unian--2020-09-18--Parliament adopts bill on intelligence

Parliament adopts bill on intelligence

The organizational structure of an intelligence agency shall be defined by the president of Ukraine .
The Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , has adopted a bill on intelligence .
Bill No .
2412-d was backed by 258 lawmakers in the repeat second reading on September 17 , an UNIAN correspondent reported .
What agencies are engaged in intelligence activity The bill determines the Foreign Intelligence Service , the Defense Ministry 's intelligence agency , as well as an intelligence department of the central executive agency that implements state policy in the field of protecting the national border are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time , the bill stipulates that counterintelligence units of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine may also be engaged in intelligence activities to obtain information in the interests of counterintelligence .
The list of such units is determined by the president of Ukraine .
The president also defines the organizational structure of an intelligence agency , while the total number of personnel of the Foreign Intelligence Service shall be determined by law .
The relevant service carries out intelligence activities in the foreign policy , economic , military-technical , scientific-technical , information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the bill , the intelligence agencies are headed by officials who are appointed and dismissed by the president of Ukraine .
The bill provides that prior to appointment to a position in an intelligence agency , an appointee and , in certain cases , an employee shall undergo psychophysiological assessment with the use of equipment that records a person 's emotion and attention reactions .
What is more , the bill ensures state protection for intelligence officers and their family members .
What intelligence agencies are allowed to do Among other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use accounts in national and foreign currencies in banks and other financial institutions , relocate persons or objects across the state border under operational control , as well as engaging undercover officers .
An undercover agent network can be created both inside Ukraine and abroad , and documents of such organizations may completely or partially contain false information about events , phenomena , and facts .
In accordance with certain basic tasks , the Ukrainian intelligence services should provide information to stakeholders on time , contribute to the fulfillment of Ukraine 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ukraine 's national security .
The SZR foreign intelligence service in a statement said the new law `` is another important step in developing capabilities to effectively counteract the hybrid aggression against Ukraine and multidimensional external threats to national security of our state . ''
• New intel chief notes greater influence of hybrid warfare , global disinformation on Ukraine

The organizational structure of an intelligence agency shall be defined by the president of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted a bill on intelligence.
Bill No. 2412-d was backed by 258 lawmakers in the repeat second reading on September 17, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
Read alsoZelensky orders to develop new National Intelligence Program
Видео дня
What agencies are engaged in intelligence activity
The bill determines the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Defense Ministry's intelligence agency, as well as an intelligence department of the central executive agency that implements state policy in the field of protecting the national border are intelligence agencies in Ukraine.
At the same time, the bill stipulates that counterintelligence units of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine may also be engaged in intelligence activities to obtain information in the interests of counterintelligence. The list of such units is determined by the president of Ukraine.
The president also defines the organizational structure of an intelligence agency, while the total number of personnel of the Foreign Intelligence Service shall be determined by law. The relevant service carries out intelligence activities in the foreign policy, economic, military-technical, scientific-technical, information, environmental, and cybersecurity fields.
According to the bill, the intelligence agencies are headed by officials who are appointed and dismissed by the president of Ukraine.
The bill provides that prior to appointment to a position in an intelligence agency, an appointee and, in certain cases, an employee shall undergo psychophysiological assessment with the use of equipment that records a person's emotion and attention reactions.
What is more, the bill ensures state protection for intelligence officers and their family members.
What intelligence agencies are allowed to do
Among other things, the bill allows intelligence agencies to use accounts in national and foreign currencies in banks and other financial institutions, relocate persons or objects across the state border under operational control, as well as engaging undercover officers.
An undercover agent network can be created both inside Ukraine and abroad, and documents of such organizations may completely or partially contain false information about events, phenomena, and facts.
In accordance with certain basic tasks, the Ukrainian intelligence services should provide information to stakeholders on time, contribute to the fulfillment of Ukraine's national interests, and counteract external threats to Ukraine's national security.
SZR's statement
The SZR foreign intelligence service in a statement said the new law "is another important step in developing capabilities to effectively counteract the hybrid aggression against Ukraine and multidimensional external threats to national security of our state."
More related news reports:


unian--2020-09-17--Belarus beefing up security on border with Ukraine, closes borders with Lithuania, Poland

The Belarusian leader says that this is a `` forced '' measure .
Belarus is beefing up securing on the border with Ukraine and is to shut down its border with Poland and Lithuania .
This was announced by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko , according to the Belarusian media outlet tut.by .
Meanwhile , according to him , security on the border with Ukraine will be stepped up .
As Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty 's Belarusian service adds , it is not yet clear in practice what this move means .
Lukashenko insists he is not an aggressor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ village where everyone protected and helped each other , tut.by said .
He also appealed to the peoples of Lithuania , Poland , and Ukraine : `` Stop your insane politicians , do n't let the war break out . ''
As he was speaking at a forum for women , he called on them not to worry , as `` the men will solve this problem . ''
He also called the situation `` very complicated '' and suggested that `` the situation of the entire Europe is being decided here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn into a hot war .
Their arsenal has not so many tools left , and we are on the brink of a terrible disaster .
If they come here , we will have to answer .
We wo n't kneel – even if we face this [ situation ] alone , '' Lukashenko stressed .
Read alsoLukashenko asks Putin for `` some types of weapons '' Recent developments in Belarus in brief • On August 9 , presidential elections were held in Belarus .
The country 's Central Election Commission announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 80.1 % of voters supported incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko , 10.1 % voted for Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , 1.67 % for Anna Kanopatskaya , 1.2 % for Andrey Dmitriev , and 1.14 % for Sergei Cherechnya .
Some 4.59 % voted against all candidates .
• Thousands took to the streets to protest what many believe was a rigged vote count .
Riot police violently cracked down on protesters .
• Belarus ' Ministry of Internal Affairs said about 7,000 protesters had been detained in different cities since August 9 .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to release detainees .
• On August 16 , the March of Freedom , the largest protest in the history of Belarus , took place in Minsk .
Hundreds of thousands of people joined in .
• Lukashenko has repeatedly claimed `` foreign interference '' in the election and external efforts to foment the protests .
He spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin who had promised him comprehensive assistance upon request .
• On August 27 , Putin suggested sending Russian security forces to suppress protests in Belarus .
• The European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results and reached an agreement to impose sanctions against Belarusian officials in response to vote rigging and the use of violence against protesters .
• On September 15 , the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a statement on Belarus .
Ukrainian lawmakers said the presidential elections in that country were unfair .
They condemned repression against protesters and vowed support for sanctions to be introduced by the European Union against Belarusian officials .

The Belarusian leader says that this is a "forced" measure.
Belarus is beefing up securing on the border with Ukraine and is to shut down its border with Poland and Lithuania.
This was announced by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, according to the Belarusian media outlet tut.by.
"We are forced to withdraw troops from the streets, put half of the army under arms and close the state border in the west – with Lithuania and Poland," Lukashenko said.
Meanwhile, according to him, security on the border with Ukraine will be stepped up.
"We are forced to strengthen the state border, to the greatest regret, with our fraternal Ukraine," he added.
As Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty's Belarusian service adds, it is not yet clear in practice what this move means.
Lukashenko insists he is not an aggressor, mentioning he grew up in a village where everyone protected and helped each other, tut.by said.
"I don't want our country to fight. Moreover, I don't want Belarus and Poland, Lithuania to turn into a theater of military operations where other than our issues will be resolved," he said.
He also appealed to the peoples of Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine: "Stop your insane politicians, don't let the war break out."
As he was speaking at a forum for women, he called on them not to worry, as "the men will solve this problem."
He also called the situation "very complicated" and suggested that "the situation of the entire Europe is being decided here."
"It shouldn't be let to turn into a hot war. Their arsenal has not so many tools left, and we are on the brink of a terrible disaster. If they come here, we will have to answer. We won't kneel – even if we face this [situation] alone," Lukashenko stressed.
Read alsoLukashenko asks Putin for "some types of weapons"
Recent developments in Belarus in brief


unian--2020-09-19--Kyiv election commission registers first candidate running for mayor

The mayoral elections will be held as part of local polls across the country on October 25 .
Kyiv City Territorial Election Commission on September 18 registered the first candidate running for the mayor 's post , this is Andriy Palchevsky .
The corresponding decision was taken by the commission on Friday evening , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
Read alsoLocal elections in Ukraine to be held even in COVID-19 red zone : CEC The committee also considered documents filed by another citizen who decided to run for mayor in Kyiv , Borys Sakhno .
He was denied registration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to submit a document confirming he had paid an election deposit under Article 225 of the Electoral Code of Ukraine .
What is more , the commission also registered official observers from Ukrainian NGO Civil Network OPORA for polls during which members of Kyiv City Council and Kyiv 's mayor are to be elected on October 25 Chairman of the territorial election commission Oleh Konopolsky told UNIAN that all the resolutions adopted at the September 18 meetings would be available to the public – they will be posted on the first floor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as on the Kyiv City Territorial Election Commission 's page on Kyiv City Council 's website .
• On September 5 , preparations for the local polls , which are scheduled for October 25 , began in Ukraine .
• Under the calendar plan of measures to prepare and conduct of the local elections , September 24 inclusively is the deadline for candidates running to local councils and posts of village heads and mayors to submit documents to the relevant territorial election commissions for registration .
• Territorial election commissions should register a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five days after the respective application is filed along with the requested documents .
• Voting will take place from 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. on October 25 , and the election commissions must declare its results by November 6 inclusively .

