Key Changes in Legislation:
Customs Policy:
– Extended special increased import duty rates on goods from the Russian Federation until December 31, 2025.
– Established an Interdepartmental Working Group on Customs Authorities Reform as an advisory body under the Cabinet of Ministers.
Financial Assistance:
– Approved loan conditions from Federal Financing Bank (USA) for $20 billion under USAID guarantees for 40 years at 1.3% per annum.
– Established a procedure for a one-time payment of 1,000 hryvnias for each orphan and child deprived of parental care.
Education:
– Approved the distribution of educational subvention for January-August 2025 with a reserve of 1.03 billion hryvnias.
– Set the minimum number of students in educational institutions at 45 persons from September 1, 2025.
– Introduced the “eBook” program – assistance to citizens for purchasing books in Ukrainian language amounting to 0.3 of the subsistence minimum.
Public Administration:
– Approved a new state property management policy, including remuneration policy for state enterprise managers and dividend policy.
– Established a state institution “Translation Office”.
– Changed the boundaries of the Chornobyl Reserve – removed 695.2 hectares for border infrastructure arrangement.
Transport:
Review of each of legal acts published today:
On the Accounting Price of Banking Metals
This is a daily notification by the National Bank of Ukraine establishing accounting prices for banking metals (gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) as of 11.12.2024. The document sets accounting prices per troy ounce for each of the four banking metals: gold – 111,411.70 UAH, silver – 1,327.16 UAH, platinum – 39,270.40 UAH, palladium – 40,541.23 UAH. Key is the caveat that the established prices are reference and do not create obligations for the NBU to buy or sell banking metals at the specified prices. These prices are used by banks for accounting of banking metal operations and normative calculations.
On the Official Exchange Rate of Hryvnia to Foreign Currencies
This is a daily notification by the National Bank of Ukraine establishing the official exchange rate of hryvnia to 35 foreign currencies as of 11.12.2024. The document contains a table with currency rates, where for each currency its digital and literal code, number of units, full name, and official rate relative to hryvnia are indicated. Among the main currencies: US dollar – 41.6119 UAH, euro – 43.8215 UAH, pound sterling – 53.0801 UAH. Key provisions:
– Rates are used for accounting purposes
– Applied for NBU operations with the State Treasury Service of Ukraine
– NBU does not undertake obligations to buy or sell currencies at the specified rates
On Amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution dated December 30, 2015 No. 1146
The resolution extends the special import duty rates for goods originating from the Russian Federation for another year – until December 31, 2025. Structurally, the resolution contains only technical changes to the previous resolution No. 1146 from 2015, changing its effective dates. Specifically, the term of application of special duty rates is extended from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2025, and the date of resolution termination is moved from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The key point is that the special customs regime for Russian goods continues for another year. This means maintaining increased import duty rates on goods of Russian origin, which is part of economic restrictions against the aggressor country.
On Recognizing the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Order dated December 20, 2022 No. 1158 as Null and Void
The order cancels the previous act of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated December 20, 2022, which temporarily assigned the performance of duties of the Head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine to Benj V.P. The document structure is simple – it contains only one administrative provision about the nullification of the previous act. This is a technical document that effectively terminates the temporary performance of duties of the State Space Agency of Ukraine leader by a specific official. Such decisions are made when appointing a permanent leader or during other personnel changes in the agency’s leadership.
On Approving the Basic Conditions of Executing a Transaction with Contingent Obligations, as a Result of Which a Loan from Federal Financing Bank is Provided to the State
The resolution approves the conditions for Ukraine to receive a loan from the Federal Financing Bank (USA) for up to 20 billion US dollars under USAID guarantees. The funds will be received through a special World Bank Financial Intermediary Fund.Loan Agreement for Strengthening Ukraine. The document consists of two parts: the resolution itself and an appendix with the main terms of the transaction. The main terms detail the mechanism for providing a loan through the conclusion of three key documents: a certificate purchase agreement, a guarantee agreement, and loan repayment, and the issuance of a debt certificate. Key loan terms:
– Repayment period: 40 years
– Interest rate: 1.3% per annum plus the rate for 52-week U.S. Treasury bills
– Repayment is primarily made from frozen Russian assets
– Annual interest payments by August 31, starting from 2025
– Creditors have limited rights to demand loan repayment from the state budget if compensation is received from Russia for damages
Some Issues of Educational Subvention Distribution for 2025
The resolution determines the distribution of educational subvention from the state budget to local budgets for January-August 2025 and amends its distribution formula. Main provisions:
– Approved distribution of subvention among specific local budgets with a detailed list of amounts for each territorial community
– Established a reserve of funds within the transfer – 1.03 billion UAH
– Defined an undistributed subvention volume – 33.92 billion UAH
Key changes to the distribution formula:
– Clarified definition of student groups for subvention calculation
– Set minimum number of students in educational institutions at 45 persons from September 1, 2025 (except for primary school)
– For private institutions, minimum number of students is 25
– Calculation is based on student contingent data as of November 1 of the year preceding the planned period
On Amendments to the Regulation on the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund
The resolution amends the Regulation on the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund, which defines the procedure for the institution’s operation. Main changes concern the Fund’s leadership and clarification of subordination. Structurally, the document contains three points of amendments to the base Regulation, relating to: defining the supervisory board composition and replacing ministry names in the document.
