Russia’s armed aggression has deprived 5 million people in Ukraine of work, about 7 million people have already left the country because of hostilities, Deputy Economy Minister Tatiana Berezhnaya said at the Polish-Ukrainian economic forum held late this week.
“The war is destroying Ukraine’s labor market. The fighting continues where 10 million people were employed. At least 5 million people have lost their jobs. Hundreds of workers have died in the fighting. Unemployment has risen significantly,” the Ministry of Economy quoted Berezhnaya as saying on its website at a debate on social policy and challenges in the context of the war in Ukraine.
According to her, that is why stabilization and recovery of the economy, the development of the labor market, the return home of citizens and the creation of new jobs are among the key priorities of the government.
Among the programs aimed at solving these problems, the deputy minister named affordable loans for businesses, the relocation of businesses from hazardous areas to relatively safe areas, grant support for entrepreneurship development – “Yerobota”, the involvement of the unemployed in socially useful work within the project “Army Recovery”, programs to help partial unemployment.
“We understand that we face big challenges and tasks on the way of Ukraine’s recovery and the return of our people. We hope that international partners will support us in this, in particular our good friend Poland, where almost 1.5 million Ukrainians are now under a temporary protection program. We strive to bring home all of our citizens forced to leave because of the war,” Berezhnaya said.
At a meeting on Friday, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine agreed to increase the amount of a concessional loan to Poland by EUR 60 million under an intergovernmental agreement for the implementation of investment projects.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance, the total amount of the soft loan that Poland will provide now amounts to EUR 160 million.
The funds provided will go to Ukravtodor – EUR 94.1 million (development of road infrastructure at the approaches to five border crossing points on the Ukrainian-Polish border), the State Customs Service – EUR 58.9 million (improvement of border crossing points Shehyni, Krakovets, Rava-Ruska, purchase of mobile scanning systems at border crossing points Yahodyn, Shehyni, Krakovets, Rava-Ruska) and the Administration of the State Border Service – EUR 7 million (purchase of unmanned aerial systems and border monitoring equipment).
In addition to increasing the loan amount, the government decree regulates the issue of extending the deadline for concluding contracts by two years – until December 31, 2024, and provides an opportunity to amend contracts concluded in 2017-2018 to increase their value.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the requirement for a minimum of 60% of expenses of Polish origin for the purchase of technical means of customs control will also be cancelled.
Instead of proposing premature peace talks with Russia, which does not seek a peace process, the goal of partners should be a victory for Ukraine, which will bring a sustainable and just peace to the European continent, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
“We need a victory, not a draw. If we allow Russia to take a pause now, Putin will create a frozen conflict in the middle of Europe, a giant time bomb that will be ready to explode every second. It would be a strategic mistake for Europe to pursue such a goal. I caution Ukraine’s partners: do not offer us compromises on conscience, territorial integrity or sovereignty. Because it will be your compromises with your own security,” he said in a video address to the participants of the Pan-European Union jubilee congress, which is held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the organization in Vienna.
According to Kuleba, no country in the world strives for peace as much as Ukraine, but “wars like this one must end with the victory of good over evil.
He called on partners to work together to achieve Ukraine’s victory goals.
“We should not be subjected to fear and blackmail. Every time we Europeans have remained firm, principled, united and strong, Putin has always backed down. Any sign of weakness is seen by Russia as an invitation to further terror and atrocities. That is why support for Ukraine must continue and intensify, and no retreat from the sanctions pressure on Russia is acceptable,” the minister stressed.
Kuleba noted that now is the time for partners to set a goal of victory for Ukraine and work to achieve it, instead of looking for premature peace agreements with Russia, because Moscow has not changed its ultimative tone and uses statements about alleged readiness for negotiations only as a cover for continued aggression. .
“Real peace will be brought by a Ukrainian victory. This goal is quite achievable, as proved by the Kharkov and Kherson operations this fall. A Ukrainian victory would also be a victory for Europe and the West. It will renew peace and security on our continent for decades,” he said.
The minister stressed that the support of international partners must continue.
“This includes defense support, further isolation of Russia, financial support, urgent assistance in rebuilding our energy system damaged by Russian strikes. I remind you that aid to Ukraine is not charity. By helping us, European partners are helping themselves, contributing to Europe’s long-term security and stability,” the minister concluded.
Multiplex restored the work of three out of seven cinemas which were damaged because of the Russian aggression, Roman Romanchuk, CEO of Multiplex holding told Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“Seven of our cinemas were damaged due to rocket attacks: in Mariupol, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Odessa, Kiev and two in Kharkiv. Three cinemas we have already restored and resumed showings: in the capital “Retroville” in summer, today (November 18 – IF) in Kharkiv Shopping and Entertainment Center Nikolsky and Odessa Shopping and Entertainment Center Riviera,” Romanchuk said.
According to his estimates, it needs $20 mln to rebuild all cinemas.
“Some cinemas are completely destroyed: in Zaporozhye and Mariupol. In Kherson, part of the SEC “Factory”, where our cinema is located, suffered less, there is theoretically possible to restore, but our experts have not been on site. In Kharkiv “Dafi” the resumption of sessions is technically possible, but not from the point of view of security at this stage”, – said Romanchuk.
Multiplex Holding was founded in 2003. According to its official website, as of November 2021, the network had 26 cinemas.
According to the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NKTSBFR), as of the fourth quarter of 2021, its shareholders were AMC “Contador” PVNZIF “Octant” (9.9%) and “Avior” (12.4%), AMC “Capital Group” PVNZ “Capital Record” (11%) and “New Building Technologies” (11%) and ZNVKIF “Vasat” (49%).
According to Opendatabot, Ksenia Trofimenko is the ultimate beneficiary of Multiplex Holding.
In Kiev the work on processing of roads by de-icing agents has begun. The work involved 268 units of equipment “Kievavtodor”, reports the Kiev city state administration.
“Snow was removed on most streets of urban and district importance. Cleaning continues on local roads. The road service of the capital has been working without stopping for about a day already”, – is indicated in the message.
At the moment, an active processing of roads, bridges and sidewalks by anti-icing agents is conducted. It is noted that after the snowfall in the capital a sharp cold snap is expected: a few hours later the temperature will fall from +1 ° C to -6 ° C.
New snowfalls forecasters predict for Sunday.
“We ask drivers, if possible, to refrain from driving their own cars and not to park on the roadside, so as not to interfere with the work of snow removal equipment. Be as cautious as possible on the roads, obey all traffic rules,” – stressed in the message.
For 2 days 9 vessels with 162 thousand tons of agricultural products for the countries of Africa, Asia and Europe departed from Big Odessa ports, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine informs.
“In particular, the bulk carrier BOZBURUN – M with 40 thousand tons of wheat for Ethiopia departed today. This is already the eighth vessel chartered by the UN World Food Programme as part of the assistance to countries in Africa and Asia,” the Telegram channel said.
In the ports of Greater Odessa under the processing of 26 ships. They are loaded with 1 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Since August 1, 475 ships left the ports of Big Odessa, which exported 11.2 million tons of Ukrainian food products to Asia, Europe and Africa.
