Of the 3.5 million inhabitants of Kyiv, two-thirds have already returned to the capital, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“Before the war, 3.5 million Kyivans were in our city… Almost two-thirds of Kyivans have already returned,” Klitschko said on the air of the National Telethon on Tuesday.
The mayor noted that there are still many restrictions in Kyiv due to the martial law: there is a curfew, there are still a large number of checkpoints, there is still a possibility of shelling the capital, and in the forest zone of the suburbs all territories have not yet been cleared of mines, there are many explosive objects, and therefore visiting green areas is prohibited. .
“That is, there are many restrictions. And if these restrictions do not scare you, then you can really return,” Klitschko said.
He stressed that he could not forbid the people of Kiev to return to the capital, but could only recommend.
“If you have the opportunity to be in more protected places, where there is no risk to your life and health, please stay. But if possible, we will not mind returning to our homes today,” the mayor said.
In the capital of Ukraine will return the fare in public transport, said the mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko.
“We are already switching to paid travel in public transport,” Klitschko said on the air of the National Telethon on Tuesday.
At the same time, the mayor of the city did not specify when exactly the paid travel would resume, but noted that the price for it remains the same (UAH 8).
Klitschko explained the restoration of paid travel in public transport by the need to replenish the city budget.
“We understand that we now have a large amount of energy resources that we need, and electricity, and wages for our utilities, employees, and I can honestly say that the city will not pull, because the budget must be replenished,” the mayor said.
As reported, since February 24, due to the martial law associated with the military aggression of the Russian Federation, public transport in the capital has been free of charge.
Top 20 countries of Ukraine’s foreign trade partners in 2021 (thousand USD)
The IT Ukraine association notes the high resilience of the in the conditions of the active phase of hostilities.
“According to our new data, already during the war, 77% of IT companies attracted new customers, and 56% of them expect growth of 5-30% this year,” IT Ukraine Executive Director Kostiantyn Vasiuk said.
IT Ukraine stressed that in the new military realities, the industry managed to consolidate and quickly reformat thanks to anti-crisis business plans.
“Most companies have retained customers and the volume of their contracts. Thanks to this, the industry remains financially stable, provides regular foreign exchange earnings to the Ukrainian economy and the state budget, and pays taxes in advance,” the association notes.
Thus, according to the data provided by IT Ukraine (with reference to the NBU data), in March 2022, the Ukrainian IT industry retained 96% of the volume of exports of computer services ($522 million) compared to the same period last year ($546 million).
“The war-driven decline in foreign exchange earnings in March by only 38% compared to the record growth rate in February ($839 million), as well as the 50-60% fall in other export industries, demonstrates, in fact, the margin of stability of the IT industry,” the association said.
IT Ukraine also noted that, according to the National Bank of Ukraine, the export IT industry provided a record $2 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2022, despite martial law, mobilization, forced relocation of businesses and teams.
The same indicator in 2021 amounted to $1.44 billion. In fact, the volume of IT exports increased by 28%.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Germany and France stand together on the side of Ukraine.
“Germany and France stand together for Ukraine as part of the European family. We stand for a European Union that stands for peace and freedom, for democracy and the rule of law,” Scholz wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night.
The Cabinet of Ministers has determined three checkpoints for the movement of cars purchased abroad: “Ustilug” and “Grushev” on the Polish border and “Maly Berezny” on the Slovak one.
The corresponding order of the Cabinet of Ministers dated May 3, 2022 No. 354-r was published on the government portal.
As reported, since April 25, Ukraine has limited the number of checkpoints for the import of cars with foreign registration for their own needs. The crossing of such vehicles became available at the Ugrinov, Grushev, Smelnitsa and Ustilug checkpoints (on the Polish border), as well as through Maly Berezny on the Slovak border and through Davinkovoe and Kosino on the Hungarian border. This decision was due to the appearance of queues at checkpoints after the Verkhovna Rada removed the need to pay customs duties, VAT and excise for such imports.
