The governmental emergency response team of Ukraine CERT-UA, operating under the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, warns of the intensification of online fraud using the topic of “monetary compensation”,
“A number of fraudulent pages have been discovered on the Facebook social network, containing a link to the so-called “Unified Compensation Center for the Return of Unpaid Funds,” the State Special Communications Service reports.
According to the message, this resource offers to provide personal information and make an additional payment. If these requirements are met, the payment card data will be compromised.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry announced the introduction of new sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing military aggression against Ukraine.
“On July 14, 2022, Canada made further amendments to the rules on special economic measures (Russia) to prohibit the provision of two production services to the Russian oil and gas, chemical and manufacturing industries,” the document said on the ministry’s website.
It is noted that eight new industries from these sectors have been added to the sanctions list.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “any person in Canada and any Canadian outside of Canada is prohibited from providing services to Russia or any person in Russia” related to the production of metal products, computer, electronic and optical products, electrical equipment, cars, trailers and semi-trailers, transport equipment, land transport and pipelines.
Ukrainian enterprises in January-June of this year reduced the export of ferrous scrap by 8 times compared to the same period last year – to 28.74 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), in monetary terms, the export of scrap metal over this period decreased by 6.8 times – to $12.24 million.
At the same time, 6 months the country reduced the import of scrap metal in physical terms by 8.1 times – up to 1.55 thousand tons. In monetary terms, the import of scrap decreased 6.8 times to $3.28 million.
The import of scrap metal in January-June was carried out mainly from Turkey (78.89% of deliveries in monetary terms), the Russian Federation (14.09%) and Cyprus (5.4%); export – to Turkey (61.35%), Poland (12.49%) and Germany (9.45%).
In addition, in January-June 2022, Ukrainian steel enterprises did not import products of direct reduction of iron from ore under code 7203 – hot briquetted iron (HBI), which is a substitute for pig iron and scrap metal, but exported 258 tons of this product to India (100%) in the amount of $48 thousand
As reported, Ukraine in 2021 increased the export of scrap metal by 17.2 times compared to the previous year – up to 615.69 thousand tons. In monetary terms, the export of scrap metal increased 25.2 times – up to $238.90 million.
In 2021, the country reduced the import of scrap metal in physical terms by 13.1% to 22.96 thousand tons. In monetary terms, the import of scrap increased by 72.4% to $44.88 million.
The import of scrap metal in 2021 was carried out mainly from Turkey (60.42% of deliveries in monetary terms), the Russian Federation (33.44%) and Belarus (1.57%); export – to Turkey (84.85%), Romania (6.66%) and Poland (3.45%).
In addition, Ukrainian steel enterprises in 2021 imported from the Russian Federation 1.60 thousand tons of products of direct reduction of iron from ore under code 7203 – hot briquetted iron (HBI), which is a substitute for pig iron and scrap metal, in the amount of $653 thousand, while in 2020 – 2.65 thousand tons for $805 thousand. At the same time, the export of these products to India amounted to 288 tons for $91 thousand.
The US Embassy in Ukraine called on the citizens of this country not to enter Ukraine, and those who are in Ukraine to leave the country immediately.
“The security situation across Ukraine remains brutal and unpredictable due to ongoing military attacks from Russia, active hostilities in the country, and uncertain security conditions. The US Embassy urges US citizens not to enter Ukraine, and those in Ukraine immediately leave the country using privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so,” the embassy’s website said in a statement.
The embassy also urged “to avoid mass gatherings and organized events, as they can become a target for the Russian military anywhere in Ukraine, including its western regions.”
On the day of the National Day of the French Republic, French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Ponsin presented the Order of the Legion of Honor to Ukrainian writer and poet Lina Kostenko.
“Mrs. Kostenko, if I give three words that could describe you, then I would note the following: determination, courage and desire, in spite of everything, to remain free. These three words, in my opinion, best characterize your life path , the main thing is your determination to remain a person with an active citizenship,” de Ponsin said at the award ceremony in Kyiv on Thursday.
He added that when he made an official proposal to French President Emmanuel Macron to present Lina Kostenko for a high award, he could not even imagine that this award would take place during the war.
“But in the context of Russia’s aggression, of which Ukraine has become a victim, the presentation of this award becomes even more significant,” the ambassador said.
He stressed that Kostenko’s civic activism has always been one of her traits, along with her great talent as a writer and poetess.
“But it is your courage, determination, civic position that we want to note today,” de Ponsin said.
Kostenko said that it was a great honor for her to receive the award.
“In a difficult time, we have gathered here, but on a very good occasion, because the Order of the Legion of Honor is a knightly order, and it is a great honor to receive it. I confess that it was an absolute surprise for me, because I belong to world-famous literature – and suddenly such an award. Mr. Ambassador said very truly, I really love France, and even in those terrible totalitarian times, I always went to France with my soul, I have poems about France, “said Kostenko.
The writer stressed that she dedicates the award to Ukrainian soldiers. “This is our most powerful legion,” Kostenko said.
“When I was accused of anti-Soviet creativity and called for reprisals, I simply quoted Camus to them – that the world is divided into the plague and its victims, and my choice is not to side with the plague. It was generally the motto of the sixties – not to side with the plague, and now this is an alternative for all of humanity, because the vibrios of the plague did not disappear anywhere, as Camus envisaged, and these vibrios grew, filled with rage and now fell upon Ukraine in the form of the ugliest war,” Kostenko noted.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that Lina Kostenko has always been the embodiment of a person who, despite difficult life circumstances and challenges, has never betrayed her principles.
“Today you inspire us to fight and, most importantly, never give up. This award is once again recognition of your creativity, your international authority. This is a great example for all of us, Ukrainians, what kind of dreams, principles, values a person should always fight,” Klitschko said.
Lina Kostenko is a significant personality for Ukrainians, a symbol of Ukrainian literature of the 20th century, a bright representative of the generation of Ukrainian dissidents. Kostenko has always been with the Ukrainians in the most difficult times. During the Soviet period, she defended the persecuted Ukrainian patriots. In 1986, after the Chernobyl disaster, she spoke to the liquidators. In 2004, 2014, during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, she supported the protesters who defended universal values and the right to live in a democratic, sovereign and European state on Independence Square.
Belonging to the Order of the Legion of Honor is the highest distinction, honor and official recognition of special merits in France.
Ukraine reduced iron ore exports 24.2% year-on-year in H1 2022 to 17.011 million tonnes, the State Customs Service said.
The imports fell 44.8% in value to $2.159 billion.
Most of the exports were to Slovakia – 18.68% in value, followed by China – 17.55% and Poland – 14.65%.
Ukraine imported 13 tonnes of iron ore commodities for $24,000 in H1 2022, compared with 1,133 tonnes for $129,000 in H1 2021. Most of the imports in H1 2022 came from the UK – 84.62%, followed by Russia and Italy at 7.69% each.
Iron ore exports fell 4.2% in 2021 to 44.358 million tonnes but rose 62.8% in value to $6.9 billion. Most of the exports went to China – 41.90% in value, the Czech Republic- 9.65% and Poland – 7.99%.
Ukraine imported 1,202 tonnes of iron ore in 2021 for $184,000 and 123,000 tonnes in 2020 for $75,000. Last year’s imports came from Egypt – 55.98%, the Netherlands – 21.2% and Poland – 7.07%.
