces casualties since the beginning of the ceasefire .
Ukraine reported two incidents on Thursday , July 30 , when Russia 's hybrid military forces violated the newly-agreed truce in Donbas , eastern Ukraine .
`` To provoke the Ukrainian defenders near the village of Orikhove , enemy troops used rifles , while , in addition to small arms , they fired a shot from an under-barrel grenade launcher not far from the village of Novotoshkivske .
The provocations were random , so our soldiers did not return fire , '' the press center of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on July 31 , 2020 .
There have been no Joint Forces casualties since the beginning of the ceasefire , which started on July 27 .
However , there were reports about the death of three soldiers in the past days `` over a sudden deterioration in health . ''
In particular , soldier Arthur Bakhnar died on July 28 , soldier Serhiy Verhun on July 29 , and senior sergeant Volodymyr Perekrestov on July 30 .
The JFO HQ did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since Friday midnight , no attacks by Russian Federation 's armed formations have been recorded , the JFO HQ said .

There have been no Joint Forces casualties since the beginning of the ceasefire.
Ukraine reported two incidents on Thursday, July 30, when Russia's hybrid military forces violated the newly-agreed truce in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.
"To provoke the Ukrainian defenders near the village of Orikhove, enemy troops used rifles, while, in addition to small arms, they fired a shot from an under-barrel grenade launcher not far from the village of Novotoshkivske. The provocations were random, so our soldiers did not return fire," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on July 31, 2020.
Read alsoOSCE reports 60 civilian casualties in Donbas since year-start
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There have been no Joint Forces casualties since the beginning of the ceasefire, which started on July 27.
However, there were reports about the death of three soldiers in the past days "over a sudden deterioration in health." In particular, soldier Arthur Bakhnar died on July 28, soldier Serhiy Verhun on July 29, and senior sergeant Volodymyr Perekrestov on July 30. The JFO HQ did not elaborate on the causes behind their death.
Since Friday midnight, no attacks by Russian Federation's armed formations have been recorded, the JFO HQ said.


unian--2020-07-31--Number of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 17.3 mln

The overall death toll is 673,284 people , while 10,137,875 coronavirus patients have already recovered .
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 17.3 million patients as of July 31 .
As many as 17,303,253 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:53 on July 31 , according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering ( CSSE ) at Johns Hopkins University .
Read alsoEU reviews list of countries for which member states should gradually lift travel restrictions The overall death toll is 673,284 people , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The highest death toll was recorded in the United States ( 152,070 people ) , Brazil ( 91,263 ) , the United Kingdom ( 46,084 ) , Mexico ( 46,000 ) , India ( 35,743 ) , Italy ( 35,132 ) , and France ( 30,241 ) .
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States ( 4,495,015 confirmed cases ) , Brazil ( 2,610,102 ) , India ( 1,638,321 ) , Russia ( 832,993 ) , South Africa ( 482,169 ) , Mexico ( 416,179 ) , Peru @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , the United Kingdom ( 303,910 ) , and Iran ( 301,530 ) .
As many as 188 countries have been affected by the virus .

The overall death toll is 673,284 people, while 10,137,875 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 17.3 million patients as of July 31.
As many as 17,303,253 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:53 on July 31, according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
Read alsoEU reviews list of countries for which member states should gradually lift travel restrictions
Видео дня
The overall death toll is 673,284 people, while 10,137,875 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The highest death toll was recorded in the United States (152,070 people), Brazil (91,263), the United Kingdom (46,084), Mexico (46,000), India (35,743), Italy (35,132), and France (30,241).
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States (4,495,015 confirmed cases), Brazil (2,610,102), India (1,638,321), Russia (832,993), South Africa (482,169), Mexico (416,179), Peru (400,683), Chile (353,536), the United Kingdom (303,910), and Iran (301,530).
As many as 188 countries have been affected by the virus.


unian--2020-07-31--Over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine in past day

The death toll in Ukraine now is 1,693 people .
Some 1,090 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were @ @ @ @ @ past day , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 69,884 as of the @ @ @ @ @ The death toll in Ukraine now is 1,693 people , including 20 who died in @ @ @ @ @ according to the interactive map of Ukraine 's National Security and Defense Council .
As @ @ @ @ @ including 598 in the past day , have already recovered .
The overall incidence per @ @ @ @ @ 8,241 in the city of Kyiv ; Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic @ @ @ @ @ of Sevastopol , parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is not available .
COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Center 's virological reference laboratory and regional laboratories .
As of the morning @ @ @ @ @ , the Center had received 1,518 reports of suspected cases .
In total , there @ @ @ @ @ suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020 .

The death toll in Ukraine now is 1,693 people.
Some 1,090 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Ukraine in the past day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 69,884 as of the morning of July 31.
The death toll in Ukraine now is 1,693 people, including 20 who died in the past 24 hours, according to the interactive map of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.
As many as 38,752 patients, including 598 in the past day, have already recovered.
Видео дня
Read alsoUkraine's health minister: Almost 5,000 children, over 8,500 healthcare workers contract COVID-19
The overall incidence per region is the following:
2,736 cases in Vinnytsia region;
3,783 in Volyn region;
1,402 in Dnipropetrovsk region;
881 in Donetsk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts);
1,850 in Zhytomyr region;
5,146 in Zakarpattia region;
790 in Zaporizhia region;
4,557 in Ivano-Frankivsk region;
703 in Kirovohrad region;
8,241 in the city of Kyiv;
3,716 in Kyiv region;
9,526 in Lviv region;
126 in Luhansk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts);
590 in Mykolayiv region;
3,214 in Odesa region;
440 in Poltava region;
6,024 in Rivne region;
485 in Sumy region;
2,976 in Ternopil region;
3,711 in Kharkiv region;
227 in Kherson region;
1,138 in Khmelnytsky region;
5,875 in Chernivtsi region;
924 in Cherkasy region;
823 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 July 31, 2020, the Center had received 1,518 reports of suspected cases. In total, there have been 122,490 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.


unian--2020-07-31--Ukraine sends another batch of proof of Russian crimes in Crimea to Hague court

At least two new victims of war crimes are registered in the occupied territory every day .
The Prosecutor General 's Office ( PGO ) in Ukraine has sent the eighth notice to the Office of the Prosecutor under the International Criminal Court in The Hague about large-scale and systemic violations of property rights by Russia , the aggressor country , in the temporarily occupied territory of the Crimean peninsula .
The actions of the occupying authorities country fall under the qualification of `` war crimes , '' the PGO 's press service .
`` The materials have been collected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea together with NGO Regional Center for Human Rights , '' it said .
Read alsoRussia navy man detained in occupied Sevastopol on charges of `` treason in favor of Ukraine '' Almost 9,500 court rulings were analyzed and 3,962 persons who became victims of violations of property rights were identified .
Out of the total number of the victims , 3,712 people faced the illegal seizure of land was recorded , real estate belonging to 250 victims was destroyed .
This practice by the occupying authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory of the Crimean peninsula for more than six years with the involvement of almost all local `` judicial bodies , '' as 24 out of 28 district courts in Crimea issued illegal rulings .
The actions of the Russian Federation are a gross violation of Article 53 and Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and can qualify as war crimes .
Prosecutors and human rights activists note that at least two new victims of war crimes are registered in the occupied territory every day .
A pretrial investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war ( Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ) is under way under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor 's Office for f the Autonomous Republic of Crimea .
The evidence collected as part of the criminal case was also included in the information notice to the International Criminal Court .

At least two new victims of war crimes are registered in the occupied territory every day.
The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) in Ukraine has sent the eighth notice to the Office of the Prosecutor under the International Criminal Court in The Hague about large-scale and systemic violations of property rights by Russia, the aggressor country, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Crimean peninsula.
The actions of the occupying authorities country fall under the qualification of "war crimes," the PGO's press service.
"The materials have been collected by the [Ukrainian-controlled] Prosecutor's Office for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea together with NGO Regional Center for Human Rights," it said.
Видео дня
Read alsoRussia navy man detained in occupied Sevastopol on charges of "treason in favor of Ukraine"
Almost 9,500 court rulings were analyzed and 3,962 persons who became victims of violations of property rights were identified. Out of the total number of the victims, 3,712 people faced the illegal seizure of land was recorded, real estate belonging to 250 victims was destroyed.
This practice by the occupying authorities has been recorded out throughout the entire territory of the Crimean peninsula for more than six years with the involvement of almost all local "judicial bodies," as 24 out of 28 district courts in Crimea issued illegal rulings.
The actions of the Russian Federation are a gross violation of Article 53 and Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and can qualify as war crimes.
Prosecutors and human rights activists note that at least two new victims of war crimes are registered in the occupied territory every day.
A pretrial investigation into violations of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) is under way under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office for f the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
The evidence collected as part of the criminal case was also included in the information notice to the International Criminal Court.


unian--2020-07-31--Reuters: Ukraine makes every effort to maximize compensation for downed plane – minister

Delegations of Ukraine and Iran met in Kyiv on July 30 .
Ukraine will make every effort to maximize compensation for a Ukrainian jet shot down by Iran on January 8 but talks with Tehran , which began on Thursday , will not be easy , Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said .
`` We will achieve justice , no matter how much time and effort it costs , '' Kuleba said in a statement published by the ministry after the two delegations met in Kyiv , Reuters reported .
The ministry said more details would be reported on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 jet after mistaking it for a missile at a time when tensions with the United States had risen .
All 176 people on board – including 57 Canadians – were killed .
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February that Ukraine was not satisfied with the size of compensation Iran had offered to families of Ukrainians killed in the incident .
An international team has started examining the flight recorders from the plane .
A senior Ukrainian diplomat said last week that the transcript from the black boxes showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane .

