unian--2020-12-30--Ukraine to buy 1.9 mln doses of Chinese vaccine against COVID-19

Such delivery will be carried out separately from COVAX .
The Ukrainian Health Ministry has signed a contract for the supply of China 's Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine .
The ministry has been negotiating with Sinovac since September , according to the president 's press service .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the contract had been signed with an experienced vaccine manufacturer .
`` The main thing is that we have carried out a very active multi-month negotiation work and have received concrete results .
We will start a large-scale state-run vaccination program soon .
We desperately need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state will definitely fulfill this task , '' the president said .
It is noted the difficulty in negotiating was due to intense global competition for really high-quality and safe vaccines .
`` Without exception , all the civilized states are trying to agree on the purchase of such a vaccine while reliable manufacturers can not yet fully satisfy the global demand , '' the President 's Office said .
Read alsoAlmost 8,000 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine as of Dec 30Ukraine will use the Sinovac Biotech vaccine to protect primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection and those who perform critical functions in the fight against the epidemic .
The vaccination will be free .
The Sinovac Biotech ( CoronaVac ) vaccine is an inactivated vaccine that is produced in a syringe and stored at a temperature from +2°C to +8°C .
According to the results of intermediate data , clinical trials in different countries showed the effectiveness of the vaccine up to 97 % .
For example , the third stage of clinical trials were conducted in Indonesia ( 1,600 patients , efficiency 97 % ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 91 % ) .
The third stage of clinical trials in Brazil are coming to an end , with interim results expected on January 7 .
Accordingly , China plans to obtain permission to use the vaccine inside the country and abroad in January next year , and the vaccine will also be submitted for retraining to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) in February 2021 .
The contract for supplies to the territory of Ukraine has been signed with Lekhim JSC , which , according to official confirmations from Sinovac Biotech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine manufacturer in Ukraine .
The purchase provides for 1,913,316 doses at UAH 504 ( US $ 18 ) per dose .
Under the terms of the contract , the first batch of 700,000 doses will be delivered to Ukraine within 30 days after official registration in China , or by one of the competent authorities of the United States , Great Britain , the Swiss Confederation , Japan , Australia , Canada , Israel , India , Mexico , Brazil , or under a centralized procedure by the competent authority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be carried out separately from COVAX ( COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility ) .
Ukraine continues an active negotiation process with all reliable manufacturers to increase the access of Ukrainians to an effective and safe vaccine .
*** Sinovac Biotech is China 's largest vaccine company .
It produces from 300 to 500 million doses of vaccines annually , which are approved in 34 countries worldwide .
The company has developed and marketed vaccines against hepatitis A and B , flu viruses , including bird one , and mumps .
The decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biotech vaccines against COVID-19 has already been made by Turkey .
• On November 18 , the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility ( COVAX ) confirmed the reports on plans to provide Ukraine with a free vaccine against the coronavirus disease .
In particular , about 4 million Ukrainian nationals will be able to get vaccinated in the first half of 2021 .
Later it became known that proper vaccination includes two shots at a price of US $ 7 each .
• On December 4 , the Verkhovna Rada allowed a fast-track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state certification of vaccines or other immunobiological medications to be used to tackle the coronavirus .
• On December 6 , Chairman of the Commission on Biosafety and Biological Protection under the Council of National Security and Defense , Academician Serhiy Komisarenko said mass vaccination could be launched in Ukraine no earlier than the middle of 2021 .
• On December 12 , Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister , Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko said COVAX had officially approved 8 million doses of a free COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine .
• On December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Ukraine expects to get the first doses of vaccines approved by COVAX in March 2021 .
• On December 23 , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the bill passed by Parliament December 4 .
• On December 24 , Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the vaccine quota as part of the COVAX global initiative from 8 million to 16 million doses .
• On the same day , Stepanov signed a roadmap for mass vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine in 2021-2022 .
• On December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministers Oleh Nemchynov said Ukraine would get 16 million doses of a vaccine as part of COVAX .

Such delivery will be carried out separately from COVAX.
The Ukrainian Health Ministry has signed a contract for the supply of China's Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine.
The ministry has been negotiating with Sinovac since September, according to the president's press service.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the contract had been signed with an experienced vaccine manufacturer.
Видео дня
"The main thing is that we have carried out a very active multi-month negotiation work and have received concrete results. We will start a large-scale state-run vaccination program soon. We desperately need to protect high-risk social groups, and the state will definitely fulfill this task," the president said.
It is noted the difficulty in negotiating was due to intense global competition for really high-quality and safe vaccines.
"Without exception, all the civilized states are trying to agree on the purchase of such a vaccine while reliable manufacturers cannot yet fully satisfy the global demand," the President's Office said.
Read alsoAlmost 8,000 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine as of Dec 30Ukraine will use the Sinovac Biotech vaccine to protect primarily those citizens who have a critical risk of infection and those who perform critical functions in the fight against the epidemic. The vaccination will be free.
The Sinovac Biotech (CoronaVac) vaccine is an inactivated vaccine that is produced in a syringe and stored at a temperature from +2°C to +8°C. According to the results of intermediate data, clinical trials in different countries showed the effectiveness of the vaccine up to 97%. For example, the third stage of clinical trials were conducted in Indonesia (1,600 patients, efficiency 97%) and Turkey (1,325 patients, efficiency 91%). The third stage of clinical trials in Brazil are coming to an end, with interim results expected on January 7.
Accordingly, China plans to obtain permission to use the vaccine inside the country and abroad in January next year, and the vaccine will also be submitted for retraining to the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2021.
The contract for supplies to the territory of Ukraine has been signed with Lekhim JSC, which, according to official confirmations from Sinovac Biotech, is the only authorized representative of the vaccine manufacturer in Ukraine. The purchase provides for 1,913,316 doses at UAH 504 (US$18) per dose.
Under the terms of the contract, the first batch of 700,000 doses will be delivered to Ukraine within 30 days after official registration in China, or by one of the competent authorities of the United States, Great Britain, the Swiss Confederation, Japan, Australia, Canada, Israel, India, Mexico, Brazil, or under a centralized procedure by the competent authority of the European Union.
Such delivery will be carried out separately from COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility).
Ukraine continues an active negotiation process with all reliable manufacturers to increase the access of Ukrainians to an effective and safe vaccine.
*** Sinovac Biotech is China's largest vaccine company. It produces from 300 to 500 million doses of vaccines annually, which are approved in 34 countries worldwide. The company has developed and marketed vaccines against hepatitis A and B, flu viruses, including bird one, and mumps. The decision to purchase 50 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccines against COVID-19 has already been made by Turkey.
Vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine


unian--2020-12-30--Over half of Ukrainians say their financial condition deteriorates in 2020 – poll

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Over half of Ukrainians say their financial condition deteriorates in 2020 – poll
15:15, 30.12.20 656
Some 51.8% of citizens note a decline in their savings this year.
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unian--2020-12-30--"Garbage heaps" accumulated on seashores in Russia-occupied Crimea

There is also garbage outside residential buildings by the sea in the village of Lazurne .
The Russian occupying authorities @ @ @ @ @ seashores of the Crimean peninsula from garbage .
Photos from the Black Sea coast have @ @ @ @ @ Krym.Realii media project .
Garbage accumulated after the summer season has not been removed from @ @ @ @ @ heavy precipitation not to help solve water shortage in occupied Crimea – expertFor example , @ @ @ @ @ outside a tourist camp at the foot of Mount Castel , which is well-known for @ @ @ @ @ form of a hill with a core of magma inside .
Garbage has also been @ @ @ @ @ the sea in the village of Lazurne .
In general , the Russia-installed local authorities @ @ @ @ @ projects at the seaside .
But the projects were unsuccessful : although the beaches are @ @ @ @ @ there are only bare skeletons of building frames behind them .

