unian--2020-12-16--PS752 downing: Canada releases report on crash of Ukraine plane in Iran

Canada expresses support for Ukraine and demands fair compensation to the families of the victims .
Canada has released its report on Ukraine International Airlines ( UIA ) flight PS752 shot down near Tehran , Iran , on January 8 .
In a 74-page report , Canada expresses support for Ukraine and demands that Iran offer fair compensation to the families of the victims , according to Ukraine 24 TV channel .
`` Canada will continue to work vigorously with the International Coordination and Response Group to hold Iran accountable for the downing of PS752 and find some measure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the victims , their grieving families and the affected states , '' the report says .
It says Canada is also committed to expressing its concerns about what happened to PS752 in all appropriate international forums to reflect the angst of the families and help prevent conditions and behaviors such as those that `` rendered the skies over Tehran that fateful morning so very dangerous . ''
Read alsoFurther talks with Iran depend on plane crash data Tehran hands over – MFA officialWhat is more , the report mentions Canada 's Safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immediate aftermath of PS752 , demonstrating Canada 's commitment to global aviation safety , the affected families and the broader international community .
The report also hourly describes the reaction of the Canadian government to the information about the downing of the passenger plane near Tehran and puts a number of questions the Iranian side must answer .
• On January 8 , 2020 , Kyiv-bound Boeing 737 passenger jet flight PS752 , operated by Ukraine International Airlines , crashed in Iran shortly after takeoff from Tehran Airport .
• All 176 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationals – nine crew and two passengers – were killed .
Among victims are also citizens of Iran , Canada , Sweden , Afghanistan , Germany , and the UK .
• Iranian President Hassan Rouhani admitted that the Ukrainian liner had been shot down as a result of an unintentional `` human error , '' and promised to bring those responsible to justice .
• On June 9 , media reports said Iran had accused six persons in the PS752 downing case .
• On July 20 , the flight recorders were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 .
• On July 24 , it was reported that data from the black boxes had confirmed external interference with the aircraft 's operation .
• On July 29-30 , Kyiv hosted the first round of negotiations with Iran regarding compensation to relatives of the PS752 victims .
• On July 31 , Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba briefed on three major achievements of the negotiations with the Iranian delegation on compensations .
In particular , Iran joined in the negotiation process to establish all the circumstances of the disaster , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle all necessary payments .
Iran also agreed to fulfill all its obligations under international conventions in the field of aviation .
At the same time , there is no answer yet to the question of the size of the compensation .
• On October 23 , Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Yenin said Iran would pay compensation to the relatives of victims of the Ukraine International Airlines ( UIA ) flight PS752 crash , but the process might last up to two years .

Canada expresses support for Ukraine and demands fair compensation to the families of the victims.
Canada has released its report on Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS752 shot down near Tehran, Iran, on January 8.
In a 74-page report, Canada expresses support for Ukraine and demands that Iran offer fair compensation to the families of the victims, according to Ukraine 24 TV channel.
"Canada will continue to work vigorously with the International Coordination and Response Group to hold Iran accountable for the downing of PS752 and find some measure of justice by pursuing full reparations from Iran for the victims, their grieving families and the affected states," the report says.
It says Canada is also committed to expressing its concerns about what happened to PS752 in all appropriate international forums to reflect the angst of the families and help prevent conditions and behaviors such as those that "rendered the skies over Tehran that fateful morning so very dangerous."
Read alsoFurther talks with Iran depend on plane crash data Tehran hands over – MFA officialWhat is more, the report mentions Canada's Safer Skies Strategy, which was launched in the immediate aftermath of PS752, demonstrating Canada's commitment to global aviation safety, the affected families and the broader international community.
The report also hourly describes the reaction of the Canadian government to the information about the downing of the passenger plane near Tehran and puts a number of questions the Iranian side must answer.
PS752 downing in Iran: Background


unian--2020-12-16--Number of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 73.5 mln

The overall death toll is 1,635,995 people , while 41,640,585 coronavirus patients have already recovered .
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 73.5 million patients as of December 16 .
Read alsoCOVAX approves over 8 mln doses of free COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine , official saysAs many as 73,510,718 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:26 on December 16 , according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering ( CSSE ) at Johns Hopkins University .
The overall death toll is 1,635,995 people , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The highest death toll was recorded in the United States ( 303,849 people ) , Brazil ( 182,799 ) , India ( 144,096 ) , Mexico ( 115,099 ) , Italy ( 65,857 ) , the United Kingdom ( 65,006 ) , and France ( 59,182 ) .
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States ( 16,724,753 confirmed cases ) , India ( 9,932,547 ) , Brazil ( 6,970,034 ) , Russia ( 2,682,866 ) , France ( 2,447,406 ) , Turkey ( 1,898,447 ) , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many as 191 countries have been affected by the virus .

The overall death toll is 1,635,995 people, while 41,640,585 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 73.5 million patients as of December 16.
Read alsoCOVAX approves over 8 mln doses of free COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine, official saysAs many as 73,510,718 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:26 on December 16, according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
The overall death toll is 1,635,995 people, while 41,640,585 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
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The highest death toll was recorded in the United States (303,849 people), Brazil (182,799), India (144,096), Mexico (115,099), Italy (65,857), the United Kingdom (65,006), and France (59,182).
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States (16,724,753 confirmed cases), India (9,932,547), Brazil (6,970,034), Russia (2,682,866), France (2,447,406), Turkey (1,898,447), and the United Kingdom (1,893,436).
As many as 191 countries have been affected by the virus.


unian--2020-12-16--Donbas war escalation: Ukraine reports 11 ceasefire violations on Dec 15

No casualties were reported in the past day .
The Command of Ukraine 's Armed Forces has reported 11 violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Tuesday , December 15 .
`` In the past day , December 15 , the Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire 11 times , '' the press center of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation ( JFO ) Command wrote on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on December 16 , 2020 .
In particular , enemy troops fired automatic and under-barrel grenade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the town of Avdiyivka .
Also , they opened fire with grenade launchers of various systems and automatic rifles near the villages of Opytne and Vodiane .
Read alsoRada extends law on Donbas special status for another yearWhat is more , two ceasefire violations were recorded near the village of Shumy where the enemy fired automatic and under-barrel grenade launchers , and rifles .
No casualties were reported in the past day .
Since Wednesday midnight , one ceasefire violation by the Russian occupation forces was recorded near Vodiane where they fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shots posed no threat to the lives and health of Ukrainian soldiers so the Joint Forces did not return fire , the JFO HQ said .
The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military .
• Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group ( Ukraine , Russia , and the OSCE ) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday , July 27 .
• On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas , eastern Ukraine .
Ukraine has reported more such violations over the latest period .

No casualties were reported in the past day.
The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported 11 violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Tuesday, December 15.
"In the past day, December 15, the Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire 11 times," the press center of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Command wrote on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on December 16, 2020.
In particular, enemy troops fired automatic and under-barrel grenade launchers, and small arms four times near the town of Avdiyivka. Also, they opened fire with grenade launchers of various systems and automatic rifles near the villages of Opytne and Vodiane.
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Read alsoRada extends law on Donbas special status for another yearWhat is more, two ceasefire violations were recorded near the village of Shumy where the enemy fired automatic and under-barrel grenade launchers, and rifles.
No casualties were reported in the past day.
Since Wednesday midnight, one ceasefire violation by the Russian occupation forces was recorded near Vodiane where they fired heavy mounted and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers.
The shots posed no threat to the lives and health of Ukrainian soldiers so the Joint Forces did not return fire, the JFO HQ said.
The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military.
Donbas ceasefire: Background


unian--2020-12-16--Over 10,600 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine as of Dec 16

The total number of confirmed cases grew to 919,704 .
Ukraine said 10,622 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of December 16 , 2020 .
The total number of confirmed cases grew to 919,704 as of December 16 , 2020 , according to the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council .
As many as 535,417 patients , including 12,549 in the past day , have recovered .
The death toll has hit 15,744 with 264 fatalities recorded in the past 24 hours .
Read alsoUkraine may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb 2021 – health ministerThe government reported 368,543 active cases as of December 16 .
In total , there have been 1,014,861 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020 .
`` In the past day , 10,622 people tested positive for the coronavirus , including 501 children and 579 healthcare workers .
Some 3,242 new patients were hospitalized , '' Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov wrote on Facebook on Wednesday .
In total , 63,445 tests were conducted in the country in the past day .
In particular , there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests run , as well as 22,705 ELISA ( enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ) tests .
The highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered the city of Kyiv ( 1,858 ) , Odesa region ( 861 ) , Zaporizhia region ( 801 ) , Kyiv region ( 705 ) , and Lviv region ( 600 ) .
The overall incidence per region is as follows : • 95,160 cases in the city of Kyiv ; Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luhansk regions – is not available .