The mayoral elections will be held as part of local polls across the country on October 25.
The Kyiv City Territorial Election Commission on September 18 registered the first candidate running for the mayor's post, this is Andriy Palchevsky, 59.
The corresponding decision was taken by the commission on Friday evening, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Read alsoLocal elections in Ukraine to be held even in COVID-19 red zone: CEC
Видео дня
The commission also considered documents filed by another citizen who decided to run for mayor in Kyiv, Borys Sakhno. He was denied registration as a candidate because he failed to submit a document confirming he had paid an election deposit as required by Article 225 of the Electoral Code of Ukraine.
What is more, the commission also registered official election observers from Ukrainian NGO Civil Network OPORA for polls during which members of Kyiv City Council and Kyiv's mayor are to be elected on October 25
Chairman of the territorial election commission Oleh Konopolsky told UNIAN that all the resolutions adopted at the September 18 meetings would be available to the public – they will be posted on the first floor of Kyiv City State Administration, as well as on the Kyiv City Territorial Election Commission's page on Kyiv City Council's website.
Ukraine 2020 local elections in brief
On September 5, preparations for the local polls, which are scheduled for October 25, began in Ukraine.
Under the calendar plan of measures to prepare and conduct of the local elections, September 24 inclusively is the deadline for candidates running to local councils and posts of village heads and mayors to submit documents to the relevant territorial election commissions for registration.
Territorial election commissions should register a candidate or deny registration no later than five days after the respective application is filed along with the requested documents.
Voting will take place from 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. on October 25, and the election commissions must declare its results by November 6 inclusively.
Palchevsky's short bio


unian--2020-09-18--Banker Pysaruk accuses NABU of lack of professionalism and pursuing its own agenda

‘ NABU has demonstrated that it lacks professionalism and is pursuing its own agenda in the case against Pysaruk and Bakhmatyuk by pressing baseless charges and refusing to admit its mistake , ’ the former NBU employee told Ukrainian News .
In an interview with NV Business , the CEO of Raiffeisen Bank Aval discusses the case against him and the businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk .
Pysaruk claims that NABU is undermining the moral principle against throwing baseless accusation or suspicions for serious crimes at honest people who did not commit them , while consciously dragging their feet on a case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ago and admitted they were wrong .
`` The suspicion issued to me is absolutely baseless .
I ’ m going to call a spade a spade here – those are mad ravings and a complete absurdity to suspect NBU employees of colluding with Oleg Bakhmatyuk , with whom I had a difficult relationship , to put it mildly .
Back in May , my lawyers filed a motion seeking reversal of the [ notice of ] suspicion , in which they presented detailed evidence of my innocence citing expert examinations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NABU ’ s case .
In this situation , the right thing to do would be to admit defeat and close the case but NABU does not seem willing to do that ; that is why they are looking for ways to extend it , '' said Pysaruk .
The banker named a lack of professionalism and an unwillingness to admit a mistake as the reason for NABU ’ s actions .
`` The deadline is approaching , a pretrial investigation may not last longer than a year , they are going out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case using dubious legal methods , to put it mildly .
They are trying to ‘ freeze ’ the case , merge it with another one .
My lawyers went to court .
We won one case , two more left to go .
We believe that we will win those two as well , we will not let them put the case on the back burner and keep it there indefinitely , as often happens . ''
The banker indicated that NABU whose job it is to fight corruption in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mud and sacrifice honest people , who have not committed any crime , in pursuit of its own agenda . ''
`` This is an institution supported by the International Monetary Fund , where I used to work for over three years , and all foreign lenders .
NABU , important as its role may be , must abide by moral principles .
One such principle is never to press baseless charges or raise suspicions for serious crimes against honest people who did not commit them . ''
Just as a reminder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk , has stated that NABU ’ s wrongful interventions in the Pysaruk-Bakhmatyuk case have already caused the loss of 9,000 jobs , a substantial reduction in taxes paid and a 0.3 % loss of GDP .

‘NABU has demonstrated that it lacks professionalism and is pursuing its own agenda in the case against Pysaruk and Bakhmatyuk by pressing baseless charges and refusing to admit its mistake,’ the former NBU employee told Ukrainian News.
In an interview with NV Business, the CEO of Raiffeisen Bank Aval discusses the case against him and the businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk. Pysaruk claims that NABU is undermining the moral principle against throwing baseless accusation or suspicions for serious crimes at honest people who did not commit them, while consciously dragging their feet on a case that they should have closed a long time ago and admitted they were wrong.
"The suspicion issued to me is absolutely baseless. I’m going to call a spade a spade here – those are mad ravings and a complete absurdity to suspect NBU employees of colluding with Oleg Bakhmatyuk, with whom I had a difficult relationship, to put it mildly. Back in May, my lawyers filed a motion seeking reversal of the [notice of] suspicion, in which they presented detailed evidence of my innocence citing expert examinations and opinions by legal scholars, utterly destroying NABU’s case. In this situation, the right thing to do would be to admit defeat and close the case but NABU does not seem willing to do that; that is why they are looking for ways to extend it," said Pysaruk.
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The banker named a lack of professionalism and an unwillingness to admit a mistake as the reason for NABU’s actions. "The deadline is approaching, a pretrial investigation may not last longer than a year, they are going out of their way to drag out the case using dubious legal methods, to put it mildly. They are trying to ‘freeze’ the case, merge it with another one. My lawyers went to court. We won one case, two more left to go. We believe that we will win those two as well, we will not let them put the case on the back burner and keep it there indefinitely, as often happens."
The banker indicated that NABU whose job it is to fight corruption in the country is willing to "drag through the mud and sacrifice honest people, who have not committed any crime, in pursuit of its own agenda." "This is an institution supported by the International Monetary Fund, where I used to work for over three years, and all foreign lenders. NABU, important as its role may be, must abide by moral principles. One such principle is never to press baseless charges or raise suspicions for serious crimes against honest people who did not commit them."
Just as a reminder, the second suspect in the case, the businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk, has stated that NABU’s wrongful interventions in the Pysaruk-Bakhmatyuk case have already caused the loss of 9,000 jobs, a substantial reduction in taxes paid and a 0.3% loss of GDP.


unian--2020-09-18--Bakhmatyuk sums up losses from ‘a year of war’ waged against him by NABU: 9,000 jobs and 0.3% of GDP

Bakhmatyuk sums up losses from ‘a year of war’ waged against him by NABU: 9,000 jobs and 0.3% of GDP lost

One year into NABU 's war against Bakhmatyuk , his company has lost more than the value of assets abandoned in the occupied Crimea and Donbas as a result of the Russian aggression .
Over this period , 9,000 Ukrainians have lost their jobs , taxes paid by the company have dropped by 50 % and the national economy has lost 0.3 % of GDP .
In his column on Ukrayinska Pravda , Oleg Bakhmatyuk discusses the fallout for the economy from war waged by NABU against his companies , Ukrlanddfarming and Avangard .
September 18 , 2020 , marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bakhmatyuk was reopened despite having been previously investigated and closed for lack of evidence of a criminal offence .
According to him , the year has exposed the drawbacks of the decision-making framework of the anticorruption authorities and how the poor decision-making is harming the state and business companies .
`` We are witnessing a very interesting tendency : over the past couple of years , public trust in NABU and Sytnyk has hit bottom .
As few as 1.1 % of the respondents are fully satisfied with Sytnyk ’ s performance in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings , while the degree of public distrust in the fight against corruption declared by the government serves as a clear performance evaluation of the bureau and its director , '' concludes Bakhmatyuk .
`` I ’ m not claiming it is that particular case has opened people ’ s eyes to the value Sytnyk adds in his post , which is reflected unambiguously in NABU ’ s performance evaluation by the Ukrainian public .
But the Pysaruk/Bakhmatyuk case serves as a spectacular example , an acid test showing that the anticorruption framework @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only creating an illusion of activity by certain officials and serves as a weapon against personal or political enemies . ''
Bakhmatyuk reveals that before NABU started attacking him as part of the case against VAB Bank , the Ukrlandfarming/Avangard Group had created 30 thousand jobs and paid UAH 7.7 billion over the past three years , generating 1 % of GDP .
`` We are talking about thousands of community projects in social work , infrastructure and culture , we have supported local arts and sports .
This is a company that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was around the time when one of the founders of the Anticorruption Centre NGO aka ANTAC was serving 10 years in prison for theft , while I was actively rehabilitating 1,800 assets in 20 regions of Ukraine . ''
Now ANTAC claims that the case against me is not affecting my company in any way .
`` I can see through their motives : they are people who have never worked in the real economy , they have no idea how pressure being put on the company owner is limiting the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financing opportunities for its projects , how partners reduce business with the company being pressurised by law enforcement to mitigate risk , '' explains Bakhmatyuk .
The businessman sums up the consequences for the economy and state budget from the attacks against him by Artem Sytnyk : 9,000 jobs lost ; some 20 egg farms and animal feed mills closed ; taxes paid down by 50 % ; output down by 30 % ; community project support substantially reduced .
`` In the whole world , a business that generates real GDP is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other way around .
We do not expect support but we expect top officials to hear us and evaluate the consequences .
Those consequences are not only affecting Bakhmatyuk and his company , those are consequences for the economy of Ukraine as a whole .
Agriholding Avangard lost 30 % of its assets to the Russian aggression .
Sytnyk ’ s personal war against me has cost the company 50 % of its capacity , '' concludes Bakhmatyuk .
Just as a reminder , the case against Pysaruk and Bakhmatyuk was opened on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended by the NBU to VAB Bank in 2014 .
Expert opinions by the Deposit Guarantee Fund confirm that the proceeds were used according to their designated purpose , they were paid out to depositors .
Furthermore , Bakhmatyuk has made a personal pledge promising to repay UAH 8 billion to the state , he has not had any response from the NBU however .

