KIEV, Oct. 13 - Ukraine has launched a privatization tender for the country’s fixed-line telephone company but has imposed controversial restrictions that threaten to exclude leading global telecoms companies from the bidding, The Financial Times reported.

KIEV, Oct. 13 – President Viktor Yushchenko has instructed the cabinet to consider privatization of small hydro power plants.

The government was also instructed to draw up and approve a comprehensive program on reconstruction of hydro power plants and construction of new hydro power objects, including small hydro power plants by late 2009, foreseeing measures on the increase of the investment attractiveness of hydro energy.

KIEV, Oct. 13 – Volodymyr Stelmakh, the governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, on Tuesday said the discount rate must be lowered soon to reflect lower pace of consumer inflation in the country.

KIEV, Oct. 13 – Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the opposition Regions Party, Parliament’s largest group, Tuesday called for immediate creation of a new government coalition to prevent economic collapse before the next presidential election in January 2010.

KIEV, Oct. 12 – Arguing that the Ukrainian cabinet exhausted its 2009 budget limit for giving state guarantees on Aug. 5, President Viktor Yushchenko suspended the cabinet resolutions on state guarantees on credits for Ukrvaccine worth EUR 800 million, Ukragroleasing worth $100 million and Ukrmedsnab worth EUR 500 million and EUR 85 million.

LUTSK, Oct. 13 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has said that Russian politicians are deliberately escalating tension with statements about the possible application of fines by Russian gas company Gazprom against Naftogaz Ukrayiny for consuming less gas than envisaged in the contract.

KIEV, Oct. 13 – The Ukrainian government needs to take a number of steps to overcome the crisis in various sectors of economy, Economics Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn said.

NAIROBI, Oct. 13 - Somali pirates holding an arms-laden Ukrainian ship off Somalia may extend the deadline on their threat to destroy the vessel, a spokesman said Monday, according to The Associated Press.

KIEV, Oct. 13 – The National Bank of Ukraine, in a desperate attempt to stop an escalating run on deposits, on Monday banned commercial banks from releasing cash to people and businesses before their deposit agreements expire.

KIEV, Oct. 13 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko launched a fierce and spectacular legal battle with President Viktor Yushchenko seeking to cancel the declared early election, which would almost certainly lead to her losing her post.