The total number of confirmed cases grew to 919,704.
Ukraine said 10,622 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of December 16, 2020.
The total number of confirmed cases grew to 919,704 as of December 16, 2020, according to the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council.
As many as 535,417 patients, including 12,549 in the past day, have recovered.
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The death toll has hit 15,744 with 264 fatalities recorded in the past 24 hours.
Read alsoUkraine may receive first batch of COVID-19 vaccines in Feb 2021 – health ministerThe government reported 368,543 active cases as of December 16. In total, there have been 1,014,861 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.
"In the past day, 10,622 people tested positive for the coronavirus, including 501 children and 579 healthcare workers. Some 3,242 new patients were hospitalized," Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
In total, 63,445 tests were conducted in the country in the past day. In particular, there were 40,740 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests run, as well as 22,705 ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests.
The highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered the city of Kyiv (1,858), Odesa region (861), Zaporizhia region (801), Kyiv region (705), and Lviv region (600).
The overall incidence per region is as follows:
95,160 cases in the city of Kyiv;
63,178 in Kharkiv region;
59,974 in Odesa region;
54,833 in Lviv region;
50,316 in Dnipropetrovsk region;
50,040 in Kyiv region;
43,835 in Zaporizhia region;
41,082 in Ivano-Frankivsk region;
37,266 in Chernivtsi region;
36,974 in Rivne region;
36,251 in Sumy region;
35,157 in Khmelnytsky region;
34,611 in Zhytomyr region;
32,803 in Cherkasy region;
31,581 in Ternopil region;
30,466 in Poltava region;
30,466 in Donetsk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts);
28,923 in Volyn region;
26,432 in Zakarpattia region;
25,330 in Chernihiv region;
24,749 in Mykolaiv region;
20,093 in Vinnytsia region;
14,643 in Kherson region;
8,166 in Luhansk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts); and
7,375 in Kirovohrad region.
Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is not available.


unian--2020-12-16--Reuters: Oil prices ease on surprise build in U.S. inventory, demand worries

Brent crude futures fell 11 cents , or 0.2 % , to $ 50.65 a barrel at 0421 GMT , while U.S. West Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude futures fell 9 cents , or 0.2 % , to $ 47.53 a barrel .
Oil prices dropped on Wednesday on a surprise gain in crude oil inventories in the United States and as investors continued to worry about demand for fuel being squeezed amid tighter lockdowns in Europe to counter the coronavirus pandemic .
Brent crude futures fell 11 cents , or 0.2 % , to $ 50.65 a barrel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude futures fell 9 cents , or 0.2 % , to $ 47.53 a barrel , as reported by Reuters .
Crude inventories swelled by 2 million barrels in the week to December 11 to about 495 million barrels , according to industry group API .
Read alsoGas imports to be minimizedAnalysts had expected a draw of 1.9 million barrels , according to a Reuters poll .
Official government data was scheduled for Wednesday .
The rollout of vaccines this month to combat the coronavirus pandemic will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil demand , International Energy Agency ( IEA ) warned on Tuesday .
The IEA revised down its estimates for oil demand this year by 50,000 barrels per day ( bpd ) and for next year by 170,000 bpd , citing scarce jet fuel use as fewer people travel by air .
• Imports over 11 months down by almost 11 % , exports – by 3.5 %

Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $50.65 a barrel at 0421 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 9 cents, or 0.2%, to $47.53 a barrel.
Oil prices dropped on Wednesday on a surprise gain in crude oil inventories in the United States and as investors continued to worry about demand for fuel being squeezed amid tighter lockdowns in Europe to counter the coronavirus pandemic.
Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $50.65 a barrel at 0421 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 9 cents, or 0.2%, to $47.53 a barrel, as reported by Reuters.
Crude inventories swelled by 2 million barrels in the week to December 11 to about 495 million barrels, according to industry group API.
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Read alsoGas imports to be minimizedAnalysts had expected a draw of 1.9 million barrels, according to a Reuters poll. Official government data was scheduled for Wednesday.
The rollout of vaccines this month to combat the coronavirus pandemic will not quickly reverse the destruction wrought on global oil demand, International Energy Agency (IEA) warned on Tuesday.
The IEA revised down its estimates for oil demand this year by 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) and for next year by 170,000 bpd, citing scarce jet fuel use as fewer people travel by air.
More news reports


unian--2020-12-16--Kuleba: Updated UNGA resolution contributes to setting up Crimean Platform

The resolution clearly defines the illegitimacy of Russian bodies and officials in Crimea and fixes that they should be considered only as `` occupation authorities of the Russian Federation . ''
The updated version of the UN General Assembly Resolution `` Situation of Human Rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol , Ukraine '' will contribute to setting up the Crimean Platform on the peninsula 's deoccupation , says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba .
This year , the resolution 's provisions have been `` significantly strengthened , '' Kuleba said in a statement published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution clearly defines the `` illegitimacy of the bodies and officials of the Russian Federation in Crimea '' in the context of strengthening the international policy of non-recognition of the attempted annexation of Crimea .
`` It has been stated for the first time at the UN level , that such officials should be considered only as 'occupation authorities of the Russian Federation ' . ''
The document also states that Russia does not fulfill its international obligations in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law .
It is noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after its occupation by Russia has decreased significantly , in particular due to the fact that Russia is a party to fewer relevant international treaties than Ukraine .
The General Assembly emphasizes that Russia imposes unnecessary and disproportionate restrictive measures in Crimea under the pretext of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic , intensifying repressions against the population , in particular by involving the FSB .
Read alsoUNGA adopts resolution on human rights situation in occupied CrimeaThe UN General Assembly does not stay away from the problem of releasing unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 and April 2020 of persons detained by the occupying Power in Donbas , the resolution emphasizes the need to release all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin , mentioning Emir-Usein Kuku and Server Mustafayev . ''
At the same time , the resolution introduces the term `` citizen journalists . ''
The document provides details of the disruptive economic activities of the Russian Federation , which deplete the natural resources of the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula .
The resolution recognizes the problem of Russia blocking the access of Crimean residents to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the religious rights of our fellow citizens .
Russia is deliberately obstructing the possibility of preserving national identity , imposing change of citizenship , in particular by restricting land ownership .
In this context , the UN General Assembly calls on the Russian Federation to ensure unhindered and full access to Crimea for international monitoring missions , in particular the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the OSCE SMM .
As Kuleba notes , the resolution calls for enhanced cooperation within international frameworks on Crimea to compel Russia , as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under international humanitarian law .
• EU prolongs Russia sanctions over Crimea for six months – journalist

The resolution clearly defines the illegitimacy of Russian bodies and officials in Crimea and fixes that they should be considered only as "occupation authorities of the Russian Federation."
The updated version of the UN General Assembly Resolution "Situation of Human Rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, Ukraine" will contribute to setting up the Crimean Platform on the peninsula's deoccupation, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
This year, the resolution's provisions have been "significantly strengthened," Kuleba said in a statement published on MFA Ukraine's website.
"The new elements reflect numerous facts of gross human rights violations on the temporarily occupied peninsula," he noted.
The resolution clearly defines the "illegitimacy of the bodies and officials of the Russian Federation in Crimea" in the context of strengthening the international policy of non-recognition of the attempted annexation of Crimea. "It has been stated for the first time at the UN level, that such officials should be considered only as 'occupation authorities of the Russian Federation'."
The document also states that Russia does not fulfill its international obligations in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law. It is noted that the level of human rights in Crimea after its occupation by Russia has decreased significantly, in particular due to the fact that Russia is a party to fewer relevant international treaties than Ukraine.
The General Assembly emphasizes that Russia imposes unnecessary and disproportionate restrictive measures in Crimea under the pretext of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying repressions against the population, in particular by involving the FSB.
Read alsoUNGA adopts resolution on human rights situation in occupied CrimeaThe UN General Assembly does not stay away from the problem of releasing unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens: "Taking note of the release in December 2019 and April 2020 of persons detained by the occupying Power in Donbas, the resolution emphasizes the need to release all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin, mentioning Emir-Usein Kuku and Server Mustafayev."
At the same time, the resolution introduces the term "citizen journalists."
The document provides details of the disruptive economic activities of the Russian Federation, which deplete the natural resources of the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. The resolution recognizes the problem of Russia blocking the access of Crimean residents to the Ukrainian education system and the violation of the religious rights of our fellow citizens. Russia is deliberately obstructing the possibility of preserving national identity, imposing change of citizenship, in particular by restricting land ownership.
"All this is a conscious policy of the occupying Power to change the demographic composition of the peninsula, which is a war crime," the statement reads.
In this context, the UN General Assembly calls on the Russian Federation to ensure unhindered and full access to Crimea for international monitoring missions, in particular the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the OSCE SMM.
As Kuleba notes, the resolution calls for enhanced cooperation within international frameworks on Crimea to compel Russia, as an occupying Power, to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law.
"The adopted document will facilitate, in particular, the implementation of the Ukrainian initiative to create the Crimean Platform," the statement concludes.
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unian--2020-12-16--Production of meat, milk and eggs on decline

Since year-start , Ukraine has produced 8.67 million tonnes of milk and 3.02 million tonnes of meat .
The volume of milk production in Ukraine in January-November 2020 amounted to 8.67 million tonnes , which is 4.2 % below the figure recorded in the same period last year .
That 's according to the State Statistics Service .
At the same time , households reduced milk production by 5.9 % , while farms increased it by 0.5 % .
Read alsoHarvest 2020 : Challenge for farmers , rising food pricesAccording to stats agency , production of eggs over the 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 15.163 billion pieces , having dropped both at farms and in households .
Meat production for the reporting period slid by 0.9 % , to 3.02 million tonnes .
At the same time , meat production at livestock farms increased by 0.6 % , while households reduced it by 4 % .
The State Statistics Service says milk production in Ukraine at the end of 2019 decreased by 3.7 % and fell below 10 million tonnes , to 9.68 million tonnes , for the first time in the history of independent Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production in 2019 increased by 4.8 % , to 3.47 million tonnes , and eggs – by 3.4 % , to 16.6 billion pieces .