One year into NABU's war against Bakhmatyuk, his company has lost more than the value of assets abandoned in the occupied Crimea and Donbas as a result of the Russian aggression. Over this period, 9,000 Ukrainians have lost their jobs, taxes paid by the company have dropped by 50% and the national economy has lost 0.3% of GDP.
In his column on Ukrayinska Pravda, Oleg Bakhmatyuk discusses the fallout for the economy from war waged by NABU against his companies, Ukrlanddfarming and Avangard.
September 18, 2020, marks one year since the case against Oleg Bakhmatyuk was reopened despite having been previously investigated and closed for lack of evidence of a criminal offence. According to him, the year has exposed the drawbacks of the decision-making framework of the anticorruption authorities and how the poor decision-making is harming the state and business companies. "We are witnessing a very interesting tendency: over the past couple of years, public trust in NABU and Sytnyk has hit bottom. As few as 1.1% of the respondents are fully satisfied with Sytnyk’s performance in his post. NABU has record-low performance ratings, while the degree of public distrust in the fight against corruption declared by the government serves as a clear performance evaluation of the bureau and its director," concludes Bakhmatyuk.
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"I’m not claiming it is that particular case has opened people’s eyes to the value Sytnyk adds in his post, which is reflected unambiguously in NABU’s performance evaluation by the Ukrainian public. But the Pysaruk/Bakhmatyuk case serves as a spectacular example, an acid test showing that the anticorruption framework is not working, that it is only creating an illusion of activity by certain officials and serves as a weapon against personal or political enemies."
Bakhmatyuk reveals that before NABU started attacking him as part of the case against VAB Bank, the Ukrlandfarming/Avangard Group had created 30 thousand jobs and paid UAH 7.7 billion over the past three years, generating 1% of GDP.
"We are talking about thousands of community projects in social work, infrastructure and culture, we have supported local arts and sports. This is a company that I have been building since 1991. It was around the time when one of the founders of the Anticorruption Centre NGO aka ANTAC was serving 10 years in prison for theft, while I was actively rehabilitating 1,800 assets in 20 regions of Ukraine."
Now ANTAC claims that the case against me is not affecting my company in any way.
"I can see through their motives: they are people who have never worked in the real economy, they have no idea how pressure being put on the company owner is limiting the company’s access to credit and other financing opportunities for its projects, how partners reduce business with the company being pressurised by law enforcement to mitigate risk," explains Bakhmatyuk.
The businessman sums up the consequences for the economy and state budget from the attacks against him by Artem Sytnyk: 9,000 jobs lost; some 20 egg farms and animal feed mills closed; taxes paid down by 50%; output down by 30%; community project support substantially reduced.
"In the whole world, a business that generates real GDP is supported by the government, not the other way around. We do not expect support but we expect top officials to hear us and evaluate the consequences. Those consequences are not only affecting Bakhmatyuk and his company, those are consequences for the economy of Ukraine as a whole. Agriholding Avangard lost 30% of its assets to the Russian aggression. Sytnyk’s personal war against me has cost the company 50% of its capacity," concludes Bakhmatyuk.
Just as a reminder, the case against Pysaruk and Bakhmatyuk was opened on allegations of misappropriation of proceeds of refinancing extended by the NBU to VAB Bank in 2014. Expert opinions by the Deposit Guarantee Fund confirm that the proceeds were used according to their designated purpose, they were paid out to depositors. Furthermore, Bakhmatyuk has made a personal pledge promising to repay UAH 8 billion to the state, he has not had any response from the NBU however.


unian--2020-09-18--Donbas war update: Russia-led forces attack Ukraine positions near Vodiane, Novotoshkivske on Friday

They used an under-barrel grenade launcher and a large-caliber machine-gun .
Russia-led forces on Friday , September 18 , violated @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainian positions near the villages of Vodiane and Novotoshkivske in Donbas , eastern Ukraine .
@ @ @ @ @ press center of the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters on Facebook in an evening update as @ @ @ @ @ September 18 .
`` Since the beginning of the current day , armed formations of @ @ @ @ @ again violated the agreements reached on July 22 , having opened fire on Ukrainian positions @ @ @ @ @ `` The enemy used an under-barrel grenade launcher near Vodiane , attempting to challenge our @ @ @ @ @ large-caliber machine gun was used near Novotoshkivske . ''
Ukrainian troops did not fire back @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainian army casualties have been reported .
The full ceasefire was observed along other sections @ @ @ @ @ Donbas on Friday .

They used an under-barrel grenade launcher and a large-caliber machine-gun.
Russia-led forces on Friday, September 18, violated the ceasefire, having attacked Ukrainian positions near the villages of Vodiane and Novotoshkivske in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.
This was reported by the press center of the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters on Facebook in an evening update as of 18:00 Kyiv time on September 18.
Read alsoDonbas war update: Ukraine reports one ceasefire violation Sept 17
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"Since the beginning of the current day, armed formations of the Russian Federation have once again violated the agreements reached on July 22, having opened fire on Ukrainian positions," it said. "The enemy used an under-barrel grenade launcher near Vodiane, attempting to challenge our military. Meanwhile, a large-caliber machine gun was used near Novotoshkivske."
Ukrainian troops did not fire back, it added.
No Ukrainian army casualties have been reported.
The full ceasefire was observed along other sections of the contact line in Donbas on Friday.


unian--2020-09-18--Lawmaker: 2021 budget draft has no caps on state-guaranteed debt, public debt may skyrocket

Preparations of the draft budget for the first reading are about to start on September 18 .
Head of the Verkhovna Rada 's Budget Committee Yuriy Aristov says the draft national budget for 2021 has no caps on the maximum levels of state-guaranteed debt and state guarantees , as a result of which public debt may skyrocket uncontrollably .
`` The draft [ national budget ] for 2021 , as is the case this year , does not define ceilings on guaranteed debt and state guarantees .
At the same time , the government proposes that the relevant provisions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absence of such caps may lead to uncontrollable growth of public debt .
And , as a consequence , we risk to have the heavier debt burden on the national budget in the coming years , '' he said while presenting the 2021 budget draft in parliament on September 18 .
As was initiated by the government , the Budget Code 's requirement to draw up the budget declaration shall not be applicable this year , Aristov said .
As a result , there is no government document of medium-term budget planning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy and indicators for the next three years .
Moreover , the draft national budget does not specify state investment projects in which state capital will be injected .
Aristov says such funds are only accumulated for the relevant program of the Economy Ministry , while Article 25 of the draft document proposes their distribution by the Cabinet , which is at variance with the Budget Code and should be fixed during the finalization of the draft budget .
`` The draft [ national budget ] also stipulates a number of other provisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
In other words , they propose that public funds be managed manually , without control by parliament .
This is unacceptable and must be fixed as well , '' he stressed .
According to Aristov , the Verkhovna Rada 's regulations do not suggest any voting right now , therefore , there will be only preparations of the draft budget for the first reading , which are about to start on September 18 .
Lawmakers and parliamentary committees may submit their proposals concerning the draft budget by October 1 .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hryvnia set at UAH 29.1 per U.S. dollar ; • On September 18 , 2020 , the Cabinet of Ministers presented the 2021 national budget draft at the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament .
• On September 14 , 2020 , Ukraine 's Finance Ministry forwarded the national budget draft for 2021 to the government for consideration .
• On the same day , the Cabinet of Ministers endorsed the 2021 national budget draft and tabled it in parliament .

Lawmaker: 2021 budget draft has no caps on state-guaranteed debt, public debt may skyrocket
18:59, 18.09.20 119
Preparations of the draft budget for the first reading are about to start on September 18.
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unian--2020-09-18--Finance minister elaborates on IMF's position on 2021 budget draft

Active discussion of the document with Ukraine 's key lender is under way .
Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) has not yet made any statements regarding the draft national budget for 2021 .
`` The IMF has made no statements of support , but we are cooperating with them and discussing the budget-related benchmarks , revenue and spending .
To date , there are no categorical statements [ by the IMF ] that the figures are groundless , or vice versa , '' he said when presenting the 2021 budget draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Average annual forex rate of the hryvnia set at UAH 29.1 per U.S. dollar ; • None On September 18 , 2020 , the Cabinet of Ministers presented the 2021 national budget draft at the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament .
• None On September 14 , 2020 , Ukraine 's Finance Ministry forwarded the national budget draft for 2021 to the government for consideration .
• None On the same day , the Cabinet of Ministers endorsed the 2021 national budget draft and tabled it in parliament .
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Finance minister elaborates on IMF's position on 2021 budget draft
17:59, 18.09.20 1420
Active discussion of the document with Ukraine's key lender is under way.
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unian--2020-09-18--Zelensky reacts to row over SAPO chief selection

