Новости за 27.08.2015

Ukrainians find it easy to evade military service

Even as Ukraine’s military finds itself head-to-head with Russian forces in the east, the latest draft in the country has failed miserably – with draft dodgers apparently finding it surprisingly easy to evade service.

ODESA, Ukraine – When Odesa Oblast Governor Mikheil Saakashvili visited the Ukrainian navy’s headquarters in Odesa on June 14, the commander set the table, and there was joyous celebration with music, children in attendance and multi-colored balloons.

After five months of talks with private creditors and the unpredictable consequence of a debt moratorium looming, Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko triumphantly announced on Aug. 27 that she had achieved a write-down of up to $3.8 billion of the nation’s debt.

Aleksandr Boroday, a former leader of Russian backed separatist in eastern Ukraine has announced the creation of a support network for Russian so-called "volunteers" who fought in the conflict and the families of those, who was killed.

As a new cease-fire was announced on Aug. 26, residents in certain parts of eastern Ukraine were forced to hide in their basements amid intensified shelling.

It is still one year before the Summer Olympic Games kick off in Rio de Janeiro next year. But Ukraine’s Anna Rizatdinova, one of the world’s top rhythmic gymnasts, already feels like time is going too fast.

Seven Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and 13 wounded in fighting with pro-Russian separatists in the past 24 hours, said military spokesman Oleksander Motuzyanyk on Aug.27.

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle once commanded a lot of influence in Washington, D.C., especially as Senate majority leader and as an early supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama in 2008.

Students of Kyiv’s National Dragomanov University have a social media account through which they can ask questions about the university, anonymously if they want.

The Czech Foreign Ministry calls on Russia to immediately release Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov and Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, according to a statement by the MFA on the verdict in the Sentsov and Kolchenko case, published on its official website on Aug.26.

Natalia Isayeva is a former sex worker. She left the business years ago but says if something bad happens and her family really needs money, for medical treatment, for instance, she might consider going back to “providing services.”

On Aug. 19, Russian consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor banned a range of foreign-produced soap, shampoo and household detergents, saying that the products didn’t meet quality standards.

A Russian court sentenced Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov and activist Oleksandr Kolchenko to 20 and 10 years in prison, respectively, on terrorism charges.

U.S. President Barack Obama noted Ukraine's progress in implementing its obligations under the Minsk agreements, and reiterated that Russia must do the same, according to a White House statement has reported.

Alumni of Taras Shevchenko National University were shaken by a scandal when journalism professor Nikita Vasilenko wrote numerous personal insults to graduates on Facebook.

Ukrainian lawmaker and ex-journalist Serhiy Leshchenko reported that Viktor Medvedchuk, the former chief of staff to ex-President Leonid Kuchma, has purchased a luxurious boat worth of €180 million.

Studying abroad has never been easy for Ukrainians.

Students from Ukraine face lengthy application processes, high visa fees and mountains of bureaucracy. Now, with the hyrvnia’s value close to an all-time low and Russia’s war against Ukraine shrinking the economy, some enterprising students have turned to crowdfunding to finance their education.

Since Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych fled 18 months ago, the international community has provided Ukraine with extraordinary assistance and support towards the recovery of stolen assets.

FC Shakhtar will play against French PSG, Spanish Real Madrid and Swedish Malm in the group A of the UEFA League of the Champions according to the results of the drawing procedure held in Monaco on Aug.27

Kateryna Stetsenko

Ministry of Sports employee

“Every person decides it for himself. It’s incorrect to force a person to do something that he is against. Many people today do not have the concept of homeland.”

As Ukraine turns to the West, private international kindergartens are gaining popularity among parents who want to give their kids a head start into the country's European future. Several private kindergartens in Kyiv are now offering not just English- and other-language teaching environments, but the latest educational techniques. With state kindergartens overloaded and still following Soviet-style programs, the private option has never been so attractive - to those parents who can afford it, of course. Читать дальше...

Members of the Ukrainian-American community in Chicago on Aug. 22 started an online petition to stop Ukrainian singer Ani Lorak from performing in the U.S. in January.

A walk through Kyiv’s center rarely passes without spotting at least one empty old building from before the Soviet era. Some are on sale and will be blessed with restoration. Others are slowly crumbling, forgotten and forlorn. Both offer insights into the history of the old Kyiv.

Russia is getting weirder and scarier by the day.

Kyiv Kustom Kulture

The Kustom Kulture (misspelling is intentional) is a neologism describing artworks, vehicles, hairstyles, and fashions of those building custom cars and motorcycles. The Kyiv festival is set to promote customizing vehicles to make them one of a kind. Customized cars, motorcycles and bikes will be displayed.