Production of meat, milk and eggs on decline
23:15, 16.12.20 2295
Since year-start, Ukraine has produced 8.67 million tonnes of milk and 3.02 million tonnes of meat.
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unian--2020-12-16--Almost half of Ukrainians name Zelensky "year's disappointment"

At the same time , most of respondents named the president Politician of 2020 .
Local elections were the year 's main political event in Ukraine , while President Volodymyr Zelensky was recognized politician of the year , that 's according to a survey by the Razumkov Center .
`` The main political event of 2020 in Ukraine , as seen by its citizens , is the local election ( 33 % of respondents named it to an open-ended question ) , while most of those who named the event ( 54 % ) consider it positive , and only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poll seen by UNIAN .
Read alsoFive political parties get most support in local electionsAlso , 23 % of Ukrainians called the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restriction measures ( quarantine and lockdown ) as a political event of the year ( almost all respondents , 95 % , interpret the event as negative ) .
Another 4.5 % of respondents named the decision of the Constitutional Court to abolish anti-corruption laws , 3 % named the adoption of the law on farmland market , 3 % – the Donbas truce , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline in living standards , 2 % – higher gas and utility bills , 2 % – prisoner swap , and 1 % – war in Donbas .
Other events did not pass the 1 % threshold , while 20 % of respondents could not name a single event , '' sociologists note .
Ukrainians named the U.S. elections ( 29 % ) and the COVID-19 epidemic and related anti-epidemic measures ( 27.5 % ) as the main political events of 2020 globally .
Half ( 49.5 % ) of those who called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it positive , and only 9 % see it as a negative event , while 96 % of those who named the COVID-19 epidemic as the main event interpret it as negative .
10 % of respondents named the elections in Belarus the main event of the year globally , 5 % named the war in Nagorno-Karabakh , 2 % – global economic crisis , and 1.5 % – manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine .
Some 18 % of respondents could not name a single event ( at the end of last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single significant event in the world in 2019 ) .
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was recognized as politician of the year .
A total of 20 % of respondents named him , although the figure is significantly lower than at the end of last year ( 46 % ) .
Another 10 % of the respondents named Petro Poroshenko , 5 % voted for Yuriy Boyko , 4 % – for Viktor Medvedchuk , 3 % – for Dmytro Razumkov , 3 % – for Yulia Tymoshenko , 2 % – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Volodymyr Groysman , while 36.5 % could not name a single top politician ( in 2019 , it was 24 % ) .
Despite the fact that 20 % of respondents named Zelensky politician of the year , 42 % said the president was this year 's main disappointment .
Another 10 % consider Poroshenko to be the main disappointment , 2 % voted for Viktor Medvedchuk , Denys Shmyhal , Yulia Tymoshenko , Oleh Lyashko , and Oleksiy Honcharuk , and 1 % – for Sviatoslav Vakarchuk .
Another 5 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 % could not name a political figure that disappointed them most .

At the same time, most of respondents named the president Politician of 2020.
Local elections were the year's main political event in Ukraine, while President Volodymyr Zelensky was recognized politician of the year, that's according to a survey by the Razumkov Center.
"The main political event of 2020 in Ukraine, as seen by its citizens, is the local election (33% of respondents named it to an open-ended question), while most of those who named the event (54%) consider it positive, and only 11% – negative," says the poll seen by UNIAN.
Read alsoFive political parties get most support in local electionsAlso, 23% of Ukrainians called the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restriction measures (quarantine and lockdown) as a political event of the year (almost all respondents, 95%, interpret the event as negative).
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Another 4.5% of respondents named the decision of the Constitutional Court to abolish anti-corruption laws, 3% named the adoption of the law on farmland market, 3% – the Donbas truce, 2% – economic crisis and the decline in living standards, 2% – higher gas and utility bills, 2% – prisoner swap, and 1% – war in Donbas. Other events did not pass the 1% threshold, while 20% of respondents could not name a single event," sociologists note.
Ukrainians named the U.S. elections (29%) and the COVID-19 epidemic and related anti-epidemic measures (27.5%) as the main political events of 2020 globally.
Half (49.5%) of those who called the U.S. elections the main event consider it positive, and only 9% see it as a negative event, while 96% of those who named the COVID-19 epidemic as the main event interpret it as negative.
10% of respondents named the elections in Belarus the main event of the year globally, 5% named the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, 2% – global economic crisis, and 1.5% – manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine.
Some 18% of respondents could not name a single event (at the end of last year, 51% of respondents could not recall a single significant event in the world in 2019).
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was recognized as politician of the year. A total of 20% of respondents named him, although the figure is significantly lower than at the end of last year (46%). Another 10% of the respondents named Petro Poroshenko, 5% voted for Yuriy Boyko, 4% – for Viktor Medvedchuk, 3% – for Dmytro Razumkov, 3% – for Yulia Tymoshenko, 2% – for Vitaly Klitschko, 2% – for Volodymyr Groysman, while 36.5% could not name a single top politician (in 2019, it was 24%).
Despite the fact that 20% of respondents named Zelensky politician of the year, 42% said the president was this year's main disappointment. Another 10% consider Poroshenko to be the main disappointment, 2% voted for Viktor Medvedchuk, Denys Shmyhal, Yulia Tymoshenko, Oleh Lyashko, and Oleksiy Honcharuk, and 1% – for Sviatoslav Vakarchuk.
Another 5% expressed frustration with all politicians, while 17% could not name a political figure that disappointed them most.


unian--2020-12-16--Prosecutors seek to initiate Yanukovych's extradition from Russia

However , such a request must be accompanied by a copy of the arrest warrant , so the prosecutors insist that the judges sign it .
Ukrainian prosecutors intend to initiate extradition of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych from Russia , an UNIAN correspondent reported from a court hearing in Kyiv .
The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv is considering the prosecutors ' motion to put Viktor Yanukovych into custody as a measure of restraint .
`` Article 575 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides for an extradition motion , '' the rapporteur prosecutor said .
`` And the prosecution is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the warrant of the investigating judge or court on the putting a person into custody is required to this end , if such extradition aims at bringing the person to criminal responsibility , '' said the prosecutor .
Read alsoYanukovych still on wanted list despite custody warrant lift in one of casesYanukovych trial Viktor Yanukovych is suspected of organizing persecution and murder of participants in mass protests in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on February 18-20 , 2014 , through abuse of power .
On May 12 , the Pechersk District Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put Yanukovych into custody without the right to bail .
On November 16 , the Kiev Court of Appeal overturned Yanukovych 's arrest in absentia as part of an investigation into the Maidan massacres .
Repealing the ruling of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv 's judge , the Court of Appeal proceeded from the fact that `` the prosecutor proved the fact that Yanukovych was put on international wanted list . ''
The Court also ordered that the first instance court consider the investigator 's motion to select a restrictive measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 9 , the Court started considering the said motion .
On January 24 , 2019 , the Obolon District Court of Kyiv in the trial in absentia found Yanukovych guilty of high treason and complicity in the conduct of an aggressive war , sentencing him to 13 years in prison .
At the same time , the court did not recognize as proven his guilt in encroaching on the territorial integrity of Ukraine .
Yanukovych did not participate in the trial .
Since fleeing Ukraine in February 2014 , he has been @ @ @ @

However, such a request must be accompanied by a copy of the arrest warrant, so the prosecutors insist that the judges sign it.
Ukrainian prosecutors intend to initiate extradition of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych from Russia, an UNIAN correspondent reported from a court hearing in Kyiv.
The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv is considering the prosecutors' motion to put Viktor Yanukovych into custody as a measure of restraint.
"Article 575 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides for an extradition motion," the rapporteur prosecutor said. "And the prosecution is going to initiate it. A copy of the warrant of the investigating judge or court on the putting a person into custody is required to this end, if such extradition aims at bringing the person to criminal responsibility," said the prosecutor.
Read alsoYanukovych still on wanted list despite custody warrant lift in one of casesYanukovych trial
Viktor Yanukovych is suspected of organizing persecution and murder of participants in mass protests in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on February 18-20, 2014, through abuse of power.
On May 12, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv granted the prosecutors' motion to put Yanukovych into custody without the right to bail.
On November 16, the Kiev Court of Appeal overturned Yanukovych's arrest in absentia as part of an investigation into the Maidan massacres. Repealing the ruling of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv's judge, the Court of Appeal proceeded from the fact that "the prosecutor proved the fact that Yanukovych was put on international wanted list."
The Court also ordered that the first instance court consider the investigator's motion to select a restrictive measure in the form of arrest.
On December 9, the Court started considering the said motion.
On January 24, 2019, the Obolon District Court of Kyiv in the trial in absentia found Yanukovych guilty of high treason and complicity in the conduct of an aggressive war, sentencing him to 13 years in prison.
At the same time, the court did not recognize as proven his guilt in encroaching on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Yanukovych did not participate in the trial.
Since fleeing Ukraine in February 2014, he has been staying in Russia.


unian--2020-12-16--Ukraine's appeal on Nations League's Switzerland match forfeiture registered in CAS