The president said he `` carefully read '' what the Western partners had said about the parliament decision .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he fully supports the transparent process of selecting the chief of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor 's Office ( SAPO ) .
Speaking with the journalists during a working trip to Ivano-Frankivsk region , the president was asked to comment on reports claiming Ukraine may lose visa-free travel privileges in the European Union after the Verkhovna Rada made the move to appoint commission members to select the new anti-corruption prosecutor , his Office reported on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements of Ukrainian politicians in cases where they have no powers .
That is , they can neither grant us visa-free travel , nor take away visa-free travel – this concerns Ukrainian politicians .
I know who spins this information , I 'm aware of this political party , whose leader is someone who still believes he is ' a Ukrainian monarch ' , 'master of Ukraine ' , although this man had five years to restore Ukraine and show what he can do for his people .
I do n't pay attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
According to the president , Ukrainian authorities have `` normal communication '' with Western partners .
Read alsoG7 ambassadors : Anti-corruption agencies ' integrity must be protected in UkraineZelensky says he `` carefully read '' what the Western partners had said about the relevant parliament decision .
`` They said they want to see that the commission works very thorougly , so that the commission works transparently and chooses a professional future SAPO chief .
I fully share their views , fully support them , I believe it ca n't be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On August 21 , Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova signed an order to dismiss Deputy Prosecutor General and SAPO chief Nazar Kholodnytsky , approving his resignation .
On September 17 , the Verkhovna Rada appointed parliamentary members to the commission to select the new SAPO chief : Olensa Busol , Andriy Hudzhal , Oleksiy Drozd , Kateryna Koval , Bohdan Romaniuk , Viacheslav Navrotsky , and Yevhen Sobol .
The European Parliament 's Rapporteur for Ukraine , Michael Haller , and Vice-Chair of Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee Viola von Cramon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move .
`` While international community is occupied with Belarus , Ukraine government is hastily pushing candidates lacking experience and integrity to select SAPO head .
This will not fly .
Ukraine 's Government is jeopardizing visa-free with the EU and further trance of EUR1.5 billion assistance , '' Viola von Cramon-Taubadel wrote on Twitter on September 17 , 2020 .
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv also commented on the developments .
`` The U.S. and the EU take note of the Rada decision to appoint members to the commission to choose the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to embark on a transparent process with candidates ' integrity and merits at its core .
Our further support will depend upon it , '' the Embassy wrote on Facebook on September 17 .

The president said he "carefully read" what the Western partners had said about the parliament decision.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he fully supports the transparent process of selecting the chief of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
Speaking with the journalists during a working trip to Ivano-Frankivsk region, the president was asked to comment on reports claiming Ukraine may lose visa-free travel privileges in the European Union after the Verkhovna Rada made the move to appoint commission members to select the new anti-corruption prosecutor, his Office reported on Facebook
"I don't comment on the statements of Ukrainian politicians in cases where they have no powers. That is, they can neither grant us visa-free travel, nor take away visa-free travel – this concerns Ukrainian politicians. I know who spins this information, I'm aware of this political party, whose leader is someone who still believes he is 'a Ukrainian monarch', 'master of Ukraine', although this man had five years to restore Ukraine and show what he can do for his people. I don't pay attention to all this information," Zelensky said.
According to the president, Ukrainian authorities have "normal communication" with Western partners.
Read alsoG7 ambassadors: Anti-corruption agencies' integrity must be protected in UkraineZelensky says he "carefully read" what the Western partners had said about the relevant parliament decision.
"They said they want to see that the commission works very thorougly, so that the commission works transparently and chooses a professional future SAPO chief. I fully share their views, fully support them, I believe it can't be any other way," Zelensky said.
Replacing top anti-corruption prosecutor: recent developments
On August 21, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova signed an order to dismiss Deputy Prosecutor General and SAPO chief Nazar Kholodnytsky, approving his resignation.
On September 17, the Verkhovna Rada appointed parliamentary members to the commission to select the new SAPO chief: Olena Busol, Andriy Hudzhal, Oleksiy Drozd, Kateryna Koval, Bohdan Romaniuk, Viacheslav Navrotsky, and Yevhen Sobol.
The European Parliament's Rapporteur for Ukraine, Michael Gahler, and Vice-Chair of Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee Viola von Cramon expressed concern over the Verkhovna Rada's move.
"While international community is occupied with Belarus, Ukraine government is hastily pushing candidates lacking experience and integrity to select SAPO head. This will not fly. Ukraine's Government is jeopardizing visa-free with the EU and further trance of EUR1.5 billion assistance," Viola von Cramon-Taubadel wrote on Twitter on September 17, 2020.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv also commented on the developments. "The U.S. and the EU take note of the Rada decision to appoint members to the commission to choose the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor. The commission needs to embark on a transparent process with candidates' integrity and merits at its core. Our further support will depend upon it," the Embassy wrote on Facebook on September 17.


unian--2020-09-18--No need to be tested for COVID-19 after self-isolation period – health minister

No tests are required prior to scheduled hospitalization either – that 's if patients have no symptoms of an acute respiratory illness .
Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said from now on , Ukrainians are absolved of the need to be tested for COVID-19 upon completion of the self-isolation period .
Neither do they have to be tested prior to scheduled hospitalization if they have no symptoms of an acute respiratory illness .
Speaking at a briefing on September 18 , the minister said that in addition to a new protocol for COVID-19 treatment approved on September 17 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for providing medical care for COVID-19 patients , an UNIAN correspondent reports .
Read alsoCOVID-19 : Over 3,200 new active cases reported on Sept 18Stepanov explained the protocol for the provision of medical care is an instruction for the treatment depending on the patient 's condition , while the standards for the provision of medical care determine the procedure for hospitalization , including conditions when patients should be hospitalized , as well as cases where tests must be run .
For example , the new standards stipulate that only those who their family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shall be PCR-tested for COVID-19 .
Previously , standards assumed that upon completion of the self-isolation period , people are obliged to undergo PCR testing .
Also , from now on , if someone requires scheduled hospitalization , they no longer need to undergo PCR testing , except for the cases where they have symptoms of an acute respiratory disease .
• Almost half of Ukrainians consider quarantine restrictions `` optimal '' – poll • Corona-positive Kharkiv mayor airlifted to German hospital over flare-up of chronic condition – media ( Video )

No tests are required prior to scheduled hospitalization either – that's if patients have no symptoms of an acute respiratory illness.
Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said from now on, Ukrainians are absolved of the need to be tested for COVID-19 upon completion of the self-isolation period.
Neither do they have to be tested prior to scheduled hospitalization if they have no symptoms of an acute respiratory illness.
Speaking at a briefing on September 18, the minister said that in addition to a new protocol for COVID-19 treatment approved on September 17, he signed an order on updated standards for providing medical care for COVID-19 patients, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
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Read alsoCOVID-19: Over 3,200 new active cases reported on Sept 18Stepanov explained the protocol for the provision of medical care is an instruction for the treatment depending on the patient's condition, while the standards for the provision of medical care determine the procedure for hospitalization, including conditions when patients should be hospitalized, as well as cases where tests must be run.
For example, the new standards stipulate that only those who their family doctor says have symptoms of the disease shall be PCR-tested for COVID-19.
Previously, standards assumed that upon completion of the self-isolation period, people are obliged to undergo PCR testing.
"According to the updated standards, if someone has been on self-isolation for 14 days and has no symptoms of the disease, they don't need to be tested," Stepanov said.
Also, from now on, if someone requires scheduled hospitalization, they no longer need to undergo PCR testing, except for the cases where they have symptoms of an acute respiratory disease.
COVID-19 in Ukraine: other news


unian--2020-09-19--Kyiv mayor reports 400 new COVID-19 cases, eight fatalities in past day

As of today , the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 19,140 .
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases in the city rose by 400 in the past day .
Read alsoHealthcare spending to grow unprecedentedly in 2021 – finance minister '' In the past day , another 400 residents of Kyiv tested positive for coronavirus , including 12 healthcare workers .
There were eight fatalities , '' Klitschko reported via Telegram on September 19 .
According to the city mayor , 199 women aged 18 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 are among those infected .
Thirteen girls ( from two months to 16 years old ) and 23 boys ( from one month to 17 years old ) have tested positive .
Klitschko said 67 new patients had been hospitalized , while the rest are self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision .
He added that 86 people had recovered in the past day .
In total , 5,828 Kyiv residents have already beaten the disease .
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Desniansky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 57 ) , and Darnytsky district ( 50 ) .
The total death toll in the city is 312 cases .
• The adaptive quarantine was introduced on August 1 .
The Ukrainian regions were split into the green , yellow , orange , and red zones depending on hospital load , the average number of PCR and ELISA tests , the ascertainment rate of COVID-19 , and daily spread dynamics .
• Quarantine-related curbs differ in each zone .
The mildest ones are in the green zone , the regions included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduce the toughest restrictions .
• On August 26 , the Cabinet of Ministers extended the adaptive quarantine until November 1 .
• On September 10 , the government reviewed the borders of COVID-19 quarantine zones .
The reviewed zoning regulations will take effect on Monday , September 14 .
Kyiv became part of the orange zone , with the second-toughest bans after the red zone .
• Health Minister Maksym Stepanov says the ministry has no plans to introduce a new lockdown in Ukraine yet .

As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 19,140.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the city rose by 400 in the past day.
Read alsoHealthcare spending to grow unprecedentedly in 2021 – finance minister"In the past day, another 400 residents of Kyiv tested positive for coronavirus, including 12 healthcare workers. There were eight fatalities," Klitschko reported via Telegram on September 19.
"As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 19,140."
According to the city mayor, 199 women aged 18 to 83 and 165 men aged 17 to 87 are among those infected.
Thirteen girls (from two months to 16 years old) and 23 boys (from one month to 17 years old) have tested positive.
Klitschko said 67 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest are self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision.
He added that 86 people had recovered in the past day.
In total, 5,828 Kyiv residents have already beaten the disease.
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Desniansky district (82), Obolonsky district (57), and Darnytsky district (50).
The total death toll in the city is 312 cases.
Quarantine in Ukraine: background


unian--2020-09-19--Hryvnia weakens to U.S. dollar on Sept 21

The official forex rate against the euro for Monday is fixed at UAH 33.35 per euro .
The National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) has set the official forex rate for September 21 at UAH 28.17 to the U.S. dollar , which made the country 's national currency weaken by six kopiykas .
Read alsoNBU Council chief elaborates on forex market prospectsThe official forex rate against the euro for Monday is fixed at UAH 33.35 per euro – the hryvnia weakened by 18 kopiykas in value since Friday , according to the NBU website .
The central bank has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hryvnia against key foreign currencies for September 21 : US $ 100 will be quoted at UAH 2,817.18 ( UAH 2,811.27 as of September 18 ) ; EUR 100 will be quoted at UAH 3,334.56 ( UAH 3,317.44 as of September 18 ) .
By 16:00 Kyiv time on September 18 , hryvnia quotations against the dollar on the interbank forex market settled at UAH 28.18/28.20 to the dollar , while those against the euro were at UAH 33.39/33.41 .
The National Bank set the official forex rate for September 18 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which let the country 's national currency strengthen by one kopiyka .

