On January 10, 2017, the National Bank of Ukraine recognized Platinum Bank’s insolvency. It was one of the most scandalous banks in the country. On April 1, 2016, with $7.47 billion worth of holdings it was 24th in terms of assets out of 109 banks operating at the time.

Why Platinum went bankrupt

The official cause for bankruptcy is the inability of the shareholders to raise the bank’s capital. According to the requirements of the NBU, in terms of assets all banks within the 21st to 40th …

The First head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, Valery Bolotov, considers it necessary to return the whole territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the DPR and LPR jurisdiction in order for both republics to unite.

"It is my opinion that the first thing to do, is to return the territory of the former Luhansk and Donetsk regions to the LPR and DPR. I also believe that it is necessary to unite the two Republics,” he wrote on his page on Vkontakte.

As for the head of the …

Ukraine's National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting has obliged Ukrainian providers to stop relaying Russian television channel Rain (Dozhd) within a month due to the station’s non-recognition of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and its translation of Russian commercials.

"In particular, on a live broadcast of this TV channel, the administrative border between the Kherson region and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was portrayed as a border between Ukraine and …

Moscow disagrees with statements regarding the Crimea that were made by U.S. Secretary of State nominee, Rex Tillerson, and intended to “patiently explain its position to the new administration of the U.S.A.,” as the President’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, stated, as reported by RIA Novosti.

“We know that the discussion is over. This is his position. We have taken note of it. Of course, Russia will continue to patiently explain the essence of the issue,” the press secretary for the Russian …

The press service of Ukrtransgaz reported on Thursday that the French energy utility company Engi, started to supply Ukraine with gas as of January 1st. The supply volumes are low – 0.4 million cubic meters per day - and the gas is imported from the territory of Poland via the Hermanowice gas-metering station (an entry point to the gas transportation system).

The company noted that Engie (formerly GDZ Suez) signed an agreement with Ukrtransgaz in October 2016. According to this agreement, …

A new phase of an armed conflict is going to flare up in Ukraine sooner or later, according to a Ukrainian political expert of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, Olga Aivazovska, at a briefing with journalist.

“What is happening in the media with regards to the narrative that Ukraine has to accept the loss of the Crimea... is not the way to achieve peace. It can only delay the crisis or the new phase of the armed conflict, which will start sooner or later. Ukrainian society cannot easily …

The Spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, stated that the only Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, will leave the Mediterranean Sea and will return to the Northern Fleet base, which is located in Severomorsk.

“As of January 6th, the naval aircraft carrier battle group of the Northern Fleet will return to the permanent base in Severomorsk. This group includes the heavy aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov and more than 40 naval aviation aircraft, …

On January 11, the Spokesman of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, Alexander Motuzyanik, stated at a press conference in Kyiv that Ukrainian soldiers took control of new positions on the contact line at the Svitlodarsk Salient.

He noted that this advance of Ukrainian forces does not violate the Minsk agreements.

“During the last month, the situation along the Svitlodarsk Salient has been very tense. As a result of the clashes with the separatists, the units of the Ukrainian Armed forces took …