A Panel of arbitrators will be appointed within the next days .
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ( CAS ) has registered the appeal filed by the Ukrainian Association of Football against UEFA and the Swiss Football Association The appeal is directed against the decision taken by the UEFA Appeals Body on November 25 , 2020 , in which the Nations League match between Switzerland and Ukraine , set to be played in Lucerne on November 17 , was declared forfeited 3-0 by Ukraine , CAS wrote in a media release .
The decision has put on Ukraine responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In its appeal to the CAS , Ukraine requests that the challenged decision `` be set aside '' and that the match in question `` be rescheduled '' or , subsidiarily , that the decision to call the match as forfeited `` be cancelled and that the outcome of the match be decided by drawing of lots . ''
Read alsoUkraine contesting UEFA 's decision on relegation from League of Nations ' top tierThe CAS arbitration procedure is now in progress , the press release has noted .
`` The parties are exchanging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be appointed within the next days , '' CAS wrote .
Prior to the match , Eduard Sobol ( defender ) , Yevhen Makarenko ( midfielder ) , and Dmytro Riznyk ( goalkeeper ) tested positive for COVID-19 .
On the morning of November 17 , three more football players and a coach received their positive results of coronavirus tests .
The chief medical officer of Lucerne decided to put the Ukrainian national team in quarantine .
UEFA tried to negotiate the possibility of holding the match with the Swiss side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Switzerland – Ukraine match was officially canceled .
On November 18 , the UAF announced that they did not see the fault of the Ukrainian national team for the cancellation of the match .
Read alsoUkraine to face France , Finland , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Kazakhstan at 2022 World CupThe Switzerland – Ukraine match was decisive for the teams in the fight to maintain their positions in League A , as Ukraine had 6 points , and Switzerland had 3 .
Now the Swiss became third , and the Ukrainian national @ @ @ @ @ @

A Panel of arbitrators will be appointed within the next days.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered the appeal filed by the Ukrainian Association of Football against UEFA and the Swiss Football Association
The appeal is directed against the decision taken by the UEFA Appeals Body on November 25, 2020, in which the Nations League match between Switzerland and Ukraine, set to be played in Lucerne on November 17, was declared forfeited 3-0 by Ukraine, CAS wrote in a media release.
The decision has put on Ukraine responsibility for the match not taking place.
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"On the day of the match, the health authorities in Lucerne decided to place the entire UAF delegation into mandatory quarantine, with the consequence that the match could not take place as originally scheduled," the statement recalls.
In its appeal to the CAS, Ukraine requests that the challenged decision "be set aside" and that the match in question "be rescheduled" or, subsidiarily, that the decision to call the match as forfeited "be cancelled and that the outcome of the match be decided by drawing of lots."
Read alsoUkraine contesting UEFA's decision on relegation from League of Nations' top tierThe CAS arbitration procedure is now in progress, the press release has noted.
"The parties are exchanging written submissions and a Panel of arbitrators will be appointed within the next days," CAS wrote.
Cancellation of Switzerland-Ukraine match
Prior to the match, Eduard Sobol (defender), Yevhen Makarenko (midfielder), and Dmytro Riznyk (goalkeeper) tested positive for COVID-19. On the morning of November 17, three more football players and a coach received their positive results of coronavirus tests.
The chief medical officer of Lucerne decided to put the Ukrainian national team in quarantine. UEFA tried to negotiate the possibility of holding the match with the Swiss side, but failed.
As a result, the Switzerland – Ukraine match was officially canceled.
On November 18, the UAF announced that they did not see the fault of the Ukrainian national team for the cancellation of the match.
Read alsoUkraine to face France, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan at 2022 World CupThe Switzerland – Ukraine match was decisive for the teams in the fight to maintain their positions in League A, as Ukraine had 6 points, and Switzerland had 3. Now the Swiss became third, and the Ukrainian national team left the elite division.


unian--2020-12-16--UNGA adopts resolution on human rights situation in occupied Crimea

A total of 64 countries have backed the updated text of the resolution , 23 countries voted against it , and 86 abstained .
The UN General Assembly at a plenary session on December 16 adopted the resolution on the situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea occupied by the Russian Federation .
The Chair has declared the relevant decision at the meeting broadcast on the UN website .
A total of 64 countries have backed the updated text of the resolution , 23 countries voted against it , and 86 abstained .
Countries that voted against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Russia 's draft resolution on glorification of Stalin 's regimeThe key element of the new resolution is the call on the international community to strengthen pressure on Russia to make Moscow fulfill its international obligations as an occupying power .
The United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA ) on December 7 backed the updated draft resolution titled : `` Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol , Ukraine , as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Crimea by the Russian Federation as the occupying power remains in the spotlight of the international community .
The transformation of Crimea into a huge military base is considered as a direct threat to security and stability in the region , MFA Ukraine has noted .
The resolution condemns Russia 's ongoing occupation of Crimea and stresses that it constitutes a threat to international security .
The resolution affirms that the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and is a violation of international law , thus the occupied territories must be @ @ @ @ @ @

A total of 64 countries have backed the updated text of the resolution, 23 countries voted against it, and 86 abstained.
The UN General Assembly at a plenary session on December 16 adopted the resolution on the situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea occupied by the Russian Federation.
The Chair has declared the relevant decision at the meeting broadcast on the UN website.
A total of 64 countries have backed the updated text of the resolution, 23 countries voted against it, and 86 abstained.
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Countries that voted against the resolution
Angola, Armenia, Belarus, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Philippines, Serbia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
Read alsoUkraine at UNGA votes against Russia's draft resolution on glorification of Stalin's regimeThe key element of the new resolution is the call on the international community to strengthen pressure on Russia to make Moscow fulfill its international obligations as an occupying power.
UN stance on Crimea: Background
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 7 backed the updated draft resolution titled: "Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov."
The adopted resolution indicates that the militarization of Crimea by the Russian Federation as the occupying power remains in the spotlight of the international community. The transformation of Crimea into a huge military base is considered as a direct threat to security and stability in the region, MFA Ukraine has noted.
The resolution condemns Russia's ongoing occupation of Crimea and stresses that it constitutes a threat to international security.
The resolution affirms that the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and is a violation of international law, thus the occupied territories must be immediately returned back to Ukraine.


unian--2020-12-16--Biden to be tough on Russia – Kasparov

Biden to be tough on Russia – Kasparov

The politician believes that under the new president , Washington 's sanctions on Moscow will become clearer and deeper .
The new Presidential Administration in the United States , set to be led by President-elect Joe Biden , will support Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia , while Washington 's foreign policy toward the Kremlin will be rather tough , believes Garry Kasparov , a Russian politician and former chess champion .
Under Biden , Kasparov told a Ukrainian news outlet Obozrevatel , Russia sanctions will become clearer and deeper .
`` No thawing or reset should be expected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough , while sanctions against Putin 's entourage will be of a more outlined and deep nature .
In this regard , Ukraine can be objectively satisfied with the results of the U.S. elections , '' Kasparov stressed .
At the same time , he adds , the position of the Biden Administration , like many in America , is focused on letting Ukraine solve its own issues .
Help in the fight against Russia will indeed be provided , the politician suggests , once the currently unresolved issues have been settled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with military aid to Ukraine , sanctions against Nord Stream 2Biden on Ukraine , Russia : Background U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has discussed the issue of Ukraine with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel .
A Ukrainian expert , Director of International Center for Countering Russian Propaganda Yuriy Kochevenko , expects U.S. policy to deter Russia may become more clear-cut amid Biden 's presidency .
Also , UNIAN has looked into Biden 's nominee for the post of secretary of state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views on Ukraine and Russian aggression against its neighbor .

The politician believes that under the new president, Washington's sanctions on Moscow will become clearer and deeper.
The new Presidential Administration in the United States, set to be led by President-elect Joe Biden, will support Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia, while Washington's foreign policy toward the Kremlin will be rather tough, believes Garry Kasparov, a Russian politician and former chess champion.
Under Biden, Kasparov told a Ukrainian news outlet Obozrevatel, Russia sanctions will become clearer and deeper.
"No thawing or reset should be expected. The policy towards Russia will be quite tough, while sanctions against Putin's entourage will be of a more outlined and deep nature. In this regard, Ukraine can be objectively satisfied with the results of the U.S. elections," Kasparov stressed.
At the same time, he adds, the position of the Biden Administration, like many in America, is focused on letting Ukraine solve its own issues. Help in the fight against Russia will indeed be provided, the politician suggests, once the currently unresolved issues have been settled.
Read alsoU.S. Senate approves 2021 NDAA with military aid to Ukraine, sanctions against Nord Stream 2Biden on Ukraine, Russia: Background
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has discussed the issue of Ukraine with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel.
A Ukrainian expert, Director of International Center for Countering Russian Propaganda Yuriy Kochevenko, expects U.S. policy to deter Russia may become more clear-cut amid Biden's presidency.
Also, UNIAN has looked into Biden's nominee for the post of secretary of state, Antony Blinken, to find out his views on Ukraine and Russian aggression against its neighbor.


unian--2020-12-16--Czech man on trial for siding with terrorists in Donbas

The suspect `` took part in battles against the Ukrainian military intending to inflict wounds or kill them . ''
The Czech Republic 's prosecutor 's office has accused a Karlovy Vary-based male resident of partaking in terrorist activity in eastern Ukraine 's Donbas .
He is now facing up to 16 years in prison , Ukraine 's Ambassador to the Czech Republic , Yevhen Perebyinis , wrote on Facebook .
Czech courts continue prosecuting the country 's citizens who took part in hostilities on Russia 's side in the occupied Donbas .
As noted in charge papers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and equipped by military formations of separatist structures , performed multiple military tasks , such as reconnaissance , guarding , and patrolling , and also took part in battles against the Ukrainian military with the intention of wounding or killing them . ''
Read alsoRussian diplomat arrested in Prague over illegal sniper ammunition dealThe suspect had been acting deliberately , prosecutors said , adding that he was wounded in action and spent several weeks in hospital .
The prosecutor emphasizes that the armed groups operating in the east of Ukraine can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organized violent crimes , which by their nature correspond to the definition of `` terrorist attack . ''
During the investigation , the suspect refused to testify , while the evidence available to the investigation , including photographs and videos he had made on his mobile phone are sufficient grounds for bringing the case to court .
“ In one of these videos , in the spirit of the overwhelming majority of Russian propaganda victims , he admits he has come to fight against 'Ukrainian fascists ' .
Russian brainwashing had a negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the testimony of his girlfriend , upon returning home , Lukash N. changed significantly – he became aggressive , suffered from nightmares , held a knife under his pillow overnight , and uttered sounds resembling those from horror films , which made him turn to psychiatrists , '' the envoy wrote .

