Zelensky plans to continue martial law for another 30 days; The IMF has downgraded its outlook for the global economy. Korrespondent.net highlights the main events of yesterday.
Zelensky intends to extend martial law in Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on extension of martial law. According to the law on martial law, compulsory labor service, alienation of personal property, restriction on movement, a curfew, a ban on the sale of weapons and alcohol, a ban on mass events and strikes, restrictions on the operation of communications and the Internet, as well as a ban on conscripts to change their place of residence.
IMF downgrades global GDP forecast due to war
War in Ukraine led to a humanitarian crisis and the economic damage from the conflict will contribute to a significant slowdown in global growth and exacerbate inflation. Fuel and food prices rose rapidly, hitting people in low-income countries the hardest. Global growth is forecast to slow from 6.1% in 2021 to 3.6% in 2022 and 2023. This is 0.8 and 0.2 percentage points lower than predicted before the war.
The West will increase military support for Ukraine
Finnish President Sauli Niiniste, at the suggestion of the government, decided to send to Ukraine additional military aid.
The Netherlands is ready to transfer heavy weapons to Ukraine and armored vehicles. This was stated by Prime Minister Mark Rutte after a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Also today it was reported that the UK may soon send to Ukraine Stormer HVM anti-aircraft gunsarmed with Starstreak missiles.
Berlin will continue to help Kiev
Germany and Ukraine are studying the list of weapons, which can be delivered to Kiev. Berlin will pay for the approved deliveries, and this will be done immediately. According to Scholz, the Bundeswehr’s own stocks in terms of arms supplies are mostly exhausted, further supplies will be provided by the German military-industrial complex.
Zelensky named a number of priorities for restoring the economy of Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the need to develop clear understanding of economic development after the war, while naming a number of priorities. He noted that small and medium-sized businesses should be provided with the most comfortable and free environment in terms of taxes and administrative conditions. According to Zelensky, it is necessary to complete the judicial, anti-corruption and “other important reforms.” But all this, he stressed, should work towards a vision of what Ukraine will be like “in a year, in five, in ten, in twenty years after the war.”
Cabinet allocates additional money for defense
Government at its next meeting allocated additional funds to the defense sector. They will go to the ministries of defense and internal affairs. The Ministry of Defense allocated 16 billion hryvnias. Another 17 billion hryvnias were received by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These funds were allocated for border guards, National Guardsmen, police officers – also components of the Ukrainian defense forces.
IMF stops making forecasts for Ukraine
Financiers believe that the loss of life, the destruction of physical capital and the flight of citizens will be serious hinder economic activity for many years to come. For Ukraine, all forecasts for 2022-2027, except for real GDP, are omitted due to an unusually high degree of uncertainty. Real GDP is projected until 2022.
UN calls for Easter truce
UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposed to declare from April 21 four-day humanitarian suspension fire in Ukraine. The UN is ready to send humanitarian aid to Ukrainian cities affected by the Russian invasion. We are talking about Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk. Guterres stressed that this is only possible if the truce comes into force.
More than 400 Ukrainians who survived sexual violence during the occupation asked for help
For two weeks, more than 400 Ukrainians, survivors of sexual violence during the occupation, anonymously asked for help, said Ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova. She clarified that most of the calls from survivors of sexual violence, torture and bullying by the invaders came from the Kiev region – from Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel.
The number of those killed by the invaders in the Kiev region has increased
In the Kiev region due to the invasion of Russian troops more than 1,000 civilians were killed. Most of the dead people were shot dead. The data is not final, since not all the dead were found, the bodies of the dead continue to be found. In particular, they are found by people returning home from evacuation.
It became known how much money is required for the restoration of Irpen
According to estimates of experts and estimators involved by the Investment Council of Irpin, for restoration of destroyed or the damaged housing stock of Irpin will require about 850 million dollars. At the same time, the cost of restoring the destroyed city infrastructure is about $150 million. Thus, to restore the entire infrastructure of the Irpin community after large-scale destruction by the occupiers, 1 billion dollars are needed.
Almost the entire Luhansk region was left without electricity
Due to damage to the high voltage line during the shelling, the light disappeared, according to rough estimates, in 215 settlements. These are cities and villages. The number of de-energized subscribers as a result of the shelling by the Russians of a high-voltage power line with a voltage of 300 kV is being investigated.
Shoigu commented on the course of the war in Ukraine for the first time in three weeks
According to him, Russiaconsistently executes the release plan“the self-proclaimed “DNR” and “LNR”. Shoigu claims that the Western countries are doing everything to “prolong” the course of the war as much as possible. Shoigu also said that Russian troops will introduce “new methods of warfare to better adapt to modern military conditions confrontation”.
Fifth exchange of prisoners
Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk announced another exchange of prisoners. Ukraine has exchanged 60 servicemen, 10 of which are officers. She added that a total of 76 people were exchanged. This was the fifth exchange of prisoners. Pro-Russian telegram channels report that the exchange took place 76 for 76.
Ukrainians urged to stay at home for Easter
This year, Easter, which falls on April 24 for Christians of the Eastern rite, Ukraine will meet in the conditions of war. In this regard, Ukrainians warned of possible sabotage at Easter services and instead of visiting the church, they were advised to watch services on the air or online. A corresponding call was made by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, as well as the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience.
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