Hryvnia weakens to U.S. dollar on Sept 21
11:45, 19.09.20 1142
The official forex rate against the euro for Monday is fixed at UAH 33.35 per euro.
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unian--2020-09-19--Ukraine reports over 3,200 new COVID-19 cases on Sept 19

The death toll is 3,516 with 48 fatalities recorded in the past day .
Ukraine said 3,240 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of September 19 , 2020 .
The total number of confirmed cases grew to 172,712 , as seen on the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council .
As many as 76,754 patients , including 1,268 in the past day , have recovered .
The death toll is 3,516 with 48 fatalities recorded in the past day .
There were 92,442 active cases as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been 237,045 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020 .
Read alsoNo need to be tested for COVID-19 after self-isolation period – health ministerThe highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in the city of Kyiv ( 400 cases ) , Ternopil region ( 311 ) , Odesa region ( 281 ) , Lviv region ( 260 ) , and Kharkiv region ( 200 ) .
• The adaptive quarantine was introduced on August 1 .
The Ukrainian regions were split into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red zones depending on hospital bed occupancy , the average number of PCR and ELISA tests , the ascertainment rate of COVID-19 , and daily spread dynamics .
• Quarantine-related curbs differ in each zone .
The mildest ones are in the green zone , the regions included in the red zone will have to introduce the toughest restrictions .
• On August 26 , the Cabinet of Ministers extended the adaptive quarantine until November 1 .
• On September 10 , the government reviewed the borders of COVID-19 quarantine zones .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , September 14 .
Kyiv became part of the orange zone , with the second-toughest bans after the red zone .
• Health Minister Maksym Stepanov says the ministry has no plans to introduce a new lockdown in Ukraine yet .

The death toll is 3,516 with 48 fatalities recorded in the past day.
Ukraine said 3,240 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of September 19, 2020.
The total number of confirmed cases grew to 172,712, as seen on the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council.
As many as 76,754 patients, including 1,268 in the past day, have recovered.
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The death toll is 3,516 with 48 fatalities recorded in the past day.
There were 92,442 active cases as of September 19. In total, there have been 237,045 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.
Read alsoNo need to be tested for COVID-19 after self-isolation period – health ministerThe highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in the city of Kyiv (400 cases), Ternopil region (311), Odesa region (281), Lviv region (260), and Kharkiv region (200).
Quarantine in Ukraine: background


unian--2020-09-19--Number of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 30.5 mln

The overall death toll is 951,787 people , while 20,779,174 coronavirus patients have already recovered .
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 30.5 million patients as of September 19 .
Read alsoHealthcare spending to grow unprecedentedly in 2021 – finance ministerAs many as 30,500,368 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 08:22on September 19 , 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 951,787 people , while 20,779,174 coronavirus patients have already recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States ( 198,589 people ) , Brazil ( 135,793 ) , India ( 85,619 ) , Mexico ( 72,803 ) , the United Kingdom ( 41,821 ) , Italy ( 35,668 ) , and France ( 31,257 ) .
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States ( 6,724,667 confirmed cases ) , India ( 5,308,014 ) , Brazil ( 4,495,183 ) , Russia ( 1,086,955 ) , Colombia ( 750,471 ) , Peru ( 750,098 ) , Mexico ( 688,954 ) , and South Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 188 countries have been affected by the virus .

The overall death toll is 951,787 people, while 20,779,174 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 30.5 million patients as of September 19.
Read alsoHealthcare spending to grow unprecedentedly in 2021 – finance ministerAs many as 30,500,368 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 08:22 on September 19, 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 951,787 people, while 20,779,174 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
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The highest death toll was recorded in the United States (198,589 people), Brazil (135,793), India (85,619), Mexico (72,803), the United Kingdom (41,821), Italy (35,668), and France (31,257).
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States (6,724,667 confirmed cases), India (5,308,014), Brazil (4,495,183), Russia (1,086,955), Colombia (750,471), Peru (750,098), Mexico (688,954), and South Africa (657,627).
As many as 188 countries have been affected by the virus.


unian--2020-09-19--OSCE monitors report active traffic in border areas in Donbas outside Ukraine government's control

In particular , the SMM observed 30 cars , including 15 with 'DPR ' plates .
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission ( SMM ) to Ukraine has reported active traffic in border areas controlled by the so-called `` Donetsk People 's Republic '' ( `` DPR '' ) in Donbas , eastern Ukraine , outside the Ukrainian government 's control .
`` While at a border crossing point near Marynivka ( 78km east of Donetsk ) , the SMM observed 30 cars ( including 15 with 'DPR ' plates ) , a covered truck with 'DPR ' plates ( cargo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including two with 'DPR ' plates ) , a bus with 'DPR ' plates carrying about 50 passengers ( mixed genders and ages ) , and four pedestrians ( two women and two men in their thirties and forties ) entering Ukraine , '' the OSCE SMM said in its daily report for September 17 .
The mission also observed 14 cars ( including six with `` DPR '' plates ) , three covered trucks ( including two with `` DPR '' plates ) ( cargo not observed ) , a mini-van with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with `` DPR '' plates carrying about 50 passengers ( mixed genders and ages ) , and three pedestrians ( one woman in her forties and two men in their thirties and forties ) queuing to enter Ukraine .
• In early June 2014 , the Marynivka crossing point was under Ukrainian border guards ' control .
But on June 5 , 2014 , the Vostok illegal armed formation attempted to seize that section of the Ukrainian-Russian border .
This was the first large-scale battle near Marynivka , which lasted for 16 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to hold the positions , but later , on July 26 , `` DPR '' -controlled illegal armed formations seized the crossing point .
• In June 2018 , a trailer was deployed there for inspections of agricultural plant shipments ( seeds , grain , mineral fertilizers , etc . )
, and in August 2018 , the area was fenced with barbed wire .

In particular, the SMM observed 30 cars, including 15 with 'DPR' plates.
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has reported active traffic in border areas controlled by the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, outside the Ukrainian government's control.
"While at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk), the SMM observed 30 cars (including 15 with 'DPR' plates), a covered truck with 'DPR' plates (cargo not observed), three mini-vans (including two with 'DPR' plates), a bus with 'DPR' plates carrying about 50 passengers (mixed genders and ages), and four pedestrians (two women and two men in their thirties and forties) entering Ukraine," the OSCE SMM said in its daily report for September 17.
Read alsoUkrainian military neutralize enemy UAV in Donbas
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The mission also observed 14 cars (including six with "DPR" plates), three covered trucks (including two with "DPR" plates) (cargo not observed), a mini-van with "DPR" plates, a bus with "DPR" plates carrying about 50 passengers (mixed genders and ages), and three pedestrians (one woman in her forties and two men in their thirties and forties) queuing to enter Ukraine.
Background information


unian--2020-09-19--Ukrainian military neutralize enemy UAV in Donbas

Ukrainian sappers have cleared over 7 hectares in the front-line area and handed for disposal 82 explosive objects found in the JFO zone .
The Ukrainian military have neutralized an enemy UAV in Donbas , eastern Ukraine .
`` Since Saturday midnight , one violation of [ the latest ceasefire ] agreements [ by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone ] that entered into force on July 27 has been recorded .
An enemy UAV was spotted crossing the contact line near the village of Vodiane , '' Ukraine 's Defense Ministry said on its website in an evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 19 .
Read alsoDonbas war update : Russia-led forces attack Ukraine positions near Vodiane , Novotoshkivske on FridayThe drone was suppressed by Ukrainian electronic warfare means .
No ceasefire violations were reported along the contact line , the report said .
In addition , Ukrainian sappers have cleared over 7 hectares in the front-line area and handed for disposal 82 explosive objects found in the Joint Forces Operation ( JFO ) zone .
JFO rescuers are also engaged in the restoration of residential buildings and infrastructure damaged in artillery shelling of previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past day .
Works on 31 other sites are underway .
• 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 .
• The new ceasefire regime was enforced at 00:01 Kyiv time on July 27 .
• On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce , Russia 's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reported more such violations over the latest period .