Delegations of Ukraine and Iran met in Kyiv on July 30.
Ukraine will make every effort to maximize compensation for a Ukrainian jet shot down by Iran on January 8 but talks with Tehran, which began on Thursday, will not be easy, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
"We will achieve justice, no matter how much time and effort it costs," Kuleba said in a statement published by the ministry after the two delegations met in Kyiv, Reuters reported.
Read alsoPS752: Black box transcript confirms illegal interference with jet downed in Iran – media
Видео дня
The ministry said more details would be reported on Friday.
Iranian forces say they downed the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 jet after mistaking it for a missile at a time when tensions with the United States had risen. All 176 people on board – including 57 Canadians – were killed.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February that Ukraine was not satisfied with the size of compensation Iran had offered to families of Ukrainians killed in the incident.
An international team has started examining the flight recorders from the plane.
A senior Ukrainian diplomat said last week that the transcript from the black boxes showed there had been illegal interference with the plane.


unian--2020-07-31--RFE/RL: Pompeo says U.S. will "do everything' to stop Nord Stream 2 project

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told lawmakers that the United States intends to impose sanctions on firms that continue to help Russia build a natural-gas pipeline to Europe as he sought to dispel concerns about Washington 's commitment to halt the controversial project .
`` We will do everything we can to make sure that that pipeline does n't threaten Europe , '' Pompeo told a senate hearing on July 30 , Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty ( RFE/RL ) reported .
Read alsoBipartisan group of U.S. senators introduce legislation to provide support for Ukraine '' We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stable , safe energy resources that can not be turned off in the event Russia wants to , '' he added .
Pompeo told the panel that the United States has already been in touch with some companies working on Nord Stream 2 about the risks they face if they do n't halt their activities .
The State Department and Treasury Department `` have made very clear in our conversations with those who have equipment there the expressed threat that is posed to them for continuing to work on completion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline , which would run under the Baltic Sea and double Russia 's direct natural gas exports to Germany while bypassing Ukraine .
Washington claims the pipeline would increase Europe 's dependence on Russian gas while also hurting Ukraine , which stands to lose billions of dollars in gas-transit fees .
Work on the nearly US $ 11 billion project , which is more than 90 percent complete , was halted in December after the United States passed a law that imposed sanctions on vessels laying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull out .
Russian vessels are now seeking to finish the project , but they require help from international companies such as insurers and ports , which Pompeo has now threatened to sanction .

The United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told lawmakers that the United States intends to impose sanctions on firms that continue to help Russia build a natural-gas pipeline to Europe as he sought to dispel concerns about Washington's commitment to halt the controversial project.
"We will do everything we can to make sure that that pipeline doesn't threaten Europe," Pompeo told a senate hearing on July 30, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported.
Read alsoBipartisan group of U.S. senators introduce legislation to provide support for Ukraine
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"We want Europe to have real, secure, stable, safe energy resources that cannot be turned off in the event Russia wants to," he added.
Pompeo told the panel that the United States has already been in touch with some companies working on Nord Stream 2 about the risks they face if they don't halt their activities.
The State Department and Treasury Department "have made very clear in our conversations with those who have equipment there the expressed threat that is posed to them for continuing to work on completion of the pipeline," he said.
The United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would run under the Baltic Sea and double Russia's direct natural gas exports to Germany while bypassing Ukraine.
Washington claims the pipeline would increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas while also hurting Ukraine, which stands to lose billions of dollars in gas-transit fees.
Work on the nearly US$11 billion project, which is more than 90 percent complete, was halted in December after the United States passed a law that imposed sanctions on vessels laying the pipeline, forcing Swiss-based AllSeas to pull out.
Russian vessels are now seeking to finish the project, but they require help from international companies such as insurers and ports, which Pompeo has now threatened to sanction.


unian--2020-07-31--Bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduces legislation to provide support for Ukraine

It encourages the U.S. Department of State to establish a working group on Ukraine with relevant European allies .
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on July 30 introduced legislation to provide support for Ukraine , authorizing up to US $ 300 million per year of foreign military financing .
`` U.S .
Senators Jim Risch ( R-Idaho ) and Bob Menendez ( D-N.J. ) , chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , Rob Portman ( R-Ohio ) , Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) , John Barrasso ( R-Wyo . )
, and Jeanne Shaheen ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Partnership Act to provide security assistance and strategic support to Ukraine , '' the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said in a statement posted on its website on July 30 .
The legislation authorizes up to US $ 300 million per year of foreign military financing to Ukraine , subject to certifications , including the authority to provide Ukraine with lethal military assistance .
It also requires the administration to appoint a special envoy for Ukraine to serve as the U.S. liaison for the Normandy Format peace negotiations and to facilitate dialogue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it encourages the Department of State to establish a working group on Ukraine with relevant European allies .
It also requires a Department of Defense and State Department report on the capability and capacity requirements of Ukraine 's armed forces , a plan to supply U.S. security assistance to Ukraine , and any recommendations .
Besides , it authorizes US $ 4 million per year to train Ukrainian military officers through the International Military Education and Training .
`` The U.S. is Ukraine 's strongest supporter , but its security needs continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The bipartisan Ukraine Security Partnership Act will address these challenges by substantially increasing long-term security assistance for our partners in Ukraine while ensuring accountability from their democratic institutions .
U.S. security assistance for the people of Ukraine is the right thing to do .
It helps to advance our values and is in the national security interests of the United States .
This bill shows that our commitment to Ukraine 's security should be unwavering and shielded from politics .
And I look forward to working to build support for this critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement quotes Menendez as saying .
The Donald Trump Administration , in turn , welcomed an increase in the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine in the defense budget for the financial year 2021 .
This decision was made by both the House of Representatives and the Senate , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the FY 2021 State Department budget request on July 30 .
`` The administration does support of the increase in lethal aid , '' Pompeo told U.S .
Senator Rob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing .
`` This administration has acted to protect our interests and our friends : We 've issued the Crimea Declaration .
We 've supplied Ukraine with lethal military hardware .
We 've sanctioned more than 360 Russian targets for everything from human rights abuses , to supporting the murderous Assad regime , to operating mercenaries and proxy forces around the world , '' he said .
According to him , `` Russia is a destabilizing authoritarian force – in Ukraine , in Libya , in Syria , and inside of Western democracies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) includes US $ 250 million in security assistance for Ukraine to fund additional training , lethal and non-lethal equipment , and advisory efforts for Ukraine 's forces .
Specifically , US $ 125 million of that US $ 250 million is designated specifically for lethal assistance , an increase of US $ 75 million from FY20 .