There is also garbage outside residential buildings by the sea in the village of Lazurne.
The Russian occupying authorities do not clean up the seashores of the Crimean peninsula from garbage.
Photos from the Black Sea coast have been published by RFE/RL's Krym.Realii media project.
Garbage accumulated after the summer season has not been removed from the beaches.
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Read alsoEven heavy precipitation not to help solve water shortage in occupied Crimea – expertFor example, real garbage heaps have arisen outside a tourist camp at the foot of Mount Castel, which is well-known for its unformed volcano in the form of a hill with a core of magma inside.
Garbage has also been accumulated outside residential buildings by the sea in the village of Lazurne.
In general, the Russia-installed local authorities continued to develop housing construction projects at the seaside. But the projects were unsuccessful: although the beaches are fenced with meter-high fences, there are only bare skeletons of building frames behind them.


unian--2020-12-30--Blast, gunfire at Aden airport after plane carrying new government lands, 5 killed – media

A local security source said three mortar shells landed on the airport 's hall .
At least five people were killed and dozens more wounded in an attack on Aden airport , shortly after a plane carrying a newly formed government for Yemen arrived from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday .
Loud blasts and gunfire were heard at the airport shortly after the plane arrived , witnesses said , Reuters wrote .
The cabinet members including Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik , as well as Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Said al-Jaber , were transferred safely to the city 's presidential palace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A local security source said three mortar shells landed on the airport 's hall .
Read alsoRockets launched at U.S. embassy in BaghdadThe newly formed cabinet unites the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi with southern separatists .
The two groups are the main Yemeni factions in a southern-based , Saudi-backed alliance , fighting against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls the north .
Saudi state television Ekhbaria showed destroyed vehicles and smashed glass .
Plumes of white smoke rose from the scene .
The southern port city of Aden has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the separatists and Hadi 's government .
The separatist Southern Transitional Council ( STC ) , which seeks independence for south Yemen , declared self-rule in Aden earlier this year , triggering violent clashes and complicating U.N. efforts to forge a permanent ceasefire in the overall conflict .
The Saudi-led coalition announced earlier this month the new power-sharing cabinet that would include the separatists .
The cabinet landed from Riyadh where both parties negotiated for more than a year with Saudi mediation .
• Ukrainian mother and son attacked by shark in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured amid pirate attack on vessel off Nigeria

A local security source said three mortar shells landed on the airport's hall.
At least five people were killed and dozens more wounded in an attack on Aden airport, shortly after a plane carrying a newly formed government for Yemen arrived from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Loud blasts and gunfire were heard at the airport shortly after the plane arrived, witnesses said, Reuters wrote.
The cabinet members including Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, as well as Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Said al-Jaber, were transferred safely to the city's presidential palace, the witnesses and Saudi media said.
Видео дня
A local security source said three mortar shells landed on the airport's hall.
Read alsoRockets launched at U.S. embassy in BaghdadThe newly formed cabinet unites the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi with southern separatists. The two groups are the main Yemeni factions in a southern-based, Saudi-backed alliance, fighting against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls the north.
Saudi state television Ekhbaria showed destroyed vehicles and smashed glass. Plumes of white smoke rose from the scene.
The southern port city of Aden has been mired in violence because of a rift between the separatists and Hadi's government. The separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which seeks independence for south Yemen, declared self-rule in Aden earlier this year, triggering violent clashes and complicating U.N. efforts to forge a permanent ceasefire in the overall conflict.
The Saudi-led coalition announced earlier this month the new power-sharing cabinet that would include the separatists.
The cabinet landed from Riyadh where both parties negotiated for more than a year with Saudi mediation.
More news reports


unian--2020-12-30--Average wage in Ukraine in Nov grows by 12.2% y-o-y, to US$424

Average wage in Ukraine in Nov grows by 12.2% y-o-y, to US$424
14:00, 30.12.20 3660
The average pay in Kyiv in November 2020 was US$622.
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unian--2020-12-30--Number of job seekers growing – economy ministry

Number of job seekers growing – economy ministry
13:35, 30.12.20 940
The government says the unemployment rate in Ukraine is under control.
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unian--2020-12-30--Zelensky still in the lead in presidential rating – poll

Respondents were offered two possible lists of potential candidates for presidency , where they had to choose one answer from each list .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is still in the lead in the presidential rating .
If the presidential elections had been held in the near future , 53.3 % of respondents would definitely take part in the voting , while another 19.7 % would rather go to the polls , according to findings of a poll conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology ( KIIS ) .
Read alsoAlmost half of Ukrainians name Zelensky `` year 's disappointment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered two possible lists of potential candidates for presidency , where they had to choose one answer from each list .
According to the first list , 27 % of respondents among those who intend to vote and have made up their mind would have supported the incumbent president .
Another 14.7 % would have voted for co-chair of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Yuriy Boyko , 13.7 % for ex-President , leader of the European Solidarity Party Petro Poroshenko , 8.7 % for Chairman of the Opposition Platform - For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some 7.5 % would have cast ballots for leader of the Batkivshchyna Party Yulia Tymoshenko , 6.3 % for leader of the Radical Party Oleh Liashko , 5.5 % for leader of the Ukrainian Strategy Party Volodymyr Groysman , 4.1 % for member of the Holos ( Voice ) Party Serhiy Prytula , and 3.4 % for Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov .
Other politicians have been rated below 3 % .
Medvedchuk and Razumkov were not put on the second list among possible candidates , however leader of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Party Ihor Smeshko was included in the list .
In this case , Zelensky would have gained the support of 27.7 % of respondents among those who intend to vote and have made up their mind .
He is followed by Yuriy Boyko ( 20.8 % ) , Petro Poroshenko ( 14.2 % ) , Yulia Tymoshenko ( 7.3 % ) , Ihor Smeshko ( 6.5 % ) , Oleh Liashko ( 6.2 % ) , Volodymyr Groysman ( 6 % ) , and Serhiy Prytula ( 3.8 % ) .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• The survey was conducted on December 17-23 through personal formalized ( face-to-face ) interviews with the use of tablets .
• The sample is representative of the adult population ( aged 18 and older ) .
• Some 1,200 respondents were polled in all regions of Ukraine except Crimea and other Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine , namely certain districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions .
• The margin of error does not exceed 29 % for indicators close to 50 % , 2.5 % for indicators close to 25 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , and 1.3 % for indicators close to 5 % .

Respondents were offered two possible lists of potential candidates for presidency, where they had to choose one answer from each list.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is still in the lead in the presidential rating.
If the presidential elections had been held in the near future, 53.3% of respondents would definitely take part in the voting, while another 19.7% would rather go to the polls, according to findings of a poll conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).
Read alsoAlmost half of Ukrainians name Zelensky "year's disappointment"During the survey, respondents were offered two possible lists of potential candidates for presidency, where they had to choose one answer from each list.
Видео дня
According to the first list, 27% of respondents among those who intend to vote and have made up their mind would have supported the incumbent president. Another 14.7% would have voted for co-chair of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Yuriy Boyko, 13.7% for ex-President, leader of the European Solidarity Party Petro Poroshenko, 8.7% for Chairman of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party's political council Viktor Medvedchuk. Some 7.5% would have cast ballots for leader of the Batkivshchyna Party Yulia Tymoshenko, 6.3% for leader of the Radical Party Oleh Liashko, 5.5% for leader of the Ukrainian Strategy Party Volodymyr Groysman, 4.1% for member of the Holos (Voice) Party Serhiy Prytula, and 3.4% for Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov.
Other politicians have been rated below 3%.
Medvedchuk and Razumkov were not put on the second list among possible candidates, however leader of the Syla i Chest (Strength and Honor) Party Ihor Smeshko was included in the list. In this case, Zelensky would have gained the support of 27.7% of respondents among those who intend to vote and have made up their mind. He is followed by Yuriy Boyko (20.8%), Petro Poroshenko (14.2%), Yulia Tymoshenko (7.3%), Ihor Smeshko (6.5%), Oleh Liashko (6.2%), Volodymyr Groysman (6%), and Serhiy Prytula (3.8%). Other politicians have been rated below 3%.
Poll: Details


unian--2020-12-30--Ukraine reports 100 new COVID-19 cases in armed forces as of Dec 30

Some 329 servicemen are now isolated ( including self-isolation ) .
The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in the Armed Forces of Ukraine rose by 100 as of the morning of December 30 .
`` As of 10:00 Kyiv time on December 30 , some 1,997 people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine had acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus .
In total , 11,817 people have recovered and 38 have died during the pandemic , '' the press service of the Medical Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were registered in the past 24 hours . ''
Read alsoSituation with COVID-19 may improve in summer , expert saysOf those newly-infected , 25 people have been hospitalized , while the rest are self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under doctors ' supervision .
Currently , their state of health is satisfactory .
Some 329 servicemen are now isolated ( including self-isolation ) .
The number of those whose isolation term is expiring in the next three days is 48 people .
• Ukraine said 7,986 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours as of December 30 , 2020 , • The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,045,348 .

