The National anti-corruption bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted a search in the apartment of the founder of the holding UFuture Vasily Khmelnitsky, the businessman himself said in the social network “Facebook”.
“Already in the office found out that I have “guests” from the NABU at home. Days of exemplary searches after nights of rocket attacks for Ukrainian businessmen have become a tradition. Unfortunately. This visit of law enforcement agencies to me concerns a case that has been under investigation for more than four years, and all these years I am in Kyiv, I am not hiding from anyone, and investigative experiments and interrogations have already been conducted more than once,” Khmelnitsky wrote.
The businessman specified that the case concerns a plot of land, which he and his partner bought at an open auction for the construction of a new modern school. Paid the full price (18.9 million UAH), received the rights of the owner.
“For us, 100% (it – IF) is a social project, not a business. It is access to quality school education that paves the way for real transformations and reforms in Ukraine in the long term. In the short term – Kiev through private investment gets the necessary infrastructure for the comfortable life of citizens, and the inhabitants of the residential complex – an additional advantage, “- wrote Khmelnitsky.
At the same time, the businessman stressed that the legality of the purchase of the land plot at the auction and the conclusion of the sale agreement is confirmed by the court.
“But the NABU believes that the price is too low”, – added Khmelnitsky.
According to him, in accordance with the urban planning documentation at this address can not be placed commercial or residential real estate – this explains the price of the contract.
As clarified to the agency “Interfax-Ukraine” in the press service of Khmelnitsky, in July 2018 state enterprise “MIA “Inform-Resources” held an open auction for the sale of real estate belonging to him at Kiev, Military passage, 8. The sale price was determined by an independent appraiser engaged by the seller and agreed by the State Property Fund of Ukraine. The plot was purchased by the company from the group – “Persestroy” LLC – for the construction of the second building of the innovative educational project of Novopechersk school.
“The legality of the purchase and the contract of sale was confirmed by the court. Yes, the tax service tried to invalidate the contract of sale, but the Commercial Court of Kyiv dismissed the claim. The decision was upheld by the court of appeal and is still in force. The Supreme Court refused to open proceedings on the tax appeal. NABU participated in the trial as a third party on the side of the plaintiff,” the press service of Khmelnytskyy reported.
It added that to implement the project of expanding the school, in addition to the acquisition of real estate, resources have already been spent on the development of several business models, the creation of a separate project team. Additionally hired teachers and methodologists, conducted an audit of the school, developed pre-project documentation.
“In addition, the management has taken steps to obtain a loan from the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank,” the press service noted.
The company added that information became known from open sources that the funds paid by Persevstroy LLC for the real estate had been embezzled, but the bona fide buyer had nothing to do with these actions.
As Khmelnitsky notes, it is necessary to stop the mass practice of “mask show” and intimidation of business in conditions of war. “All remaining entrepreneurs in the country, believe me, are 100% patriotic and ready for a civilized dialogue. In the last few months alone I have heard about dozens of such cases with show off searches of respected businessmen. Both the Ukrainian society and foreign investors are observing this negative trend. There is a sincere hope that the authorities are listening to the voice of business because it is only possible to defeat the external enemy and develop Ukraine’s economy by joining forces,” he believes.
Khmelnitsky assured that he is not going anywhere and is ready to answer all questions.
“Recently I “tested” the Ukrainian tank “Oplot”, which we plan to order for our troops. Today we are talking about Ukrainian all-terrain vehicle “Bogun”. I am delighted! (…),” Reznikov wrote on Facebook on Friday.
The head of the Ministry of Defense said that two such all-terrain vehicles are already fighting in different units.
“For example, specially for paratroopers, assault troops made “Bogun” type “convertible”, where they removed the cabin as such, instead equipping seats for personnel, making it a troop car,” – said Reznikov.
The minister said that other units are currently testing vehicles and installing various types of weapons for use in military operations.
“There is even a version of a medical wrecker. Moreover, there are already applications from individual commanders,” Reznikov wrote.