It encourages the U.S. Department of State to establish a working group on Ukraine with relevant European allies.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on July 30 introduced legislation to provide support for Ukraine, authorizing up to US$300 million per year of foreign military financing.
"U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) today introduced the Ukraine Security Partnership Act to provide security assistance and strategic support to Ukraine," the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said in a statement posted on its website on July 30.
Read alsoU.S. Javelin anti-tank systems: Ukraine gets military aid worth over US$60 mln
Видео дня
The legislation authorizes up to US$300 million per year of foreign military financing to Ukraine, subject to certifications, including the authority to provide Ukraine with lethal military assistance.
It also requires the administration to appoint a special envoy for Ukraine to serve as the U.S. liaison for the Normandy Format peace negotiations and to facilitate dialogue between Black Sea countries.
In addition, it encourages the Department of State to establish a working group on Ukraine with relevant European allies.
It also requires a Department of Defense and State Department report on the capability and capacity requirements of Ukraine's armed forces, a plan to supply U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, and any recommendations.
Besides, it authorizes US$4 million per year to train Ukrainian military officers through the International Military Education and Training.
"The U.S. is Ukraine's strongest supporter, but its security needs continue to grow under relentless pressure from Moscow. The bipartisan Ukraine Security Partnership Act will address these challenges by substantially increasing long-term security assistance for our partners in Ukraine while ensuring accountability from their democratic institutions. U.S. security assistance for the people of Ukraine is the right thing to do. It helps to advance our values and is in the national security interests of the United States. This bill shows that our commitment to Ukraine's security should be unwavering and shielded from politics. And I look forward to working to build support for this critical legislation in the Senate," the statement quotes Menendez as saying.
The Donald Trump Administration, in turn, welcomed an increase in the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine in the defense budget for the financial year 2021. This decision was made by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the FY 2021 State Department budget request on July 30.
"The administration does support of the increase in lethal aid," Pompeo told U.S. Senator Rob Portman at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.
"This administration has acted to protect our interests and our friends: We've issued the Crimea Declaration. We've supplied Ukraine with lethal military hardware. We've sanctioned more than 360 Russian targets for everything from human rights abuses, to supporting the murderous Assad regime, to operating mercenaries and proxy forces around the world," he said.
According to him, "Russia is a destabilizing authoritarian force – in Ukraine, in Libya, in Syria, and inside of Western democracies."
The Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes US$250 million in security assistance for Ukraine to fund additional training, lethal and non-lethal equipment, and advisory efforts for Ukraine's forces. Specifically, US$125 million of that US$250 million is designated specifically for lethal assistance, an increase of US$75 million from FY20.


unian--2020-07-31--MFA Ukraine asks EU to expand Russia sanctions

The foreign minister paid special attention to the threats to European security posed by Russia 's large-scale militarization of Crimea and the Black Sea region .
Ukraine 's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has declared the need for the European Union to to expand sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation over the annexation of Crimea .
The statement came during Kuleba 's meeting with the heads of EU diplomatic missions accredited in Ukraine , the ministry 's press service reports .
The minister noted that it was about an illegal launch of railway traffic between mainland Russia and the temporarily occupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held on the peninsula on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation .
`` Kuleba thanked the EU for the Crimea package of sanctions , and stressed the need to expand it , given that the Russian Federation continues the occupation and neglects its obligations as an occupying power under international law , '' the statement said .
The foreign minister also called on European partners to join the international platform for the deoccupation of Crimea as soon as the initiative is finalized .
Read alsoBipartisan group of U.S. senators introduces legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the topics of the minister 's meeting with the ambassadors was the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied Crimea and the illegal persecution of Ukrainian citizens .
The minister is convinced that the EU sanctions policy for human rights violations should be applied to the criminal actions of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied Crimea .
`` The foreign minister pointed to the threats posed by Russia 's large-scale militarization of Crimea and the Black Sea region to the European security , '' the ministry added .
As UNIAN reported earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Kremlin due to human rights violations in Crimea and the ongoing militarization of the peninsula .

The foreign minister paid special attention to the threats to European security posed by Russia's large-scale militarization of Crimea and the Black Sea region.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has declared the need for the European Union to to expand sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation over the annexation of Crimea.
The statement came during Kuleba's meeting with the heads of EU diplomatic missions accredited in Ukraine, the ministry's press service reports.
The minister noted that it was about an illegal launch of railway traffic between mainland Russia and the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as a vote held on the peninsula on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
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"Kuleba thanked the EU for the Crimea package of sanctions, and stressed the need to expand it, given that the Russian Federation continues the occupation and neglects its obligations as an occupying power under international law," the statement said.
The foreign minister also called on European partners to join the international platform for the deoccupation of Crimea as soon as the initiative is finalized.
Read alsoBipartisan group of U.S. senators introduces legislation to provide support for Ukraine
One of the topics of the minister's meeting with the ambassadors was the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied Crimea and the illegal persecution of Ukrainian citizens.
The minister is convinced that the EU sanctions policy for human rights violations should be applied to the criminal actions of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
"The foreign minister pointed to the threats posed by Russia's large-scale militarization of Crimea and the Black Sea region to the European security," the ministry added.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Dmytro Kuleba has called for increased pressure on the Kremlin due to human rights violations in Crimea and the ongoing militarization of the peninsula.


unian--2020-07-31--Journalists find more graves of Russian troops killed in Ukraine's Donbas warzone

Despite massive evidence of Russian regular troops taking part in hostilities in eastern Ukraine , Russia has been stubbornly involvement .
Journalists with the Russian BBC service have discovered the graves of the Russian military who had fought against Ukraine government troops in Donbas .
That 's amid the Kremlin 's official denials claiming that its regular army is not involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine , BBC reports .
A grave where an officer of the Russian Special Operations Forces was buried , Captain S. B. Suslov , was discovered in 2016 by a group of independent investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) in Sonltsegorsk , Moscow Region , where a spec-ops base `` Senezh '' is located .
During his service , he had been awarded a medal `` For Crimea Annexation and an Order of Courage ( posthumously ) .
The exact location where the officer was killed remains unclear , while the date of death is June 14 , 2014 .
It was at that time when active battles were raging for the strategic port city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov .
Other Russian nationals , Sergei Fedchikov and Vadim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August of the same year , probably in battles of the Luhansk Airport .
In eastern Ukraine , former military were part of the then-freshly-formed Wagner Private Military Company , which is associated with the infamous St. Petersburg businessman and Putin 's friend Yevgeny Prigozhin .
In the town of Zaraisk in Moscow region , there is an alley of heroes , where soldiers were buried who had been killed in local wars and armed conflicts .
One of the names honored at the alley is that of Hero of Russia , Senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on October 15 , 2014 .
It was for Trundayev that the Russian FSB sought to take revenge on the Ukrainian intelligence officer Grigory Sivachenko , having recruited an ex-national guard to blow him up .
The man was immediately detained and that is how the Kremlin trace was exposed in the foiled assassination plot .
Read alsoSBU releases new evidence of Russian Wagner fighters ' involvement in war crimes against Ukraine As UNIAN reported earlier , Russia mulls making official their arms supplies to Kremlin 's proxy forces in Donbas if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million worth of military assistance to Ukraine .

Despite massive evidence of Russian regular troops taking part in hostilities in eastern Ukraine, Russia has been stubbornly involvement.
Journalists with the Russian BBC service have discovered the graves of the Russian military who had fought against Ukraine government troops in Donbas.
That's amid the Kremlin's official denials claiming that its regular army is not involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, BBC reports.
A grave where an officer of the Russian Special Operations Forces was buried, Captain S. B. Suslov, was discovered in 2016 by a group of independent investigators with the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) in Sonltsegorsk, Moscow Region, where a spec-ops base "Senezh" is located.
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During his service, he had been awarded a medal "For Crimea Annexation and an Order of Courage (posthumously). The exact location where the officer was killed remains unclear, while the date of death is June 14, 2014. It was at that time when active battles were raging for the strategic port city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov.
Read alsoOSCE reports 60 civilian casualties in Donbas since year-start
Other Russian nationals, Sergei Fedchikov and Vadim Vasilevsky, were killed in July and August of the same year, probably in battles of the Luhansk Airport.
In eastern Ukraine, former military were part of the then-freshly-formed Wagner Private Military Company, which is associated with the infamous St. Petersburg businessman and Putin's friend Yevgeny Prigozhin.
In the town of Zaraisk in Moscow region, there is an alley of heroes, where soldiers were buried who had been killed in local wars and armed conflicts. One of the names honored at the alley is that of Hero of Russia, Senior Lieutenant Evgeny Trundaev, who was killed on October 15, 2014.
It was for Trundayev that the Russian FSB sought to take revenge on the Ukrainian intelligence officer Grigory Sivachenko, having recruited an ex-national guard to blow him up. The man was immediately detained and that is how the Kremlin trace was exposed in the foiled assassination plot.
Read alsoSBU releases new evidence of Russian Wagner fighters' involvement in war crimes against Ukraine
As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia mulls making official their arms supplies to Kremlin's proxy forces in Donbas if the United States pursues with allocating $300 million worth of military assistance to Ukraine.


unian--2020-07-31--Kravchuk says Ukraine's first PM could join TCG talks

He had started working at a mine back when he was 16 , Kravchuk said about Fokin , 87 .
First Prime Minister of Ukraine ( 1990-1992 ) Vitold Fokin could become a new member of the country 's delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement , says Volodymyr Zelensky 's new envoy to the Group , Leonid Kravchuk , who was a first president of Ukraine .
Asked on Channel 24 about possible new faces that could appear on the Ukrainian team , Kravchuk said : `` I 'm aware that negotiations are underway with someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vitold Fokin , he is a man known in Donbas , he had been in the mine since the age of 16 .
And we would like to have in the group someone whom Donbas people know , so that he can say what the people who live there want strategically , nationally and otherwise . ''
According to Kravchuk , members of the delegation are planning to have a meeting soon .
`` At 15:00 on Monday , we will convene the whole delegation , we will chat and get to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion , what they see , and how they see things .
Because Zelensky has one goal – a pro-active offensive on all issues : political , ideological ...
This means that we can not lag behind , that we are interested , that peace should be a reality , not just a word , '' the politician noted .
As UNIAN reported earlier , a letter was leaked , inked by Deputy Head of Russia 's Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak , where he announced his withdrawal from technical negotiations on Donbas settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders .

