LUHANSK, June 5 – The Energy and Coal Industry Ministry has initiated a reduction in the tariff on shipments of coal products by rail for its further export, Minister Eduard Stavytsky said.

KIEV, June 5 - Ukraine will sign by June 20 an agreement that outlines imports of European natural gas via Slovakia, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytskiy said Wednesday.

KIEV, June 5 - Ukraine restricted imports and seeks to boost exports of coal to alleviate a surplus of the commodity on the domestic market after a power plant fire in March had reduced demand, the Luhansk regional government reported Wednesday.

KIEV, June 5 - Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man, is buying his country’s fixed-line telecom monopoly and its only 3G mobile internet license for an estimated $1 billion, The Financial Times reported Wednesday.

KIEV, June 1 - The outlook on Ukraine's banking system remains negative, says Moody's Investors Service in a new Banking System Outlook published today.

KIEV, June 5 – The new Customs Code which took effect on June 1 contains many important new requirements for business and its observation could dramatically change the principles of operation of the customs bodies, American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine President Jorge Zukoski said.

KIEV, June 5 – Ukraine has announced tenders for a production sharing agreement for the hydrocarbons that will be produced at the Skifske and Foroske sections of the Black Sea deep-sea shelf.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 5 – Gazprom, which recently expressed concern over the insufficient creation of gas reserves in Ukraine, expects to formulate an agreement on an advance for gas transit to Naftogaz Ukrayiny in the near future, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller told journalists.

KIEV, June 5 - Ukraine will repay $1 billion borrowed from VTB and issue a further $1 billion in two-year bonds with a coupon of 7.95 percent to the Russian lender, the Finance Ministry reported Tuesday.

KIEV, June 5 - A new Ukrainian oil and gas rig has started drilling its first well off-shore in the Black Sea, ChornomorNaftogaz, a state energy company that owns and operates the rig, reported on Tuesday.

The rig, named Petro Hodovanets, began its operation on June 1, about one month ahead of schedule, and has already successfully drilled 800 meters over the past four days, the company reported.