Ukrainian sappers have cleared over 7 hectares in the front-line area and handed for disposal 82 explosive objects found in the JFO zone.
The Ukrainian military have neutralized an enemy UAV in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.
"Since Saturday midnight, one violation of [the latest ceasefire] agreements [by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone] that entered into force on July 27 has been recorded. An enemy UAV was spotted crossing the contact line near the village of Vodiane," Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on its website in an evening update as of 17:00 Kyiv time on September 19.
Read alsoDonbas war update: Russia-led forces attack Ukraine positions near Vodiane, Novotoshkivske on FridayThe drone was suppressed by Ukrainian electronic warfare means.
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No ceasefire violations were reported along the contact line, the report said.
In addition, Ukrainian sappers have cleared over 7 hectares in the front-line area and handed for disposal 82 explosive objects found in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone.
JFO rescuers are also engaged in the restoration of residential buildings and infrastructure damaged in artillery shelling of previous years. They repaired 10 houses in the past day. Works on 31 other sites are underway.
Donbas ceasefire: background


unian--2020-09-19--Belarusian police detain dozens of female protesters in Minsk – media

Black uniformed riot police swiftly forced hundreds of women , who had stood with linked hands , into police vans .
Belarusian police have detained hundreds of female protesters in Minsk , as several thousand women marched through the capital demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko .
Mass protests challenging the results of an August 9 presidential election that declared Lukashenko the landslide winner have swept across Belarus over the past month , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ( RFE/RL ) reported .
Thousands of people have been detained and beaten by police , while nearly all the opposition 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country or been arrested in a widening crackdown .
Several thousand women marched in central Minsk on September 19 , briefly scuffling with riot police , who then blocked their path .
Black uniformed riot police swiftly forced hundreds of women , who had stood with linked hands , into police vans .
`` We wo n't forget !
We wo n't forgive ! ''
shouted the women , who were carrying red-and-white flags and banners , a symbol of the opposition that has been banned by the authorities .
Drivers passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protesters .
Read alsoWomen 's peace march , students ' protests take place in Minsk ( Photo ) The demonstration was the latest women 's march calling for Lukashenko , who has been in power for 26 years , to resign after what the opposition and the West have called a rigged election .
On September 12 , hundreds of women marched through Minsk , confronting masked riot police and security agents .
The Interior Ministry said 114 people had been detained around the country , 99 of them in the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of Belarus 's most prominent opposition leaders are women , including exiled presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and detained members of the Coordination Council like Maria Kolesnikova and Lilia Vlasova .
In a statement released ahead of the march , Tikhanovskaya , who has taken refuge in neighboring Lithuania , praised the `` brave women of Belarus . ''
`` They are marching despite being constantly menaced and put under pressure , '' she said .
Among those arrested on September 19 was Nina Bahinskaya , a 73-year-old great-grandmother and prominent opposition activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bahinskaya has cut a frail but resolute figure amid the crowds protesting against Lukashenka .

Black uniformed riot police swiftly forced hundreds of women, who had stood with linked hands, into police vans.
Belarusian police have detained hundreds of female protesters in Minsk, as several thousand women marched through the capital demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko.
Mass protests challenging the results of an August 9 presidential election that declared Lukashenko the landslide winner have swept across Belarus over the past month, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported.
Thousands of people have been detained and beaten by police, while nearly all the opposition's key leaders have been forced to leave the country or been arrested in a widening crackdown.
Видео дня
Several thousand women marched in central Minsk on September 19, briefly scuffling with riot police, who then blocked their path.
Black uniformed riot police swiftly forced hundreds of women, who had stood with linked hands, into police vans.
"We won't forget! We won't forgive!" shouted the women, who were carrying red-and-white flags and banners, a symbol of the opposition that has been banned by the authorities.
Others chanted, "Long live Belarus!" and, "Shame!"
Drivers passing by sounded their horns in solidarity with the protesters.
Read alsoWomen's peace march, students' protests take place in Minsk (Photo)The demonstration was the latest women's march calling for Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, to resign after what the opposition and the West have called a rigged election.
On September 12, hundreds of women marched through Minsk, confronting masked riot police and security agents.
The Interior Ministry said 114 people had been detained around the country, 99 of them in the capital, in connection with those demonstrations.
Many of Belarus's most prominent opposition leaders are women, including exiled presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and detained members of the Coordination Council like Maria Kolesnikova and Lilia Vlasova.
In a statement released ahead of the march, Tikhanovskaya, who has taken refuge in neighboring Lithuania, praised the "brave women of Belarus."
"They are marching despite being constantly menaced and put under pressure," she said.
Among those arrested on September 19 was Nina Bahinskaya, a 73-year-old great-grandmother and prominent opposition activist.
Despite unprecedented police brutality against protesters, Bahinskaya has cut a frail but resolute figure amid the crowds protesting against Lukashenka.


unian--2020-09-19--Four Ukrainian regions ready for quarantine easing – health ministry

Meanwhile , 21 Ukrainian regions are not ready for lifting COVID-19 curbs .
Ukrainian Health Ministry says only four Ukrainian regions are ready for the easing of the quarantine-related restrictions , as the incidence of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases there is below the limit .
Read alsoKyiv mayor reports 400 new COVID-19 cases , eight fatalities in past dayIn particular , the incidence of reported COVID-19 cases per 100 000 population in the last 14 days allows lifting certain curbs imposed by the government as part of the lockdown in Dnipropetrovsk , Kirovohrad , Poltava and Kherson regions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of September 19 .
Meanwhile , 21 Ukrainian regions are not ready for lifting COVID-19 curbs .
The highest incidence rates were recorded in Chernivtsi region , Ternopil region , Ivano-Frankivsk region , Kharkiv region , and the city of Kyiv .
All other indicators , that is the bed occupancy in hospitals and the rate of testing within seven days do not exceed the limit there .
On the morning of September 19 , the highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in Kyiv ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine was introduced on August 1 .
The Ukrainian regions were split into the green , yellow , orange , and red zones depending on hospital load , the average number of PCR and ELISA tests , the ascertainment rate of COVID-19 , and daily spread dynamics .
• Quarantine-related curbs differ in each zone .
The mildest ones are in the green zone , the regions included in the red zone will have to introduce the toughest restrictions .
• On August 26 , the Cabinet of Ministers extended the adaptive quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 , the government reviewed the borders of COVID-19 quarantine zones .
The reviewed zoning regulations will take effect on Monday , September 14 .
Kyiv became part of the orange zone , with the second-toughest bans after the red zone .
• Health Minister Maksym Stepanov says the ministry has no plans to introduce a new lockdown in Ukraine yet .

Meanwhile, 21 Ukrainian regions are not ready for lifting COVID-19 curbs.
Ukrainian Health Ministry says only four Ukrainian regions are ready for the easing of the quarantine-related restrictions, as the incidence of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases there is below the limit.
Read alsoKyiv mayor reports 400 new COVID-19 cases, eight fatalities in past dayIn particular, the incidence of reported COVID-19 cases per 100 000 population in the last 14 days allows lifting certain curbs imposed by the government as part of the lockdown in Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Poltava and Kherson regions, according to the ministry's updated data as of September 19.
Meanwhile, 21 Ukrainian regions are not ready for lifting COVID-19 curbs. The highest incidence rates were recorded in Chernivtsi region, Ternopil region, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Kharkiv region, and the city of Kyiv.
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All other indicators, that is the bed occupancy in hospitals and the rate of testing within seven days do not exceed the limit there.
On the morning of September 19, the highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in Kyiv (400 cases).
Quarantine in Ukraine: background


unian--2020-09-19--COVID-19: Ukraine updates list of red, green zone countries

Since August 1 , Ukraine has changed its approach to the formation of the list of red and green zone countries in terms of the spread of coronavirus .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry has updated the list of countries in terms of the level of coronavirus spread and corresponding travel restrictions applied .
Read alsoQuarantine introduced in Ukraine saves many lives – senior health officialThe relevant list of countries with information on the number of active COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of September 19 has been posted on the ministry 's website .
So far , the list includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them two weeks ago – in particular , the U.S. , the Republic of Moldova , Brazil , Colombia , Israel , the Czech Republic , France , Luxembourg , Spain , Argentina , and other countries .
The list includes such countries as Romania , Austria , Germany , Estonia , Belgium , Portugal , Great Britain , Russia , Tunisia , Italy , Poland , Serbia , Cyprus , China , Japan , etc .
Since August 1 , Ukraine has changed its approach to the formation of the list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of the spread of coronavirus .
Now the European system is applied according to two indicators , namely the increase in new COVID-19 patients and the total percentage of COVID-19 patients .
A country belongs to the red zone if the growth rate of COVID-19 patients in the past 14 days exceeds that in Ukraine and if the percentage of people infected with coronavirus in a particular country in the past 14 days , compared to the previous two weeks , exceeds 30 % .

Since August 1, Ukraine has changed its approach to the formation of the list of red and green zone countries in terms of the spread of coronavirus.
Ukraine's Health Ministry has updated the list of countries in terms of the level of coronavirus spread and corresponding travel restrictions applied.
Read alsoQuarantine introduced in Ukraine saves many lives – senior health officialThe relevant list of countries with information on the number of active COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of September 19 has been posted on the ministry's website.
Red zone
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So far, the list includes 47 countries – whereas there were 50 of them two weeks ago – in particular, the U.S., the Republic of Moldova, Brazil, Colombia, Israel, the Czech Republic, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Argentina, and other countries.
Green zone
The list includes such countries as Romania, Austria, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, Portugal, Great Britain, Russia, Tunisia, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Cyprus, China, Japan, etc.
Zoning
Since August 1, Ukraine has changed its approach to the formation of the list of red and green zone countries in terms of the spread of coronavirus. Now the European system is applied according to two indicators, namely the increase in new COVID-19 patients and the total percentage of COVID-19 patients.
A country belongs to the red zone if the growth rate of COVID-19 patients in the past 14 days exceeds that in Ukraine and if the percentage of people infected with coronavirus in a particular country in the past 14 days, compared to the previous two weeks, exceeds 30%.


unian--2020-09-19--Elections in occupied Donbas possible only after complete de-occupation – Yermak

