Ukrainian Defense Ministry: Up to 95% of domestically produced weapons exported

KYIV, January 14, 2011 (UKRINFORM). 90% of arms and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are morally and physically obsolete. This was stated by the chief inspector of the Ministry of Defense, Valery Frolov, in an interview with The Army of Ukraine magazine. He noted that over 19 years of independence the armed forces have put into operational service only 93 new and upgraded models of weapons and military technology, created by domestic enterprises of the military-industrial complex. The chief military inspector said that it is a minor figure. "At the same time, the quantitative figure of the total latest and upgraded weapons and military technology today does not exceed 10% and the remaining 90% are obsolete and outdated, which requires the purchase of new or upgrading old models," Frolov stressed. In addition, he said, "there is reason to assert that not all the nomenclature of weapons and military technology, which is needed for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, can be now produced by enterprises of domestic military-industrial complex". "Also it can not but alarm that 90-95% of the total production at the enterprises of domestic military-industrial complex is exported. Of course, the foreign exchange revenue from the sale of Ukrainian weapons is essential. Not refuting this position, however, we have to note: the current critical state of the Ukrainian weapons and military technology requires quite a different concentration of main efforts of the national defense industry - on its rearmament," Frolov underscored.
http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/order/?id=210079

Ukraine needs another two years to overcome crisis - expert

KYIV, January 6, 2011 (UKRINFORM). Final overcoming of the crisis in the Ukrainian economy needs several years, therefore in 2011 Ukraine will hardly manage to return to the level of 2008, Director of the Institute of Economic Studies and Political Consultations in Ukraine Ihor Burakovsky has said. Earlier, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov expressed conviction that till August this year Ukraine will finally overcome consequences of the world financial crisis.
http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/order/?id=209411

My dear friends,
Seasons greetings wishing you and your families
a happy and prosperous New Year.
Have a nice winter holidays, stay healthy and happy!
Sincere yours,
Oleg(in 1960) and Oleg (in 2010)

U.S. Government Statement on Investigation of Ukrainian Opposition Politicians

30 December 2010. Although as a rule the U.S. Government does not comment on the specifics of individual cases, we have raised with the Ukrainian government our concern that while corruption should be pursued, prosecution should not be selective or politically motivated. In that context, we also raised our concern that when, with few exceptions, the only senior officials being targeted are connected with the previous government, it gives the appearance of selective prosecution of political opponents.
http://ukraine.usembassy.gov/scud.html

Lutsenko to celebrate New Year in prison

Employees of the special subdivision of the Security Service of Ukraine “Alfa” detained ex Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko near his house in Kyiv. Criminal case is instituted against Lutsenko because of abuse of power. The Prosecutor General's Office instituted a criminal case against ex Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko on the basis of offence stipulated by part 3 of article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office disclosed this to UNIAN. Pechersk district court of Kyiv changed a preventive punishment to ex Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko from a written undertaking not to leave the country to taking him into custody so most probably Lutsenko will celebrate New Year in prison
http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-413459.html

Yanukovych strongly influenced country’s life

Political experts have described the year 2010 for Ukraine as the year of President Viktor Yanukovych. "This was the year of the new president; it could be called the year of Yanukovych. He strongly influenced the political and social life of the country. He started forming a new political regime in the country, Director of the Penta Center for Political Studies Volodymyr Fesenko said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday. Director of the Kyiv Center of Political Studies and Conflictology Mykhailo Pohrebynsky agreed with his colleague and noted that the year 2010 was very eventful. According to him, the most important events were the victory of Yanukovych at the presidential elections, the cancelation of the political reform of 2004, the reduction in conflicts among the branches of power, and the replacement of Kyiv's government.
http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93315/

The next scuffle in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Today, at 7.20 p.m. lawmakers from the Party of Regions burst into the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine through the doors of presidium and after rough scuffle occupied the presidium, which has been blocked by the lawmakers from the "BYUT-Batkivschina" fraction. Some lawmakers from opposition were taken to hospital. The lawmakers from the Party of Regions will stay in the parliament for whole night. Lawmakers from the Party of Regions Volodymyr Rybak said this an UNIAN correspondent. "We should ensure a normal work of the parliament in the morning", he noted.

http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-411977.html