February 01, 2016

01/31/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that the number of contract servicemen in the army has reached 140,000

Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that the number of contract servicemen in the army has reached 140,000
Yatsenyuk said that the number of contract servicemen in the army has reached 140,000

01.31.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that the number of contract servicemen in the army has reached 140,000.
  • Samopomich party faction threatened to leave the parliamentary coalition.

January 31, 2016

01/30/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -Repeat elections in Kryvyi Rih will be held on March 27, 2016

Repeat elections in Kryvyi Rih will be held on March 27, 2016
Repeat elections in Kryvyi Rih will be held on March 27, 2016

01.30.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Repeat elections in Kryvyi Rih will be held on March 27, 2016.
  • Constitutional Court started consideratingn the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform.
  • US Ambassador Pyatt said that creating the "Ministry of Truth" in Ukraine was a big mistake.
  • Main Investigations Directorate of the Prosecutor General’s Office caught fire.

January 30, 2016

01/29/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -Constitutional Court will consider amendments to the Constitution during the weekend

Constitutional Court will consider amendments to the Constitution during the weekend
Constitutional Court will consider amendments to the Constitution during the weekend

01.29.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Constitutional Court will consider amendments to the Constitution during the weekend.
  • Experts called the Minsk Agreement null and void and urged to legislatively recognize Russia to be aggressor and to set up a new format of negotiations.
  • Ukraine commemorated the Heroes of Kruty.
  • Monument to one of the initiators of the Holodomor Petrovskiy was demolished in Dnipropetrovsk.

January 29, 2016

01/28/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -The Parliament adopted an amendment to the regulations, which changes the Constitution

The Parliament adopted an amendment to the regulations, which changes the Constitution
Deputy Head of the Parliament Syroyid

01.28.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • The Parliament adopted an amendment to the regulations, which changes the Constitution.
  • The procedure to obtain Ukrainian citizenship was simplified for foreigners, serving in the Ukrainian army.
  • The EU Court lifted sanctions against the officials of the Yanukovych regime.

January 27, 2016

01/26/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukraine ranked 130th in Corruption Perception Index

Ukraine ranked 130th in Corruption Perception Index
Ukraine ranked 130th in Corruption Perception Index

01.26.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Ukraine ranked 130th in Corruption Perception Index.
  • Repeat election has been scheduled in Kryvyi Rih.
  • MPs want to hear Yatsenyuk’s government report on February 5.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov lied about Russia's commitments under the Budapest memorandum.

January 26, 2016

01/25/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Communist Party is completely banned in Ukraine

The Communist Party is completely banned in Ukraine
The Communist Party is completely banned in Ukraine

01.25.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • The Communist Party is completely banned in Ukraine.
  • The "People’s Front" will not vote for the presidential amendments to the Constitution.
  • China supported the establishing of a "new Silk Road" to Ukraine, bypassing Russia.

January 25, 2016

01/24/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Prime Minister Yatsenyuk called for the adoption of the Constitution via referendum

Prime Minister Yatsenyuk called for the adoption of the Constitution via referendum
Prime Minister Yatsenyuk called for the adoption of the Constitution via referendum

01.24.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Prime Minister Yatsenyuk called for the adoption of the Constitution via referendumTopics from Media and Social Networks

  • Prime Minister Yatsenyuk called for the adoption of the Constitution via referendum.
  • About 300 people died of flu epidemy in the occupied Donbass .
  • The "Batkivschyna" party  demands the resignation of the Cabinet.

January 24, 2016

01/23/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Klitschko was elected Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities

Klitschko was elected Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities
Klitschko was elected Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities

01.23.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Klitschko was elected Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities.
  • US Ambassador Pyatt insists on the adoption of the "decentralization" by the Parliament.
  • Poroshenko said that Ukraine would recover the control of Donbas in 2016.
  • MP Parasyuk threw a glass at the public prosecutor at the trial against the Right Sector members.