Some 329 servicemen are now isolated (including self-isolation).
The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in the Armed Forces of Ukraine rose by 100 as of the morning of December 30.
"As of 10:00 Kyiv time on December 30, some 1,997 people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine had acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In total, 11,817 people have recovered and 38 have died during the pandemic," the press service of the Medical Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. "Some 100 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the past 24 hours."
Read alsoSituation with COVID-19 may improve in summer, expert saysOf those newly-infected, 25 people have been hospitalized, while the rest are self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under doctors' supervision. Currently, their state of health is satisfactory.
Видео дня
Some 329 servicemen are now isolated (including self-isolation). The number of those whose isolation term is expiring in the next three days is 48 people.
COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest developments


unian--2020-12-30--Budapest's support for Hungarians in Zakarpattia can't cross "red lines" – FM Kuleba

The minister says in this issue Budapest `` is ready to go as far as the neighbors may allow them . ''
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Budapest 's support for the Hungarians in Ukraine 's Zakarpattia region can not cross the red lines .
`` Yes , there is a red line .
Therefore , everything you do up to the red line , supporting ethnic Hungarians , it 's okay .
But let 's agree as soon as you cross the red line , you must be ready that we will immediately push you back .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he told the Ukrainian TSN news service in an interview .
This is exactly what happened during the local elections , he added .
According to Kuleba , for Hungary , support for the Hungarian minority in the Ukrainian region is due to its deep conviction and is vital for politics .
Read alsoRow in Zakarpattia : Court rules to arrest property of Party of Hungarians ' leaderThe official added in this issue Budapest `` is ready to go as far as the neighbors may allow them . ''
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other things , are also Ukrainian citizens living in Ukrainian territory .
`` Therefore , it is possible to prevent , and it would be much worse if we did not prevent in reality .
But there are cases when we fail to prevent and then we must be able to act decisively .
And I think we have shown both models of behavior : prevention and a decisive response in case of violation , '' Kuleba added .
• On November 23 , a video was posted on the local Facebook community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Siurte territorial community were seen singing the national anthem of Hungary , allegedly during the pledge of allegiance ceremony .
• On November 30 , the SBU conducted a number of raids in Zakarpattia region , targeting , among others , the chair of the Party of Hungarians of Ukraine ( KMKS ) , Vasyl Brenzovych .
• Detectives investigate allegedly bogus contracts concluded by Hungarian charitable foundations .
According to security officials , some of the investigated actions could have been to the detriment of Ukraine 's national security , including state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Szijjártó urged the OSCE to send a special mission to Ukraine 's Zakarpattia region over recent searches of representatives of Hungarian national minorities .
He also promised to meet with a NATO representative .
• On December 7 , Szijjártó raised the issue of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine at the EU Foreign Affairs Council , but no one else reacted to the point .
• Relations between the two countries slid to a chill after the Ukrainian parliament in 2017 passed a new education law .
• Hungary has since been blocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rights of Hungarians living in Ukraine due to the provision of the law that determines that the language of command in educational facilities shall be the state language , which is Ukrainian .

The minister says in this issue Budapest "is ready to go as far as the neighbors may allow them."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Budapest's support for the Hungarians in Ukraine's Zakarpattia region cannot cross the red lines.
"Yes, there is a red line. Therefore, everything you do up to the red line, supporting ethnic Hungarians, it's okay. But let's agree as soon as you cross the red line, you must be ready that we will immediately push you back. And we'll do it firmly and decisively," he told the Ukrainian TSN news service in an interview.
This is exactly what happened during the local elections, he added.
Видео дня
According to Kuleba, for Hungary, support for the Hungarian minority in the Ukrainian region is due to its deep conviction and is vital for politics.
Read alsoRow in Zakarpattia: Court rules to arrest property of Party of Hungarians' leaderThe official added in this issue Budapest "is ready to go as far as the neighbors may allow them." However, the Hungarians in Zakarpattia region, among other things, are also Ukrainian citizens living in Ukrainian territory.
"Therefore, it is possible to prevent, and it would be much worse if we did not prevent in reality. But there are cases when we fail to prevent and then we must be able to act decisively. And I think we have shown both models of behavior: prevention and a decisive response in case of violation," Kuleba added.
Latest row between Ukraine and Hungary
On November 23, a video was posted on the local Facebook community covering Zakarpattia news where members of the Siurte territorial community were seen singing the national anthem of Hungary, allegedly during the pledge of allegiance ceremony.
On November 30, the SBU conducted a number of raids in Zakarpattia region, targeting, among others, the chair of the Party of Hungarians of Ukraine (KMKS), Vasyl Brenzovych.
Detectives investigate allegedly bogus contracts concluded by Hungarian charitable foundations. According to security officials, some of the investigated actions could have been to the detriment of Ukraine's national security, including state sovereignty.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó urged the OSCE to send a special mission to Ukraine's Zakarpattia region over recent searches of representatives of Hungarian national minorities. He also promised to meet with a NATO representative.
On December 7, Szijjártó raised the issue of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, but no one else reacted to the point.
Background


unian--2020-12-30--Writers' Union suspends publication of works by authors from Russia, Belarus, Armenia

No events will be held jointly with the diplomatic missions of those countries .
The National Writers ' Union of Ukraine ( NWUU ) has decided to suspend the publication of works by authors from the countries that do not support the territorial integrity of Ukraine .
The following countries are on the list : the Russian Federation , Belarus , Venezuela , Armenia , Zimbabwe , Iran , Cambodia , Kyrgyzstan , China , North Korea , Cuba , Laos , Myanmar , Nicaragua , Serbia , Syria , and Sudan , the union 's press service said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alsoSBU prevents unique edition of Shevchenko 's Kobzar from being smuggled out of Ukraine ( Photo ) '' Exceptions could be works by deceased authors of classics , as well as contemporary writers from those countries who support the territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemn the Russian Federation 's aggression in public , '' it said .
It was also decided not to hold joint events ( evenings , round tables , conferences ) with the diplomatic missions of the aforementioned countries and prevent NWUU members ' participation in any literary and artistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that support Russian aggression against Ukraine .
• Best-selling Russian author boasts of `` killing many '' in Ukraine 's Donbas – RFE/RL • Graduates from occupied territories may enter Ukrainian universities in 2021 – Reznikov

No events will be held jointly with the diplomatic missions of those countries.
The National Writers' Union of Ukraine (NWUU) has decided to suspend the publication of works by authors from the countries that do not support the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The following countries are on the list: the Russian Federation, Belarus, Venezuela, Armenia, Zimbabwe, Iran, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, China, North Korea, Cuba, Laos, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Serbia, Syria, and Sudan, the union's press service said in the Ukrainian Litgazeta online edition.
Read alsoSBU prevents unique edition of Shevchenko's Kobzar from being smuggled out of Ukraine (Photo)"Exceptions could be works by deceased authors of classics, as well as contemporary writers from those countries who support the territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemn the Russian Federation's aggression in public," it said.
Видео дня
It was also decided not to hold joint events (evenings, round tables, conferences) with the diplomatic missions of the aforementioned countries and prevent NWUU members' participation in any literary and artistic events initiated by representatives of the countries that support Russian aggression against Ukraine.
More news reports


unian--2020-12-30--Kyiv mayor reports over 1,100 new COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths as of Dec 30

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 110,139 .
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said 1,131 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in the city in the past 24 hours as of December 30 , 2020 .
`` In the past day , another 1,131 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus , including 35 healthcare workers .
There were 22 fatalities , '' Klitschko reported via Telegram on Wednesday .
According to the city mayor , 659 women aged 19 to 91 and 414 men aged 19 to 88 are among those infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two to 17 years and 37 boys aged one to 17 years .
Read alsoScientist says first COVID-19 wave likely to be over in UkraineKlitschko said 75 new patients had been hospitalized , while the rest were self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision .
He added that 839 people had recovered in the past day .
In total , 38,856 Kyiv residents have already beaten the disease .
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district ( 220 ) , Dniprovsky district ( 188 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The death toll in the city stands at 1,897 .
• Ukraine said 7,986 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of December 30 , 2020 .
• The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,045,348 .

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 110,139.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said 1,131 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in the city in the past 24 hours as of December 30, 2020.
"In the past day, another 1,131 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus, including 35 healthcare workers. There were 22 fatalities," Klitschko reported via Telegram on Wednesday.
"As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 110,139."
According to the city mayor, 659 women aged 19 to 91 and 414 men aged 19 to 88 are among those infected.
The new cases include 21 girls aged two to 17 years and 37 boys aged one to 17 years.
Read alsoScientist says first COVID-19 wave likely to be over in UkraineKlitschko said 75 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest were self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision.
He added that 839 people had recovered in the past day.
In total, 38,856 Kyiv residents have already beaten the disease.
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district (220), Dniprovsky district (188), and Desniansky district (138).
The death toll in the city stands at 1,897.
COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest developments


unian--2020-12-30--Security Council endorses bill increasing liability for false declaration of assets

Zelensky says the document should be finalized so that there are no disputes over certain provisions .
Ukraine 's National Security and Defense Council ( NSDC ) has endorsed a bill that increases liability for false information in assets declarations , which the president will submit to parliament as a priority after finalization .
Speaking at an NSDC meeting on December 29 , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need to strengthen the responsibility for declaring inaccurate information and failure to submit a declaration by persons authorized to perform the functions of the state or local self-government , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purpose of the relevant bill amending the Code on Administrative Offenses of Ukraine , the Criminal Code , the Criminal Procedure Code , and other legislative acts to step up such responsibility .
`` Many lawmakers stood against a sentence of imprisonment .
Therefore , a bill in its compromise wording was adopted .
And now we 're fixing the mistake .
I agree this bill should be finalized so that there are no disputes over certain provisions , '' Zelensky said .
NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov , in turn , noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the parliament on the restoration of responsibility for false declarations .
`` And in order to enhance the responsibility for non-declaration of assets by officials , so that they do not hide them , the NSDC meeting was held today , at which a bill was approved for submission to the Verkhovna Rada as an urgent one after certain finalization , '' he said .
Read alsoZelensky suspends Constitutional Court chair for two monthsChairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy Andriy Kostin , in turn , believes the issue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolved to meet Ukrainian society 's demands .
`` Not only criminal liability must be restored , but also appropriate punishment for the fact that a person did not declare any of his or her assets , and it was done intentionally and on a large scale .
The NSDC backed the president 's position on the restoration of such type of the punishment as imprisonment for non-declaration and for inaccurate information in our officials ' e-declarations , '' Kostin said .
The MP reiterated the Venice Commission had adopted recommendations that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability for false declarations , but also establish such type of the punishment as imprisonment .
• On October 27 , the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ( CCU ) , on the motion of 47 MPs , adopted a decision repealing Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code , which had provided for liability for inaccurate declaration of assets by government officials .
• The Constitutional Court also recognized unconstitutional the provisions of laws on the verification of e-declarations , and abolished the powers of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention ( NACP ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict of interest .
• The European Commission for Democracy through Law , better known as the Venice Commission , issued a list of 10 recommendations to Ukrainian legislators for amending the law on the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the light of the ongoing crisis .
The recommendations were prepared as part of an urgent opinion on CCU reform , released in line with President Zelensky 's inquiry dated November 25 .
• On December 15 , the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill on amendments to the Law of Ukraine on Preventing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventing corruption .