The suspect "took part in battles against the Ukrainian military intending to inflict wounds or kill them."
The Czech Republic's prosecutor's office has accused a Karlovy Vary-based male resident of partaking in terrorist activity in eastern Ukraine's Donbas.
He is now facing up to 16 years in prison, Ukraine's Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Yevhen Perebyinis, wrote on Facebook.
Czech courts continue prosecuting the country's citizens who took part in hostilities on Russia's side in the occupied Donbas.
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"Among the latest suspects is Lukash N., 26, of Karlovy Vary, who in 2015-2016 fought against the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of illegal military groups," the ambassador wrote.
As noted in charge papers, the man "had been trained, armed, and equipped by military formations of separatist structures, performed multiple military tasks, such as reconnaissance, guarding, and patrolling, and also took part in battles against the Ukrainian military with the intention of wounding or killing them."
Read alsoRussian diplomat arrested in Prague over illegal sniper ammunition dealThe suspect had been acting deliberately, prosecutors said, adding that he was wounded in action and spent several weeks in hospital.
The prosecutor emphasizes that the armed groups operating in the east of Ukraine can be referred to as quasi-militarized units committing systematic organized violent crimes, which by their nature correspond to the definition of "terrorist attack."
During the investigation, the suspect refused to testify, while the evidence available to the investigation, including photographs and videos he had made on his mobile phone are sufficient grounds for bringing the case to court.
“In one of these videos, in the spirit of the overwhelming majority of Russian propaganda victims, he admits he has come to fight against 'Ukrainian fascists'. Russian brainwashing had a negative impact on this citizen's psyche. According to the testimony of his girlfriend, upon returning home, Lukash N. changed significantly – he became aggressive, suffered from nightmares, held a knife under his pillow overnight, and uttered sounds resembling those from horror films, which made him turn to psychiatrists," the envoy wrote.


unian--2020-12-17--Russia's Nord Stream 2 never be launched with new U.S. sanctions – U. S. Senator

The second wave of restrictive measures was prepared `` with surgical precision '' to prevent the completion of the project , the Senator believes .
U.S. Republican Senator Ted Cruz says Russia 's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will never be launched if the United States slaps new sanctions on the project .
That is according to the Ukrainian online news outlet Obozrevatel , referring to Cruz 's statement published by USA News Today on December 16 .
In particular , the Republican noted that the second wave of restrictive measures was prepared `` with surgical precision to prevent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read alsoU.S .
Senate approves 2021 NDAA with military aid to Ukraine , sanctions against Nord Stream 2Cruz says that sanctions are aimed at operations on the construction of the gas pipeline .
They affect the certification process and insurance companies .
`` This project , in my opinion , will never be launched and gas will never be launched through the pipeline , '' he said .
The Senator added that this is a `` definite signal '' for all international investors .
• Earlier , Bild reported that U.S. President-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Nord Stream 2 project .
• The norms contained in the 2021 U.S. defense budget provide for sanctions aimed at insurance and certification companies participating in the implementation of Russia 's Nord Stream 2 .
• In December last year , the U.S. Congress imposed sanctions on pipeline services to lay pipes for Nord Stream 2 at great depths .
As a result , the Swiss company which was building the pipeline halted works immediately .
Russia , on its part , has not given up efforts to find an alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A new package of sanctions against Nord Stream 2 is intended to make such attempts futile .
U.S. calls on EU , Germany to put halt on Nord Stream 2 construction • The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipeline branches with a total throughput capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany .
It should connect Russia 's Ust-Lug and Germany 's Greifswald .
This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 pipeline .
• The construction of the pipeline was expected to be completed before the end of 2019 .
• The pipeline will be 1,220 km long .
The project is being implemented by Russia 's Gazprom in alliance with European companies – ENGIE , OMV , Royal Dutch Shell , Uniper , and Wintershall .
Ukraine stands against the construction of Nord Stream 2 , as it will most likely lose its status of a gas transit country , while its potential revenue losses are estimated at US $ 3 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized by the U.S. , Poland , and the Baltic States .
• On July 15 , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that the participants in the Nord Stream 2 project would fall under the Countering America 's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act , CAATSA .
• On July 16 , the U.S. recommended that investment companies reconsider their participation in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project .
• On July 23 , the U.S. Senate approved the draft National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 , which , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2 .
• Ukraine 's Foreign Ministry welcomed the United States ' readiness to impose sanctions on investment companies involved in the completion of the project .
• Norway 's risk management and quality assurance firm DNV GL has suspended work on Nord Stream 2 on fears of being sanctioned by the United States .

The second wave of restrictive measures was prepared "with surgical precision" to prevent the completion of the project, the Senator believes.
U.S. Republican Senator Ted Cruz says Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will never be launched if the United States slaps new sanctions on the project.
That is according to the Ukrainian online news outlet Obozrevatel, referring to Cruz's statement published by USA News Today on December 16.
In particular, the Republican noted that the second wave of restrictive measures was prepared "with surgical precision to prevent the completion of construction" of the pipeline.
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Read alsoU.S. Senate approves 2021 NDAA with military aid to Ukraine, sanctions against Nord Stream 2Cruz says that sanctions are aimed at operations on the construction of the gas pipeline. They affect the certification process and insurance companies.
"This project, in my opinion, will never be launched and gas will never be launched through the pipeline," he said.
The Senator added that this is a "definite signal" for all international investors.
Background
Earlier, Bild reported that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden intended to put an end to the Nord Stream 2 project.
The norms contained in the 2021 U.S. defense budget provide for sanctions aimed at insurance and certification companies participating in the implementation of Russia's Nord Stream 2.
In December last year, the U.S. Congress imposed sanctions on pipeline services to lay pipes for Nord Stream 2 at great depths. As a result, the Swiss company which was building the pipeline halted works immediately. Russia, on its part, has not given up efforts to find an alternative ship to complete the pipelaying.
A new package of sanctions against Nord Stream 2 is intended to make such attempts futile.
Nord Stream 2: Memo


unian--2020-12-17--Zelensky tops rating of trust in politicians in Ukraine – poll

In particular , 43 % of the respondents trust in him vs 54 % who distrust .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tops the rating of trust in politicians in Ukraine .
In particular , 43 % of the respondents trust in him vs 54 % who distrust , according to a poll recently conducted by the Rating Sociological Group .
He is followed by Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko ( 32 % ) , former Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman ( 29 % ) , Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov ( 26 % ) , leader of the Batkivshchyna ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) , leader of the pro-Russian Opposition Bloc Party Yuriy Boyko ( 24 % ) , former President Petro Poroshenko ( 22 % ) , and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal ( 15 % ) .
Read alsoMost Ukrainians back lockdown from Jan 8 – pollAmong the main achievements of 2020 , the pollees noted the announcement of a ceasefire in Donbas ( 51 % ) , road construction ( 43 % ) , the release of National Guardsman Vitaliy Markiv from Italy 's jail ( 21 % ) , an agreement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain ( 17 % ) , the launch of the `` Affordable Loans 5-7-9 % '' program ( 14 % ) , the launch of the Diia app ( digital passport , driver 's license ) ( 13 % ) , as well as the decriminalization of gambling .
Local elections , the launch of the farmland market were mentioned by 5-9 % of the respondents .
At the same time , 13 % of the respondents believe no achievements were seen in Ukraine in 2020 .
• The poll was conducted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CATI ) using a random selection of cell numbers .
• The sample is representative of the adult population ( aged 18 and older ) .
• Some 2,500 respondents were polled in all regions of Ukraine except Crimea and other Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine , namely certain districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions .
• The margin of error does not exceed 2.0 % .