It is the Verkhovna Rada that will deal with changes to the resolution on local elections across Ukraine Head of the President 's Office Andriy Yermak has said the holding of elections in the temporarily uncontrolled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Donbas ( eastern Ukraine ) is possible only after their complete de-occupation and settlement of all security issues , as well as those related to human rights .
The comment came during a `` Freedom of Speech by Savik Shuster '' panel show on Ukraine TV channel on September 18 , as reported by the President 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obligations to revise ban on local elections in Donbas – YermakYermak stressed that only the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , will deal with changes to the resolution on local elections across Ukraine , in terms of their holding in Donbas .
`` Neither politicians in Ukraine , let alone politicians from the outside , can promise something and say that something will be adopted , '' he said .
`` When we held a meeting in Berlin [ on September 11 ] , I informed the representatives of the Normandy Four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Russia ] that the Verkhovna Rada had indeed registered a resolution on amendments to the resolution on holding local elections .
It was submitted by MP [ Oleksandr ] Kachura that day .
So , it is the Verkhovna Rada that will make a decision on when it [ the document ] will be presented in the session hall to decide its fate , '' he said .
The official believes that the decision `` should be made in accordance with the interests of the state , as well as obligations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I think all Ukrainians are already accustomed to the fact that everything that President Zelensky promises , he fulfills .
Therefore , I have no doubt that during his tenure , Zelensky will end this war , '' Yermak added .
• Russia sees the Minsk agreements as tools with which to break Ukraine ` s sovereignty .
Its interpretation reverses key elements in the sequence of actions : elections in occupied Donbas would take place before Ukraine had reclaimed control of the border ; this would be followed by comprehensive autonomy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crippling the central authorities in Kyiv .
Ukraine would be unable to govern itself effectively or orient itself towards the West , according to Chatham House .
• On July 15 , 2020 , the Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution scheduling local elections across Ukraine for October 25 .
Legislators note that the elections in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas shall not be scheduled or held .
On August 19 , at a meeting of the delegates to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement , Ukraine 's delegation chief , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team members of the appeal he had submitted to the Verkhovna Rada to consider the issue of the resolution 's compliance with Law `` On a special procedure for local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions '' and a Package of Measures for the implementation of Minsk agreements .
• On August 20 , journalist Serhiy Harmash , another member of Ukraine 's delegation representing certain areas of Donetsk region , opined that by `` leaking '' to the media a document demanding to cancel the decision of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , makes it impossible to fulfill the requirement or even put the relevant question before Parliament .
Harmash believes that in this way Russia has deliberately driven the settlement process into a dead end , thus blocking a meeting of advisors to the Normandy Four ( Ukraine , Germany , France , and Russia ) leaders earlier scheduled for late August .
• On the same day , Kravchuk said that Russia was blocking the TCG work with a demand to repeal the resolution of the Verkhovna Rada on the impossibility of holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the TCG meeting on August 19 , he said , representatives of the Russian Federation and their proxy forces in Donbas stated that they `` do not object to the elections being held throughout Ukraine , '' but demand that the paragraph on the impossibility of voting in the occupied territories be repealed .
• On September 11 , Berlin hosted a meeting of political advisors to the leaders of the Normandy Four member states .
According to the Office of the President of Ukraine , the advisors supported Kyiv 's call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas .

It is the Verkhovna Rada that will deal with changes to the resolution on local elections across Ukraine
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak has said the holding of elections in the temporarily uncontrolled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Donbas (eastern Ukraine) is possible only after their complete de-occupation and settlement of all security issues, as well as those related to human rights.
The comment came during a "Freedom of Speech by Savik Shuster" panel show on Ukraine TV channel on September 18, as reported by the President's Office on its website.
Read alsoNo obligations to revise ban on local elections in Donbas – YermakYermak stressed that only the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, will deal with changes to the resolution on local elections across Ukraine, in terms of their holding in Donbas.
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"Neither politicians in Ukraine, let alone politicians from the outside, can promise something and say that something will be adopted," he said.
"When we held a meeting in Berlin [on September 11], I informed the representatives of the Normandy Four [Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia] that the Verkhovna Rada had indeed registered a resolution on amendments to the resolution on holding local elections. It was submitted by MP [Oleksandr] Kachura that day. So, it is the Verkhovna Rada that will make a decision on when it [the document] will be presented in the session hall to decide its fate," he said.
The official believes that the decision "should be made in accordance with the interests of the state, as well as obligations and the norms of international law."
"I think all Ukrainians are already accustomed to the fact that everything that President Zelensky promises, he fulfills. Therefore, I have no doubt that during his tenure, Zelensky will end this war," Yermak added.
Idea of local elections in occupied territories: background


unian--2020-09-20--Kyiv mayor reports 343 new COVID-19 cases, four fatalities in past day

The total death toll in the city is 316 cases .
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases in the city rose by 343 in the past day .
According to the city mayor , 181 women aged 19 to 82 and 133 men aged 19 to 84 are among those infected .
Seventeen girls ( from two to 17 years old ) and 12 boys ( from 25 days to 16 years old ) have tested positive .
Read alsoHealth minister names Ukrainian regions with highest daily COVID-19 spikeKlitschko said 42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest are self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision .
He added that 31 people had recovered in the past day .
In total , 5,859 Kyiv residents have already recovered .
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district ( 58 ) , Desniansky district ( 57 ) , and Obolonsky district ( 50 ) .
The total death toll in the city is 316 cases .
• Ukraine said 2,966 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .
• The total number of confirmed cases grew to 175,678 .

The total death toll in the city is 316 cases.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the city rose by 343 in the past day.
"In the past day, another 343 residents of Kyiv tested positive for coronavirus, including eight healthcare workers. There were four fatalities," Klitschko reported via Telegram on September 20.
"As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 19,483."
According to the city mayor, 181 women aged 19 to 82 and 133 men aged 19 to 84 are among those infected.
Seventeen girls (from two to 17 years old) and 12 boys (from 25 days to 16 years old) have tested positive.
Read alsoHealth minister names Ukrainian regions with highest daily COVID-19 spikeKlitschko said 42 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest are self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision.
He added that 31 people had recovered in the past day.
In total, 5,859 Kyiv residents have already recovered.
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district (58), Desniansky district (57), and Obolonsky district (50).
The total death toll in the city is 316 cases.
COVID-19 in Ukraine: latest


unian--2020-09-20--Week's balance: Cabinet submits budget draft to Rada, Zelensky promises "human" salaries and pension

Week's balance: Cabinet submits budget draft to Rada, Zelensky promises "human" salaries and pensions, while hryvnia keeps weakening

