KIEV, Feb. 16 - Fitch Ratings has downgraded Ukraine's Long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating to 'CC' from 'CCC', Fitch said in a report.

Fitch also affirmed its local currency IDR at 'CCC'.

KIEV, Feb. 13 – The lingering political opposition in Ukraine has affected the investment climate, and even if the crisis ends soon the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ukraine at best could halve in 2014 compared to 2013, to $2 billion.

KIEV, Feb. 14 – The VETEK Group, a strategic investor with a 40% stake in Brokbusinessbank, will switch the servicing of all its subsidiaries to the bank, the group announced.

KIEV, Feb. 14 – The National Bank of Ukraine is ready to provide refinancing of UAH 2 billion to Brokbusinessbank, and UAH 1 billion was allocated on Wednesday, which will allow stabilizing the situation in the bank, VETEK Group Deputy Chairman Borys Tymonkin told reporters in Kiev.

KIEV, Feb. 14 – The restrictions on the purchase of foreign currency introduced by the National Bank of Ukraine to smooth sharp hryvnia exchange rate fluctuations will be short-term ones, said Olena Scherbakova, director of the bank’s chief monetary and credit policy department.

KIEV, Feb. 14 – Lviv railways reports it has started preparing for the construction of the new Beskydsky tunnel.

The railway said that 17,000 cubic meters of drainage soil has been dumped, three access roads 950 meters long have been built, and the construction of approach roads has started.

KIEV, Feb. 14 – The Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry has increased its forecast for the resowing of winter crops in 2012 by 0.5-1 million hectares, to 3.5 million hectares, Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk said.

KIEV, Feb. 14 – Ukrspecexport, Ukraine’s state military export company, has denied claims by Georgian officials that there is bilateral military and technical cooperation between Ukraine and Georgia.

KIEV, Feb. 14 - Karpatnaftokhim (Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region), which is controlled by Russian oil company Lukoil, has launched facilities for suspension polyvinylchloride (PVC-S) profile production with a capacity of 20,000 tons per year, according to the company's Web site.

KIEV, Feb. 16 – The former head of the state-run Kharkiv-based Morozov design and engineering bureau, Mykhailo Borysiuk, is to blame for the problems with a contract to supply Ukrainian armored vehicles to Iraq, Petro Andreyev, the head of the State Financial Inspectorate, said at a briefing in Kiev on Wednesday.