You're reading: Ukraine Digest: Dec. 23

Business Update

$1 = Hr 28.3
Interfax: Ukraine increases steel output, ranks 13th in Worldsteel rating
Interfax: Ukraine’s FX reserves expand to more than $28 billion
Defense News: Ukraine to buy Turkish warships, co-produce drones
Interfax: Gazprom budgets for gas supplies to Europe to rise to 183 billion cubic meters at $170 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2021
Interfax: Hryvnia could strengthen to Hr 26-26.50/$1 in Q1 2021 thanks to return of nonresidents to govt bonds market – BofA
Interfax: Philip Morris files suit against Ukraine in intl investment arbitration due to AMCU penalty
Interfax: Intergal-Bud plans to launch 11 new projects in 2021
Interfax: NBU sees risk of not fulfilling plan for revenues in state budget for 2021
Vietnam Plus: Ambassador meets Vietnamese businesses in Ukraine
Mother Jones: The shockingly long list of corrupt officials and political allies pardoned by Trump
China, Ukraine governmental conference planned
Horizon Capital: Datagroup, Ukraine’s leading national fiber infrastructure and digital services provider, reached an agreement to purchase 100% of Volia, leading cable broadband service provider in Ukraine; Interfax report of the sale
Interfax: Black Iron enters royalty term sheet for $100 mln with U.S. investor in Shymanivske Project
Interfax: Over 23% of Ukrainian employers plan to increase salaries in 2021 – Jooble survey
Interfax: DTEK Oil&Gas to start oil production in next 1-2 years, to expand due to participation in auctions, acquisitions
Interfax: Naftogaz discovers new field in Poltava region with prospective reserves of 2 bcm of gas

Opinions

Iryna Fedoriv: Why national parties can’t stay in power for more than one term
Alexei Bayer: The tale of two Putins
Brian Mefford: Death of Kharkiv mayor Kernes marks end of era
Wall Street Journal: Trump’s bad exit
Rosa Balfour: 2020 in words
Kirill Martynov: How Navalny’s call laid bare a country of ‘yes’ men
Washington Post: Navalny just exposed the spy team sent to kill him
Halya Coynash: Russia’s show trial kills Crimean Tatar political prisoners
Halya Coynash: Ukrainian charged with trying to overturn the government

Living Hell

European Union delivers Viktor Yanukovych an ultimatum in Dec. 19 summit: Release political prisoners, respect media freedom and don’t cheat during the October parliamentary elections in 2012. Like father, like son: Viktor Yanukovych Jr. accused of plagiarizing doctoral thesis. It is “Living Hell” for relatives of people who die in police custody. Rich Rinat Akhmetov cannot get a visa to America. Andriy Klyuyev thinks Ukraine is poised for economic takeoff. Point-counterpoint on Dec. 19 summit. Vox Populi: What will 2012 bring? Business Focus: Eye on investment and finance. Cuts in train service. The Great Exodus: Ukrainians abroad dismayed by news in the homeland. Santa Claus vs. Ded Moroz. Nominees for first-ever YUNA event. World Traveler: Venice, Italy.