He had started working at a mine back when he was 16, Kravchuk said about Fokin, 87.
First Prime Minister of Ukraine (1990-1992) Vitold Fokin could become a new member of the country's delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement, says Volodymyr Zelensky's new envoy to the Group, Leonid Kravchuk, who was a first president of Ukraine.
Asked on Channel 24 about possible new faces that could appear on the Ukrainian team, Kravchuk said: "I'm aware that negotiations are underway with someone who is famous in Ukraine. This is Vitold Fokin, he is a man known in Donbas, he had been in the mine since the age of 16. And we would like to have in the group someone whom Donbas people know, so that he can say what the people who live there want strategically, nationally and otherwise."
Read alsoRussia hints at scrapping talks on Donbas: Ukrainian President's Office reacts
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According to Kravchuk, members of the delegation are planning to have a meeting soon.
"At 15:00 on Monday, we will convene the whole delegation, we will chat and get to know each other. Everyone will express their opinion, what they see, and how they see things. Because Zelensky has one goal – a pro-active offensive on all issues: political, ideological... This means that we cannot lag behind, that we are interested, that peace should be a reality, not just a word," the politician noted.
As UNIAN reported earlier, a letter was leaked, inked by Deputy Head of Russia's Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak, where he announced his withdrawal from technical negotiations on Donbas settlement between the advisors to the Normandy Four leaders.


unian--2020-07-31--President's Office refutes claims Zelensky's motorcade systemically violating traffic rules

There are no exceptions on the road for the President 's Office vehicles , and there ca n't be any , the statement says .
The President 's Office has commented on a recent journalistic investigation by RFE/RL 's Skhemy [ Schemes ] project , where reporters showed Volodymyr Zelensky 's motorcade allegedly violating traffic rules .
`` Undoubtedly , there are no systematic violations of traffic rules .
This is an exclusively speculative interpretation of events , '' the President 's Office told Ukrainian Pravda .
All traffic violators , if any , are recorded and prosecuted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives of the patrol police .
`` There are no exceptions for the cars of employees of the President 's Office , and there ca n't be any , '' the Office said .
As UNIAN reported earlier , investigative journalists with the Schemes project in their latest story told and showed how President Zelensky 's motorcade violated traffic rules .
Besides speeding , the vehicles involved were shown crossing the double solid lines and made prohibited turns , endangering other motorists .
Moreover , journalists said , violations were recorded as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or heading home .

There are no exceptions on the road for the President's Office vehicles, and there can't be any, the statement says.
The President's Office has commented on a recent journalistic investigation by RFE/RL's Skhemy [Schemes] project, where reporters showed Volodymyr Zelensky's motorcade allegedly violating traffic rules.
"Undoubtedly, there are no systematic violations of traffic rules. This is an exclusively speculative interpretation of events," the President's Office told Ukrainian Pravda.
All traffic violators, if any, are recorded and prosecuted in the manner prescribed by law by specially authorized representatives of the patrol police.
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Read alsoUkraine to toughen punishment for DUI
"There are no exceptions for the cars of employees of the President's Office, and there can't be any," the Office said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, investigative journalists with the Schemes project in their latest story told and showed how President Zelensky's motorcade violated traffic rules.
Besides speeding, the vehicles involved were shown crossing the double solid lines and made prohibited turns, endangering other motorists. Moreover, journalists said, violations were recorded as the president was being driven in private matters or heading home.


unian--2020-07-31--Net profit of Ukrainian banks falls by almost quarter

Profit of Ukrainian banks increased by 6.2 % , and expenses – by 16.4 % .
Net profit of Ukrainian banks in January-June 2020 decreased by 23 % year-on-year , amounting to UAH 23.8 billion ( $ 858.8 million ) , the National Bank of Ukraine reports .
Profits of Ukrainian banks in January-June increased by 6.2 % against the relevant period last year , up to UAH 128.6 billion ( $ 4.64 billion ) .
Expenditures over the six months of 2020 amounted to UAH 104.8 billion ( $ 37.8 billion ) , which is 16.4 % more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Q2 2020 , net financial performance of banks amounted to UAH 7.7 billion ( $ 277.8 million ) , which is half the figure reported in Q1 2020 , and 58.3 % lower against Q2 2019 .
The main reason was the early formation of schedule reserves for expected losses in the amount of UAH 13.1 billion ( $ 472.7 million ) per quarter , as provided for by international financial reporting standards .
`` The general decline in business activity during quarantine and a drop in demand for loans and banking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in non-payments on loans , negatively affect the banks ' interest and commission income .
Thus , for the first time in four years , net commission income of banks this year decreased by 1.5 % , to UAH 20.5 billion ( $ 739.7 million ) , against the same period last year , '' reads the report .
It is noted that the growth of net interest income has slowed down to its lowest in four years – to 3.9 % in the H1 2020 and 1.1 % in Q2 2020 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the volumes of net interest and commission income are now sufficient to cover the administrative expenses of most banks .
`` Thanks to the efforts by the NBU , banks in favorable periods have formed a safety cushion and today they are using the capital reserve to absorb credit losses .
In order to further reduce pressure on banks in this difficult period , it is necessary to give banks more certainty about the duration of credit holidays , '' said First Deputy NBU Governor Kateryna Rozhkova .
The National Bank also reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 59 banks of 75 solvent ones remained profitable and received a net profit of UAH 26.3 billion ( $ 949 million ) , which covered the losses of 16 banks totaling UAH 2.5 billion ( $ 90.2 million ) .
The profit for the first half of the year was formed mainly by PrivatBank ( UAH 14 billion ( $ 505 million ) , or 59 % of all profits ) and a group of banks with foreign capital , except for the Russian one ( UAH 5.6 billion , or $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported earlier , according to the NBU , the banking sector 's profit in Q1 2020 increased by 23.8 % on year , amounting to UAH 16 billion ( $ 577.3 million ) .

Net profit of Ukrainian banks falls by almost quarter
21:40, 31.07.20 848
Profit of Ukrainian banks increased by 6.2%, and expenses – by 16.4%.
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unian--2020-07-31--Ukraine to request extradition of 28 Wagner PMC troops from Belarus

The men are believed to have fought against Ukraine government forces in the Donbas warzone .
The Office of the Prosecutor General has notified Belarus about its intentions to demand extradition of participants in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine , recently detained on Belarusian territory as part of the Russian PMC Wagner group .
That 's according to the OPG press service .
`` The Office of the Prosecutor General , based on the 1993 Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil , Family and Criminal Cases , addressed the Prosecutor General 's Office of the Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest of persons who were detained on July 29 by this country 's law enforcement , '' the statement says .
It is noted that 28 persons , of which nine are citizens of Ukraine , have been charged with participation in a terrorist organization ( Art .
258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ) .
`` Thus , the Ukrainian side expressed intention to demand extradition of the said persons to Ukraine in order to bring them to justice for crimes related to illegal participation in the armed conflict in Donbas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also '' Little green men '' in Belarus : Dozens of militants detained near Minsk part of Russia 's PMC Wagner – media ( Video ) Currently , documents are being drafted , required to request extradition of the persons in question .
The issue of extradition will be decided by Belarus ' competent authorities .
As UNIAN reported earlier , on July 29 , Belarus ' law enforcement agencies detained 32 members of the Russian PMC Wagner just outside Minsk and another individual – in the south of the country .
Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had fought against Ukrainian government forces in Donbas .
According to the law enforcers , they had been tipped about the arrival of more than 200 militants to destabilize the country during the ongoing presidential election campaign .
A criminal case has been launched on terrorism charges .