He also stressed that quality weapons and equipment are important to keep people alive and healthy.
“Our partners help us and will be with us until victory. But the development of the national MIC (military-industrial complex – IF-U) is one of the priorities for us,” the minister said.
“It’s not just about today. We are fighting for independence, for our freedom, which, especially with such a neighbor, is impossible without a strong defense capability. And the independence of the military-industrial complex, in fact, is one of the factors of the defense capability of the country. We continue working on it in the future,” concluded Reznikov.
The Antimonopoly Committee (AMCU) allowed mobile operator “Vodafone Ukraine” to acquire a stake in the share capital of LLC “Freinet”, the document was issued on Thursday, according to the AMCU website.
“On May 25, 2023, the Antimonopoly Committee made a decision allowing VF Ukraine PJSC to acquire a stake in the authorized capital of Frinet LLC, which provides the buyer with control over the said facility,” the AMCU said in a statement.
It is noted that the concentration occurs in the provision of fixed Internet access services in Ukraine. At the same time, it is specified that members of the concentration provide fixed Internet access services in Ukraine both to individuals and legal entities within the boundaries of many settlements in Ukraine.
AMCU noted that the share of the buyer’s group on the respective regional markets is insignificant. Thus, as a result of concentration the aggregate share of participants in the regional markets of fixed Internet access services to individuals and legal entities within the respective geographical boundaries will not exceed 15-21%. That is, the claimed concentration will not lead to monopolization or significant limitation of competition in the commodity markets of Ukraine, said the AMCU, justifying the issuance of the permit.
Freinet” company provides high-speed Internet services in Kiev, where the customer base of provider has more than 160 thousand active subscribers. In addition to the capital region the company operates in the Kiev region and nine other regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Zhitomir, Ivano-Frankovsk and Lvov regions.
The Vodafone Ukraine group includes the National Telecom Operator Vega, which offers integrated solutions in fixed telephony, broadband Internet access and data transmission. The company is present in 22 regions of Ukraine. It provides Internet services by GPON technology in Kiev, Odessa, Dnepr, Lviv, Kharkiv. Operational management of Vega telecommunications group is implemented by PJSC “Farlep-Invest”.
As reported, “Vodafone Ukraine” in 2022 reduced net income by 2% – to 19.8 billion UAH, with a net profit of 1.1 billion UAH.
At the end of 2019, NEQSOL Holding through OOO Telco Solutions and Investments, controlled by Bakcell closed the deal to purchase its telecommunications business in Ukraine from MTS PJSC with financing from J.P. Morgan and RBI. The price amounted to $734 million.
NEQSOL Holding has more than 25 years of experience in various industries and countries. Its operations cover oil and gas, telecommunications, construction and other high-tech areas in the UK, USA, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, UAE and the Netherlands. The Group entered the telecommunications industry in the early 2000s. Its member companies provide mobile communication services, international transit and wholesale Internet sales, leased line services, data center services, etc.
Businessman Nasib Hasanov is the official founder and 100% owner of NEQSOL Holding, including Nobel Oil Services (UK) Limited, Nobel Oil E&P (UK) Limited (trade name Nobel Upstream), Bakcell LLC and Norm OJSC.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted a search in the apartment of UFuture holding founder Vasyl Khmelnitsky, the businessman himself said on Facebook.
“Already in the office found out that I have guests from the NABU at home. Days of exemplary searches after nights of rocket attacks for Ukrainian businessmen have become a tradition. Unfortunately. This visit of law enforcement agencies to me concerns a case that has been under investigation for more than 4 years, and all these years I am in Kyiv, I am not hiding from anyone, and investigative experiments and interrogations have already been carried out repeatedly”, – wrote Khmelnitsky.
He said that the case concerns a plot of land, which Khmelnitsky together with a partner purchased for the construction of a new modern school at an open auction, paid the full price (18.9 million UAH) and received the rights of the owner.