In particular, 43% of the respondents trust in him vs 54% who distrust.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tops the rating of trust in politicians in Ukraine.
In particular, 43% of the respondents trust in him vs 54% who distrust, according to a poll recently conducted by the Rating Sociological Group.
He is followed by Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko (32%), former Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman (29%), Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov (26%), leader of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) Party Yulia Tymoshenko (25%), leader of the pro-Russian Opposition Bloc Party Yuriy Boyko (24%), former President Petro Poroshenko (22%), and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (15%).
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Read alsoMost Ukrainians back lockdown from Jan 8 – pollAmong the main achievements of 2020, the pollees noted the announcement of a ceasefire in Donbas (51%), road construction (43%), the release of National Guardsman Vitaliy Markiv from Italy's jail (21%), an agreement on political and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Britain (17%), the launch of the "Affordable Loans 5-7-9%" program (14%), the launch of the Diia app (digital passport, driver's license) (13%), as well as the decriminalization of gambling. Local elections, the launch of the farmland market were mentioned by 5-9% of the respondents.
At the same time, 13% of the respondents believe no achievements were seen in Ukraine in 2020.
Mechanics of the poll


unian--2020-12-17--Rada appoints Shkarlet as Education Minister

The minimum number of lawmakers voted for Shkarlet 's candidacy .
The Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , has appointed Serhiy Shkarlet as Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine .
The relevant resolution was backed by 226 MPs , an UNIAN correspondent reported .
The minimum number of lawmakers voted for Shkarlet 's candidacy , which determines a positive result .
In particular , he was supported by 20 MPs from the Opposition Platform – for Life parliamentary faction , while only 171 MPs from the Servant of the People faction backed his candidacy .
Read alsoUkraine 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education , Science and Innovations did not support the candidacy of Serhiy Shkarlet for the post of Minister of Education and Science and recommended the session hall to decide .
• Shkarlet was born on October 19 , 1972 .
From 1989 until 1995 , he studied and graduated from Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute .
Between 1995 and 1997 , he studied accounting and auditing at the Chernihiv National University of Technology and in 1997 , at Academician Yuriy Bugay International Scientific and Technical University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lecturer at the Chernihiv National University of Technology .
• Since May 2010 , he had served as rector of Chernihiv State Technological University .
In June 2020 , Ukrainian media revealed that Shkarlet 's scientific works allegedly contained plagiarism .

The minimum number of lawmakers voted for Shkarlet's candidacy.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has appointed Serhiy Shkarlet as Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.
The relevant resolution was backed by 226 MPs, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
The minimum number of lawmakers voted for Shkarlet's candidacy, which determines a positive result. In particular, he was supported by 20 MPs from the Opposition Platform – for Life parliamentary faction, while only 171 MPs from the Servant of the People faction backed his candidacy.
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Read alsoUkraine's Rada accepts Veterans Affairs Minister's resignationYesterday, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovations did not support the candidacy of Serhiy Shkarlet for the post of Minister of Education and Science and recommended the session hall to decide.
Serhiy Shkarlet's biography


unian--2020-12-17--Putin: Russia to "build up support" for occupied Donbas

Putin said prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Ukraine largely depend on the Ukrainian authorities .
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will be `` building up support '' for occupied Donbas .
`` We , Russia , have supported Donbas , and will continue doing this .
We will even be building up our support for Donbas .
This applies both to the support for production , the solution of social issues , and infrastructure issues , etc.
, '' he said at an annual press conference on Thursday , December 17 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alsoDonbas war update : Ukraine reports three ceasefire violations on Dec 16At the same time , Putin said prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Ukraine largely depend on the Ukrainian authorities , rather than on him .
`` As for the prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Ukraine : this largely depends on the Ukrainian authorities , '' he said .
`` I wo n't say now – from Ukraine .
From the Ukrainian authorities , '' he added .
• NSDC Secretary says Ukraine should negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law on Donbas special status for another year

Putin said prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Ukraine largely depend on the Ukrainian authorities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will be "building up support" for occupied Donbas.
"We, Russia, have supported Donbas, and will continue doing this. We will even be building up our support for Donbas. This applies both to the support for production, the solution of social issues, and infrastructure issues, etc.," he said at an annual press conference on Thursday, December 17, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia.
Read alsoDonbas war update: Ukraine reports three ceasefire violations on Dec 16At the same time, Putin said prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Ukraine largely depend on the Ukrainian authorities, rather than on him.
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"As for the prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Ukraine: this largely depends on the Ukrainian authorities," he said.
"I won't say now – from Ukraine. From the Ukrainian authorities," he added.
More news reports


unian--2020-12-17--Most Ukrainians back lockdown from Jan 8 – poll

Some 52 % of the respondents believe the spread of the coronavirus will subside due to the lockdown .
As many as 56 % of Ukrainians back the government 's decision to introduce a lockdown in the country from January 8 to January 24 , 2021 .
At the same time , 41 % oppose the decision , according to a poll recently conducted by the Rating Sociological Group .
Some 52 % of the respondents believe the spread of the coronavirus will subside due to the lockdown , while 45 % disagree .
The survey also showed 76 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government had decided to impose a lockdown on January 8-24 , 2021 , another 20 % heard something about this , while 4 % knew nothing about the move .
Read alsoHealth Minister Stepanov warns about COVID-19 surge after holidaysWhat is more , 63 % of the respondents support the ban on rallies and demonstrations during the lockdown , while 35 % oppose it .
Over 70 % approve the closure of gyms , cinemas , as well as restaurants and cafes amid the lockdown ( 25 % disapprove ) .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools ( 43 % against ) , and 48 % for closing kindergartens ( 47 % against ) .
The fewest number of all respondents back the closure of food markets ( 31 % for , 67 % against ) , intercity public transport ( 23 % vs 75 % ) , and public transport ( 18 % vs 80 % ) .
• The poll was conducted on December 12-14 through computer-assisted telephone interviews ( CATI ) using a random selection of cell numbers .
• The sample is representative of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
• Some 2,500 respondents were polled in all regions of Ukraine except Crimea and other Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine , namely certain districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions .
• The margin of error does not exceed 2.0 % .

Some 52% of the respondents believe the spread of the coronavirus will subside due to the lockdown.
As many as 56% of Ukrainians back the government's decision to introduce a lockdown in the country from January 8 to January 24, 2021.
At the same time, 41% oppose the decision, according to a poll recently conducted by the Rating Sociological Group.
Some 52% of the respondents believe the spread of the coronavirus will subside due to the lockdown, while 45% disagree.
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The survey also showed 76% of the pollees were well aware that the government had decided to impose a lockdown on January 8-24, 2021, another 20% heard something about this, while 4% knew nothing about the move.
Read alsoHealth Minister Stepanov warns about COVID-19 surge after holidaysWhat is more, 63% of the respondents support the ban on rallies and demonstrations during the lockdown, while 35% oppose it.
Over 70% approve the closure of gyms, cinemas, as well as restaurants and cafes amid the lockdown (25% disapprove).
Some 54% were in favor of closing schools (43% against), and 48% for closing kindergartens (47% against).
The fewest number of all respondents back the closure of food markets (31% for, 67% against), intercity public transport (23% vs 75%), and public transport (18% vs 80%).
Mechanics of the poll


unian--2020-12-17--A mere 1.6% of Ukrainians fully trust NABU, SAPO enjoys trust of 1.5% – poll

As many as 70 % of Ukrainians do not trust the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine ( NABU ) and Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor 's Office ( SAPO ) .
These are findings of a survey conducted by the Razumkov Center as part of the research project `` Ukraine 2020-2021 : Unjustified expectations , unexpected challenges . ''
Read alsoZelensky 's Office says Tatarov 's statement on NABU does n't reflect official position The share of those respondents who fully trust the two anti-corruption agencies is below 2 % , which is less than the margin of error .
Of 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and SAPO , 36.6 % do not completely trust NABU , 33.4 % rather do not trust , while a mere 1.6 % fully trust .
In turn , 37 % of respondents do not completely trust SAPO , 33 % rather do not trust , and only 1.5 % of respondents fully trust .
The study was conducted as part of a research project of the Razumkov Center `` Ukraine 2020-2021 : Unjustified expectations , unexpected challenges . ''
The research employed the method of face-to-face interviews at the place of residence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,018 respondents aged 18 and older were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine , except Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine , namely Crimea and certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions .
The pollees represent the adult population in terms of basic social and demographic indicators .
It should be mentioned that with budget spending on NABU estimated at UAH 900 million ( US $ 32 million ) per year , 700 NABU employees in 2020 have managed to channel a mere UAH 75.5 million ( US $ 2.72 million ) in loss compensation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time , NABU employees ' salaries are record high among all employees of law enforcement agencies in Ukraine .
On average , the government spends UAH 1.32 million ( US $ 47,600 ) per NABU employee a year .
• Political scientist on bill on NABU : It does n't solve the problem , but keeps Sytnyk in office • Another petition for Artem Sytnyk 's dismissal registered on president 's website

A research center studied Ukrainians' trust in anti-corruption agencies.
As many as 70% of Ukrainians do not trust the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
These are findings of a survey conducted by the Razumkov Center as part of the research project "Ukraine 2020-2021: Unjustified expectations, unexpected challenges."
Read alsoZelensky's Office says Tatarov's statement on NABU doesn't reflect official position
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The share of those respondents who fully trust the two anti-corruption agencies is below 2%, which is less than the margin of error.
Of 70% of Ukrainians do not trust NABU and SAPO, 36.6% do not completely trust NABU, 33.4% rather do not trust, while a mere 1.6% fully trust. In turn, 37% of respondents do not completely trust SAPO, 33% rather do not trust, and only 1.5% of respondents fully trust.
The study was conducted as part of a research project of the Razumkov Center "Ukraine 2020-2021: Unjustified expectations, unexpected challenges." The research employed the method of face-to-face interviews at the place of residence of the respondents. As many as 2,018 respondents aged 18 and older were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine, except Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine, namely Crimea and certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The pollees represent the adult population in terms of basic social and demographic indicators.
It should be mentioned that with budget spending on NABU estimated at UAH 900 million (US$32 million) per year, 700 NABU employees in 2020 have managed to channel a mere UAH 75.5 million (US$2.72 million) in loss compensation into the national budget. At the same time, NABU employees' salaries are record high among all employees of law enforcement agencies in Ukraine. On average, the government spends UAH 1.32 million (US$47,600) per NABU employee a year.
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unian--2020-12-17--Ukraine reports 199 new COVID-19 cases in armed forces as of Dec 17

Some 333 servicemen are now isolated ( including self-isolation ) .
The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in the Armed Forces of Ukraine rose by 199 as of the morning of December 17 .
`` As of 10:00 Kyiv time on December 17 , some 3,159 people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine had acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus .
In total , 9,371 people have recovered and 34 have died during the pandemic , '' the press service of the Medical Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were registered in the past 24 hours . ''
Read alsoHealth Ministry expects first vaccines from COVAX in March 2021Of those newly-infected , four people have been hospitalized , while the rest are self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under doctors ' supervision .
Currently , their state of health is satisfactory .
Some 333 servicemen are now isolated ( including self-isolation ) .
The number of those whose isolation term is expiring in the next three days is 85 people .
• Ukraine said 12,047 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours as of December 17 , 2020 .
• The total number of confirmed cases grew to 931,751 .

