KIEV, March 24 - Ukraine will issue state debt to raise 8.5 billion hryvnias that will be channeled to the capital of national energy company Naftogaz Ukrayiny, according to a government statement posted on Thursday.

KIEV, March 22 – The State Food-Grain Corporation of Ukraine plans to form a land bank of one million hectares, Khlib Investbud Director General Robert Brovdi said in an interview with the Kommersant-Ukraine newspaper on Tuesday.

KHARKIV, March 22 – An ambulance plane formerly intended for delivery to Libya is almost finished and Kharkiv Regional State Administration is looking for a buyer for it.

KIEV, March 22 - Fitch Ratings has assigned PJSC VTB Bank (Ukraine)'s (VTBU) series C UAH 300 million senior unsecured bonds a final Long-term local currency rating of 'B+', a Recovery Rating of 'RR4' and a National Long-term rating of 'AAA(ukr)', a report by the agency said.

KIEV, March 23 – Ukraine’s State Property Fund and Russia's Bryansk engineering plant managing company, part of Russia's Transmashholding, have signed an agreement on the cross-cancellation of counter claims regarding Luhanskteplovoz.

KIEV, March 22 – The Economy Ministry has proposed the cancellation of a May 2008 presidential decree banning the privatization of one of the largest chemical companies in Ukraine – OJSC Odessa Port-Side Plant.

KIEV, March 23 – The Economy Ministry expects to increase the level of payments for provision of public utility services by consumers to 96% in 2010.

The plans are stipulated in a draft state program on the economic and social development of Ukraine for 2010 posted on the ministry's Web site.

KIEV, March 24 – Zaporizhia’s Motor Sich plans to finish certification of the MS-500V engine for Ansat type light helicopters of by late 2010, the company told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

LONDON, March 23 - Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the bank financial strength rating of Rodovid Bank to E from E+, its long-term local currency and foreign currency bank deposit ratings to Caa2 from B3.

The bank's long-term deposit ratings remain on review for possible further downgrade.

KIEV, March 23 – Tariffs for public utility services in Kiev for businesses are to be increased on April 1, while for households there will be increases starting May 1, the first deputy head of Kiev city state administration, Anatoliy Holubchenko, said at a meeting of the administration board held on March 20.