KIEV, Dec. 22 - The nationalization and planned recapitalization of Ukraine's largest bank is a key step in efforts to reduce vulnerabilities stemming from the country's banking sector, Fitch Ratings said.

KIEV, Dec. 22 – The Individuals Deposit Guarantee Fund and the Finance Ministry on December 21 signed an agreement to sell 100% of shares in PrivatBank, the press service of the fund reported.

KIEV, Dec. 22 - Ukraine will eliminate imports of Russian nuclear fuel and replace it with fuel assemblies produced by Westinghouse in Sweden, Energy Minister Ihor Nasalyk said Thursday.

KIEV, Dec. 20 – The European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 71 million loan to JV Nibulon LLC to develop and modernize logistic infrastructure in Ukraine, the company has said on its website.

KIEV, Dec. 20 - Antonov State Enterprise has finished building an An-132D multipurpose plane-demonstrator with a carrying capacity of 9.2 tons for Saudi Arabia.

KIEV, Dec. 20 - Fitch Ratings has placed Dnipro-based PJSC CB PrivatBank's 'CCC' Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings and senior debt rating on Rating Watch Evolving (RWE), and downgraded its Viability Rating (VR) to 'f' from 'ccc'.

KIEV, Dec. 21 – Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has confirmed the suicide of Naftogaz Ukrayiny former deputy head, being in office in times of Viktor Yanukovych's presidency, Hennadiy Yuriev, during the search conducted by law enforcement officers of his house in the Vinnytsia region.

KIEV, Dec. 22 - S&P Global Ratings today lowered its long- and short-term counterparty credit ratings on Ukraine-based PrivatBank to 'R/R' (indicating the obligor is under regulatory supervision) from 'B-/C'.

KIEV, Dec. 22 - Ukraine may stop supplying electricity to separatist-held eastern regions if the territories do not adhere to consumption limits imposed across the country due to an energy crisis, an energy ministry official said on Monday, Reuters reported.

KHARKIV, Dec. 19 - Shell will begin drilling the first exploration well on the Yuzivska field in the first half of 2014, Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Oleh Proskuriakov said.