KIEV, March 19 – PrivatBank, as the largest investor in Crimea, says it is ready to continue working at the peninsula and demanded that Crimean authorities clearly define the legal status of banks and the rules of their operation, as well as the implicit recognition of top-priority of rights of creditors.

KHARKIV, March 19 - Shell and Ukrgazvydobuvannia have received consent from residents in Kharkiv region's Blyzniuky district to drill the Novo-Mechebilivska-100 exploration well under their joint operations agreement.

KIEV, March 19 – The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to create several working groups to support mining and metal companies in Ukraine, including an interagency group for agreeing on the interests of state-run coalmines and metal holdings in purchasing coking coal extracted in Ukraine and the non-introduction of quotas on imports of coking coal.

KIEV, March 19 – Naftogaz Ukrayiny will announce a repeat tender to buy two semi-submersible floating drilling rigs, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky said on Monday.

KIEV, March 19 – The Cabinet of Ministers forecasts that GDP growth in 2013 will grow by 2.5-3.4% and by 3-4% in 2014.

KIEV, March 19 – The introduction of a tax on bank deposits in Cyprus as a measure to save the country's economy could result in large indirect losses for Ukraine, according to investment experts polled by Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, March 19 – The value of orders of foreign companies for Ukrainian space enterprises to produce and supply launch vehicles today amounts to over $1.5 billion, reads an official report of the State Space Agency of Ukraine on the use of budget funds in 2011 published last week.

KIEV, March 16 – The Consumer Confidence Index in Ukraine worsened in February compared to January 2012 by 5.8 percentage notches, to 76.7, according to a survey by market research firm GfK Ukraine.

KIEV, March 16 - President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry to submit this month to Parliament for consideration a draft law on the corporatization of the largest state-owned energy assets - EnergoAtom and Ukrenergo.

KIEV, March 16 - Ukraine is planning to raise an additional UAH 6 billion from the privatization of state objects in the current year to fund the president’s social initiatives.