The men are believed to have fought against Ukraine government forces in the Donbas warzone.
The Office of the Prosecutor General has notified Belarus about its intentions to demand extradition of participants in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, recently detained on Belarusian territory as part of the Russian PMC Wagner group.
That's according to the OPG press service.
"The Office of the Prosecutor General, based on the 1993 Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases, addressed the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Belarus with requests for the temporary arrest of persons who were detained on July 29 by this country's law enforcement," the statement says.
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It is noted that 28 persons, of which nine are citizens of Ukraine, have been charged with participation in a terrorist organization (Art. 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
"Thus, the Ukrainian side expressed intention to demand extradition of the said persons to Ukraine in order to bring them to justice for crimes related to illegal participation in the armed conflict in Donbas," the statement reads.
Read also"Little green men" in Belarus: Dozens of militants detained near Minsk part of Russia's PMC Wagner – media (Video)
Currently, documents are being drafted, required to request extradition of the persons in question.
The issue of extradition will be decided by Belarus' competent authorities.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on July 29, Belarus' law enforcement agencies detained 32 members of the Russian PMC Wagner just outside Minsk and another individual – in the south of the country. Media reports said the group included those who had fought against Ukrainian government forces in Donbas.
According to the law enforcers, they had been tipped about the arrival of more than 200 militants to destabilize the country during the ongoing presidential election campaign.
A criminal case has been launched on terrorism charges.


unian--2020-07-31--Ex-KGB spy tells of disinformation tactics – media

The internet has n't just made it easier for Russia to create forgeries , it 's also helped in their ability to distribute documents , forged or stolen .
Feeding incendiary documents to news outlets .
Infiltrating activist groups .
Sowing division and confusion .
It might sound like a recap of Russia 's efforts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. election , but some of these same tactics were laid bare in a CNN television report on Soviet disinformation efforts back in 1983 .
The report detailed how Russia was suspected of using forgeries and planted stories to wreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War through influence operations rather than with military might .
And these tactics did n't stop with the fall of the Berlin Wall .
In fact , social media and the cloak of online anonymity it provides have only made it easier and potentially more effective for governments and bad actors to engage in a similar playbook of dirty tricks – ranging from disseminating forged or hacked documents online to creating fake reporters to promote them , CNN wrote .
Read alsoExperts expose Russian disinfo campaign that operated for six years It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence agencies will almost certainly be watching out for ahead of November 's presidential election -- especially after Russia 's efforts to interfere in the 2016 election caught the country off guard .
But to fully understand Russia 's use of tactics like false news stories and leaked materials , it 's useful to examine the country 's long history of painstaking influence operations dating back to an analog era .
Jack Barsky , a former KGB spy who lived undercover in the US in the 1980s , explained how it was done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with CNN Business last year .
The KGB would take great care to furnish a convincing forgery of a U.S. government document , often with the goal of implicating the U.S. in something tawdry and designed to appear to confirm an existing conspiracy theory .
That forgery would then be given to a sympathetic , unwitting reporter , sometimes from an obscure outlet in a far-flung corner of the world .
It would be printed as news , and if the Soviets were lucky , it might eventually get picked up by more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KGB agent who lived in the U.S. undercover , recounted in his book `` Spymaster '' how the KGB paid Americans to paint swastikas on synagogues in New York and Washington .
This tactic had the potential to inflame tensions in the U.S. and give the Soviet-controlled press a negative story to tell Russians back home about their capitalist foe .
In the decades since , our lives have largely moved online – and so have Russia 's attempts at disinformation and meddling in U.S. affairs .
In groundbreaking work from the Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , researchers showed how a suspected Russian group has been distributing forged documents online over the past few years .
These efforts included a fake letter purporting to be from a U.S. senator and another letter designed to look like it came from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations .
The same Russian group is believed to have been behind a fake tweet from Sen. Marco Rubio claiming that a purported British spy agency planned to derail the campaigns of Republican candidates in the 2018 midterm elections .
The fake tweet was picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RT , a Russian state-controlled news outlet .
The internet has n't just made it easier for Russia to create forgeries , it 's also helped in their ability to distribute documents , forged or stolen .
Russia 's hand in the hack and leak of emails relating to the 2016 presidential campaign of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was well-established by Special Counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation and assessments from the U.S. intelligence community .
In 2016 , American news organizations , including CNN , reported the details of many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by doing so , news outlets were helping the hackers achieve their objective ; news outlets argued the materials were in the public interest .
If real reporters do n't take the bait , the internet allows for the creation of fake reporters .
In 2016 , the GRU – Russian military intelligence – used a fake persona named `` Alice Donovan , '' Special Counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation found .
The same persona is believed to have posted articles to a popular independent American website .
And while Kalugin 's KGB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swastikas on synagogues , the internet allows for a more sustained and pervasive form of pot-stirring .
In 2016 , Russians posed as real American activists online , even recruiting unwitting Americans to help run protests and stunts in U.S. cities around the presidential election and divisive issues like race .
In one known instance , Russian groups helped organize two opposing demonstrations to take place at the same time at the same location in Texas .
The resulting images from events like these were used to further propagate covert online Russian campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeat .
This playbook is not one that is particularly difficult to emulate – and other groups are trying .
Thomas Rid , a professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University , has warned that there is currently a culture of mistrust in major institutions – prime conditions to spread disinformation .
Coupled with technological developments that make it easy to create and disseminate forged documents and fake news stories , it is almost , he said , a `` perfect storm . ''

The internet hasn't just made it easier for Russia to create forgeries, it's also helped in their ability to distribute documents, forged or stolen.
Feeding incendiary documents to news outlets. Infiltrating activist groups. Sowing division and confusion. It might sound like a recap of Russia's efforts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. election, but some of these same tactics were laid bare in a CNN television report on Soviet disinformation efforts back in 1983.
The report detailed how Russia was suspected of using forgeries and planted stories to wreak havoc in the West during the Cold War through influence operations rather than with military might. And these tactics didn't stop with the fall of the Berlin Wall. In fact, social media and the cloak of online anonymity it provides have only made it easier and potentially more effective for governments and bad actors to engage in a similar playbook of dirty tricks – ranging from disseminating forged or hacked documents online to creating fake reporters to promote them, CNN wrote.
Read alsoExperts expose Russian disinfo campaign that operated for six years
Видео дня
It's this modern-day digital disinformation playbook that U.S. intelligence agencies will almost certainly be watching out for ahead of November's presidential election -- especially after Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 election caught the country off guard. But to fully understand Russia's use of tactics like false news stories and leaked materials, it's useful to examine the country's long history of painstaking influence operations dating back to an analog era.
Jack Barsky, a former KGB spy who lived undercover in the US in the 1980s, explained how it was done back in his day in an interview with CNN Business last year.
The KGB would take great care to furnish a convincing forgery of a U.S. government document, often with the goal of implicating the U.S. in something tawdry and designed to appear to confirm an existing conspiracy theory. That forgery would then be given to a sympathetic, unwitting reporter, sometimes from an obscure outlet in a far-flung corner of the world. It would be printed as news, and if the Soviets were lucky, it might eventually get picked up by more established outlets.
Oleg Kalugin, another KGB agent who lived in the U.S. undercover, recounted in his book "Spymaster" how the KGB paid Americans to paint swastikas on synagogues in New York and Washington. This tactic had the potential to inflame tensions in the U.S. and give the Soviet-controlled press a negative story to tell Russians back home about their capitalist foe.
In the decades since, our lives have largely moved online – and so have Russia's attempts at disinformation and meddling in U.S. affairs.
In groundbreaking work from the Atlantic Council and the online investigations company Graphika, researchers showed how a suspected Russian group has been distributing forged documents online over the past few years. These efforts included a fake letter purporting to be from a U.S. senator and another letter designed to look like it came from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The same Russian group is believed to have been behind a fake tweet from Sen. Marco Rubio claiming that a purported British spy agency planned to derail the campaigns of Republican candidates in the 2018 midterm elections. The fake tweet was picked up and falsely reported as real by RT, a Russian state-controlled news outlet.
The internet hasn't just made it easier for Russia to create forgeries, it's also helped in their ability to distribute documents, forged or stolen.
Read alsoRFE/RL: Lithuania suspends broadcasts by Russia's RT over EU-sanctioned head
Russia's hand in the hack and leak of emails relating to the 2016 presidential campaign of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was well-established by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and assessments from the U.S. intelligence community. In 2016, American news organizations, including CNN, reported the details of many of the hacked emails. Critics argued that by doing so, news outlets were helping the hackers achieve their objective; news outlets argued the materials were in the public interest.
If real reporters don't take the bait, the internet allows for the creation of fake reporters. In 2016, the GRU – Russian military intelligence – used a fake persona named "Alice Donovan," Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation found. The same persona is believed to have posted articles to a popular independent American website.
And while Kalugin's KGB comrades had to recruit Americans to draw swastikas on synagogues, the internet allows for a more sustained and pervasive form of pot-stirring. In 2016, Russians posed as real American activists online, even recruiting unwitting Americans to help run protests and stunts in U.S. cities around the presidential election and divisive issues like race. In one known instance, Russian groups helped organize two opposing demonstrations to take place at the same time at the same location in Texas. The resulting images from events like these were used to further propagate covert online Russian campaigns.
Brush, floss, rinse, repeat. This playbook is not one that is particularly difficult to emulate – and other groups are trying.
Thomas Rid, a professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University, has warned that there is currently a culture of mistrust in major institutions – prime conditions to spread disinformation. Coupled with technological developments that make it easy to create and disseminate forged documents and fake news stories, it is almost, he said, a "perfect storm."