Key Events in Ukraine

  • President Poroshenko is confident that the Parliament already has 300 votes to adopt the amendments to the Constitution to be voted at the next Parliament session in the first six months of the year, immediately after Ukraine gains control over its state border with Russia. He said that decentralization and constitutional amendments exclude the adoption of laws on the special status of any territory, and the project does not have a "black cat of federalization." Poroshenko claims that derailing the Minsk Agreements and blocking the constitutional process would lead to a full-scale conflict with Russia. According to him, Ukraine will regain control of Donbas in 2016.
  • In honor of the Ukrainian Unity Day, Poroshenko presented state decorations to Ukrainians, who have made contributions to the development and unity of the country.
  • A conference of Mayors - members of the Association of Ukrainian cities was held in Kyiv, where Kyiv Mayor Klitschko was elected its Head. Lviv Mayor Sadovy said that for Klitschko to be elected, the statute was changed illegitimately, while the Lviv Mayor's candidacy was not even voted. Klitschko believes that he has nothing to apologize for, since he received the majority of votes according to the procedure defined by the Association.
  • Parliament Speaker Groisman said that he would sign the law on elections in Kryvyi Rih after the MPs cancel the results of the previous elections. He also said that the amendment to the budget providing for e-declaration of income will be considered by the Parliament next week.
  • Finance Minister Yaresko believes that the issue of "Yanukovych’s debt" can be settled through negotiations with Russia without recourse to court proceedings. А meeting of Ukrainian and Russian officials to discuss the debt restructuring could be held in the near future.
  • Ukroboronprom Press Service reported that at the meeting of the company’s management with Assistant Secretary of State Rose it was decided to implement joint projects for the production of modern weapons and cooperation in the security area.
  • Prosecutor General's Office said that the case of the transfer of weapons to “titushky” fighters during the events on Maidan by the former management and employees of the Interior Ministry was submitted to court.
  • The trial on the fight at Dragobrat resort upheld the detention of two Right Sector members, while two others were released on bail under MPs’ guarantees.

Ukraine at War

  • During the fighting in Donbas one soldier was wounded and another killed in a trip wire explosion. The militants continue firing along the entire front line in the Donetsk region, from Svetlodarsk to Shyrokyne, with most intense fighting at the Donetsk Airport. Intelligence provided to the OSCE mission the data on the concentration of tanks and self-propelled guns in Donetsk and near Yenakiyeve.
  • According to the Border Guard Service, the FSB has established a channel of smuggling to Europe the cigarettes produced in Donetsk. The owner of the tobacco factory, crime boss Lyashko, oligarch Akhmetov's closest partner, was killed in December in Crimea.

Ukraine and the World

  • Ambassador to Ukraine Pyatt said at the conference of the Association of Ukrainian Cities that the Parliament must accept the amendments to the Constitution related to the "decentralization" of power. According to him, Ukraine has already achieved a lot in terms of improving the legislation, and USAID will open a new partnership program to support the decentralization of local government.
  • Vice President Biden said the United States and Turkey were ready to resort to the military solution to the conflict in Syria should the process of political settlement fail.

The Trends

  • According to former Deputy Head of the Central Election Commission and Ukraine representative at the Venice Commission in 2009-2014 Maryna Stavniychuk, manipulations with the constitutional process continue. The Constitutional Court approves in an emergency mode any proposal of the President, and takes years to consider submissions and request that are disadvantageous to the President and his team. A characteristic feature of the current government is the reluctance to take responsibility for its mistakes and the desire to shift it to others at the cost of humiliating the Constitution. According to Stavniychuk, the judicial reform is being carried out by passing the laws that are beneficial from the point of view of the political situation, rather than introducing balanced amendments to the Constitution. The changes to the Constitution proposed by means of transitional provisions are aimed at strengthening the President's direct influence over the judiciary. She is convinced that the Parliament should reject populism and implement the reform within fixed terms, gradually creating the atmosphere of public trust to the judicial system.
  • According to some analysts, the announcement made by President Poroshenko on the availability of 300 votes in Parliament to adopt the amendments to the Constitution indicates the pressure on the Parliament to adopt them, and his statement that the proposed changes do not provide for the special status of territories is a lie and manipulative deception, since the transitional provisions refer to the law on the special status of certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

01/22/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Constitutional Court approved the presidential draft of the justice system reform

The Constitutional Court approved the presidential draft of the justice system reform
The Constitutional Court approved the presidential draft of the justice system reform

01.22.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • The Constitutional Court approved the presidential draft of the justice system reform.
  • The information about wanted former officials of the former President Yanukovych regime disappeared from the Interpol site  .
  • 72 people have already died in Ukraine due to flu and its complications .
  • The General Prosecutor's Office published the materials of the case against leader of the "Ukrop" party Korban.

January 23, 2016

01/21/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The European Parliament approved the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraineм

The European Parliament approved the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine
The European Parliament approved the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine

01.21.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • The European Parliament approved the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine.
  • The Army might begin the transition to NATO standards in February.
  • Poroshenko believes that Ukraine would receive an IMF tranche next month.
  • Head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau Sytnyk denied media reports that the US is to allocate $1 billion to Ukraine in exchange for the resignation of Prosecutor General Shokin.

January 21, 2016

01/20/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Militants disrupted the exchange of prisoners and demand to hold elections without the Ukrainian authorities participation

Militants disrupted the exchange of prisoners and demand to hold elections without the Ukrainian authorities participation
Militants disrupted the exchange of prisoners

01.20.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Militants disrupted the exchange of prisoners and demand to hold elections without the Ukrainian authorities participation.
  • The list of Russian goods, prohibited to import to Ukraine, was expanded.
  • Soviet emblem will be removed from the shield of the Motherland Monument in Kyiv.