Zelensky says the document should be finalized so that there are no disputes over certain provisions.
Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has endorsed a bill that increases liability for false information in assets declarations, which the president will submit to parliament as a priority after finalization.
Speaking at an NSDC meeting on December 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need to strengthen the responsibility for declaring inaccurate information and failure to submit a declaration by persons authorized to perform the functions of the state or local self-government, the president's press service said.
This is the purpose of the relevant bill amending the Code on Administrative Offenses of Ukraine, the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and other legislative acts to step up such responsibility.
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"Many lawmakers stood against a sentence of imprisonment. Therefore, a bill in its compromise wording was adopted. And now we're fixing the mistake. I agree this bill should be finalized so that there are no disputes over certain provisions," Zelensky said.
NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov, in turn, noted the importance of the draft law passed by the parliament on the restoration of responsibility for false declarations.
"And in order to enhance the responsibility for non-declaration of assets by officials, so that they do not hide them, the NSDC meeting was held today, at which a bill was approved for submission to the Verkhovna Rada as an urgent one after certain finalization," he said.
Read alsoZelensky suspends Constitutional Court chair for two monthsChairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy Andriy Kostin, in turn, believes the issue of criminal liability for false declarations should be resolved to meet Ukrainian society's demands.
"Not only criminal liability must be restored, but also appropriate punishment for the fact that a person did not declare any of his or her assets, and it was done intentionally and on a large scale. The NSDC backed the president's position on the restoration of such type of the punishment as imprisonment for non-declaration and for inaccurate information in our officials' e-declarations," Kostin said.
The MP reiterated the Venice Commission had adopted recommendations that the Verkhovna Rada should not only restore criminal liability for false declarations, but also establish such type of the punishment as imprisonment.
Constitutional crisis in Ukraine


unian--2020-12-30--Number of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 82 mln

The overall death toll is 1,790,415 people , while 46,366,176 coronavirus patients have already recovered .
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 82 million patients as of December 30 .
Read alsoEurope launches vaccination program in bid to leave pandemic behind – mediaAs many as 82,022,480 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 10:22 on December 30 , according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering ( CSSE ) at Johns Hopkins University .
The overall death toll is 1,790,415 people , while 46,366,176 coronavirus patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll was recorded in the United States ( 338,632 people ) , Brazil ( 192,681 ) , India ( 148,439 ) , Mexico ( 123,845 ) , Italy ( 73,029 ) , the United Kingdom ( 71,675 ) , and France ( 64,204 ) .
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States ( 19,515,430 confirmed cases ) , India ( 10,224,852 ) , Brazil ( 7,563,551 ) , Russia ( 3,100,018 ) , France ( 2,631,111 ) , the United Kingdom ( 2,389,963 ) , and Turkey ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries have been affected by the virus .

The overall death toll is 1,790,415 people, while 46,366,176 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 82 million patients as of December 30.
Read alsoEurope launches vaccination program in bid to leave pandemic behind – mediaAs many as 82,022,480 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 10:22 on December 30, according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
The overall death toll is 1,790,415 people, while 46,366,176 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
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The highest death toll was recorded in the United States (338,632 people), Brazil (192,681), India (148,439), Mexico (123,845), Italy (73,029), the United Kingdom (71,675), and France (64,204).
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States (19,515,430 confirmed cases), India (10,224,852), Brazil (7,563,551), Russia (3,100,018), France (2,631,111), the United Kingdom (2,389,963), and Turkey (2,178,580).
As many as 191 countries have been affected by the virus.


unian--2020-12-30--Hryvnia gets stronger against U.S. dollar on Dec 30

Hryvnia gets stronger against U.S. dollar on Dec 30
10:15, 30.12.20 12517
The rate against the euro is fixed at UAH 34.64 per euro.
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unian--2020-12-30--Donbas war update: Ukraine records seven ceasefire violations on Dec 29

No casualties were reported in the past day .
The Command of Ukraine 's Armed Forces has reported seven violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Tuesday , December 29 .
`` In the past day , December 29 , seven ceasefire violations were recorded in the area the Joint Forces Operation ( JFO ) , '' the press center of the Ukrainian JFO Command said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on December 30 , 2020 .
In particular , enemy troops fired proscribed 120mm and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems and rifles near the village of Vodiane .
Also , the invaders used anti-tank grenade launchers near the village of Talakivka , as well as under-barrel grenade launchers near the town of Avdiyivka and the village of Nevelske .
The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination ( JCCC ) of the ceasefire in Donbas .
There were no casualties in the past day .
Since Wednesday midnight , one ceasefire violation by the Russian occupation forces was recorded near Avdiyivka where they fired a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grenade launcher .
The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military .
• Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group ( Ukraine , Russia , and the OSCE ) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday , July 27 .
• On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce , Russia 's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas , eastern Ukraine .
Ukraine has reported more such violations over @ @ @ @

No casualties were reported in the past day.
The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported seven violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Tuesday, December 29.
"In the past day, December 29, seven ceasefire violations were recorded in the area the Joint Forces Operation (JFO)," the press center of the Ukrainian JFO Command said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on December 30, 2020.
In particular, enemy troops fired proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and rifles near the village of Vodiane. Also, the invaders used anti-tank grenade launchers near the village of Talakivka, as well as under-barrel grenade launchers near the town of Avdiyivka and the village of Nevelske.
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Read alsoUkraine finalizes prisoner swap listThe Joint Forces fired back, the JFO HQ said.
The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire in Donbas.
There were no casualties in the past day.
Since Wednesday midnight, one ceasefire violation by the Russian occupation forces was recorded near Avdiyivka where they fired a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher and an under-barrel grenade launcher.
The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military.
Donbas ceasefire: Background


unian--2020-12-30--Almost 8,000 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine as of Dec 30

The total number of confirmed cases has reached 1,045,348 .
Ukraine said 7,986 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of December 30 , 2020 , The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,045,348 as of December 30 , 2020 , according to the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council .
As many as 698,190 patients , including 16,355 in the past day , have recovered .
Read alsoUkraine to get 16 mln doses of vaccine via COVAX , official says ( Video ) The death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded in the past 24 hours .
The government reported 328,834 active cases as of December 30 .
In total , there have been 1,135,119 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020 .
`` In the past day , 7,986 people tested positive for the coronavirus , including 272 children and 453 healthcare workers .
Some 2,925 new patients were hospitalized , '' Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov wrote on Facebook on Wednesday .
In total , 52,746 tests were conducted in the country in the past day .
In particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain reaction ) tests run , as well as 17,242 ELISA ( enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ) tests .
The highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered the city of Kyiv ( 1,131 ) , Zaporizhia region ( 739 ) , Odesa region ( 729 ) , Kyiv region ( 623 ) , Dnipropetrovsk region ( 462 ) , and Kharkiv region ( 412 ) .
Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , the city of Sevastopol , parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 may improve in summer , expert says • FM Kuleba sees Russia 's COVID-19 vaccine as part of hybrid warfare against Ukraine • Ukraine 's government not to give up January lockdown plans

The total number of confirmed cases has reached 1,045,348.
Ukraine said 7,986 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of December 30, 2020,
The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,045,348 as of December 30, 2020, according to the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council.
As many as 698,190 patients, including 16,355 in the past day, have recovered.
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Read alsoUkraine to get 16 mln doses of vaccine via COVAX, official says (Video)The death toll has hit 18,324 with 243 fatalities recorded in the past 24 hours.
The government reported 328,834 active cases as of December 30. In total, there have been 1,135,119 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.
"In the past day, 7,986 people tested positive for the coronavirus, including 272 children and 453 healthcare workers. Some 2,925 new patients were hospitalized," Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
In total, 52,746 tests were conducted in the country in the past day. In particular, there were 35,504 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests run, as well as 17,242 ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests.
The highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered the city of Kyiv (1,131), Zaporizhia region (739), Odesa region (729), Kyiv region (623), Dnipropetrovsk region (462), and Kharkiv region (412).
Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is not available.
Other related news reports


unian--2020-12-30--Reuters: Oil up on hopes of recovery in demand, lower U.S. inventories

