Excerpts from the most important news on Ukraine
Privatbank claims Kolomoiskiy laundered nearly $800 million
27.07.2020
Privatbank, the Ukrainian lender nationalized by the state in 2016, now claims its former owners laundered nearly $800 million through the United States, rferl.org reports.After analyzing additional bank records, Privatbank filed an amended complaint in a Delaware court on July 21 against tycoons Ihor Kolomoiskiy and Hennadiy Boholyubov, claiming the men laundered $660 million through a group of U.S. companies called Optima and an additional $100 million through other U.S. entities.The Kyiv-based lender is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars ...russia invests in delaying the Scythian gold trial
26.07.2020
russia invests heavily in delaying the Scythian gold trial in the Netherlands. In particular, it has recently changed a law firm that represents the interests of Crimean museums, ukrinform.net reports.According to the deputy minister, the russian Federation deliberately delays the trial “as if it did not exist officially.”“They have hired one of the strongest and most expensive in the Netherlands, which once protected Gazprom’s interests. Therefore, of course, they will try to delay this trial as much as ...Ukraine-themed stained glass window installed at St. James’s Church in Sussex Gardens, London
26.07.2020
This Ukraine-themed stained glass window was recently installed at St. James’s Church in Sussex Gardens, London, Business Ukraine reports.It was donated by the Ukrainian Canadian community and commemorates the Ukrainian Canadian troops who were based at the nearby vicarage during WWII.According to Lubomyr Luciuk, having faced more than a little prejudice in Canada before the war, many Ukrainians in uniform felt they needed to stick together overseas. By 1943, they had set up the Ukrainian Canadian Servicemen’s Association with its ...‘Buffer’ of Westerners became de facto russian state agents in the UK – intelligence report
24.07.2020
UK has been viewed as a particularly favorable destination for russian oligarchs and their money. It is widely recognized that the key to London’s appeal was the exploitation of the UK’s investor visa scheme, introduced in 1994, followed by the promotion of a light and limited touch to regulation, with London’s strong capital and housing markets offering sound investment opportunities, claims the Intelligence and Security Committee of the UK parliament.“The UK welcomed russian money, and few questions – if any ...Ukraine is establishing a visa-free regime for Australia and New Zealand
24.07.2020
Ukraine is establishing a visa-free regime for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, and countries of the Arabian Peninsula. Corresponding decree No. 289/2020, dated July 21, was published on the website of the head of the Ukrainian state.“To establish, from August 1, 2020, a visa-free regime for entry and transit through the territory of Ukraine for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, if their stay ...Amazon has been fined for conducting business in Crimea
19.07.2020
Amazon has been fined for violations of sanctions programs of the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).“From on or about November 15, 2011, to on or about October 18, 2018, persons located in Crimea, Iran, and Syria placed orders or otherwise conducted business on Amazon’s websites for consumer and retail goods and services where the transaction details demonstrated that the goods or services would be provided to persons in Crimea, Iran, or Syria. Amazon also accepted and processed ...Ukrainian comedy “My Thoughts are Silent” to be aired on HBO this fall
19.07.2020
Antonio Lukich’s debut feature film “My Thoughts Are Silent,” will be available on HBO Europe’s streaming platform this fall.According to the producers Dmitry Sukhanov and Alla Belaya, the contract with Reason8 Films (UK) was signed in spring, but only now the transferring of all rights in accordance with international QC standards to HBO has been completed.The film project “My Thoughts Are Silent” became one of the movies which has won the Ukrainian Film Agency support. The total production cost reached ...Pompeo to companies aiding russia on Nord Stream 2: Get out now or risk the consequences
16.07.2020
The U.S. Department of State is preparing harsher sanctions for companies that are involved in Nord Stream 2 and the second line of TurkStream 2 construction, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the press.“This action puts investments or other activities that are related to these russian energy export pipelines at risk of U.S. sanctions. It’s a clear warning to companies aiding and abetting russia’s malign influence projects will not be tolerated. Get out now, or risk the consequences. Let me be clear: ...Ukrainian parliament passes law on gambling
16.07.2020
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted the law “On the State Regulation of Activities Related to the Organization and Conduct of Gambling,” ukrinform.net reports.The law criminalizes the organization of unlicensed gambling and allows slot machine halls to be located only in three-, four- and five-star hotels.The law also provides for the regulation of “classic” lotteries. The document introduces age restrictions and allows people over 21 to gamble.In addition, restrictions are imposed on the advertising of gambling establishments. In particular, it is ...During the first half of 2020 Ukraine’s exports of goods were down 6%
16.07.2020
During the first half of this year, Ukraine’s imports were down 12% you, exports were down 6%.The trade deficit fell to $305 million – 87% below last year’s first-half deficit of $3.5 billion.Ukraine’s top three export destinations were: China – 13%; Poland – 6%; and russia – 6%. Ukraine’s top three sources of imports were: China – 15%; Germany – 9%; and russia – 9%.Ukraine’s Security Service exposes illegal cryptocurrency conversion center
15.07.2020
Ukraine’s SBU Security Service has halted the work of an international Internet network on money laundering through cryptocurrency instruments, the SBU’s press center has reported, writes Ukrinform.“According to the special service, a group of IDPs from the temporarily occupied territories created a number of online sites between 2017 and 2020. They allowed users from Ukraine, the former CIS countries to convert cryptocurrency with a dubious source of origin into cash and non-cash form. The transactions were carried out without mandatory ...russian disinformation campaign was running for years
15.07.2020
For six years, russian agents disseminated 2,500 false narratives in seven languages through 300 different platforms. Dubbed “Secondary Infektion”, this huge campaign has been dissected and analyzed in a report recently released by social media monitoring company Graphika.The report offers a systematic look at the actions of these russian agents, who have been involved in the main political conflicts in the West and all across the globe, from the russian invasion of Crimea in 2014 to Brexit in 2016.According to Graphika, Ukraine has ...