January 20, 2016

01/19/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Gazprom demanded from Ukraine the payment for natural gas not supplied

Gazprom demanded from Ukraine the payment for natural gas not supplied
Gazprom demanded from Ukraine the payment for natural gas not supplied

01.19.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Gazprom demanded from Ukraine the payment for natural gas not supplied.
  • Police published an edited video of the detention of the Right Sector volunteers in Transcarpathia.
  • Poland says it has about one million migrants from Ukraine.
  • Hryvnia exchange rate on the interbank market continues to fall.

January 19, 2016

01/18/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Saakashvili held an Anti-Corruption Forum in Kharkiv

Saakashvili held an Anti-Corruption Forum in Kharkiv
Saakashvili held an Anti-Corruption Forum in Kharkiv

01.18.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Saakashvili held an Anti-Corruption Forum in Kharkiv.
  • Delegation of advisers to the heads of France and Germany visited Ukraine to discuss the recovery of the occupied territories.
  • The hryvnia exchange rate keeps falling.

January 18, 2016

01/17/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The United States provided $23 million of military aid to Ukraine

The United States provided $23 million of military aid to Ukraine
The United States provided $23 million of military aid to Ukraine

01.17.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • The United States provided $23 million of military aid to Ukraine.
  • Several highways are blocked due to weather conditions in Ukraine.
  • Ukrainian biathletes won a competition in Germany.
  • Heads of the Donetsk and Odessa Regional State Administrations exchanged heated arguments on Facebook.
  • Corrupt judge Zvarych was released from jail after serving his sentence.

January 17, 2016

01/16/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Due to the SARS and flu epidemy, schools in Ukraine are closing for quarantine

Due to the SARS and flu epidemy, schools  in Ukraine are closing for quarantine
Due to the SARS and flu epidemy, schools in Ukraine are closing for quarantine

01.16.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Due to the SARS and flu epidemy, schools in Ukraine are closing for quarantine.
  • The SBU stated that General Ruban is not a representative of Ukraine to the negotiations on the prisoners exchange .
  • As a result of the terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso, four Ukrainians were killed .

January 16, 2016

01/15/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - US Assistant Secretary of State Nuland and Russian president’s assistant Surkov discussed the situation in Ukraine

US Assistant Secretary of State Nuland and Russian president’s assistant Surkov discussed the situation in Ukraine
Nuland and Surkov discussed the situation in Ukraine

01.15.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • US Assistant Secretary of State Nuland and Russian president’s assistant Surkov discussed the situation in Ukraine.
  • Dutch citizens selling counterfeit foreign currency were detained in Kyiv.
  • Seventh wave of mobilization will be held.

January 15, 2016

01/14/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - President Poroshenko held a press conference

President Poroshenko held a press conference
President Poroshenko held a press conference

01.14.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • President Poroshenko held a press conference.
  • SBU held a large-scale special operation in Popasna.
  • Pechersk court resumed the prosecution of the former leader of the parliamentary faction of the Party of Regions Efremov.

January 13, 2016

01/12/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - US President Obama called Ukraine Russia’s "client state"

US President Obama called Ukraine Russia’s  "client state"
US President Obama called Ukraine Russia’s "client state"

01.12.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • US President Obama called Ukraine Russia’s  "client state".
  • Media reported on the meeting of Russian special representative to the Minsk talks Gryzlov with President Poroshenko.
  • Head of the National Police Dekanoidze refuted the Prosecutor’s Office message on re-certification of former "Berkut" special police forces employees .
  • Activists blocked the warehouses of  "Megapolis" Company, a Russia's monopoly importer of tobacco products to Ukraine.
  • The court arrested the pension accounts of Yanukovych and Azarov.

January 12, 2016

01/11/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -Russian representative at the talks in Minsk Gryzlov arrived to Ukraine2016-01-11-eng-russian-representative-at-talks-in-minsk-gryzlov-arrived-to-ukraine

Russian representative at the talks in Minsk Gryzlov arrived to Ukraine
Russian representative at the talks in Minsk Gryzlov arrived to Ukraine

01.11.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Russian representative at the talks in Minsk Gryzlov arrived to Ukraine.
  • AlfaBank bought UkrSotsBank.
  • "Insider" online media will suspend its work.
  • The court arrested a member of the Right Sector for the attack on the camp site in the Carpathians.

January 11, 2016

01/10/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -Prime Minister Yatsenyuk urged citizens to more actively formalize the subsidies

Prime Minister Yatsenyuk urged citizens to more actively formalize the subsidies
Prime Minister Yatsenyuk urged citizens to more actively formalize the subsidies

01.10.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • Prime Minister Yatsenyuk urged citizens to more actively formalize the subsidies .
  • It is planned to appoint General Lytvyn a Deputy Army Component Commander.
  • Mayor Klitschko with his brother rest in the ski resort, while the snow in Kiev is not being cleaned.