KIEV, June 26 – The harvest of crops in Ukraine in 2013 could reach 52-53 million tons compared to 42.6 million in 2012, according to Mykola Kulbida, director of the Ukrainian weather center.

KIEV, June 26 – The Defense Ministry plans over three to five years to earn up to UAH 9 billion from the sale of property and to use the funds to settle the housing problems of servicemen, Minister Pavlo Lebedev said.

KIEV, June 27 – The Energy and Coal Industry has proposed that the government cover the cash shortfall at Naftogaz Ukrayiny, which is expected to be UAH 32.2 billion in 2013, a source in the government told Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, June 27 – Ukraine plans to accumulate 14-16 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas as of early in the next heating season in 2013/14 in its underground gas storage facilities, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky, told journalists in Kiev.

IVANO-FRANKIVSK, June 27 – Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Administration has said it would prefer Ukrainian investors to realize a project to restart potash fertilizer production in Kalush, despite a contract having been signed earlier with Chinese investors.

KIEV, June 26 - Ukraine’s own output of natural gas and other hydrocarbon resources is the key in the government’s strategy for the country’s long-term energy security, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.

KIEV, June 30 – A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a facility producing containers to store nuclear waste, including waste from Chernobyl nuclear power plant, was held on Wednesday in Slavutych (Kiev region).

KIEV, June 29 – The Foreign Ministry and the United Movement of Ukrainian Employers have promised to work together to strengthen the positions of Ukrainian exporters on foreign markets.

KIEV, June 30 - Mykolaiv-based Zorya-Mashproekt will start testing a new generation 45-60 megawatt gas-turbine engine intended for the energy sector in August.

KIEV, June 29 – Ukraine exported over 3 million decaliters of hard liquors and vodka January through May, which was 18% up year-over-year, reads a report by the Ukrvodka Association.

In particular, vodka exports grew by 22%, to 2.6 million deciliters over the first five months of 2010.