The Cabinet of Ministers submitted to parliament the draft state budget for 2021 , which provides for a budget deficit of 6 % of GDP , President Zelensky promised Ukrainians to raise salaries and pensions to the `` human level '' , while the hryvnia continued to lose ground – these are the key economic developments of the outgoing week .
This week kicked off the process of passing the law on the state budget for 2021 .
It is obvious that the work on the budget in the year of the acute economic crisis will be very difficult .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved the draft law `` On the State Budget of Ukraine '' , while two ministers – of health and environmental protection – refused to support the document .
On Friday , Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko presented the bill to the Verkhovna Rada , and parliamentarians accepted it for consideration , with some sharp criticism on the part of people 's deputies .
The government proposes to set state budget revenues in 2021 at UAH 1.071 trillion , expenditures – at UAH 1.350 trillion , and the maximum deficit – at UAH 270 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestic product .
The draft state budget for 2021 is built on a very bold forecast of GDP growth at 4.6 % , as well as a 7.3 % inflation , an average annual hryvnia rate of UAH 29.1 to the dollar and an average monthly salary of UAH 13,600 .
In the meantime , in the first half of 2020 , the Ukrainian economy fell by 6.5 % due to the coronavirus crisis , and the government expected a 6 % drop in GDP by the end of 2020 .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , who can give guarantees that next year the country 's economy will be able to reach a growth level of 4.6 % , especially since the `` storm '' in the global economy is only gaining momentum , and many countries have begun to return again to a tough quarantine option ?
Presenting to the deputies the draft 2021 Budget , Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko called it `` realistic and balanced . ''
According to the minister , the main priorities are raising the minimum wage to UAH 6,500 , ensuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allocating funds to fight the coronavirus , including for vaccinations .
The document also provides for financing the government 's priority program `` Big Construction '' .
The security and defense budget will amount to UAH 267.2 billion , or 5.93 % of GDP against the current 5.45 % .
The bill also proposes to allocate UAH 4.2 billion to support Ukrainian farmers .
To fight the main challenge of today – the COVID-19 pandemic – the government laid down UAH 19.4 billion , of which UAH 2.6 billion will go for vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state budget for 2021 provides for expenditures of UAH 2 billion for one of the president 's main programs , `` Affordable loans 5-7-9 . ''
It also provides for the allocation of UAH 10 billion for portfolio guarantees , according to which the state will cover part of the loans that are issued to small and medium-sized businesses .
A significant part of budget expenditures , UAH599 billion , will go to repay and service the state debt , of which UAH 439 billion will be used to pay off the debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service it .
Experts and a number of politicians did not share the government 's optimism .
The main complaint is the huge budget deficit , which will have to be covered by new expensive loans .
According to the deputy director of the Center for Economic Strategy , Maria Repko , in the current situation of the global economic crisis , it would be more logical to have a budget deficit within 3 % .
`` Financing such a deficit would mean building up public debt , and that debt would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be enough cheap funds from institutional creditors to cover it , while we still need to pay off debts of past years .
With such debts , the total need for financing will amount to more than UAH 555 billion , or approximately $ 20 billion , '' the expert noted .
Yaroslav Zheleznyak , first deputy head of the parliamentary committee for finance , tax and customs policy , sees the submitted project as a `` wastefulness or survival '' budget .
Also , he compared the government to `` an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people give them money . ''
`` Our state will spend UAH 270 billion more than it earns next year .
This means that we are going into debt again .
This means that our children and we will have to pay back in the coming years by having taxes and different tariffs raised , our salaries and spending on teachers lowered .
This means that we live in debt , '' MP stressed .
Svitlana Mikhailovska , Deputy Director of the European Business Association , noted that business regrets to see some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also , businesses are interested in the sources the government plans to use to fill the budget .
After all , there are warnings that taxes will increase on businesses , which seems completely illogical in the times of crisis , when entrepreneurs are already struggling to stay afloat .
Last week , President Volodymyr Zelensky promised that in a few years Ukraine will reach an adequate , `` human '' level of wages and pensions , `` even if it will be very difficult , hard for us . ''
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that the 2021 budget set a task to increase salaries for scientists , teachers , medics , and , as far as possible , pensioners .
Also , in the outgoing week , the government approved March 1 as the date of the annual indexation of pensions .
`` We envisage that pensions will be indexed for more than 9 million pensioners but approximately 8 million pensioners will receive an increase , '' said Minister of Social Policy Maryna Lazebnaya .
Last week , Deputy Prime Minister , Minister of Digital Transformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TOP3 of the world leaders in terms of data openness , just in three years .
According to him , the Ministry of Digital Industry is now working on creating a relevant portal .
`` I really want it to be in English as well .
So that investors can see and analyze information , '' he said .
In addition , the Ministry of Digital Development plans to launch a national project on the elimination of useless paperwork for citizens to get public services , and in October – to present an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for e-documents .
The application will feature over 10 new electronic and mobile services .
In particular , the Ministry of Finance plans to introduce the possibility of online registration of a new place of residence and automatic notification of military enlistment offices if a potential draftee moves to another place of residence .
Moreover , by the end of the year or early next year , it is planned to introduce an automatic service of registration of an individual entrepreneur in the Diia application .
`` So that after citizens apply , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the registration of an individual entrepreneur , making changes to his entrepreneurship status or canceling it , '' said Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksiy Vyskub .
In the outgoing week , the hryvnia continued its weakening .
As a result , on Monday , September 21 , the National Bank set the official hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 28.17 per dollar , down by another 6 kopiykas .
Head of the NBU Council , Bohdan Danylyshyn , considers the situation on the national currency market predictable , being closely monitored by NBU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last days of summer on the interbank market , the demand for non-cash foreign currency on the part of bank clients has increased , which may indicate higher devaluation expectations among businesses amid the uncertainty with the COVID-19 spread and the possibility of new bans being set in Ukraine .
In the medium term , the head of the NBU Council believes , the depreciation of the hryvnia will have a positive effect on leveling the balance of trade in goods .
According to Danylyshyn , the National Bank has so far refrained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interbank forex market .
However , if necessary , it will provide a sufficient supply of foreign currency to balance supply and demand .
Next week , President Zelensky will continue his working trips around the country , while the State Statistics Service will report on the results of the industrial performance in August .
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The Cabinet of Ministers submitted to parliament the draft state budget for 2021, which provides for a budget deficit of 6% of GDP, President Zelensky promised Ukrainians to raise salaries and pensions to the "human level", while the hryvnia continued to lose ground – these are the key economic developments of the outgoing week.
This week kicked off the process of passing the law on the state budget for 2021. It is obvious that the work on the budget in the year of the acute economic crisis will be very difficult.
On Monday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft law "On the State Budget of Ukraine", while two ministers – of health and environmental protection – refused to support the document.
On Friday, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko presented the bill to the Verkhovna Rada, and parliamentarians accepted it for consideration, with some sharp criticism on the part of people's deputies.
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The government proposes to set state budget revenues in 2021 at UAH 1.071 trillion, expenditures – at UAH 1.350 trillion, and the maximum deficit – at UAH 270 billion, or 6% of gross domestic product.
The draft state budget for 2021 is built on a very bold forecast of GDP growth at 4.6%, as well as a 7.3% inflation, an average annual hryvnia rate of UAH 29.1 to the dollar and an average monthly salary of UAH 13,600.
In the meantime, in the first half of 2020, the Ukrainian economy fell by 6.5% due to the coronavirus crisis, and the government expected a 6% drop in GDP by the end of 2020. Now, taking into account the indicators of September 2020, who can give guarantees that next year the country's economy will be able to reach a growth level of 4.6% , especially since the "storm" in the global economy is only gaining momentum, and many countries have begun to return again to a tough quarantine option?
"Realistic and balanced"
Presenting to the deputies the draft 2021 Budget, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko called it "realistic and balanced." According to the minister, the main priorities are raising the minimum wage to UAH 6,500, ensuring high-quality education, affordable healthcare, and allocating funds to fight the coronavirus, including for vaccinations.
The document also provides for financing the government's priority program "Big Construction". The security and defense budget will amount to UAH 267.2 billion, or 5.93% of GDP against the current 5.45%. The bill also proposes to allocate UAH 4.2 billion to support Ukrainian farmers. To fight the main challenge of today – the COVID-19 pandemic – the government laid down UAH 19.4 billion, of which UAH 2.6 billion will go for vaccine purchases.
In addition, the draft state budget for 2021 provides for expenditures of UAH 2 billion for one of the president's main programs, "Affordable loans 5-7-9."
It also provides for the allocation of UAH 10 billion for portfolio guarantees, according to which the state will cover part of the loans that are issued to small and medium-sized businesses.
A significant part of budget expenditures, UAH599 billion, will go to repay and service the state debt, of which UAH 439 billion will be used to pay off the debt, and UAH 160.5 billion – to service it.
Criticism by businesses and experts
Experts and a number of politicians did not share the government's optimism. The main complaint is the huge budget deficit, which will have to be covered by new expensive loans.
According to the deputy director of the Center for Economic Strategy, Maria Repko, in the current situation of the global economic crisis, it would be more logical to have a budget deficit within 3%.
"Financing such a deficit would mean building up public debt, and that debt would be expensive. After all, there will not be enough cheap funds from institutional creditors to cover it, while we still need to pay off debts of past years. With such debts, the total need for financing will amount to more than UAH 555 billion, or approximately $20 billion," the expert noted.
Yaroslav Zheleznyak, first deputy head of the parliamentary committee for finance, tax and customs policy, sees the submitted project as a "wastefulness or survival" budget. Also, he compared the government to "an alcoholic who keeps borrowing as long as people give them money."
"Our state will spend UAH 270 billion more than it earns next year. This means that we are going into debt again. This means that our children and we will have to pay back in the coming years by having taxes and different tariffs raised, our salaries and spending on teachers lowered. This means that we live in debt," MP stressed.
Svitlana Mikhailovska, Deputy Director of the European Business Association, noted that business regrets to see some of the norms laid in the budget. Also, businesses are interested in the sources the government plans to use to fill the budget. After all, there are warnings that taxes will increase on businesses, which seems completely illogical in the times of crisis, when entrepreneurs are already struggling to stay afloat.
"Human" salaries and pensions
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky promised that in a few years Ukraine will reach an adequate, "human" level of wages and pensions, "even if it will be very difficult, hard for us."
During his trip to Lviv region, Zelensky noted that the 2021 budget set a task to increase salaries for scientists, teachers, medics, and, as far as possible, pensioners.
Also, in the outgoing week, the government approved March 1 as the date of the annual indexation of pensions. "We envisage that pensions will be indexed for more than 9 million pensioners but approximately 8 million pensioners will receive an increase," said Minister of Social Policy Maryna Lazebnaya.
Opening data and dealing with useless documents
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov promised to put Ukraine into TOP3 of the world leaders in terms of data openness, just in three years. According to him, the Ministry of Digital Industry is now working on creating a relevant portal.
"I really want it to be in English as well. So that investors can see and analyze information," he said.
In addition, the Ministry of Digital Development plans to launch a national project on the elimination of useless paperwork for citizens to get public services, and in October – to present an updated version of the Diia mobile application for e-documents. The application will feature over 10 new electronic and mobile services.
In particular, the Ministry of Finance plans to introduce the possibility of online registration of a new place of residence and automatic notification of military enlistment offices if a potential draftee moves to another place of residence. Moreover, by the end of the year or early next year, it is planned to introduce an automatic service of registration of an individual entrepreneur in the Diia application.
"So that after citizens apply, the system automatically makes a decision on the registration of an individual entrepreneur, making changes to his entrepreneurship status or canceling it," said Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksiy Vyskub.
Hryvnia slide
In the outgoing week, the hryvnia continued its weakening. As a result, on Monday, September 21, the National Bank set the official hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 28.17 per dollar, down by another 6 kopiykas.
Head of the NBU Council, Bohdan Danylyshyn, considers the situation on the national currency market predictable, being closely monitored by NBU experts. He says that in the last days of summer on the interbank market, the demand for non-cash foreign currency on the part of bank clients has increased, which may indicate higher devaluation expectations among businesses amid the uncertainty with the COVID-19 spread and the possibility of new bans being set in Ukraine.
In the medium term, the head of the NBU Council believes, the depreciation of the hryvnia will have a positive effect on leveling the balance of trade in goods. According to Danylyshyn, the National Bank has so far refrained from interventions to sell foreign currency on the interbank forex market. However, if necessary, it will provide a sufficient supply of foreign currency to balance supply and demand.
Next week, President Zelensky will continue his working trips around the country, while the State Statistics Service will report on the results of the industrial performance in August.
Oleksandr Kunytsky