unian--2020-07-31--Almost half of Ukrainians stand against full transition to distance learning – poll

There are more categorically negative assessments in the southern and eastern regions .
Nearly half of respondents in a recent poll by the Razumkov Center and the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation Ukrainians speak up against the introduction of distance learning in connection with the ongoing pandemic .
Some 32 % of surveyed Ukrainians support the step .
There are more categorically negative assessments in the southern ( 29 % ) and eastern ( 28 % ) regions of Ukraine .
Read alsoNew rules of adaptive quarantine come into force on Aug 1 – Ukraine 's government The most significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to distance learning include the general decline in the level of children 's academic performance ( 26 % ) , the lack of teachers ' attention to students ' needs ( 22 % ) , as well as technical issues : poor internet connection quality ( 21 % ) or lack of devices for online learning ( 19 % ) .
The lack of technical means is noted by about 20-30 % of citizens in smaller towns ( up to 100,000 population ) .
According to most respondents , it 's the Ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main responsibility for education quality and preparation of schools for operations amid the pandemic .
Another 11 % believe it 's the president 's responsibility .
Also , 67 % of Ukrainians support the system of admission to universities based on the results of external independent assessment .
Only 14 % do not support it .

There are more categorically negative assessments in the southern and eastern regions.
Nearly half of respondents in a recent poll by the Razumkov Center and the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation Ukrainians speak up against the introduction of distance learning in connection with the ongoing pandemic.
Some 32% of surveyed Ukrainians support the step.
There are more categorically negative assessments in the southern (29%) and eastern (28%) regions of Ukraine.
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Read alsoNew rules of adaptive quarantine come into force on Aug 1 – Ukraine's government
The most significant issues people confront due to the transition to distance learning include the general decline in the level of children's academic performance (26%), the lack of teachers' attention to students' needs (22%), as well as technical issues: poor internet connection quality (21%) or lack of devices for online learning (19%).
The lack of technical means is noted by about 20-30% of citizens in smaller towns (up to 100,000 population).
According to most respondents, it's the Ministry of Education and Science that bears the main responsibility for education quality and preparation of schools for operations amid the pandemic. Another 11% believe it's the president's responsibility.
Also, 67% of Ukrainians support the system of admission to universities based on the results of external independent assessment. Only 14% do not support it.


unian--2020-07-31--Ukraine interested in preserving "Normandy-Minsk infrastructure" – foreign minister

Apart from Kozak 's letter about Russia 's withdrawal from the Donbas settlement negotiations leaked yesterday , Ukraine has received no specific signals from the Kremlin in this regard .
Ukraine is interested in preserving the entire Normandy-Minsk infrastructure of talks on Donbas settlement , says Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba .
`` In 2014 , a whole infrastructure of the peace process emerged , consisting of Normandy summits , the Normandy quartet of foreign ministers , the Normandy quartet of advisors to the leaders of the four states , and the Trilateral Contact Group , '' Kuleba told a briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Ukraine is interested in preserving this infrastructure , which has proved that it 's capable of playing an effective and constructive role – if Russia is determined to search for solutions , not create new problems , '' Kuleba said .
Apart from the letter by Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak on plans to withdraw from the negotiations on Donbas , leaked yesterday , Ukraine has received no specific signals from the Kremlin in this regard .
`` That is why we 're in no rush to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia 's further steps to this end .
At the same time , we will approach the issue from the position that I 've voiced .
We 're interested in preserving the entire Normandy-Minsk infrastructure , '' Kuleba said .

Apart from Kozak's letter about Russia's withdrawal from the Donbas settlement negotiations leaked yesterday, Ukraine has received no specific signals from the Kremlin in this regard.
Ukraine is interested in preserving the entire Normandy-Minsk infrastructure of talks on Donbas settlement, says Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
"In 2014, a whole infrastructure of the peace process emerged, consisting of Normandy summits, the Normandy quartet of foreign ministers, the Normandy quartet of advisors to the leaders of the four states, and the Trilateral Contact Group," Kuleba told a briefing on Friday, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
Read alsoRussia hints at scrapping talks on Donbas: Ukrainian President's Office reacts
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"Ukraine is interested in preserving this infrastructure, which has proved that it's capable of playing an effective and constructive role – if Russia is determined to search for solutions, not create new problems," Kuleba said.
Apart from the letter by Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak on plans to withdraw from the negotiations on Donbas, leaked yesterday, Ukraine has received no specific signals from the Kremlin in this regard.
"That is why we're in no rush to draw conclusions. We're waiting for Russia's further steps to this end. At the same time, we will approach the issue from the position that I've voiced. We're interested in preserving the entire Normandy-Minsk infrastructure," Kuleba said.


unian--2020-07-31--National Bank downgrades unemployment outlook

For 2021 , the NBU forecasts unemployment at 9 % .
The National Bank of Ukraine expects that the unemployment rate in 2020 will reach 10 % , instead of 9.5 % predicted in April .
That 's according to the central bank 's inflation report for July .
`` Weakening of quarantine in May led to the resumption of labor supply , which the weekly CV applications data for June says returned to pre-quarantine level , '' the report reads .
`` Interest in finding a job has resumed not only in the domestic labor market , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partial reopening of state borders for those seeking employment abroad , '' the statement said .
For 2021 , the NBU forecasts the unemployment rate at 9 % ( instead of 8.6 % noted in the previous forecast ) , and for 2022 – at 8.8 % ( against 8.6 % ) .
• Since the announcement of the national quarantine to tackle the COVID-19 spread , the number of officially registered unemployed Ukrainians has exceeded 500,000 .
• The Cabinet of Ministers announced a program to create 500,000 new jobs .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official number of unemployed individuals exceeded 514,000 .
• The National Bank of Ukraine forecast the unemployment peak for the second quarter – up to 11.5 % , after which in the second half of the year , the figure was set to decline .
For the entire year , the general unemployment rate will be higher than in 2019 , while remaining below 10 % .
• The Ministry for Development of Economy , Trade , and Agriculture predicted that the unemployment for 2020 would grow to 9.4 % .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 512,000 jobseekers were registered at employment centers .

National Bank downgrades unemployment outlook
18:20, 31.07.20 1666
For 2021, the NBU forecasts unemployment at 9%.
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unian--2020-07-31--Kravchuk in TCG: cons and pros

Kravchuk in TCG: cons and pros

After Leonid Kuchma resigned from the Tripartite Contact Group , Leonid Kravchuk was the only candidate to replace him with an `` equal status '' .
At the same time , he was only equal to his predecessor – not to the Russian envoy .
But have n't we already got used to inequality ?
We also have the Yermak-Kozak group ( whose future is now at limbo ) where the two officials have different `` official '' statuses .
Let 's look closer at the issue .
Ukraine 's first president entering the negotiation process has a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll start with the good news .
Despite the existing issues with the personnel policy in the Ukrainian government , they had enough wisdom not to appoint a senior incumbent official .
This would automatically increase the binding nature of decisions passed in the TCG format .
Besides , Ukraine has already raised the level of representation in the TCG to such an extent that there 's not much room left – we already have ministers , and deputy ministers , and chairmen of Rada committees on board .
A few months ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wise of a decision , having raised the level of our representation to the level of Cabinet officials .
That was presumably done in the hope that Russia would take a mirror step .
But Moscow is n't offering any giveaways .
They are not interested in bringing the war to a halt – the only thing they care about is moving the negotiations to the Ukraine- '' LPR/DPR '' format .
After all , who else attends the TCG talks boasting of ministerial posts ( albeit self-styled ) ?
That 's right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the self-proclaimed `` republics '' .
So who are we negotiating with here ?
Russian envoy , ex-head of the State Duma Borys Gryzlov , should be fully satisfied with the appointment of Ukraine 's ex-president of Ukraine to the helm of Ukraine 's delegation to the TCG .
Gryzlov might often skip TCG meetings only to release statements with some dubious suggestions or Russia 's traditional narratives .
But it 's better to have him represent Russia than some , relatively speaking , postgrad student whom the Kremlin could well have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the downside to the `` new face '' in the TCG is specifically about Kravchuk 's political image .
First of all , he 's always been a conformist , keen to adapt to any political change throughout his long career .
Therefore , any independence or resistance to what he 'll be told in the President 's Office can hardly be expected .
I doubt that Kuchma had much space for maneuver either , while he did have an opportunity to make use of the new administration 's lack of experience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ too eager to be jump onto this train .
Publicity has long become his major addiction .
That is , he wo n't be slamming doors and walking off if he does n't like something in the policies pursued by government .
The third negative point is his ties with Vladimir Putin 's crony Viktor Medvedchuk .
This is the case where the public would always be looking for some treasonous undertones in any decisions made by our delegation to the TCG and its head Kravchuk .
And when people look for anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something to fit their assumptions – or think they did .
And it does n't matter whether the two politicians are even in contact nowadays .
It 's the `` trail '' effect that does .
In practice though , Kravchuk will have little to no influence in settlement talks .
He 's purely a front face .
Therefore the conclusion is simple , Kravchuk at the post in Ukraine 's delegation to the TCG completely satisfies the Russian party and Ukrainian President 's Office .
At the same time , the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Therefore , no matter the decisions further made in Minsk , their legitimacy will a priori be questioned here in Ukraine .
Bohdan Petrenko is a Deputy Chief of Ukrainian Institute for Extremism Research

