Page 26 - UKRRptNov23

vehicles.KhTZ, part of the DCH group of businesses headed by Oleksandr Yaroslavskyi, will start production of military vehicles for the first time in 27 years. The plant produced MT-LB multi-purpose light armored transporters (tractors) almost three decades ago. Back in July 2016, after acquiring control of KhTZ, Yaroslavskyi noted that the plant, in addition to tractors, is ready to produce military equipment, if it were to receive an order from the state. According to a draft decision for the enterprise’s meeting of shareholders to be held on November 14, it is planned to make a corresponding addition to the enterprise’s types of economic activity. The shareholders also plan to add the production of weapons and ammunition, repair and maintenance of finished metal products, and general medical practice to the list of KhTZ’s activities.
Denmark expects to deliver F-16 jets to Ukraine in spring 2024. Denmark expects to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine in the spring of 2024, Danish defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the press in Brussels on Oct. 11. Speaking ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers, Poulsen said that Denmark expects to be able to donate the aircraft "in March or April".
2.8 Polls & Sociology
More Ukrainians want to become NATO member than to join the EU.However, the absolute majority of Ukrainians support joining both the EU and NATO. However, people currently consider joining the Alliance as a higher priority, accordingto the Kyiv Institute of Sociology’s survey results. 54% of respondents believe that membership in NATO is currently a higher priority. And 24% of respondents prefer membership in the EU. The EU plans to announce the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession by the end of the year. Earlier, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metzola expressed expectations that the EU will start accession negotiations with Ukraine in December. The decision rests with EU ministers, who will formally meet in December after a public report in October on Ukraine's progress in reforming the judiciary, curbing corruption, and opening markets. In July, the US named the reforms that Ukraine must implement to join NATO. At the same time, the White House noted that membership in the Alliance is not possible any time soon, as it would involve NATO in a war with Russia.
A total of 49% of Ukrainians believe that Russia has a significant reserve of resources and can wage war against Ukraine for many years, which is a significant 27-point increase in comparison with February, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) said on Oct. 23.
Only 50% of Ukrainians support Ukraine's development vector. According to research performed by the Razumkov Center, almost half of Ukrainian citizens (48.7%) believe that events in the country are developing in the right direction. At the same time, the number of those who share this opinion has decreased compared to February- March 2023. 30.5% of respondents hold the opposite opinion, and 20.8% are undecided. Since the war began, the share of citizens who believed that the events in Ukraine are trending in the right direction has increased significantly, from 20% in December 2021 to 51% in September-October 2022. Also, the research shows that 38% of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine will overcome its existing problems and difficulties within the next few years, and 43% believe that the country can cope with its problems in the longer term. Only 9% of respondents think that Ukraine cannot overcome its existing problems.
The IMF believes that the population of Ukraine will grow after a significant decline in the first years of the war. According to the October World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund predicts the gradual
26 UKRAINE Country Report November 2023 www.intellinews.com