Key changes:
– Established that the Fund’s supervisory board is headed by two co-chairs: Vice Prime Minister for Recovery of Ukraine – Minister of Community and Territorial Development and Minister of Social Policy
– Changed ministry names in the document – ‘Minregion’ and ‘Minreintegration’ replaced with ‘Mininfrastructure’
On Distribution of Funds in 2024 from the Account Opened by the Ministry of Education and Science in the National Bank for Ensuring a Safe Educational Environment
The resolution regulates the distribution of funds from the MES special account in the NBU for ensuring a safe educational environment in 2024. Funds are directed as a subvention to local budgets of two territorial communities for a total of 25.9 million UAH.
Structurally, the resolution consists of 4 points and an appendix. The main part defines the mechanism for fund distribution and use, while the appendix contains specific subvention distribution between two educational institutions – Pershotravneve Support Lyceum (3.3 million UAH) and Gymnasium No. 9 of Zvyahel City Council (22.6 million UAH).
Key provisions:
– Funds are directed to capital repairs and new construction of civil protection shelters in educational institutions
– Fund use is carried out in accordance with the Procedure approvedResolution of the CMU No. 525 dated 03.05.2024
– The Ministry of Finance shall make appropriate amendments to the budget schedule, and the Ministry of Education and Science shall ensure the transfer of funds through the State Treasury
Some Issues of State Support for Cinematography
The resolution regulates issues of state support for cinematography, in particular, changes the financing mechanism for the O. Dovzhenko National Film Studio. A new procedure for providing financial support to the film studio is established to cover its current expenses and repay debt. The document is structurally composed of three main parts: 1) changes to the list of cultural institutions financed from the state budget; 2) approval of the list of additional forms of state support for cinematography; 3) changes to the procedure for using budget funds to support cinematography.
Key provisions:
– Requirement to direct at least 90% of the film studio’s income (excluding budget financing) to repay debt that arose before January 1, 2025
– Financial support is limited to 90% of the actual total annual income
– In case of net profit, the support amount for the next year is reduced by the amount of this profit
– Support is terminated after full debt repayment
– State Cinema Agency must report monthly on the status of debt repayment
On Amendments to Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated August 28, 2001, No. 1120 and August 27, 2004, No. 1132
The resolution makes technical amendments to two resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding awarding the Honorary Certificate of the CMU from 2001 and 2004. Structurally, the document consists of two points, each of which excludes one person from the lists of awardees: O.S. Batalin (president of the Union of Industrialists, Entrepreneurs and Agriculturists of Crimea) from the 2001 resolution and S.B. Tulub from the 2004 resolution. The main provision is to deprive these persons of previously granted awards by excluding their names from the relevant resolutions on awarding.
On Changing the Boundaries of the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve
The decree changes the boundaries of the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve by removing a 45-meter wide strip of land along the state border of Ukraine, with a total area of 695.2 hectares. These lands are transferred to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for the arrangement of border infrastructure. Structurally, the decree consists of three points: the first defines the change in boundaries and the new total area of the reserve (226,269.5 hectares), the second establishes tasks for the Cabinet of Ministers regarding land allocation and documentation changes, the third determines the procedure for entry into force. Key provisions for implementation:
– A 6-month period is set for land allocation processing
– Changes to the Reserve Regulations are to be made within 6 months
– Changes to the Territory Organization Project are to be made during 2025
On Conferring a Military Rank
By the Decree of the President of Ukraine, the military rank of Brigadier General is conferred to Colonel Dmytro Volodymyrovych Bratishko, who holds the position of Commander of the East Operational Command of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The decree is an individual act of conferring a military rank to a specific person.In accordance with the powers of the President of Ukraine as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The rank of brigade general is the first general rank in the system of military ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which was introduced as part of the transition to NATO standards instead of the rank of major general.
On Conferring a Military Rank
The decree concerns an individual personnel matter in the Armed Forces of Ukraine – conferring a higher military rank to a specific person. The document confers the military rank of brigade general to Colonel Palas Mykola Dmytrovych, who holds the position of Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is a typical individual act of the President of Ukraine as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, which belongs to his constitutional powers in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
On Conferring a Military Rank
By the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated December 5, 2024, No. 832/2024, the Commander of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ihor Anatoliyovych Skybiuk, was conferred the next military rank of major general. The structure of the decree is simple – it consists of one point conferring a military rank to a specific person. The decree implements the powers of the President of Ukraine as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces regarding the conferral of higher officer ranks. Promotion from brigade general to major general is an important stage in a military career and demonstrates recognition of the merits of the Commander of the Airborne Assault Forces.
On Conferring a Military Rank
The decree concerns conferring a higher military rank to the Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the decree, Brigade General Oleksandr Serhiyovych Trepak was conferred the military rank of major general. At the time of conferring the rank, he held the position of Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is an individual act of conferring a military rank, which is part of the standard procedure for promotion of the senior command staff of the Armed Forces. The rank of major general is the next rank after brigade general in the hierarchy of military ranks.
On Conferring an Honorary Name to the 203rd Training Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
By the Decree of the President of Ukraine, an honorary name was conferred to the 203rd Training Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – from now on, it will bear the name of Vladyslav Rykov. Structurally, the decree consists of two points: the first establishes the new name of the military unit, the second determines the procedure for entry into force. Key provisions of the decree:
– Full new name of the unit: 203rd Training Aviation Brigade named after Vladyslav Rykov of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
– The basis for conferring the name was the exemplary performance of assigned tasks by the brigade’s personnel;
– The decree enters into force from the day of its official publication.
On Conferring an Honorary Name to the 128th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
By the Decree of the President of Ukraine, an honorary name was conferred to the 128th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From now on, the full name of the unit is 128th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade “Dyke Pole” of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Structurally, the decree consists of two points: the first establishes…