After Leonid Kuchma resigned from the Tripartite Contact Group, Leonid Kravchuk was the only candidate to replace him with an "equal status". At the same time, he was only equal to his predecessor – not to the Russian envoy. But haven't we already got used to inequality? We also have the Yermak-Kozak group (whose future is now at limbo) where the two officials have different "official" statuses.
Let's look closer at the issue. Ukraine's first president entering the negotiation process has a number of advantages as well as shortcomings. I'll start with the good news.
Despite the existing issues with the personnel policy in the Ukrainian government, they had enough wisdom not to appoint a senior incumbent official. This would automatically increase the binding nature of decisions passed in the TCG format. Besides, Ukraine has already raised the level of representation in the TCG to such an extent that there's not much room left – we already have ministers, and deputy ministers, and chairmen of Rada committees on board.
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But Moscow isn't offering any giveaways. They are not interested in bringing the war to a halt – the only thing they care about is moving the negotiations to the Ukraine-"LPR/DPR" format
A few months ago, the government made a not too wise of a decision, having raised the level of our representation to the level of Cabinet officials. That was presumably done in the hope that Russia would take a mirror step. But Moscow isn't offering any giveaways. They are not interested in bringing the war to a halt – the only thing they care about is moving the negotiations to the Ukraine-"LPR/DPR" format. After all, who else attends the TCG talks boasting of ministerial posts (albeit self-styled)? That's right, the so-called "foreign ministers" of the self-proclaimed "republics". So who are we negotiating with here?
Russian envoy, ex-head of the State Duma Borys Gryzlov, should be fully satisfied with the appointment of Ukraine's ex-president of Ukraine to the helm of Ukraine's delegation to the TCG. Gryzlov might often skip TCG meetings only to release statements with some dubious suggestions or Russia's traditional narratives. But it's better to have him represent Russia than some, relatively speaking, postgrad student whom the Kremlin could well have sent to replace him.
Now, the downside to the "new face" in the TCG is specifically about Kravchuk's political image. First of all, he's always been a conformist, keen to adapt to any political change throughout his long career. Therefore, any independence or resistance to what he'll be told in the President's Office can hardly be expected. I doubt that Kuchma had much space for maneuver either, while he did have an opportunity to make use of the new administration's lack of experience.
Secondly, Kravchuk is just a bit too eager to be jump onto this train. Publicity has long become his major addiction. That is, he won't be slamming doors and walking off if he doesn't like something in the policies pursued by government.
The third negative point is his ties with Vladimir Putin's crony Viktor Medvedchuk. This is the case where the public would always be looking for some treasonous undertones in any decisions made by our delegation to the TCG and its head Kravchuk. And when people look for anything definite, they often find at least something to fit their assumptions – or think they did. And it doesn't matter whether the two politicians are even in contact nowadays. It's the "trail" effect that does.
In practice though, Kravchuk will have little to no influence in settlement talks. He's purely a front face.
Therefore the conclusion is simple, Kravchuk at the post in Ukraine's delegation to the TCG completely satisfies the Russian party and Ukrainian President's Office. At the same time, the Ukrainian public is far from okay with it. Therefore, no matter the decisions further made in Minsk, their legitimacy will a priori be questioned here in Ukraine.
Bohdan Petrenko is a Deputy Chief of Ukrainian Institute for Extremism Research


unian--2020-07-31--New rules of adaptive quarantine come into force on Aug 1 – Ukraine's government

According to the document , the adaptive quarantine in Ukraine has been extended until August 31 , 2020 .
The Cabinet of Ministers , Ukraine 's government , says resolution No .
641 of July 22 , 2020 , designed to introduce the coronavirus-related quarantine and step up anti-epidemic measures in the area with a significant spread of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by coronavirus SARS -CoV-2 comes into force on August 1 .
Depending on the epidemiological situation , all regions will be divided into several zones : green , yellow , orange , and red according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government portal .
- holding mass events with no more than one person per five square meters ; - occupancy at cinemas should not exceed 50 % ; and - transportation of passengers only within the seating capacity .
- visiting social welfare facilities where elderly people are staying , except for those that provide services in critical situations .
- operation of accommodation establishments ( hostels , tourist bases , etc . )
, except hotels ; - new shifts in children 's camps ; and - restrictions for public events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no more than 100 people .
Read alsoOver 1,000 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine in past day The rules for border crossing are the following : visitors arriving from green-zone countries should have an insurance policy only .
Those who arrive from red-zone countries , should have an insurance policy and undergo 14-day self-isolation or have PCR testing .
A region with the high incidence of COVID-19 cases is a region in which one of the following features is present : 1 .
Bed occupancy in health facilities designated for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 is over 50 % ; 2 .
The average number of PCR and ELISA testing is lower than 24 per 100,000 people in the last seven days ; 3 .
The ascertainment rate of COVID-19 is over 11 % ; 4 .
The COVID-19 infections growth rate is over 10 % .
The indicator of dynamics of growth of COVID-19 cases is applied if more than eight cases per 100,000 people are recorded for the last seven days .
Stepping up anti-epidemic measures is either introduced or terminated in each particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a local commission on industry-related and environmental safety and emergencies , which is adopted at the request of the region 's chief medical officer .
The transition of the region from one zone to another is possible if there are changes in one of the defined indicators within five days .
Restrictions will apply at all levels , including `` green zone . ''
Mandatory requirements include wearing face masks in public places , holding mass events only on condition of no more than one person per five square meters , occupancy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and transportation of passengers only within the seating capacity .
The most strict quarantine measures will apply in the `` red zone . ''
All schools will open in Ukraine on September 1 , 2020 .
However , if the epidemiological situation in a district does not meet the Health Ministry 's requirements , respective educational institutions will be shut down for quarantine .
Schools will be closed only in areas of the `` red zone '' where the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome is high .
The gradual lifting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin in Ukraine under the conditions of compliance with a number of quarantine-related requirements .
The main rules include : filling the stadium sectors with spectators by no more than 25 % ; social distancing ; the availability of hand sanitizers at the stadiums ; as well as temperature screening at the entrance .