Some 333 servicemen are now isolated (including self-isolation).
The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in the Armed Forces of Ukraine rose by 199 as of the morning of December 17.
"As of 10:00 Kyiv time on December 17, some 3,159 people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine had acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In total, 9,371 people have recovered and 34 have died during the pandemic," the press service of the Medical Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook on Thursday. "Some 199 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the past 24 hours."
Read alsoHealth Ministry expects first vaccines from COVAX in March 2021Of those newly-infected, four people have been hospitalized, while the rest are self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under doctors' supervision. Currently, their state of health is satisfactory.
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Some 333 servicemen are now isolated (including self-isolation). The number of those whose isolation term is expiring in the next three days is 85 people.
COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest developments


unian--2020-12-17--FM Kuleba lists priorities of Ukraine's foreign economy for next decade

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FM Kuleba lists priorities of Ukraine's foreign economy for next decade
14:00, 17.12.20 577
The minister outlined the food economy as a key priority of the country's economic sector.
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unian--2020-12-17--Entrepreneurs to be fined for customers without face masks in public places

The fines will amount up to US $ 184 .
The Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , has passed a bill introducing fines for entrepreneurs if they allow people to enter buildings and public transport without face masks .
Government resolution No .
3890 on amendments to the Law of Ukraine on ensuring the sanitary and epidemic welfare of the population to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) was backed by 241 MPs , an UNIAN correspondent reports .
The bill provides that enterprises , entrepreneurs , institutions , organizations that have violated sanitary legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person to enter buildings , facilities , public transport during quarantine without wearing personal protective equipment , including respirators or protective face masks that cover the nose and mouth , including self-made ones , or failing to take measures for a person 's stay in buildings , facilities , public transport without such personal protective equipment .
Read alsoZelensky enacts law on fines for not wearing face masks in public placesAn enterprise , institution , organization , citizen – a subject of economic activity – shall pay a fine worth from 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , i.e .
from UAH 3,400 ( US $ 123 ) to UAH 5,100 ( US $ 184 ) .
The same fine is provided for serving consumers without wearing personal protective equipment , including respirators or protective face masks that cover the nose and mouth , including self-made ones .
• Over 12,000 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ukraine as of Dec 17 • Health Ministry expects first vaccines from COVAX in March 2021

The fines will amount up to US$184.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has passed a bill introducing fines for entrepreneurs if they allow people to enter buildings and public transport without face masks.
Government resolution No. 3890 on amendments to the Law of Ukraine on ensuring the sanitary and epidemic welfare of the population to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was backed by 241 MPs, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
The bill provides that enterprises, entrepreneurs, institutions, organizations that have violated sanitary legislation are subject to financial sanctions for allowing a person to enter buildings, facilities, public transport during quarantine without wearing personal protective equipment, including respirators or protective face masks that cover the nose and mouth, including self-made ones, or failing to take measures for a person's stay in buildings, facilities, public transport without such personal protective equipment.
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Read alsoZelensky enacts law on fines for not wearing face masks in public placesAn enterprise, institution, organization, citizen – a subject of economic activity – shall pay a fine worth from 200 to 300 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens, i.e. from UAH 3,400 (US$123) to UAH 5,100 (US$184).
The same fine is provided for serving consumers without wearing personal protective equipment, including respirators or protective face masks that cover the nose and mouth, including self-made ones.
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unian--2020-12-17--French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID-19 – media

The diagnosis was made following a PCR test performed after he showed initial symptoms .
French President Emmanuel Macron has @ @ @ @ @ the French Presidency said on Thursday .
`` The President of the Republic has been @ @ @ @ @ , '' a statement said , Deutsche Welle reported .
The diagnosis was made following @ @ @ @ @ he showed initial symptoms .
Read alsoNumber of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 74.2 mlnMacron @ @ @ @ @ , according to the statement , but `` continue to work and take care of @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In light of the diagnosis , Macron canceled all of his upcoming trips @ @ @ @ @ to Lebanon .
His office is also currently in the process of identifying those who @ @ @ @ @ with , and the statement did not list his symptoms .
However , he attended @ @ @ @ @ state meeting on December 10-11 .

The diagnosis was made following a PCR test performed after he showed initial symptoms.
French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19, the French Presidency said on Thursday.
"The President of the Republic has been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today," a statement said, Deutsche Welle reported.
The diagnosis was made following a PCR test performed after he showed initial symptoms.
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Read alsoNumber of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 74.2 mlnMacron will self-isolate for seven days, according to the statement, but "continue to work and take care of his activities at a distance."
In light of the diagnosis, Macron canceled all of his upcoming trips, including a scheduled visit to Lebanon.
His office is also currently in the process of identifying those who he may have had contact with, and the statement did not list his symptoms. However, he attended a European Council heads of state meeting on December 10-11.
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unian--2020-12-17--Health Ministry expects first vaccines from COVAX in March 2021

According to Stepanov , vaccination is the best way to overcome COVID-19 .
Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said Ukraine expects to get the first doses of vaccines approved by COVAX , the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility , in March 2021 .
`` After the creation of COVAX [ a global initiative created on the platform of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization ( GAVI ) to accelerate the development , production and ensure equal access to tests , treatment and vaccines against COVID-19 ] , Ukraine immediately joined this initiative to get the proper number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this during an online briefing on Thursday , an UNIAN correspondent reported .
`` As a result of negotiations , we agreed we would receive 8 million doses as part of this initiative , and we have almost completed the signing of all documents .
Relevant documents were filed , and we received approval of this application , '' the minister said .
Stepanov said , according to the COVAX initiative , `` these 8 million doses will be shipped from the end of the first quarter of next year – we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the first half of 2021 .
They will be supplied in corresponding tranches .
Thus , we may provide appropriate vaccination for at least 4 million citizens .
Each person will get two out of 8 million shots . ''
Read alsoRazumkov announces creation of fund for COVID-19 vaccination , support of doctorsAccording to the health minister , to buy the rest of the doses , Ukraine has been negotiating since summer with companies that are in the final stages of developing a vaccine , and President Volodymyr Zelensky is in talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these producers are based , to carry out large-scale vaccination in 2021 .
• On November 18 , the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility ( COVAX ) confirmed the reports on plans to provide Ukraine with a free vaccine against the coronavirus disease .
In particular , about 4 million Ukrainian nationals will be able to get vaccinated in the first half of 2021 .
Later it became known that proper vaccination includes two shots at a price of US $ 7 each .
• On December 4 , the Verkhovna Rada allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials and state registration for vaccines or other immunobiological medications to be used to prevent the coronavirus .
• On December 6 , Chairman of the Commission on Biosafety and Biological Protection under the Council of National Security and Defense , Academician Serhiy Komisarenko said mass vaccination could be launched in Ukraine no earlier than the middle of 2021 .
• On December 12 , Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister , Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko said COVAX had officially approved over 8 million doses of free COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine .

According to Stepanov, vaccination is the best way to overcome COVID-19.
Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said Ukraine expects to get the first doses of vaccines approved by COVAX, the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility, in March 2021.
"After the creation of COVAX [a global initiative created on the platform of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) to accelerate the development, production and ensure equal access to tests, treatment and vaccines against COVID-19], Ukraine immediately joined this initiative to get the proper number of vaccine [doses]," he said this during an online briefing on Thursday, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
"As a result of negotiations, we agreed we would receive 8 million doses as part of this initiative, and we have almost completed the signing of all documents. Relevant documents were filed, and we received approval of this application," the minister said.
Stepanov said, according to the COVAX initiative, "these 8 million doses will be shipped from the end of the first quarter of next year – we expect to get them by the end of the first half of 2021. They will be supplied in corresponding tranches. Thus, we may provide appropriate vaccination for at least 4 million citizens. Each person will get two out of 8 million shots."
Read alsoRazumkov announces creation of fund for COVID-19 vaccination, support of doctorsAccording to the health minister, to buy the rest of the doses, Ukraine has been negotiating since summer with companies that are in the final stages of developing a vaccine, and President Volodymyr Zelensky is in talks with the leaders of the countries where these producers are based, to carry out large-scale vaccination in 2021.
Vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine


unian--2020-12-17--WHO to check Ukrainian jails to assess fight against diseases – health official

