The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky together with his wife Olena Zelensky went on a working visit to Sweden.
“Working visit together with the first lady to Sweden. Meetings with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, King Carl XVI, Queen Silvia, Speaker Andreas Norlen and heads of parliamentary parties. Extensive Ukrainian-Swedish talks. I will personally thank Sweden for the support of our struggle for freedom and independence,” – said the head of state in his Telegram.
As the President noted, the primary task of the visit is to strengthen Ukrainian soldiers on the ground and in the sky, the development of bilateral cooperation, in particular in the defense industry, European integration of Ukraine and common security in the Euro-Atlantic space, as well as Sweden’s full support for Ukraine on its way to NATO.
“We are confident that together we will guarantee reliable peace in the entire Baltic-Black Sea-Azov region,” Zelensky wrote.
Sukhaya Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro region), part of Aleksandr Yaroslavsky’s DCH Group, increased crude iron ore production by 32%, or about 300 thousand tons, in the second quarter of this year.
The mine’s chief engineer, Igor Piltek, told DCH Steel’s corporate newspaper on Thursday that the production is short of workers in key job specialties. Therefore, the mine was forced to stop the technological process at the Frunze mine. The lack of a market for products also had a negative impact.
In addition, Yubileynaya mine is not yet being used to its full capacity, and the workforce is working depending on the situation with product shipments and the availability of qualified personnel.
“However, if we compare the performance of the first and second quarters of this year, we see an increase in production in the second quarter. Crude ore production increased by 32% to about 300 thousand tons, and commercial ore production by 42% (260 thousand tons) (…) This growth is primarily due to an increase in working hours. While at the beginning of the year the company’s team worked a reduced working week, in the second quarter, employees of the leading mining professions (sinking, mining, mine construction) returned to a full working week,” explained the chief engineer.
He also said that after the occupation of Mariupol and the destruction of Sukhoi Balka’s main consumer of ore, the company reoriented to another market: ore is being sold to Western partners, metal producers. The mine’s ore is consumed by steel mills in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia.
“This spring, sales volumes increased, but in the summer, due to the crisis in the steel industry, we are seeing a decline. The shutdown of four blast furnaces at European steel mills reduced the need for raw materials. Sales volumes of the mine’s products decreased. We hope that the situation will improve in September,” said Piltek.
Commenting on the water situation, the chief engineer pointed to the shortage of water after the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. In particular, the lack of water affects the operation of the Central Compressor Station: the unit usually uses about 300 cubic meters of water, but in the current conditions, given the lack of resources, the company has developed a number of measures to reduce consumption. Significant savings have been made at Frunze mine, the industrial site of Yubileynaya mine, and auxiliary units. Water consumption was reduced by 30%.
It is also noted that difficulties with the company’s energy supply are expected in winter, so this year a new powerful generator was installed at Tsentralnaya mine to ensure the withdrawal of miners from the mine in case of a power outage.
“In the near future, we expect to receive five 20 kW generators to create a reserve and meet the needs of surface facilities,” added Piltek.
Sukha Balka mine is one of the leading mining companies in Ukraine. It produces iron ore by underground mining. The mine includes Yubileynaya and Frunze mines. DCH Group acquired the mine from Evraz Group in May 2017.
Tripillya Packaging Combine (TPC, Ukrainka, Kyiv region), a subsidiary of Rubizhansky Cardboard and Packaging Plant, which stopped its work in Lugansk region, in January-July this year produced UAH 1 billion 406.7 million, which is 28.7% more than in the same period of 2022.
According to statistical data provided to Interfax-Ukraine by the UkrPapir association, the mill produced 77.86 million square meters of corrugated packaging during this period – 16.6% more, which consistently remains the second result in terms of output after Kiev Cardboard and Paper Mill (128.2 million square meters).
Including in July, the mill increased the output of these products by 2% against July-2022 and by 12% against June this year – up to 12.45 million square meters.
In total, the main enterprises of the industry, providing data from the association “UkrPapir”, in January-July produced 283.45 million square meters of cardboard packaging – 16.3% more than in the same period of 2022, including in July – 44.14 million square meters (6.6% more).
As reported, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, Rubizhansky KTK together with TUK predominantly led the market of corrugated packaging producers in Ukraine.
After the destruction, the plant in Rubizhne was shut down and the legal entity “Rubizhansky KTK” was re-registered in Kyiv.
TUK produces a wide range of corrugated cardboard products for foodstuffs, industrial goods, and goods of chemical industry.
Among its clients are Roshen, Coca-Cola, agricultural holding MHP, and Lactalis Group.
