KIEV, March 28 - Greece's Alpha Bank expects to close the acquisition of 90% of Kiev-based Astra Bank in the second quarter, the Greek bank said in a press release.

Astra Bank's current shareholders will retain a 10% stake in the bank and remain in management, the release said.

KIEV, March 30 ??“ AeroSvit Ukrainian Airlines will start regular flights between Kiev and Naples, Italy as of April 9, Interfax-Ukraine reported citing a company official. The flights will be made on Boeing 737 four times a week.

KIEV, March 30 ??“ Ukraine will investigate why its largest oil company UkrNafta has suddenly started to sell crude oil at 33% discount thus lowering payments to the state budget, officials said Wednesday.

KIEV, March 30 ??“ Some 700,000 to 900,000 computers were produced in Ukraine last year, or one third more than in 2003, according to manufacturers questioned by Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, March 30 - Sales of new cars in Ukraine in 2005 are likely to fall by 10-15% against 2004 due to amendments to the budget canceling breaks given to domestic auto makers, Igor Sotulenko, the president of the Ukrainian Association of Car Importers and Dealers, said on Tuesday.

KIEV, March 30 ??“ Transport and Communications Minister Yevhen Chervonenko sees a good chance for establishing a joint project between Ukraine's Luhanskteplovoz and Malyshev Plant (Kharkiv) and Russia's Transmashholding and Severstal.

KIEV, March 30 - Oleksiy Ivchenko, the chairman of state energy company Naftogaz Ukrayiny, urged Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko to boost supplies of Russian crude via the Brody-to-Odessa oil pipeline for export via the Black Sea, Naftogaz said Wednesday.

KYIV, Jan 29 – More than 660 MW of new renewable energy capacity was launched in Ukraine during the war years 2022-2023, Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko said.

KYIV, Jan 30 – Ukrzaliznytsia has entered into an agreement with holders of two issues of eurobonds worth $895 million to defer coupon payments and redemption for 24 months, closing the deal on their restructuring, the company said on the Irish Stock Exchange last week.

KYIV, Jan 30 – Gas storage operator Ukrtransgaz has submitted a request for certification to the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ukraine (NEURC).