On Sunday morning, Polish farmers ended their protest in front of the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint, and truck traffic has resumed, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) reports.
“According to the Border Guard of the Republic of Poland, today at 09:30 the protest in front of the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint ended. Registration and crossing of trucks entering Ukraine is carried out as usual. Border guards, together with employees of the control services, are working to ensure the passage of the maximum number of trucks,” the message posted on the telegram channel reads.
On December 23, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Poland Michal Kolodziejczak said that Polish farmers had suspended protests at the Shehyni-Medica checkpoint with Ukraine.
Medyka-Shehyni, Polish farmers, SBGS, State Border Guard Service
An earthquake with magnitude 4.0 (on the Richter scale) was registered on Sunday at 08.06 Kiev time in the area of Vrancea Mountains (Romania), it could be felt in Ukraine, but does not pose a threat to the population, the Main Center for Special Control reports.
“The source of the earthquake is located on the territory of Romania, in the area of Vrancea mountains, 110 km from the border with Ukraine, at a depth of 103 km. The earthquake does not carry a threat to the population of Ukraine. Fluctuations can be felt only by individuals who are quiet indoors, especially on the upper floors,” – said in a message published on the website.
The Main Control Center reminds that the last powerful earthquake from the area of Vrancea mountains was registered on December 04 this year with a magnitude of 4.6 (on the Richter scale).
JSC Slovianski Shpalery-KFTB (formerly the Koriukiv technical paper factory, Chernihiv region), a leading Ukrainian wallpaper manufacturer, completed January-September 2023 with a net profit of UAH 37.44 million, which is 4.3 times more than for the same period in 2022. According to the company’s financial statements released on Friday in the information disclosure system of the National Commission for Securities and Stock Market, net income increased by 55.3%m to UAH 1 billion.
The company received UAH 49.48 million in profit from operating activities (4 times more), gross profit increased by 61.5%, to UAH 201.66 million.
According to the plant’s report for the first half of 2023 published on Friday, a net profit amounted to UAH 19.18 million versus a loss of UAH 3.61 million for the same period in 2022, with net income growing by 69.3% to UAH 616 million.
Thus, in the third quarter the company increased net profit by 51.3%, to UAH 18.26 million, net income by 37.7%, to UAH 398.41 million.
As reported with reference to data from the Ukrpapir association, in January-September of this year the factory increased wallpaper production by 23%, to 12.387 million conventional pieces.
The Ministry of Economy and USAID are launching a $15 million grant program for medium and large enterprises, under which one business will be able to receive a grant of $250,000 to $2 million.
“Companies with an estimated minimum annual sales of $8 million in hryvnia equivalent are invited to participate in the program. This figure is important given that the target sales growth based on the results of the concept implementation should be at least $2 million,” the Ministry of Economy said in a release.
It is noted that grant funding should be used by program participants to develop their business, in particular, to increase sales, increase exports and create new jobs.
The condition for participation in the program is the investment of additional funds – the company’s own funds or other resources attracted by the company. The program participants will be selected in two stages: the first is the evaluation of concepts, and the second is the evaluation of detailed grant applications from participants who have passed the first stage. One of the criteria for evaluating concepts will be the number of jobs created.
It is specified that the concepts must be submitted no later than February 29, 2024. They are expected to be implemented within 12-24 months.
“We support Ukraine’s struggle for freedom in the long term and at all levels”, – Minister of International Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden
The Ukrainian Institute in Sweden has received its own premises in the center of Stockholm and for the first time in 10 years since its establishment has its own home.
On December 20, Minister of International Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden Johan Forssell inaugurated the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden on the island of Strömsborg. From now on, the cultural and diplomatic organization, founded in 2014 by Ukrainian-Swedish concert pianist Natalia Pasichnyk, will work in the historic center of the Swedish capital, near the Nobel Museum, the Royal Palace and the Riksdag.
“Sweden’s support for Ukraine is extensive and long-term. The work of the Ukrainian Institute in Stockholm is an important part of the protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage and helps to spread knowledge and understanding of Ukraine in Sweden. From the Swedish side, we are clear that we support Ukraine’s struggle for freedom, long-term and at all levels,” said Johan Forssell.
For nine years, the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden has been filling a large gap in the knowledge and understanding of Ukraine through culture in Scandinavia.
“Few people could name even one Ukrainian writer or composer before the Great Invasion. And only now the West has finally realized why. There should not have been a Ukrainian cultural heritage, because according to the current Russian leader, as well as his predecessors, “there is no such nation.” The Russian narrative is that Ukrainians are Russians, who have refused to recognize this time and again throughout history. And the aggressor claims that this war is needed to explain this to Ukrainians once and for all,” emphasized Pasichnyk.
The reopening of the Institute – now in its own premises – marks a milestone and an important step forward for its continued work to raise awareness of Ukraine’s significant cultural heritage and rich cultural life.
“We are entering a new chapter as we have fantastic premises to share with our incredibly welcoming partners at International IDEA,” added the founder of the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden.
The opening ceremony was also attended by the delegation of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, which is currently participating in International IDEA events in Stockholm.
For reference:
The Ukrainian Institute in Sweden is a platform for Swedes and Ukrainians to meet, raising awareness of Ukraine’s significant heritage and rich cultural life. The organization works to strengthen Swedish-Ukrainian cultural ties. We believe that knowledge about each other and cultural cooperation are central elements of our society’s resistance to future threats. Our role is unique – we were the first Ukraine-centered organization to become an associate member of the Stockholm Cluster of the European Union National Institute for Culture (EUNIC) in 2014, and within this network we have become an integral part of the European cultural scene.
Over the years, we have organized the Young Talents – Ukraine concert series for young talents from Ukraine, the Rethinking Europe music festival, poetry evenings, events with Swedish and international authors, the Nordic Ukrainian Film Festival, and other events. Together with our partners from the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), we regularly participate in film festivals (e.g. REX Animation Festival, European Film Festival, Sounds of Silence) and other events such as concerts, panel debates, European Day of Languages, etc.
International IDEA – International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance – is an intergovernmental organization that supports democracy around the world. The vision and mission of the organization is to advance democracy worldwide as a universal human aspiration and a factor in sustainable development by supporting the development, strengthening and protection of democratic political institutions and processes at all levels. International IDEA is headquartered in Stockholm, on the island of Strömsborg, where the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden has now found its home.
As of the third week of December, agrarians of all regions of Ukraine harvested 78.7 mln tons of grains and oilseeds: 57.86 mln tons and 20.76 mln tons respectively.
As reported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, grain and legumes were harvested on an area of 10 million 509 thousand hectares with a yield of 55.1 c/ha.
Compared to the same date a year ago, the total harvest is 23.6% higher, or 15.02 million tons, including 24.2% higher, or 11.26 million tons, of grains and 22.1% higher, or 3.76 million tons, of oilseeds. At the same time, it should be taken into account that this year corn has been harvested from 88% of the area, while a year ago – from 75%.
In addition, 11.86 mln tons of sugar beet were harvested from 248.6 thou hectares. Although its yield this year, unlike grains and oilseeds, is lower than last year, due to the expansion of the area by 38.3%, the harvest is 31.8% higher than last year.
As reported, this season’s winter wheat plantings amounted to 4166 thou hectares (-834 thou hectares compared to the previous one), winter barley – 536 thou hectares (-255 thou hectares), and rapeseed – 1374 thou hectares (+110 thou hectares).
According to the newly revised forecast of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in 2023, farmers will be able to harvest 81.3 mln tons of grains and oilseeds, including 59.7 mln tons of grains and 21.6 mln tons of oilseeds.
