Page 13 - UKRRptSept21

as directly tied to the security issue," he has stressed.
The Crimea Platform initiative was launched in Kyiv on August 23 and attracted representatives from 46 states, including all 30 members of NATO, 14 heads of state and high-ranking European officials. Its purpose is to serve as a centre for developing international efforts aimed at ending Russia’s illegal occupation of the peninsula and its return to Ukraine.
Following a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 28, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva agreed to continue talks during a visit to Ukraine in September. On Twitter, Georgieva described the call as “constructive” and praised Ukraine’s “sound economic progress made under the IMF program.” In turn, Zelensky called the IMF an “important partner.”
Ukrainians accounted for half of the 351,670 foreigners granted Russian citizenship during the first half of this year, reports TASS, citing Russian Interior Ministry figures. It did not say how many of the 184,385 Ukrainians granted passports live in the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine. In addition 23,600 more Ukrainians were granted permanent or temporary residence permits. “Countering Putin’s Passport Policies in Ukraine,” is the topic of a new Atlantic Council essay by Vitaliy Nabukhotny, an international human rights lawyer.
Ukraine terminating contract with India’s Serum Institute for COVID-19 vaccine supply. According to the Health Minister Viktor Liashko, it is a political decision because “the Institute has not fulfilled its obligations under the contract.” He said it had not supplied 1.5mn doses of the Covishield vaccine and 10mn doses of the Novavax vaccine. India has suspended external deliveries of its vaccines because of the pandemic emergency it is facing at home. After the termination of the contract, the funds paid for it will be returned. The Minister added that Ukraine has instead established a new supply chain with Britain to offset this problem.
Zelensky enacts NSDC decision on measures to reduce corruption in the energy sector. The President has enacted the decision of the National Security and defence Council (NSDC) of July 30, 2021 "On measures to neutralize threats in the energy sector.” The NSDC secretary Oleksiy Danilov explained at the time that almost 17,000 gas distribution networks had become privately owned in a non-transparent manner and there a company owned by businessman Dmytro Firtash had established a monopoly, controlling 70% of regional gas supply companies. Investigations into violations of the legislation governing the functioning of the electricity market are currently being conducted against United Energy, D.Trading, DTEK Dniproenergo, DTEK Zakhidenergo, centreenergo, Energy, Enerhozakhid, EcoTech Energy, Entra M, Utility Trading Artlex Energy, and ONK-Group.
More headaches for Igor Kolomoisky. A US court has ordered the oligarch to pay $1.1 million in civil penalties for damage caused to the local environment by the Warren Steel Holdings, one of at least 22 U.S. properties owned by Kolomoisky through shell companies according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The same steel mill caught fire on Aug. 11, while the parties were still waiting on court approval of their consent order The Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office believes arson was involved
Seeking US backing to block Nord Stream 2, a major Ukrainian energy
13 UKRAINE Country Report September 2021 www.intellinews.com