Poland has expanded the use of Ukrainian documents authorizing participation in road traffic. Thus, a driving license issued in Ukraine is considered valid in Poland until December 31, 2023, even if such a license has expired, the Ministry for the reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine reports.
“This became possible after the introduction of amendments to the law “On assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of this state.” The new norms were adopted in the Republic of Poland on January 13, 2023″, – is indicated in the message of the press service of the Ministry in the telegram channel.
It is also noted that all citizens who have entered the territory of Poland by cars with registration plates of Ukraine and have a certificate of registration of a vehicle, issued in Ukraine, may move freely on the territory of Poland until December 31, 2023 without going to Ukraine.
This applies to all citizens of Ukraine who are legally on the territory of Poland, including those who were on the territory of Poland until February 24, 2022.
The international automobile crossing point on the border with Romania “Diakivtsi – Rakivets” will soon start working, the reconstruction of the border infrastructure has been fully completed, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.
“The planned capacity of the point per day – up to 300 vehicles, including 10 buses, 1550 citizens, including 500 pedestrians. The checkpoint provides 6 lanes for vehicles and a separate lane for people crossing the border on foot”, – is indicated in the message.
According to the Agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and Romania the border crossing point will be open for pedestrians, automobiles (including buses), except for trucks. At the first stage the checkpoint will be open for the passage of empty trucks and tanks, and later, depending on the creation of the necessary infrastructure conditions and for the movement of other types of vehicles and goods.
To carry out crossing operations at the Dyakivtsy checkpoint a separate structural subdivision of border guards was created. The staff of the department received appropriate training and is ready to carry out border control of citizens and vehicles. All workplaces for passport control are equipped with computer equipment with access to databases, as well as other means for effective implementation of pass operations.
After almost a year of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine, only 9% of nearly 1.5 thousand global companies have left the Russian market, according to Mikhail Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Presidential Office.
“Among the Western companies left to work in Russia, the largest share is German (19.5%), 12.4% – American, 7% – Japanese In particular, remained to work in the terrorist state: METRO, Leroy Merlin, Auchan, Nestle, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Siemens, Pfizer, Philip Morris, Bayer, Acer, Alibaba, CloudFlare, Societe Generale, Credit Suisse, Lenovo, Asus, Cersanit and the like,” Podolyak wrote in Telegram Saturday.
He said some Western banks “made super profits in Russia in a year of full-scale war at all.” “Raiffeisen increased profits in Russia by 313%. For 2022, the profit of the Russian branch was 474 million euros, and this is the largest amount among branches in Southeastern Europe,” Podolyak said.
Raiffeisen, according to his words, for the last financial year has replenished the Russian treasury with 94.8 million euros only for profit tax. “The amount of other fees is much more. That is, it is a tax on the war, on the killing of Ukrainians. Moreover, Raiffeisen recognized the pseudo-republican “L(D)NR”, offering credit vacations to the partially mobilized. Its example was followed by Citibank, Credit Europe Bank and OTP Bank”, – writes Podolyak.
He also notes that the NAPC has recently recognized the American corporation as an international sponsor of the war. The company owns such subsidiaries and brands as Gillette, Fairy, Tide, Ariel, Lenor, Mr. Proper, Pampers, Always, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Old Spice, Hugo Boss, Max Factor, etc.
“Not only have they not withdrawn from the Russian market, but they continue to operate the Household Chemistry Combine, which is the world’s largest producer of detergents for P&G, and the Gillette blade and shaving machine factory,” Podolyak stressed.
Operating in Russia, international companies pay taxes to the Russian state budget used for the production of defense-industrial complex. The total annual revenue of these 1200+ companies in Russia is almost $290 billion, which is one fifth of Russia’s GDP, the advisor of the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine notes.
As Podolyak notes, the companies also contribute to mobilization measures in Russia. Under new Russian law, corporations operating in Russia are forced to help draft employees into the military and fund their military equipment.
“Not withdrawing from the Russian market in a year of full-scale war is not an accident, but a conscious position… And the collective West, whose market is a higher priority for international companies than Russia, must show a firm stance,” Podolyak summed up.
The Canadian Mint has decided to direct the net proceeds from the sale of its annual Pysanka 2023 gold and silver coin issue to humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
“Your Fine Silver Pysanka 2023 is designed in a Tripolitan artistic style based on the drawings of prehistoric earthenware and executed in natural colors,” the description of the silver coin notes.
“And on the 99.99% pure gold gold peeing coin, the beloved floral emblem of the Ukrainian people (sunflower) is surrounded by symbols that celebrate the return of the sun, and with it the arrival of spring,” the Mint of Canada pointed out.
Coins in the traditional pysanka form were issued in 7,500 and 275 pieces, respectively, and at a face value of CAD 20 and CAD 250 respectively, and were offered at CAD 139.95 and CAD 6999.95.
“Yesterday the Royal Canadian Mint released an incredibly beautiful coin depicting a Ukrainian pysanka… The entire collection, which is 7500 coins, was completely sold out for the day”, – said, in turn, the Ukrainian Ambassador Yulia Kovaliv.
The total amount of coins sold at declared value – 2.97 million Canadian dollars (about $ 2.23 million at current exchange rate) at a total denomination of $ 0.150 million Canadian dollars.
Problematic issues of humanitarian demining in Ukraine were considered during a coordination meeting chaired by Prime Minister Denis Shmygal and attended by representatives of the Interior Ministry, Defense Ministry, Economy Ministry and State Emergency Service.
“Because of Russian aggression, Ukraine is currently one of the most contaminated countries in the world by mines and shells. Humanitarian demining is the first stage in the reconstruction of de-occupied territories, allowing the reconstruction of housing and critical infrastructure to begin. The need for demining is growing as Ukrainian territories are liberated,” the government’s press service quotes Shmygal as saying.
According to the State Emergency Situations Service, the communities in 10 regions of Ukraine most in need of demining today. About 30% of the entire area of the state is contaminated. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, since the beginning of the Russian aggression the bodies of the State Emergency Situations Service together with the National Police have seized about 500 thousand shells and explosive objects.
As a result of the meeting it was decided to create a state institution Ukrainian Center for Humanitarian Demining, which will serve as the secretariat and analytical center and to collect and summarize information on the needs of demining in the Ministry of Defense, the Interior Ministry, the State Emergencies Service, the regional military administrations, partner countries and international organizations.
As the Prime Minister noted, such an institution would improve coordination between all the subjects of mine action. And also it will allow to attract all possible resources, both internal and external, for conducting demining.
In addition, following the results of the meeting it was instructed to develop an operational order of formation and maintenance of the register of land clearing, to accelerate the certification of foreign organizations working in this direction, to develop technical regulations of the processes of mine action.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Ukraine and paid tribute to the memory of those killed in the devastating earthquake in Turkey.
The head of state made an entry in the book of sorrow and laid flowers on the territory of the embassy, the presidential press service reports.
“Please accept sincere condolences from me personally and on behalf of the people of Ukraine. The terrible tragedy that claimed so many lives in the blink of an eye, resonated with deep pain in our hearts. We share the pain of the Turkish people and help in this difficult time. Eternal memory to the dead. A speedy recovery to the victims,” Zelensky said.
The president also spoke with Ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine Yagmur Ahmet Guldere.