Brent crude futures rose 19 cents , or 0.4 % , to $ 51.28 a barrel , by 0255 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude rose 29 cents , or 0.6 % , to $ 48.29 .
Oil gained more ground on Wednesday as a U.S. coronavirus fiscal aid package and a decline in crude oil inventories lifted prices .
Brent crude futures rose 19 cents , or 0.4 % , to $ 51.28 a barrel , by 0255 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude rose 29 cents , or 0.6 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Reuters .
Read alsoNord Stream 2 pipelaying in German waters completedOil prices could gain strength as vaccination programmes around the world begin next year , allowing countries to relax restrictions on movement and business activity .
A January 4 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) and allies including Russia , a group known as OPEC+ , also looms over the market .
OPEC+ is tapering record oil output cuts made this year to support the market .
The group is set to boost output by 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January , and Russia supports another increase of the same amount in February .
• Gas stocks shrink by 2.6 % to 24.1 bcm over week • Reuters : Oil rises on hopes U.S. pandemic stimulus to spur fuel demand • U.S. House votes to override Trump 's veto of crucial defense bill with Nord Stream 2 sanctions – media • Zelensky roots for setting up airline with fleet of Antonov planes

Brent crude futures rose 19 cents, or 0.4%, to $51.28 a barrel, by 0255 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 29 cents, or 0.6%, to $48.29.
Oil gained more ground on Wednesday as a U.S. coronavirus fiscal aid package and a decline in crude oil inventories lifted prices.
Brent crude futures rose 19 cents, or 0.4%, to $51.28 a barrel, by 0255 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 29 cents, or 0.6%, to $48.29, as reported by Reuters.
Read alsoNord Stream 2 pipelaying in German waters completedOil prices could gain strength as vaccination programmes around the world begin next year, allowing countries to relax restrictions on movement and business activity.
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A January 4 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, also looms over the market.
OPEC+ is tapering record oil output cuts made this year to support the market. The group is set to boost output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in January, and Russia supports another increase of the same amount in February.
More news reports


unian--2020-12-30--Ukraine's energy sector in 2020: Breakthrough in renewables and higher electricity bills

