• Russian Energy Minister: Ukraine's discount on gas expired on March 31st

    The Russian Minister of Energy, Alexander Novak, reported that the discount on gas given to Ukraine expired in late March, as posted on the website of the Ministry of Energy. It was noted that the amount of the discount during the first quarter of 2016 was $17.77. The final price of gas for Ukraine totaled $212 per thousand cubic meters.

    “As of the 1st of April 2016, the price of gas for Ukraine will be fully in line with a valid contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine,” according to …

  • The Security Service of Ukraine investigates more than 40 of its employees

    Several employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) are suspected of bribery, treason and espionage.

    SBU Chief of Staff Oleksandr Tkachuk announced in a briefing broadcast by Ukrainian news network “5 Channel” that criminal charges were filed against 43 of their own employees. According to him, there have been only four criminal proceedings against SBU employees from the time of the revolution of Dignity until July of last year. This figure dramatically increased at the start of summer. …

  • Ukrainian Border Guard Service reports presence of FSB ship near Mariupol

    The Russian ship "And Quiet Flows the Don" of the Coast Guard of the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) was spotted near Mariupol on the 28th of March, 2016, as reported by Krym.Realii.

    The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on March 30th that "The target has been identified as an unarmed patrol vessel of the Russian coast guard. The ships of the Sea Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine went to escort and monitor 'And Quiet Flows the Don'  …

  • Foreign Affairs Committee of Ukrainian Verkohvna Rada approves draft to sever diplomatic ties with Russia

    The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has approved the draft on severing diplomatic relations with Russia, as Ukrayinska Pravda reports on Wednesday, March 30th.

    Four deputies of the Foreign Affairs Committee voted for the recommendation of this regulation and three abstained from voting.

    The authors of the document are deputies Oksana Korchinskaya and Yury-Bogdan Shukhevich from “the radical party”, a member of the “Block Petro Poroshenko” Oleg Petrenko and unaffiliated deputy Vladimir Parasyuk. …

  • EU delegate to Ukraine: Shokin's dismissal is an opportunity to initiate reforms

    The new Prosecutor General of Ukraine must ensure the General Prosecutor’s Office’s (GPO) independence from political influence and pressure, according to a statement made by the head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Ambassador Jan Tombinski."I noted that today, the Verkhovna Rada has accepted the resignation of the Prosecutor General. This decision provides an opportunity for a new start in the General Prosecutor’s office," he said.Tombinski expressed his hope that Shokin’s successor will be …