According to Opendatabot, RKTK JSC owns 99.96% in TUK LLC, and the ultimate beneficiary is the general director (and beneficiary) of Rubizhansky KTK JSC, Gennady Minin, who since September 2022 also manages the Tripillya Packing Plant.
TUK in 2022 received almost UAH 232 mln of net profit and UAH 2.38 bln of revenue.
The Swedish Parliament has approved the transfer of an additional military aid package worth a total of 3.25 billion Swedish kronor (about 270 million euros) to Ukraine, the Riksdag press service reported.
“Parliament approved the donation of additional defense equipment to Ukraine. The authorization will give the government the right to decide on the donation to Ukraine of defense equipment in the form of spare parts and readiness goods worth no more than SEK 1.1 billion, as well as ammunition, demining equipment and vehicles worth no more than SEK 2.15 billion,” the statement said.
Parliament also decided to authorize the government to sell a limited number of missiles for Rb 99 (AMRAAM) fighter jets to the US. The US has launched a buy-back program for old AMRAAM variants in exchange for the same countries purchasing new AMRAAM missiles. The purpose of the program is to transfer the repurchased missiles to Ukraine to quickly strengthen the Ukrainian air defense system.
Ukrainian developers welcome the increase in financing of the state program “єOsela”, expect an increase in demand for housing purchase in autumn.
“The forecast regarding the program is more than positive. There have never been such affordable conditions for purchasing housing in Ukraine. If the financing of the program will be kept at least at the same level as today, then in the fall we will get some kind of consumer boom”, – told the agency “Interfax-Ukraine” marketing director of Alliance Novobud Irina Mikhalova.
According to her, at the beginning of August under the program “єOsela” at 3%, the company has concluded 12 deals, 11 of which are for the purchase of ready-made housing, one contract – for housing under construction. At the same time under the extended program (at 7%) so far there have been no deals, but the number of applications considered by banks has increased significantly.
“Almost every fourth client is a person who wants to arrange an apartment under the program “єOsela”, – said Mikhalova.
The increase in requests since the beginning of August is also stated in the group “Kovalskaya”.
“Contracts under the program at 3% were signed at the first allocated funds. At the beginning of August we observed an increase in requests. The terms of the program are very interesting for people who need housing. Now the success of the program is directly related to the volume of its financing”, – commented in the press office of the developer.
At the same time, the obstacle to participation in the program for Ukrainians can be the initial payment, which often makes up to a third of the cost of the apartment, says the commercial director of the group of companies DIM Elena Ryzhova.
“So far we do not have mass practice on this program for a number of reasons. Firstly, the lack of financing, which caused applicants to wait two to four months for funds. Secondly, restrictions on the program, which first concerned the majority of categories of citizens, and now – the lot itself and the advance payment. Often the bank asks for the same 30%. People find it psychologically difficult, so many prefer alternative financial programs from developers”, – explained the expert.
As reported, in August, the government and PJSC “Ukrainian Financial Housing Company” significantly increased the financing of the program “єOsela”, thanks to which the monthly issuance of loans will increase from 0.7-0.8 billion UAH to 2 billion UAH, and preferential mortgage until the end of the year will be able to get at least 10 thousand families.
At the same time, developers are cautious about further prospects for financing the program.
“We have already seen the situation with the limitation of financing of the program at the beginning of the year. And it caused a wave of dissatisfaction among the participants. The borrower applied, got approval, chose an apartment, and the transaction did not take place because there were no funds. This is a bad precedent. Whether we will avoid similar situations in the future, it is difficult to say yet,” said Anna Laevskaya, commercial director of Intergal-Bud.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for citizens of Ukraine until April 19, 2025, due to Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
“Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an 18-month extension of Ukraine’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS), from October 20, 2023, to April 19, 2025, due to the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent safe return,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on its website Friday.
The program will also be expanded to allow Ukrainians who were living in the U.S. as of Aug. 16, 2023, to apply for temporary protection.
In addition, students from Ukraine who study in the U.S. and are in the country on an F-1 visa will be able to apply for work authorization and workload reduction without losing their visa for the duration of temporary protection.
Reportedly, approximately 26,000 Ukrainians now enjoy temporary protection in the U.S., and another 166,700 may be eligible. “Current beneficiaries who wish to extend their temporary protected status must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from August 21, 2023 to October 20, 2023,” the report said.
“Russia’s ongoing military incursion into Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis require the United States to continue to provide security and protection to Ukrainians who may not be able to return to their country,” said U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who is quoted in the report.
