Coronavirus
Kyiv will enter the red coronavirus zone as of 1 November. Cafes, shopping centres, non-food markets and stores will have to close down unless 100% of their staff are visitors are vaccinated. Public transport will only be accessible for people with negative PCR tests or vaccination certificates.
A new record-high number of 26,071 Covid-19 cases was reported in Ukraine this morning. Some 576 people died and 5,366 were admitted to hospitals.
Donbas
Two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in Donbas today amid eight ceasefire violations by Russia-backed militants. On four occasions the separatists used weapons banned by the Minsk agreements.
SMM
On the morning of 27 October, members of the armed formations delayed by 98 minutes the exit of a SMM patrol with Deputy Chief Monitor (DCM) Mark Etherington on board out of non-government controlled areas at the crossing point near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the OSCE said. The separatists initially said they could only let the SMM pass upon luggage inspection; or as diplomats upon review of diplomatic passports. The SMM refused both.
IDP strategy
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the Strategy for the integration of internally displaced persons and implementation of medium-term solutions on internal displacement for the period until 2024.
"The key objective of the Strategy is to create conditions for the integration of IDPs in host territorial communities. The document envisages measures aimed at removing obstacles for IDPs in the exercise of their fundamental rights, in particular full access to administrative, social and other services, as well as on creating conditions for the development of IDPs' potential in their new place of residence," it said.
Ex-speaker to found party
The former head of parliament, MP Dmytro Razumkov, has announced his intention to create a new political force on the air of Ukrayina 24 TV.
"We will join forces, we will move forward, we will... We will return people, including those in parliament, to the promises that people expect from us... I have strength, I have time, I have desire, I have a team. I hope we will have more than one year. And I will do everything to ensure that people's trust - not even the rating, but the trust - does not fall," Razumkov said.
Fake ID app
A self-taught hacker who recently created a fake ID app copycatting the government app Diia has been offered an internship with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, First Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin has said.
"The cyber police quickly found the self-taught hacker who recently created the fake Diia. Just as quickly, we introduced him to Digital Transformation Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov. The guy was offered to redeem himself and have an internship with the ministry," Yenin said on Facebook. The detainee will still be held accountable for forgery.
Economy
The Naftohaz Ukrayiny national joint-stock company has released its consolidated interim financial report for the first half of 2021.
Its net loss for the first half of this year was UAH 1.7bn, which is seven times, or UAH 9.9bn less than in the first half of 2020, when the net loss was at UAH 11.5bn.
Moldovan gas deficit
On 27 October, Ukraine's pipeline operator GTSOU sent over 15m cu.m. of gas to help its Moldovan counterpart maintain the minimum pressure required in its pipelines. It added that while Moldova had previously only ever ordered Russian gas, Ukraine's extensive network had more than enough room to transport gas purchased from other suppliers and being held in Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia or Romania, Politico has reported.
Environment
Ahead of COP26, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft statement from the government on Ukraine's participation in the international initiative Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
Transcarpathian reshuffle
Transcarpathian regional councillors voted no confidence in the chairman of the regional council, Oleksiy Petrov (Servant of the People).
According to Zakarpattya Online, the new chairman of the regional council will be Volodymyr Chubirko (Ridne Zakarpattya), who already held the post from 28 November 2014 to 1 December 2015.