“For us, it is 100% a social project, not a business. It is access to quality school education that paves the way for Ukraine’s real transformation and reforms in the long term. In the short term – Kiev at the expense of private investment gets the necessary infrastructure for comfortable life of citizens, and the inhabitants of the residential complex – an additional advantage,” he wrote.
The businessman stressed that the legality of the purchase of the land plot at the auction and the conclusion of the sale agreement is confirmed by the court.
“But the NABU believes that the price is too low”, – said Khmelnitsky.
According to the businessman, in accordance with the city planning documentation at this address can not be placed commercial or residential real estate, this explains the price of the contract.
Khmelnitsky noted that in war conditions it is necessary to stop the mass practice of “mask show” and intimidation of business. “All remaining entrepreneurs in the country, believe me, are 100% patriotic and ready for a civilized dialogue. In the last few months alone I have heard about dozens of such cases with show off searches of respected businessmen. Both the Ukrainian society and foreign investors are observing this negative trend. There is a sincere hope that the authorities are listening to the voice of business because it is only possible to defeat the external enemy and develop the Ukrainian economy by joining forces,” he said.
Khmelnytskyy said that he is not going anywhere and is ready to answer all questions.
The Netherlands is likely to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine after pilot training, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing its own sources familiar with the matter.
“The Netherlands currently has 42 F-16 fighter jets in service, 24 of which are currently used by the Dutch army and cannot be sent to Ukraine until mid-2024. A dozen of the other 18 aircraft were to have been sold to Draken International (an American limited liability company – IF), but the government postponed handing over the planes in December without explanation, citing commercial confidentiality. Although a final decision on the deployment has not yet been made, Ukraine may receive some of the aircraft for sale or some of the 24 aircraft currently in service next year, depending on the training schedule,” the report says.
The publication stresses that the Netherlands maintains the airworthiness of all its F-16s through regular maintenance.
A spokeswoman for the Dutch defense ministry said Thursday that the government would consider a possible F-16 delivery to Ukraine at a later date, adding that pilot training is now a priority. Meanwhile, the Netherlands, along with Denmark, is now leading a coalition to train Ukrainian pilots with support from Britain and Belgium.
“According to one source, the Dutch government is already studying and discussing possible deployment plans with its allies. Despite the Dutch government’s willingness to help strengthen Ukraine’s air defense as soon as possible, pilot training, deployment planning and logistics could take many months,” the publication writes.
According to the Dutch Defense Ministry, as of today the Netherlands has provided Ukraine with about EUR1.6bn of military assistance since the start of the Russian invasion, including EUR732m worth of equipment.
Light short-term rain with thunderstorms is expected in the western and southeastern regions of Ukraine on the night of Saturday, May 27, according to Ukrhydrometecenter.
During the day in most areas of Ukraine, except for some western regions, moderate short-lived thunderstorm rains are expected, in some areas, squalls of 15-20 m / s.
Winds of northern directions, 5-10 m/sec. Night temperature 11-16°, daytime 21-26°, in the western regions at night 9-14°, daytime 17-22°, in the Carpathians – 7-12°, daytime 10-15°.
May 27, no precipitation at night in Kiev, short rains and thunderstorms during the day. The wind is north of the city, 5-10 m/s, gusty during the storm. The temperature at night is 13-15°C, while during the day it may be 23-25°C.
According to the Central Geophysical Observatory of Boris Sreznevsky in Kiev since the beginning of meteorological observations on May 27 the highest temperature was +33.6°C in 2007, the lowest +1.7°C in 1904.
On Sunday, May 28, in most regions of Ukraine, without precipitation, except in the south and east of the country intermittent rains and thunderstorms. Wind is northeastern, 5-10 m/sec.
The temperature in most western and northern regions at night 6-11°, daytime 18-23°, in the rest of the territory at night 11-16°, daytime 21-26°.
May 28 in Kiev, without precipitation. Wind eastward and northeast, 5-10 m/s. The temperature at night is about 10°, daytime is 21-23°.