According to the document, the adaptive quarantine in Ukraine has been extended until August 31, 2020.
The Cabinet of Ministers, Ukraine's government, says resolution No. 641 of July 22, 2020, designed to introduce the coronavirus-related quarantine and step up anti-epidemic measures in the area with a significant spread of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by coronavirus SARS -CoV-2 comes into force on August 1.
Depending on the epidemiological situation, all regions will be divided into several zones: green, yellow, orange, and red according to the COVID-19 risk levels, as reported on the government portal.
Green zone rules envisage:
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- wearing face masks or respirators in public places;
- holding mass events with no more than one person per five square meters;
- occupancy at cinemas should not exceed 50%; and
- transportation of passengers only within the seating capacity.
Yellow zone (+ green zone rules) restrictions include:
- visiting social welfare facilities where elderly people are staying, except for those that provide services in critical situations.
Orange zone (+ yellow zone restrictions) bans include:
- operation of accommodation establishments (hostels, tourist bases, etc.), except hotels;
- work of entertainment facilities, restaurants at night;
- scheduled hospitalizations;
- operation of gyms, fitness centers, cultural institutions;
- new shifts in children's camps; and
- restrictions for public events: one person per 20 square meters and no more than 100 people.
Red zone (+ orange zone restriction) bans include:
- operation of public transport;
- visiting educational institutions; and
- work of shopping malls, cafes, and restaurants.
Read alsoOver 1,000 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine in past day
The rules for border crossing are the following: visitors arriving from green-zone countries should have an insurance policy only. Those who arrive from red-zone countries, should have an insurance policy and undergo 14-day self-isolation or have PCR testing.
A region with the high incidence of COVID-19 cases is a region in which one of the following features is present:
1. Bed occupancy in health facilities designated for the hospitalization of patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 is over 50%;
2. The average number of PCR and ELISA testing is lower than 24 per 100,000 people in the last seven days;
3. The ascertainment rate of COVID-19 is over 11%;
4. The COVID-19 infections growth rate is over 10%.
The indicator of dynamics of growth of COVID-19 cases is applied if more than eight cases per 100,000 people are recorded for the last seven days.
Stepping up anti-epidemic measures is either introduced or terminated in each particular region in keeping with a decision by a local commission on industry-related and environmental safety and emergencies, which is adopted at the request of the region's chief medical officer.
The transition of the region from one zone to another is possible if there are changes in one of the defined indicators within five days. Restrictions will apply at all levels, including "green zone." Mandatory requirements include wearing face masks in public places, holding mass events only on condition of no more than one person per five square meters, occupancy of cinemas being no more than 50%, and transportation of passengers only within the seating capacity. The most strict quarantine measures will apply in the "red zone."
All schools will open in Ukraine on September 1, 2020. However, if the epidemiological situation in a district does not meet the Health Ministry's requirements, respective educational institutions will be shut down for quarantine. Schools will be closed only in areas of the "red zone" where the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome is high.
The gradual lifting of curbs on spectators during football matches will begin in Ukraine under the conditions of compliance with a number of quarantine-related requirements. The main rules include: filling the stadium sectors with spectators by no more than 25%; social distancing; the availability of hand sanitizers at the stadiums; as well as temperature screening at the entrance.


unian--2020-08-01--FM Kuleba elaborates on compromises Ukraine ready to make to regain control over Donbas

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has elaborated on compromises the Ukrainian side is ready to make in negotiations with Russia @ @ @ @ @ Donbas .
`` The first is full control over the border of Ukraine .
The @ @ @ @ @ certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions determined by legislation and within a broad form @ @ @ @ @ absence of any veto right over national decisions , '' he told the Glavcom media @ @ @ @ @ He also reiterated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 's words about the mandatory withdrawal of foreign @ @ @ @ @ Donbas , as well as the disarmament of the armed formations .
`` That is @ @ @ @ @ armed must be disarmed .
And they can call themselves even the National Guard , @ @ @ @ @ even the 'police ' or 'internal troops . '
It is necessary to agree on @ @ @ @ @ ensured in these territories in the process of ending the occupation , '' he added @

Kuleba said Ukraine is a unitary, decentralized state.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has elaborated on compromises the Ukrainian side is ready to make in negotiations with Russia to regain control over occupied Donbas.
"The first is full control over the border of Ukraine. The second is the status of certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions determined by legislation and within a broad form of decentralization, and the absence of any veto right over national decisions," he told the Glavcom media outlet in an interview.
Read alsoMFA Ukraine asks EU to expand Russia sanctions
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Kuleba said Ukraine is a unitary, decentralized state.
He also reiterated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's words about the mandatory withdrawal of foreign troops and military hardware from Donbas, as well as the disarmament of the armed formations.
"That is, everyone who is illegally armed must be disarmed. And they can call themselves even the National Guard, or the 'militia,' even the 'police' or 'internal troops.' It is necessary to agree on how the order will be ensured in these territories in the process of ending the occupation," he added.


unian--2020-08-01--Ukraine may face greatest spread of COVID-19 during flu season – health ministry

The epidemic season of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections takes place in Ukraine from October to May .
Ukraine 's Deputy Health Minister , Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko has said Ukraine may face the greatest spread of COVID-19 during the epidemic season of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections , which takes place from October to May .
Read alsoKyiv mayor reports 101 new COVID-19 cases , two fatalities in past day '' Therefore , we need to take the coronavirus disease more seriously and prepare for the epidemic season of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said at a briefing on August 1 , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
According to the official , today Ukraine ranks 34th in the world ranking in terms of the ascertainment rate of COVID-19 ( 8th in Europe ) , 38th in terms of mortality from coronavirus disease ( 15th in Europe ) , and 86th by the number of cases per 1 million people ( 37th in Europe ) .
As UNIAN reported earlier , 1,172 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Ukraine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of confirmed cases to 71,056 as of the morning of August 1 .

The epidemic season of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections takes place in Ukraine from October to May.
Ukraine's Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko has said Ukraine may face the greatest spread of COVID-19 during the epidemic season of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, which takes place from October to May.
Read alsoKyiv mayor reports 101 new COVID-19 cases, two fatalities in past day
"Therefore, we need to take the coronavirus disease more seriously and prepare for the epidemic season of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, in which coronavirus disease will also circulate," he said at a briefing on August 1, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
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According to the official, today Ukraine ranks 34th in the world ranking in terms of the ascertainment rate of COVID-19 (8th in Europe), 38th in terms of mortality from coronavirus disease (15th in Europe ), and 86th by the number of cases per 1 million people (37th in Europe).
As UNIAN reported earlier, 1,172 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Ukraine in the past day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 71,056 as of the morning of August 1.


unian--2020-08-01--Kyiv mayor reports 101 new COVID-19 cases, two fatalities in past day

As of today , the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,342 .
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases in the city rose by 101 in the past day .
`` In the past day , another 101 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus .
There were two fatalities , '' he said on Telegram on August 1 .
`` As of today , the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,342 . ''
According to Klitschko , 39 women and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , three children tested positive for the coronavirus .
Klitschko said 23 new patients had been hospitalized , while the rest were self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision .
Forty people recovered from the disease in the past day , he said .
In total , 2,981 Kyiv residents have already recovered .
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Pechersky district ( 16 ) , Darnytsky district ( 15 ) , and Solomyansky district ( 14 ) .
The total death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As UNIAN reported earlier , 1,172 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Ukraine in the past day , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 71,056 as of the morning of August 1 .

As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,342.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the city rose by 101 in the past day.
"In the past day, another 101 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus. There were two fatalities," he said on Telegram on August 1. "As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 8,342."
Read alsoKyiv mayor reports 110 new COVID-19 cases in past day
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According to Klitschko, 39 women and 59 men are among those infected.
In addition, three children tested positive for the coronavirus.
Klitschko said 23 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest were self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision.
Forty people recovered from the disease in the past day, he said.
In total, 2,981 Kyiv residents have already recovered.
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Pechersky district (16), Darnytsky district (15), and Solomyansky district (14).
The total death toll in the city is 134 cases.
As UNIAN reported earlier, 1,172 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Ukraine in the past day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 71,056 as of the morning of August 1.


unian--2020-08-01--Zelensky enacts law on "green" energy

Zelensky enacts law on "green" energy

The law is the first step toward solving the existing problems in the electricity market and is intended to ensure the country 's energy stability .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Law No .
810-IX `` On amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on improving the conditions for promoting electricity generation from renewable energy sources '' passed by the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , on July 21 , 2020 .
The law is the first step toward solving the existing problems in the electricity market and is intended to ensure the country 's energy stability , as reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zelensky also appealed to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal , instructing him to take comprehensive measures to address the functioning of the electricity market in Ukraine , including ensuring fair conditions for all economic entities operating in the integrated power system of Ukraine .
The president has asked the government to systematically analyze the state of implementation of the Law of Ukraine `` On the Electricity Market '' by all market players and immediately prepare proposals to improve legislation .
It is reported Zelensky keeps under personal control the issue of ensuring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power system of Ukraine and instructed the prime minister to report on the accomplishment of the tasks weekly .

The law is the first step toward solving the existing problems in the electricity market and is intended to ensure the country's energy stability.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Law No. 810-IX "On amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on improving the conditions for promoting electricity generation from renewable energy sources" passed by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on July 21, 2020.
The law is the first step toward solving the existing problems in the electricity market and is intended to ensure the country's energy stability, as reported by the president's press service.
Read alsoUkraine's Rada approves cut in feed-in tariffs
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Zelensky also appealed to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, instructing him to take comprehensive measures to address the functioning of the electricity market in Ukraine, including ensuring fair conditions for all economic entities operating in the integrated power system of Ukraine.
The president has asked the government to systematically analyze the state of implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On the Electricity Market" by all market players and immediately prepare proposals to improve legislation.
It is reported Zelensky keeps under personal control the issue of ensuring the sustainable and reliable operation of the integrated power system of Ukraine and instructed the prime minister to report on the accomplishment of the tasks weekly.