In 2020 , Ukraine has survived an acute crisis in the electricity market .
The economy fall led to a plunge in consumption , which was observed in the wake of record growth in the share of renewables , pushing out traditional types of generation .
As a result , the authorities were forced to cut `` green '' feed-in tariffs and eventually cancel preferential electricity tariffs for households .
Obviously , on New Year 's Eve , people employed in the Ukrainian energy sector will wish each other to forget the outgoing year as soon as possible .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , generated both by the errors on the part of officials and also objective reasons – economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
The fall in the economy led to a drop in electric energy consumption in the country .
Moreover , this was happening amid a record spike in the share of renewable energy that 's been gaining ground from traditional types of generation .
At some point , the government realized that it did not have the money to cover the `` green '' feed-in tariffs that had been pumped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was made to reduce them .
“ We are dealing with the biggest crisis in the energy sector throughout the entire modern history of the Ukrainian energy sector .
We are seeing a full economic , physical , and fuel imbalance in the industry .
In this situation , unfortunately , there are no simple solutions , '' Olha Buslavets , the then-acting energy minister , admitted this spring .
When Buslavets made the bitter confession , she was yet to find herself losing her minister 's post in just a few months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
The economic crisis in Ukraine and beyond led to a drop in industrial production and , as a result , to a 9 % decrease in electricity consumption in the country .
All this forced the electricity producers to cut generation volumes .
Throughout the year , the heart of the national energy system , Energoatom nuclear operator , which produces the cheapest electricity in Ukraine , has repeatedly put its power units into forced outage , which delivered a blow to the company 's financial performance .
At the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most expensive electricity to the grid , keeps growing at a record pace , since the current legislation has granted it priority over other types of generation .
So a clear imbalance has developed in the national energy system : renewable energy initially stopped the development of all other types of generation , and then started to `` engulf '' competitors .
On sunny spring days , the volume of `` green '' energy for the first time began to displace coal , starting to generate more than 20 % percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , the total capacity of solar , wind , and biomass plants in Ukraine exceeded 7 GW .
In addition , starting in August , Ukrainian hydroelectric power plants and pumped storage plants , after a significant drop in generation at year-start t , began to actively increase their output , by 25-30 % monthly .
It is worth noting that HPPs and PSPs , along with thermal power plants , boast of high maneuverability , which allows to quickly cover unstable injections into the grid by wind and solar .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , albeit instructive .
The year exposed various problems , risks , threats , and opportunities on the Ukrainian energy market , as well as the consequences that working in different conditions could yield , '' said Andriy Gerus , head of the Parliamentary Committee on energy , housing and utility services .
Record generation of environmentally friendly energy has exacerbated the old problem of overstated `` green '' tariffs .
In the spring , due to a significant increase in new renewable capacities , especially solar , as well as due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a serious shortage of funds arose amid payments to renewable energy producers .
`` Over the past few years , renewable energy capacity in Ukraine has grown from 2,000 MW to 7,200 MW .
They work at a tariff of about UAH 4.5 , which is triple the usual market price .
Of course , this could not remain without a trace .
In 2020 , we expected that payments to the `` greens '' should amount to UAH 55 billion , but it seems that such payments will be even higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate , '' said MP Gerus .
In July , the Verkhovna Rada , at the Cabinet 's suggestion , decided to reduce the feed-in tariff rates for solar and wind power plants by 15 % and 7.5 % respectively .
`` In practice , this means that the state and all Ukrainians will save almost UAH 7 billion annually , '' Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said , calling this a compromise solution .
At the same time , market players and experts argue that the law passed by parliament did not completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy generation and financial pressure of the `` green '' tariff on the market .
In 2021 , the Parliament will have to revisit the issue and finallysolve the puzzle : where to get the money to pay for the `` green '' tariff , given the threat of claims by deprived investors to international arbitration .
The outgoing year has brought Ukraine one step closer to the European energy system .
At the end of December , an important energy project was commissioned : a 186km-long 750 kW power transmission line was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kakhovka substation in Kherson region .
Prime Minister Shmyhal noted that the launch will allow the country 's largest NPP to operate at full capacity of 6,000 MW and open up opportunities for additional electricity exports .
`` The line is the first element of the future transit corridor consisting of 750 kW Kakhovka - Prymorsk and 400 kW – Isakcea lines , which will significantly expand capacities for the export of Ukrainian electricity tp Romania after the Unified Energy Grid of Ukraine is synchronized with ENTSO-E , '' said the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community Secretariat Janez Kopac , summing up the results of this difficult year , noted that Ukraine , on the way of successful integration into the European power sector , still needs to certify the transmission system operator – the state-owned Ukrenergo .
In his opinion , the country also needs to change the scheme for supporting renewables , introduce standard bilateral contracts for all market participants and ensure the existence of a full-fledged market for ancillary services and a balancing market .
Referring to the assessment by the Energy Community , Kopac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rating of the Community 's member states in terms of the level of implementation of European legislation , with Montenegro on top of the list .
The main reverberating recommendation of the European Energy Community to Ukraine for 2021 is the need to amend the provision on public obligations of energy companies on the electricity market and revise retail prices for the households .
In fact , this is precisely what the government did late December .
On Thursday , December 28 , the Cabinet of Ministers canceled the preferential electricity price for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first 100 kWh ) , setting it at UAH 1.68 per kWh for the entire volume consumed .
This fixed price will be valid for three months – until the end of March .
And then , perhaps , electricity will be sold at market prices , which could be double or eve triple the current ones .
`` First of all , I 'd like to draw your attention to the fact that the resolution was adopted to prevent a rapid increase in the electricity tariff already from January 2021 .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the price of electricity for the households would have risen to the market price – by two and a half times , '' said the acting energy minister , Yuriy Vitrenko .
It is worth noting that electricity tariffs for Ukrainians have remained at the same level since 2017 , despite inflation and active reform in the energy sector .
This led to a significant bend in the electricity market model .
The artificially lowered electricity price for the households has for years been covered by high tariffs for industrial consumers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants of the national market due to the preferential tariff for the households is about UAH 55 billion hryvnia .
The high share of organizational chaos in the ranks of key decision-makers does not contribute to quickly overcoming the crisis in the energy industry .
In the outgoing year , four officials were replaced in the energy ministry 's top chair .
In March , the head of the then still united Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksiy Orzhel left his post , along with the entire Cabinet led by Oleksiy Honcharuk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on , the energy department once again sprung off to become a separate ministry .
In April , Olha Buslavets was appointed acting head of the new ministry , only to be replaced by Yuriy Boyko in mid-November .
In the second decade of December , the Verkhovna Rada failed to vote in Yuriy Vitrenko , a former top manager of Naftogaz , for a full-fledged energy minister 's post .
Therefore , by a government decision of December 21 , Vitrenko was appointed acting minister .
As a result , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry who is set to go down in history as an official whose rule was marked by an increase in electricity tariffs for the households .
Having gone through such a difficult year , many in the energy industry seem to believe that 2021 could offer hope for some timid optimism .
Maksym Tymchenko , CEO of DTEK Energy Holding , believes that the coming year will give the Ukrainian energy sector a chance to restart .
`` The post-covid period is another chance for Ukraine , a chance for the energy sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as the pace of integration with the European energy grid and the level of digital solutions .
This is a new challenge , '' Tymchenko said .
He predicts that the country 's thermal power plants in 2021 will gradually change their purpose , moving from base load to flexible capacity .
`` Green '' generation will also continue to increase its share – both in general and in DTEK 's business scheme .
`` This is a trend that 's already here , and this ca n't be changed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , energy storage systems , which are now in short supply and high demand for the national energy system to function effectively , will develop at a high pace in Ukraine .
Some energy companies have already announced readiness to test new projects in the area .
Chair of the Rada 's profile committee Andriy Gerus believes that the priority areas for the industry in 2021 will include market liberalization through competition development , achieving higher energy efficiency , and following the European `` green '' course .
`` We must develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy sector with the tools that are available to us thanks to developing technologies , '' the lawmaker said .
Energy experts also believe that in 2021 Ukraine should focus on developing competition on its electricity market , which will prevent abuse by monopolies .
The coming year should bring more order and common sense to the market , but this will only happen once the lessons of the 2020 crisis are learned .
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In 2020, Ukraine has survived an acute crisis in the electricity market. The economy fall led to a plunge in consumption, which was observed in the wake of record growth in the share of renewables, pushing out traditional types of generation. As a result, the authorities were forced to cut "green" feed-in tariffs and eventually cancel preferential electricity tariffs for households.
Obviously, on New Year's Eve, people employed in the Ukrainian energy sector will wish each other to forget the outgoing year as soon as possible. This was the year of the acute crisis, generated both by the errors on the part of officials and also objective reasons – economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The fall in the economy led to a drop in electric energy consumption in the country. Moreover, this was happening amid a record spike in the share of renewable energy that's been gaining ground from traditional types of generation. At some point, the government realized that it did not have the money to cover the "green" feed-in tariffs that had been pumped artificially, and then a radical decision was made to reduce them.
“We are dealing with the biggest crisis in the energy sector throughout the entire modern history of the Ukrainian energy sector. We are seeing a full economic, physical, and fuel imbalance in the industry. In this situation, unfortunately, there are no simple solutions," Olha Buslavets, the then-acting energy minister, admitted this spring.
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When Buslavets made the bitter confession, she was yet to find herself losing her minister's post in just a few months, thus becoming an exemplary victim of crisis.
The economic crisis in Ukraine and beyond led to a drop in industrial production and, as a result, to a 9% decrease in electricity consumption in the country.
All this forced the electricity producers to cut generation volumes. Throughout the year, the heart of the national energy system, Energoatom nuclear operator, which produces the cheapest electricity in Ukraine, has repeatedly put its power units into forced outage, which delivered a blow to the company's financial performance.
At the same time, renewable generation, which supplies the most expensive electricity to the grid, keeps growing at a record pace, since the current legislation has granted it priority over other types of generation.
So a clear imbalance has developed in the national energy system: renewable energy initially stopped the development of all other types of generation, and then started to "engulf" competitors.
On sunny spring days, the volume of "green" energy for the first time began to displace coal, starting to generate more than 20% percent of all electricity produced across country.
In 2020, the total capacity of solar, wind, and biomass plants in Ukraine exceeded 7 GW. In addition, starting in August, Ukrainian hydroelectric power plants and pumped storage plants, after a significant drop in generation at year-start t, began to actively increase their output, by 25-30% monthly.
It is worth noting that HPPs and PSPs, along with thermal power plants, boast of high maneuverability, which allows to quickly cover unstable injections into the grid by wind and solar.
"The year 2020 was a really difficult one, albeit instructive. The year exposed various problems, risks, threats, and opportunities on the Ukrainian energy market, as well as the consequences that working in different conditions could yield," said Andriy Gerus, head of the Parliamentary Committee on energy, housing and utility services.
Reduction of "green" feed-in tariff
Record generation of environmentally friendly energy has exacerbated the old problem of overstated "green" tariffs. In the spring, due to a significant increase in new renewable capacities, especially solar, as well as due to imperfections in the electricity market functioning, a serious shortage of funds arose amid payments to renewable energy producers.
"Over the past few years, renewable energy capacity in Ukraine has grown from 2,000 MW to 7,200 MW. They work at a tariff of about UAH 4.5, which is triple the usual market price. Of course, this could not remain without a trace. In 2020, we expected that payments to the "greens" should amount to UAH 55 billion, but it seems that such payments will be even higher, given the change in the euro rate," said MP Gerus.
In July, the Verkhovna Rada, at the Cabinet's suggestion, decided to reduce the feed-in tariff rates for solar and wind power plants by 15% and 7.5% respectively.
"In practice, this means that the state and all Ukrainians will save almost UAH 7 billion annually," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, calling this a compromise solution.
At the same time, market players and experts argue that the law passed by parliament did not completely resolve the problem of debts to renewable energy generation and financial pressure of the "green" tariff on the market.
In 2021, the Parliament will have to revisit the issue and finallysolve the puzzle: where to get the money to pay for the "green" tariff, given the threat of claims by deprived investors to international arbitration.
Integration of Ukrainian and European energy markets
The outgoing year has brought Ukraine one step closer to the European energy system.
At the end of December, an important energy project was commissioned: a 186km-long 750 kW power transmission line was launched, connecting the Zaporizhia NPP and the Kakhovka substation in Kherson region.
Prime Minister Shmyhal noted that the launch will allow the country's largest NPP to operate at full capacity of 6,000 MW and open up opportunities for additional electricity exports.
"The line is the first element of the future transit corridor consisting of 750 kW Kakhovka - Prymorsk and 400 kW – Isakcea lines, which will significantly expand capacities for the export of Ukrainian electricity tp Romania after the Unified Energy Grid of Ukraine is synchronized with ENTSO-E," said the head of government.
Chief of the Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac, summing up the results of this difficult year, noted that Ukraine, on the way of successful integration into the European power sector, still needs to certify the transmission system operator – the state-owned Ukrenergo.
In his opinion, the country also needs to change the scheme for supporting renewables, introduce standard bilateral contracts for all market participants and ensure the existence of a full-fledged market for ancillary services and a balancing market.
Referring to the assessment by the Energy Community, Kopac said Ukraine ranked second in the overall rating of the Community's member states in terms of the level of implementation of European legislation, with Montenegro on top of the list.
Increase in electric tariffs for households
The main reverberating recommendation of the European Energy Community to Ukraine for 2021 is the need to amend the provision on public obligations of energy companies on the electricity market and revise retail prices for the households.
In fact, this is precisely what the government did late December.
On Thursday, December 28, the Cabinet of Ministers canceled the preferential electricity price for the population (90 kopiykas for the first 100 kWh), setting it at UAH 1.68 per kWh for the entire volume consumed.
This fixed price will be valid for three months – until the end of March. And then, perhaps, electricity will be sold at market prices, which could be double or eve triple the current ones.
"First of all, I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that the resolution was adopted to prevent a rapid increase in the electricity tariff already from January 2021. If we hadn't adopted this resolution today, the price of electricity for the households would have risen to the market price – by two and a half times," said the acting energy minister, Yuriy Vitrenko.
It is worth noting that electricity tariffs for Ukrainians have remained at the same level since 2017, despite inflation and active reform in the energy sector. This led to a significant bend in the electricity market model.
The artificially lowered electricity price for the households has for years been covered by high tariffs for industrial consumers. The volume of cross-subsidizing that arises for participants of the national market due to the preferential tariff for the households is about UAH 55 billion hryvnia.
Organizational chaos
The high share of organizational chaos in the ranks of key decision-makers does not contribute to quickly overcoming the crisis in the energy industry. In the outgoing year, four officials were replaced in the energy ministry's top chair.
In March, the head of the then still united Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksiy Orzhel left his post, along with the entire Cabinet led by Oleksiy Honcharuk.
Over time, as the year went on, the energy department once again sprung off to become a separate ministry.
In April, Olha Buslavets was appointed acting head of the new ministry, only to be replaced by Yuriy Boyko in mid-November.
In the second decade of December, the Verkhovna Rada failed to vote in Yuriy Vitrenko, a former top manager of Naftogaz, for a full-fledged energy minister's post. Therefore, by a government decision of December 21, Vitrenko was appointed acting minister.
As a result, it is the new head of the energy ministry who is set to go down in history as an official whose rule was marked by an increase in electricity tariffs for the households.
Grounds for New Year's optimism
Having gone through such a difficult year, many in the energy industry seem to believe that 2021 could offer hope for some timid optimism.
Maksym Tymchenko, CEO of DTEK Energy Holding, believes that the coming year will give the Ukrainian energy sector a chance to restart.
"The post-covid period is another chance for Ukraine, a chance for the energy sector to reboot both technologies and priorities, as well as the pace of integration with the European energy grid and the level of digital solutions. This is a new challenge," Tymchenko said.
He predicts that the country's thermal power plants in 2021 will gradually change their purpose, moving from base load to flexible capacity. "Green" generation will also continue to increase its share – both in general and in DTEK's business scheme.
"This is a trend that's already here, and this can't be changed," he added.
In the coming year, energy storage systems, which are now in short supply and high demand for the national energy system to function effectively, will develop at a high pace in Ukraine. Some energy companies have already announced readiness to test new projects in the area.
Chair of the Rada's profile committee Andriy Gerus believes that the priority areas for the industry in 2021 will include market liberalization through competition development, achieving higher energy efficiency, and following the European "green" course.
"We must develop the process of decarbonization of the Ukrainian energy sector with the tools that are available to us thanks to developing technologies," the lawmaker said.
Energy experts also believe that in 2021 Ukraine should focus on developing competition on its electricity market, which will prevent abuse by monopolies.
The coming year should bring more order and common sense to the market, but this will only happen once the lessons of the 2020 crisis are learned.
Anna Bredikhina