Finland , Britain , and Portugal have already gone through such evaluation procedures .
Ukraine 's Deputy Health Minister , Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko says experts from the WHO European Office will assess how Ukrainian jails are able to handle outbreaks of diseases , in particular , COVID-19 .
`` The WHO has significant experience in the development and implementation of programs to improve healthcare for people who are in penitentiary institutions .
Finland , the UK and Portugal have already gone through the full path of such evaluation .
Ukraine is next in line .
And this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's press service quoted Liashko as saying after a meeting with expert of the WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases ( NCD Office ) , Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges .
A platform is now available in Ukraine for interaction between the Health Ministry , the Justice Ministry , the National Health Service and other partners on the coordination of civil and penitentiary healthcare , Liashko said .
Read alsoUkraine 's Justice Ministry to introduce supervised probation ( Video ) In turn , the WHO expert said there are various models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other closed settings , but all of them should be based on the principles of everyone 's priority right to protection of life and health .
• Ukraine 's justice minister names possible ways of infection with COVID-19 among prisoners

Finland, Britain, and Portugal have already gone through such evaluation procedures.
Ukraine's Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko says experts from the WHO European Office will assess how Ukrainian jails are able to handle outbreaks of diseases, in particular, COVID-19.
"The WHO has significant experience in the development and implementation of programs to improve healthcare for people who are in penitentiary institutions. Finland, the UK and Portugal have already gone through the full path of such evaluation. Ukraine is next in line. And this is very positive news," the ministry's press service quoted Liashko as saying after a meeting with expert of the WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office), Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges.
A platform is now available in Ukraine for interaction between the Health Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the National Health Service and other partners on the coordination of civil and penitentiary healthcare, Liashko said.
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Read alsoUkraine's Justice Ministry to introduce supervised probation (Video)In turn, the WHO expert said there are various models of healthcare systems management in prisons and other closed settings, but all of them should be based on the principles of everyone's priority right to protection of life and health.
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unian--2020-12-17--Kyiv mayor reports over 1,500 new COVID-19 cases, 31 deaths as of Dec 17

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 96,672 .
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said 1,512 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in the city in the past 24 hours as of December 17 , 2020 .
`` In the past day , another 1,512 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus , including 53 healthcare workers .
There were 31 fatalities , '' Klitschko reported via Telegram on Thursday .
According to the city mayor , 866 women aged 18 to 93 and 560 men aged 18 to 95 are among those infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 vaccination , support of doctorsThe new cases include 36 girls aged eight months to 17 years and 50 boys aged 11 months to 17 years .
Klitschko said 106 new patients had been hospitalized , while the rest were self-isolating , undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision .
He added that 876 people had recovered in the past day .
In total , 30,773 Kyiv residents have already beaten the disease .
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Desniansky district ( 263 ) , Dniprovsky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district ( 195 ) .
The death toll in the city stands at 1,662 .
• Ukraine said 12,047 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of December 17 , 2020 .
• The total number of confirmed cases grew to 931,751 .

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 96,672.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said 1,512 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in the city in the past 24 hours as of December 17, 2020.
"In the past day, another 1,512 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus, including 53 healthcare workers. There were 31 fatalities," Klitschko reported via Telegram on Thursday.
"As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 96,672."
According to the city mayor, 866 women aged 18 to 93 and 560 men aged 18 to 95 are among those infected.
Read alsoRazumkov announces creation of fund for COVID-19 vaccination, support of doctorsThe new cases include 36 girls aged eight months to 17 years and 50 boys aged 11 months to 17 years.
Klitschko said 106 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest were self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision.
He added that 876 people had recovered in the past day.
In total, 30,773 Kyiv residents have already beaten the disease.
The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Desniansky district (263), Dniprovsky district (253), and Darnytsky district (195).
The death toll in the city stands at 1,662.
COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest developments


unian--2020-12-17--U.S. to never accept Russia's annexation of Crimea – Embassy

The U.S. diplomats call on Russia to free unlawfully detained Ukrainians .
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine says the U.S. government will never accept Russia 's attempted annexation of Crimea .
`` We welcome the UNGA [ United Nations General Assembly ] resolution urging Russia to uphold its obligations as an occupying power in Crimea and immediately end its violations and abuses there .
Russia must free unlawfully detained Ukrainians and give unfettered access to human rights monitors .
We will never accept Russia 's attempted annexation of Crimea .
Crimea is Ukraine , '' the U.S. diplomats wrote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known The UN General Assembly at a plenary session on December 16 adopted the resolution on the situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea occupied by the Russian Federation .
Read alsoUkraine tells EU of Crimean Platform conceptThe key element of the new resolution is the call on the international community to strengthen pressure on Russia to make Moscow fulfill its international obligations as an occupying power .
A total of 64 countries backed the updated text of the resolution , 23 countries voted against it , and 86 abstained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula .
An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia .
De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77 % of the Crimean population had voted for acceding to Russia .
• On March 18 , 2014 , the so-called `` agreement on the accession '' of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin .
• The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 , 2014 , as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began .

The U.S. diplomats call on Russia to free unlawfully detained Ukrainians.
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine says the U.S. government will never accept Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea.
"We welcome the UNGA [United Nations General Assembly] resolution urging Russia to uphold its obligations as an occupying power in Crimea and immediately end its violations and abuses there. Russia must free unlawfully detained Ukrainians and give unfettered access to human rights monitors. We will never accept Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea. Crimea is Ukraine," the U.S. diplomats wrote on Facebook.
UNGA resolution: What is known
The UN General Assembly at a plenary session on December 16 adopted the resolution on the situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea occupied by the Russian Federation.
Видео дня
Read alsoUkraine tells EU of Crimean Platform conceptThe key element of the new resolution is the call on the international community to strengthen pressure on Russia to make Moscow fulfill its international obligations as an occupying power.
A total of 64 countries backed the updated text of the resolution, 23 countries voted against it, and 86 abstained.
Russian occupation of Crimea: Background


unian--2020-12-17--Hryvnia keeps strengthening to U.S. dollar on Dec 17

Hryvnia keeps strengthening to U.S. dollar on Dec 17
11:05, 17.12.20 16699
The rate against the euro is fixed at UAH 33.80 per euro.
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unian--2020-12-17--Kharkiv mayor dies of coronavirus complications

He spent several months in a German hospital .
`` A huge , kind heart of my best friend Hennadiy Kernes stopped beating tonight .
The impact of coronavirus infection developed into serious complications , affecting the vital organs and systems of his body , '' businessman Pavel Fuks wrote on Telegram on December 17 .
The mayor 's stepson Rodion Gaisynsky has confirmed on Instagram the death of his father .
Kernes ' illness : What is known • On September 14 , the ZN.UA media outlet , citing sources in the president 's office , reported that Kharkiv @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus , COVID-19 , and gone into a coma .
• Kharkiv City Council officially refuted the report about Kernes being in the coma , adding that the mayor was on sick leave .
• Later , the Ukrayinska Pravda online newspaper quoted Director of Kharkiv City Council 's Information and Public Relations Department Yuriy Sydorenko , who confirmed that Kernes had tested positive for coronavirus .
He said the mayor 's condition was critical but stable and that he remained conscious .
Kernes was also diagnosed with pneumonia .
• In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kernes was airlifted to Germany over a deteriorating health condition .
He was placed in the intensive care unit of Berlin 's Charité clinical center , where he was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 .
• While he was abroad , Kharkiv City Council had to repeatedly deny rumors of his death .
• On November 4 , Kernes was officially declared Mayor of Kharkiv .
He won local elections with 60.34 % , or 195,044 votes .
• On December 11 , the media reported his condition had worsened .
His second kidney @ @ @ @ @ @ @

He spent several months in a German hospital.
Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes has died of coronavirus-related complications.
"A huge, kind heart of my best friend Hennadiy Kernes stopped beating tonight. The impact of coronavirus infection developed into serious complications, affecting the vital organs and systems of his body," businessman Pavel Fuks wrote on Telegram on December 17.
The mayor's stepson Rodion Gaisynsky has confirmed on Instagram the death of his father.
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Kernes' illness: What is known


unian--2020-12-17--Number of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 74.2 mln

The overall death toll is 1,649,480 people , while 41,996,204 coronavirus patients have already recovered .
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 74.2 million patients as of December 17 .
Read alsoUkraine may receive first batch of COVID-19 vaccines in Feb 2021 – health ministerAs many as 74,248,878 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:28 on December 17 , according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering ( CSSE ) at Johns Hopkins University .
The overall death toll is 1,649,480 people , while 41,996,204 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest death toll was recorded in the United States ( 307,501 people ) , Brazil ( 183,735 ) , India ( 144,451 ) , Mexico ( 115,769 ) , Italy ( 66,537 ) , the United Kingdom ( 65,618 ) , and France ( 59,472 ) .
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States ( 16,979,777 confirmed cases ) , India ( 9,956,557 ) , Brazil ( 7,040,608 ) , Russia ( 2,708,940 ) , France ( 2,465,126 ) , Turkey ( 1,928,165 ) , and the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 191 countries have been affected by the virus .

The overall death toll is 1,649,480 people, while 41,996,204 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 74.2 million patients as of December 17.
Read alsoUkraine may receive first batch of COVID-19 vaccines in Feb 2021 – health ministerAs many as 74,248,878 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:28 on December 17, according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
The overall death toll is 1,649,480 people, while 41,996,204 coronavirus patients have already recovered.
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The highest death toll was recorded in the United States (307,501 people), Brazil (183,735), India (144,451), Mexico (115,769), Italy (66,537), the United Kingdom (65,618), and France (59,472).
The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States (16,979,777 confirmed cases), India (9,956,557), Brazil (7,040,608), Russia (2,708,940), France (2,465,126), Turkey (1,928,165), and the United Kingdom (1,918,736).
As many as 191 countries have been affected by the virus.