The State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Kyivstar mobile network operator.
According to a Monday report of the operator, cooperation is aimed at increasing the level of cyber security, protection of critical infrastructure facilities and the introduction of new educational programs in this area.
“Combining the efforts of business and the state is a key component in the formation of a reliable cyber security system in Ukraine. Together we must work out transparent and understandable rules, taking into account the best European and world practices, according to which both representatives of state bodies and private companies will work,” Chairman of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection Yuriy Schyhol said.
In turn, Kyivstar considers it its goal to raise the level of awareness of users in cyberspace, cooperating with law enforcement agencies and joining the initiatives of the state.
“We support the development of partnership between the state and business, therefore, effective cooperation with the State Service for Special Communications in the field of cyber security and protection of critical infrastructure facilities is extremely important for Kyivstar. I am convinced that only through building such interaction it is possible to effectively counter modern challenges and threats in cyberspace,” President of Kyivstar Alexander Komarov said.
Cooperation between the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection and Kyivstar, in particular, provides for:
– conducting scientific research on the issues of ensuring cyber security, development and operation of information and communication systems, protection of information and critical infrastructure facilities;
– assistance in creating a system of independent information security auditors;
– provision of advisory and methodological assistance regarding the assessment of the state of security, the audit of information resources, the assessment of compromise and vulnerability analysis of the IT infrastructure;
– participation in the creation of a system for the timely detection, prevention and neutralization of cyber threats;
Cooperation is also aimed at creating conditions for the development of modern cyber security technologies and their implementation in Ukraine, and at promoting the implementation of international cyber security programs in Ukraine.
Separately, the State Service for Special Communications and Kyivstar will make efforts to improve the level of digital awareness and the culture of safe behavior of Ukrainian citizens in the cyberspace.
CYBER SECURITY, KYIVSTAR, STATE SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
The Cabinet of Ministers has provided funding for the state-owned enterprise National Project Air Express to stop the implementation of a project of passenger railway communication between Kyiv and Boryspil airport. According to an explanatory note to the document, this will minimize Ukraine’s losses associated with the termination of credit and commercial agreements concluded between the SOE National Project Air Express and the China National Complete Engineering Corporation together with the Export-Import Bank of China.
It is expected that as a result of the resumption of negotiations and termination of agreements, about $73.7 million can be returned to the Ukrainian side.
The explanatory note also states that at the moment the SOE National Project Air Express is not solvent, and in order for the enterprise to be able to terminate the contracts under the mentioned project, it is necessary to pay off debts on salaries and payments to the state budget, as well as accumulate funds for participation in litigation.
In particular, the state-owned enterprise National Project Air Express has arrears in wages – UAH 831,000, in payment of personal income tax – UAH 341,000, in military fee – UAH 28,500, and in single social security tax – UAH 222,000.
As reported, in Ukraine for a long time there was an unrealized national project Air Express – railway passenger communication Kyiv-Boryspil International Airport, construction of other infrastructure facilities in Kyiv region. For its implementation in 2011, under state guarantees, a loan agreement was concluded with the Export Import Bank of China in the amount of $372.3 million. CCEC was appointed as a general contractor for the turnkey construction works.
In June 2015, it became known that Ukraine and China were ready to discuss the possibility of redirecting credit funds provided for Air Express to other projects, and in March 2016, the Ministry of Infrastructure received the consent of Chinese partners to reformat the Air Express project.
On November 30, 2018, Ukrzaliznytsia launched an express train to Boryspil airport with a floating schedule of 21 to 30 voyages per day. To this end, about 4 km of non-electrified track was added to the existing railway infrastructure, including a 272 m long railway overpass over the M03 Kyiv-Kharkiv highway. Two passenger platforms were built. For operation on the route Central Kyiv Railway Station-Boryspil Airport, Ukrzaliznytsia repaired five rail buses manufactured by Pesa Bydgoszcz SA previously purchased for operation on other routes.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with President of World Bank Group David Malpass an increase in the World Bank role in the stability of Ukraine’s financial sector and thanked for the provision of $350 million in financial assistance.
“Discussed with David Malpass the increasing role of the World Bank in the stability of Ukraine’s financial sector. The World Bank President noted economic stabilization, land reform and infrastructure projects in Ukraine. We are grateful for $350 million in financial support,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Saturday while in Munich.
The accession of Skhidny Mining and Processing Plant to National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom will have a positive effect on the former’s performance, but it must be preceded by a number of measures, including the corporatization of Energoatom, Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko has said.
“We are working out this way of joining. To do this, we need to take certain actions, in particular, to properly corporatize Energoatom. We are moving in this direction,” he said during question hour in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.
At the same time, the minister said Skhidny Mining and Processing Plant, represented by Energoatom, has a single counterparty, and the support from the General Company “will solve many issues.”
As reported, at the end of October 2021, Head of Energoatom Petro Kotin noted the impossibility of merging the company with Skhidny Mining and Processing Plant due to its loss, but at the same time expressed hope for financial recovery of the company with the appointment of new head on October 6 Serhiy Shovheli.
Haluschenko earlier said Skhidny Mining and Processing Plant could not join Energoatom. He cited the EBRD and Euratom loans as the reason. However, he said that an alternative to accession could be a transfer to the management, which is working on the ministry.
At the same time, the minister considers it quite logical that Energoatom wants to gain control over Skhidny Mining and Processing Plant when it spends money on it.
The concept of stabilization and further development of Skhidny Mining and Processing Plant by transferring it to Energoatom provided for financial contributions to it by the generating company by reducing the contributions of part of the net profit to the state budget, the Ministry of Energy said at the time.
Energoatom, based on the results of its activities in 2022, must allocate half of its net profit to the budget, provided that the second half is directed to the implementation of an investment program.
The corresponding decision is enshrined in resolution No. 134 of February 16, 2022 on amending the procedure for deductions of a part of net profit (income) to the state budget by state unitary enterprises and their associations, published on Friday on the Uriadovy Portal.
“The share of net profit deducted by Energoatom based on the results of financial and economic activities in 2022 is determined in the amount of 50%, provided that 50% of net profit (income) from its activities is directed to the implementation of the investment program,” the resolution says.
According to Energy Reform, the government has yet to make a decision on the amount of deductions based on the results of 2021.