unian--2020-12-30--Rethinking TCG: Why it's necessary now to bid farewell to illusions

`` Rethinking '' has become one of the major words of the year in many areas .
The same applies to the negotiation formats aimed at settling the conflict between Ukraine and Russia .
The existing negotiating formats – Normandy and Minsk - have apparently swapped roles .
Instead of discussing politics at the Normandy Four platform , the sides seemed to shift these efforts to a political team of Minsk 's Trilateral Contact Group , which has gained more significance this year .
The current negotiating squad continues to declare the quite rational principle of a political component being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , but these declarations seriously contradict actual practices of the recent negotiation stages .
And the problem arose exactly a year ago when a mistake was made by designing a cult of the Normandy summit , for the sake of which Ukraine went for disengagement of troops in Donbas at pilot sites , bypassing the TCG Framework Decision , as well as the approval of the so-called Steinmeier Formula .
Such an approach would and could lead to nothing , except for more and more new conditions put forward by Russians in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Normandy Four summit .
We could recall , the plot to create an `` Advisory Council '' – the effort that was hindered ( at least for now , and regarding this exact title ) almost by a miracle , as well as the attempts to draft new roadmaps for the implementation of Minsk Agreements to unblock that very TCG format .
In the wake of such attempts to `` intensify dialogue '' , Ukrainian negotiators tried to `` water down the militants ' monopoly on representation of the `` certain areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) '' and brought into the process its own envoys who come from those territories .
The step did n't result in a demarche on the part of the Russian proxy forces ( on which , the reintegration minister said , Ukraine had counted ) .
On the contrary , representatives of the illegal armed groups have been constantly provoking Ukrainian counterparts from Donbas , in hope for an emotional and ill-considered response on the part of the entire delegation .
Russia has not abandoned and will not abandon its attempts to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Ukraine and the illegal armed groups ( Russian proxies ) .
After the failure of the `` advisory council '' format , the Russian Federation has managed to push the idea through by passing changes to the routine of each of the TCG subgroups .
At the level of the security subgroup , this attempt resulted in a project for a joint inspection in the area of Shumy – together with the Russian proxies – the plot that was thwarted due to major public outrage .
In many ways , the pretext @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russians had started talking about back in spring , was the July decision on additional measures to monitor ceasefire with the more than controversial wording about involving the `` Joint Ceasefire Control and Coordination Center in its current composition . ''
Also , the attitude on the part of the President , his Office , and the Ministry of Defense to what is considered a violation and disruption of ceasefire allows Russian delegates to `` sell '' the illusion of security for new political concessions – again and again .
The work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called constructive either : Russia and its proxies demanded from the Ukrainian delegation to ensure that all charges are lifted off the held persons scheduled for swap , and continued their manipulative stunts with handing over to the Ukrainian side a number of persons who have no relation to the ongoing conflict .
Ukrainian negotiators and the incumbent Ukrainian government as a whole made a big mistake , constantly emphasizing the importance to our side of the humanitarian component , presenting the release of the hostages as their greatest achievement , sometimes crossing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a PR element .
Now they are being held hostage by this narrative and political expediency as such , which has been and will be exploited by Russia .
As was the case , for example , with the Easter prisoner exchange , when Russian proxies handed to Ukraine some individuals , on whom no clear information had been available – which could only mean one thing : these were not prisoners whom the Ukrainian side had actually put on the swap list .
The change in position on the simultaneous opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shchastia ( previously , the latter was considered unacceptable for security reasons ) also showed its senselessness : this did n't in any way alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Luhansk region , since the enemy have been blocking the opening of the checkpoint .
This once again demonstrated that that Ukrainian negotiators were ready to put security considerations in the background when they needed to show some kind of result before an unrealistic deadline they , themselves , had set .
Today we can say with confidence : 2021 should be the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an `` agreement somewhere in the middle '' .
Ukrainian leaders need to get rid of illusory ideas about the intrinsic value of any kinds of meetings and negotiation formats .
Until Ukraine has a realistic strategy for waging this war at the political and diplomatic fronts , no meetings , `` intensified work '' in existing formats , deadlines divorced from reality , and tactical concessions just wo n't work .
Maria Kucherenko is a Project Manager at the Center for Civil Society Studies

"Rethinking" has become one of the major words of the year in many areas. The same applies to the negotiation formats aimed at settling the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The existing negotiating formats – Normandy and Minsk - have apparently swapped roles. Instead of discussing politics at the Normandy Four platform, the sides seemed to shift these efforts to a political team of Minsk's Trilateral Contact Group, which has gained more significance this year. The current negotiating squad continues to declare the quite rational principle of a political component being a "prerogative of the Normandy format", but these declarations seriously contradict actual practices of the recent negotiation stages. And the problem arose exactly a year ago when a mistake was made by designing a cult of the Normandy summit, for the sake of which Ukraine went for disengagement of troops in Donbas at pilot sites, bypassing the TCG Framework Decision, as well as the approval of the so-called Steinmeier Formula.
Such an approach would and could lead to nothing, except for more and more new conditions put forward by Russians in exchange for the vague prospect of holding a Normandy Four summit. We could recall, the plot to create an "Advisory Council" – the effort that was hindered (at least for now, and regarding this exact title) almost by a miracle, as well as the attempts to draft new roadmaps for the implementation of Minsk Agreements to unblock that very TCG format.
Видео дня
Russia has not abandoned and will not abandon its attempts to reduce the TCG work to a direct dialogue between Ukraine and the illegal armed groups (Russian proxies)
In the wake of such attempts to "intensify dialogue", Ukrainian negotiators tried to "water down the militants' monopoly on representation of the "certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO)" and brought into the process its own envoys who come from those territories. The step didn't result in a demarche on the part of the Russian proxy forces (on which, the reintegration minister said, Ukraine had counted). On the contrary, representatives of the illegal armed groups have been constantly provoking Ukrainian counterparts from Donbas, in hope for an emotional and ill-considered response on the part of the entire delegation.
Russia has not abandoned and will not abandon its attempts to reduce the TCG work to a direct dialogue between Ukraine and the illegal armed groups (Russian proxies). After the failure of the "advisory council" format, the Russian Federation has managed to push the idea through by passing changes to the routine of each of the TCG subgroups. At the level of the security subgroup, this attempt resulted in a project for a joint inspection in the area of Shumy – together with the Russian proxies – the plot that was thwarted due to major public outrage. In many ways, the pretext for pursuing this concept, of which the Russians had started talking about back in spring, was the July decision on additional measures to monitor ceasefire with the more than controversial wording about involving the "Joint Ceasefire Control and Coordination Center in its current composition."
Ukrainian negotiators and the incumbent Ukrainian government as a whole made a big mistake, constantly emphasizing the importance of the humanitarian component
Also, the attitude on the part of the President, his Office, and the Ministry of Defense to what is considered a violation and disruption of ceasefire allows Russian delegates to "sell" the illusion of security for new political concessions – again and again.
The work in the humanitarian subgroup can't be called constructive either: Russia and its proxies demanded from the Ukrainian delegation to ensure that all charges are lifted off the held persons scheduled for swap, and continued their manipulative stunts with handing over to the Ukrainian side a number of persons who have no relation to the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian negotiators and the incumbent Ukrainian government as a whole made a big mistake, constantly emphasizing the importance to our side of the humanitarian component, presenting the release of the hostages as their greatest achievement, sometimes crossing the line and turning the entire effort into a PR element. Now they are being held hostage by this narrative and political expediency as such, which has been and will be exploited by Russia. As was the case, for example, with the Easter prisoner exchange, when Russian proxies handed to Ukraine some individuals, on whom no clear information had been available – which could only mean one thing: these were not prisoners whom the Ukrainian side had actually put on the swap list.
Ukrainian leaders need to get rid of illusory ideas about the intrinsic value of any kinds of meetings and negotiation formats
The change in position on the simultaneous opening of crossing checkpoints in Zolote and in Shchastia (previously, the latter was considered unacceptable for security reasons) also showed its senselessness: this didn't in any way alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Luhansk region, since the enemy have been blocking the opening of the checkpoint. This once again demonstrated that that Ukrainian negotiators were ready to put security considerations in the background when they needed to show some kind of result before an unrealistic deadline they, themselves, had set.
Today we can say with confidence: 2021 should be the year of farewell to illusions and hopes for an "agreement somewhere in the middle". Ukrainian leaders need to get rid of illusory ideas about the intrinsic value of any kinds of meetings and negotiation formats. Until Ukraine has a realistic strategy for waging this war at the political and diplomatic fronts, no meetings, "intensified work" in existing formats, deadlines divorced from reality, and tactical concessions just won't work.
Maria Kucherenko is a Project Manager at the Center for Civil Society Studies


unian--2020-12-30--President's Office: CCU statement defying Zelensky's decree "null and void"

