The Verkhovna Rada has supported the appointment of Ruslan Stefanchuk, who previously held the post of First Deputy Speaker, to the post of Chairman of the Parliament.
The corresponding decision was supported by 261 MPs at a plenary session on Thursday.
Registrations in Ukraine of new and used electric vehicles in January-September 2021 increased by 7.8% compared to the same period in 2020, to 5,854 vehicles, including 12.8% of registrations accounted for new ones, the Federation of the Automotive Industry of Ukraine has said. According to a message on the federation’s website on Monday, citing data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the third quarter the number of registrations (primary ones plus cars imported from abroad with customs certificates or declarations) increased by 21.7% compared to the first quarter of this year and by 11.7% compared to the third quarter of last year, up to 2,303 vehicles.
“The third quarter turned out to be the most successful in the entire electromobility history of Ukraine,” the federation says.
The federation also notes that the share of new cars in total registrations is gradually increasing (according to the results of the first half of the year, it was 10.3%).
The first and second places in registrations are traditionally occupied by Nissan and Tesla, but their sales have been declining for several months (compared to last year) – over the nine months of registration, Nissan decreased by 5%, to 1,657 cars, and Tesla – by 25%, to 1,150 cars.
At the same time, Chevrolet, occupying the third position, more than doubled its share – from 296 cars to 666, and Chevrolet Bolt EV is the second most popular model after Nissan Leaf, accounting for 10.8% of the market (the leader has 26.7%).
Sales growth was also shown by Renault (by 68%), Volkswagen (by 11%), Hyundai (3%), Audi (93%), Mercedes-Benz (by 14%), which ranked further in the ranking.
According to the graphical data provided in the message, cars of 2017 production year (1,107 units), 2019 production year (946 units) and 2018 production year (819 units) continue to be registered most often, and cars of 2021 production year have 380 registrations.
The federation also notes that in September this year, registrations of electric vehicles increased by 28% compared to September last year and by 16% compared to August this year, to 846 units.
JSC Ukreximbank did not find any facts of terrorist financing when issuing a loan of $60 million to companies whose beneficiary is a citizen of Ukraine with the status of an internally displaced person, Serhiy Briukhovetsky, acting chairman of the bank’s board Serhiy Yermakov said. “At the time the loan was issued, the borrower, Mr. Briukhovetsky, went through the proper KYC verification procedure, within which the bank did not reveal information that would indicate the existence of criminal cases and proceedings in connection with the fact of holding shares in the company, including registered in uncontrolled territories,” he said at a press briefing at the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
For clarification, the bank received the client’s consent to disclose information that may constitute banking secrecy, Yermakov added.
According to the bank, as part of the check of the borrower, it was revealed that Briukhovetsky owns the corporate rights of three companies registered in the territory not controlled by Ukraine: Gorspetslift (50%, Horlivka), Dikon LLC (24%, Bakhmut), Spetsremmash LLC (16.6%, Horlivka). He also owned 45% of Eastern Donbas LLC (Horlivka), which ceased operations in 2011.
According to Yermakov, in April 2021 Ukeximbank provided a loan of $60 million to the companies Wholesale Network 2011 LLC and Slavian LLC, the beneficiary of which is Briukhovetsky. The loan was issued for the acquisition of corporate rights and the completion of the transaction for the purchase of the Sky Mall trade center in Kyiv. The total sum of the purchase is $80 million.
Thus, $39 million of the loan was used to refinance the Wholesale Network 2011 loan obligations in two Ukrainian and one European banks. Another $21 million was used to complete the acquisition of Sky Mall. In addition, Briukhovetsky contributed $20 million at the expense of his own funds and the funds of a related company – Sky Finance LLC.
“At the request of the bank, the borrower provided the conclusions of professional lawyers, including the British, registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority, on the settlement of corporate conflicts and lawsuits … The availability of an arbitration award in the case of Estonian businessman Teder Hillar did not jeopardize the borrowers’ ownership of Sky Mall,” Yermakov said.
According to him, the entire complex of structures and the parking space of the Sky Mall shopping center are pledged on the loan. In addition, the bank received a guarantee from Briukhovetsky.
JSC Ukrzaliznytsia in 2022 does not plan to raise prices in passenger traffic.
“So far, there are no such decisions. We have indexed very smoothly this year. Not all at once, but in relation to the consumer price index and stretching for the whole year. On the contrary, we plan to stimulate individual services with promotional rates. For example, with tour operators, we are talking about how to support the transportation of large groups by rail by setting discounts on bulk reservations depending on the size of the group,” Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the director of the Passenger Company branch, said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
He also noted that in the medium term, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to initiate a revision of tariff regulation in order to enter a more flexible pricing policy in the passenger segment.
“What I mean: a common practice among transport operators is that the earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper they are, and if at the last minute – the more expensive. to the price. This will allow us to increase the average profitability while still giving the best price to the individual passengers who are most price sensitive. As an option, make a greater distinction between classes. We are also working on the possibility of changing pricing in relation to distances,” he explained.
According to him, all this requires both certain regulatory changes and programmatic changes in terms of restructuring the current IT system of Ukrzaliznytsia.
The director of the Passenger Company branch also noted that in comparison with 2020, in 2021 Ukrzaliznytsia showed good dynamics in terms of covering expenses with income in the segment of passenger transportation.
To further improve the situation, the company is working on the introduction of contracts for socially significant transportation, since for many years the company had “a huge percentage of underfunding” from the local authorities.
“Plus, we are actively working on the issue of control over fares. In the suburbs, for example, we are piloting an IT system that allows you to sell tickets online or through kiosks, both single and subscriber for passengers. We are also reviewing the configuration of the turnstile system to reduce the percentage of free riders,” Pertsovsky said.
He also stressed that the idea of bringing passenger traffic to the level of prime cost is impossible within the framework of the current market model and does not make sense.
Michael Malchieli, the Co-Chair of the Group for Interparliamentary Relations of the Knesset of Israel with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and representatives of the Embassy of Israel, Knesset Member Moshe Arbel and Moshe Reuven Asman, the Chief rabbi of Ukraine, made a working visit to International European University.
During the meeting, participants signed an agreement on joint activities in different areas.
The agreement is aimed at regulating the current position between the University and partners, approving mutual cooperation conditions in the improvement of the educational activities, establishing communications between Israel and Ukraine to exchange cultural and training experience.
“Thank you for inviting me and showing your university. It seems to me that I’ve joined the political activity mistakenly. I’ve been always dreaming about education rather than politics, but the Supreme Being has brought me to the political sector. I don’t regret and try to do good deeds, but I’m extremely happy to get an opportunity to focus on education.
To my mind, your new education institution, which has succeeded within a short time, is similar to a share that initially costs little but suddenly raises and becomes quite expensive and valuable. I believe that, together with such a unique and professional team, we’ll be able to implement a lot of great things. Meanwhile, I would like to invite you to our Ministry of Education. I will personally organize this meeting. I’m sure that this collaborative work will enhance our friendship,” Mr. Malchieli said.
At the grand meeting, Michael Malchieli received the acknowledgement for assistance in higher education development, training of students with an active life attitude and fruitful cooperation with the University.
Joint efforts of the parties will encourage the efficient growth of cultural and scientific relations between Ukraine and Israel within the Program of cooperation in education, culture, youth and sports between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the State of Israel in 2019-2022.
