You're reading: Daily Digest: Top news this weekend
  • The first leader of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church was enthroned in Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv on Feb. 3, marking the final breakaway of the church in Ukraine from centuries of domination by Moscow.

Presidential race

  • Dmytro Gnap, an investigative reporter, became the 29th presidential candidate to register with the Central Election Commission on Feb. 3 – the last day of registration.
  • The Central Election Commission of Ukraine has decided not to register leader of the Communist Party of Ukraine Petro Symonenko and Leader of Rozumna Syla party Oleksandr Solovyev as candidates for the post of President of Ukraine.

Russia’s War on Ukraine

  • A Ukrainian soldier from the 79th air assault brigade, who went missing in Donbas near Pavlopil on Jan. 23, was captured by Russian-led forces, the press office of the brigade reported on Facebook.
  • German newspaper Bild uncovers evidence that Russia’s army is violating a European Union sanction targeting the purchase of goods that can be used for military purposes.

Business news

  • Ukraine’s state railways operator says it will continue work to expand rail links with foreign countries in 2019, in particular, launching trains to Berlin in Germany and Kosice in Slovakia.
  • Political consultations on the introduction of a free trade area between Ukraine and Turkey will take place in the near future, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Odesa on Feb. 1.

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