The president 's team and the Constitutional Court have been trading barbs over Zelensky 's move to suspend the chief judge pending criminal investigation .
Any `` statements '' posted on the website of the Constitutional Court , on which the court made no decisions , are legally null and void , says the President 's Office .
`` Regarding the latest statements by the Secretariat of the Constitutional Court .
The Law of Ukraine 'On the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ' , the Rules of the Constitutional Court , and the Regulations on the official website of the Constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted on the website of the Constitutional Court , '' the President 's Office elaborated on its Telegram channel .
`` Neither the above , nor any other normative legal act of Ukraine provides for the possibility of posting on the CCU 's official website a statement by CCU Secretariat 's Legal Department , drafted by no one knows whom , with the content that implied misappropriation of CCU powers by its Legal Department , '' the statement notes .
The Bankova , which is a colloquial name for the President 's Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such `` conclusions '' and `` explanations '' on the official website of the Constitutional Court is intended to deliberately mislead the public and media regarding the CCU 's legal stance .
`` Accordingly , any 'statements ' , 'explanations ' , and 'conclusions ' posted on the Court 's website , on which the CCU made no decisions , are legally null and void , while the officials who ordered that they be released , must be brought to liability , including criminal one , for misappropriation of powers of the Constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Read alsoConstitutional Court defies Zelensky 's move to suspend chief judgeTupytstky 's suspension from top post in CCU : Background On December 24 , a summons was received by the Constitutional Court obliging chief judge Tupytsky to report to the Office of the Prosecutor General on December 28 to be charged with a criminal offense .
The investigation says Tupytsky , acting out of mercenary motives and in personal interests , as well as in the interests of the former chairman of the High Economic Court , tampered with a witness in criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness refuse to testify or deliver a false testimony .
In addition , Tupytsky three times during 2018-2019 falsely testified to the Prosecutor General 's Office , which came along with the artificially created evidence on the part of defense in criminal proceedings into the illegal seizure of assets of OJSC Zuivsky Energy-Mechanical Plant .
Tupytsky did not report to the Office of the Prosecutor General , so the suspicion notice was sent to him by mail .
Read also '' This is wild '' : Parliament , president 's envoys react to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Office of the Prosecutor General announced they would file a petition with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to suspend Tupytsky .
On December 29 , Zelensky signed a decree suspending Tupytsky for a period of two months .
On December 30 , a statement was released on the Constitutional Court 's website , signed by the Secretariat 's Legal Department , claiming that the President 's Decree on suspending for two months chief judge Oleksandr Tupytsky was illegitimate .

The president's team and the Constitutional Court have been trading barbs over Zelensky's move to suspend the chief judge pending criminal investigation.
Any "statements" posted on the website of the Constitutional Court, on which the court made no decisions, are legally null and void, says the President's Office.
"Regarding the latest statements by the Secretariat of the Constitutional Court. The Law of Ukraine 'On the Constitutional Court of Ukraine', the Rules of the Constitutional Court, and the Regulations on the official website of the Constitutional Court clearly define what information can be posted on the website of the Constitutional Court," the President's Office elaborated on its Telegram channel.
"Neither the above, nor any other normative legal act of Ukraine provides for the possibility of posting on the CCU's official website a statement by CCU Secretariat's Legal Department, drafted by no one knows whom, with the content that implied misappropriation of CCU powers by its Legal Department," the statement notes.
The Bankova, which is a colloquial name for the President's Office in Ukraine, said the posting of such "conclusions" and "explanations" on the official website of the Constitutional Court is intended to deliberately mislead the public and media regarding the CCU's legal stance.
"Accordingly, any 'statements', 'explanations', and 'conclusions' posted on the Court's website, on which the CCU made no decisions, are legally null and void, while the officials who ordered that they be released, must be brought to liability, including criminal one, for misappropriation of powers of the Constitutional Court," the statement says.
Read alsoConstitutional Court defies Zelensky's move to suspend chief judgeTupytstky's suspension from top post in CCU: Background
On December 24, a summons was received by the Constitutional Court obliging chief judge Tupytsky to report to the Office of the Prosecutor General on December 28 to be charged with a criminal offense. The investigation says Tupytsky, acting out of mercenary motives and in personal interests, as well as in the interests of the former chairman of the High Economic Court, tampered with a witness in criminal proceedings through bribery to make sure the witness refuse to testify or deliver a false testimony. In addition, Tupytsky three times during 2018-2019 falsely testified to the Prosecutor General's Office, which came along with the artificially created evidence on the part of defense in criminal proceedings into the illegal seizure of assets of OJSC Zuivsky Energy-Mechanical Plant.
Tupytsky did not report to the Office of the Prosecutor General, so the suspicion notice was sent to him by mail.
Read also"This is wild": Parliament, president's envoys react to Constitutional Court's defiant statementOn December 28, the Office of the Prosecutor General announced they would file a petition with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to suspend Tupytsky.
On December 29, Zelensky signed a decree suspending Tupytsky for a period of two months.
On December 30, a statement was released on the Constitutional Court's website, signed by the Secretariat's Legal Department, claiming that the President's Decree on suspending for two months chief judge Oleksandr Tupytsky was illegitimate.


unian--2020-12-30--National Bank updates strategy of forex interventions

The new version retains the task of smoothing the forex market functioning .
The National Bank of Ukraine has updated the Foreign Exchange Intervention Strategy as the previous Strategy , designed for 2016-2020 , is expiring .
The updated Strategy will preserve the key three objectives of the NBU ’ s interventions : • Smooth the functioning of the foreign exchange market to avoid the negative impact of excessive exchange rate volatility and extraordinary events in the foreign exchange market on price and financial stability , as well as economic growth ; • Accumulate international reserves and maintain them at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and • Support the transmission of the key policy rate as the main monetary policy instrument , when it is not efficient enough .
The four key forms of interventions also remain the same , i.e .
FX Auction , Single Rate Intervention , Request for Quotations and Targeted Intervention .
Read alsoInternational reserves grow to almost US $ 29 bln as of Dec 28 – NBU Council chiefIt is noted that four key forms of implementation of foreign exchange interventions have remained unchanged , in particular a foreign currency auction , intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best rate , and targeted intervention .
The corresponding document also defines five principles for the implementation of forex interventions on the interbank foreign exchange market : • Compliance with the inflation targeting regime and conformity with the floating exchange rate regime ; • Constructive uncertainty of the parameters and tactics of forex interventions for foreign exchange market players ; and In October 2016 , the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine approved the Strategy of Forex Interventions of the National Bank of Ukraine for 2016-2020 .

National Bank updates strategy of forex interventions
21:45, 30.12.20 685
The new version retains the task of smoothing the forex market functioning.
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unian--2020-12-30--International reserves grow to almost US$29 bln as of Dec 28 – NBU Council chief

Balance of currency interventions by the regulator stood at US $ 1.1 billion from the year-start .
The country 's @ @ @ @ @ 28 , 2020 , amounted to over US $ 28.5 billion , having grown by @ @ @ @ @ 1 , 2020 , says Chairman of the National Bank 's Council , Bohdan Danylyshyn @ @ @ @ @ reserves as of December 28 remained at a level close to the 8-year maximum , @ @ @ @ @ $ 28.5 billion , having risen by US $ 3.2 billion since the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Facebook on December 29 .
Read alsoMacroeconomic outlook for 2021 : GDP growth @ @ @ @ @ inflationDanylyshyn added that the balance of foreign exchange interventions by the regulator stood at US @ @ @ @ @ .
The international reserves in 2019 grew by 22 % , to US $ 25.3 @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 , having hit a seven-year high since December 2012 .

International reserves grow to almost US$29 bln as of Dec 28 – NBU Council chief
20:15, 30.12.20 1906
Balance of currency interventions by the regulator stood at US$1.1 billion from the year-start.
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