Ukraine took a tentative step towards greater energy independence last week when the country signed a new five nation agreement committing them to an oil pipeline bypassing Russia More

As Ukraine edges closer to a new Orange coalition, members of the defeated Party of Regions must be wondering how long they can remain loyal to their controversial and nationally divisive leader More

Despite the political convulsions of the past three years, population figures released last week for 2007 registered the first positive balance between birth and death rates since independence. Experts caution that this is not the end of the country’s demographic crisis but merely some temporary relief More

As Ukraine waited for the official results of the September 30 elections to be announced, speculation grew of an imminent unveiling of an Orange coalition headed by Yulia Tymoshenko Subscribe

Even in a world as colourful as the Ukrainian political scene, Kyiv Mayor Leonid Chernovetskiy stands out. His perceived eccentricity has earned him the popular nickname ‘Lyonia Cosmos’, but with a scandal over mass land giveaways threatening to engulf him and few political allies on the horizon, rumours are mounting that the capital’s top official is preparing to sell up and get out Subscribe

Russia and Ukraine were once considered almost indivisible by many, but the two countries are increasingly distancing themselves from one another. Nowhere is this more apparent than in attitudes towards the atrocities of the Stalin era Subscribe

Yulia Tymoshenko’s spectacular gains in last month’s elections have been interpreted as a sharp rebuke to the Party of Regions. They also represent a biting response from the electorate to the leadership of President Yushchenko, and offer him little choice but to commit himself to a new Orange coalition with Tymoshenko increasingly calling the shots Subscribe

A new Orange coalition, supported by a parliamentary majority, would be the first time Ukraine has a consolidated Orange power-base Subscribe

As a new Orange coalition government began to look increasingly likely last week, Russia’s Gazprom announced that unless Ukraine paid huge debts it had accumulated over the last eighteen months it would turn off gas supplies just as it did at the start of 2006 More

The President’s call for a broad political compromise among the country’s leading parties may sound admirable to outsiders, but to Ukrainians who have placed their faith in the democratic process it is little short of a kick in the teeth More

This week will see events marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of the WWII-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Today Ukraine remains deeply divided about the legacy of this controversial guerrilla force Subscribe

Coalition talks continued throughout last week among the parties to have made it into the new parliament, with opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko snubbing President Yushchenko’s surprise appeal for a compromise between her bloc and the Party of Regions Subscribe

Initial reactions from local and international observers on the preliminary results of Sunday’s vote were cautious but optimistic More

Preliminary reports suggest that Sunday’s snap elections passed off without the mass fraud many had predicted. It is now imperative that isolated vote rigging allegations are dealt with and a new coalition formed without delay More

Plans have been announced for major renovation works on Independence Square to take place in 2008. This will be the latest in a series of transformations of the famous Kyiv landmark that have mirrored the growing pains of independent Ukraine More

Dnipropetrovsk tycoon Viktor Pinchuk’s formation of a London-based holding company in preparation for an IPO is being widely viewed as a smart move that will see the former Interpipe Holding group go multinational More

Results stated are preliminary and based on data provided by the Ukrainian Central Election Commission at the time of going to press on Monday, October 1 at 1.00pm. Final results are expected to be announced within ten days. Subscribe

Over 25% of Ukrainians would be happy to leave the country and settle abroad, according to a national survey conducted in September. Those that do leave are finding life in the West better than ever before with its booming employment markets Subscribe

Despite a stronger than expected showing from Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko on Sunday, margins were tight and the final decision may well end up being made in the courts Subscribe

Ukraine’s fledgling democracy may be maturing, but the country’s politicians appear as keen as ever to buck the trend, as this selection of choice comments from the past two months of campaigning demonstrates Subscribe

With less than a week to go before Ukraine goes to the polls, there remains much muttering and resentment that an election is being held at all. There is, however, more cause for optimism than many believe More

Ukraine will receive approximately 3,000 international election observers, who will monitor the conduct of the poll across the country and stay on sharp lookout for fraud More

Ukrainian politicians are always sure to turn their attention to the agrarian sector when elections are near - albeit temporarily More

As Russia begins preparations for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, a heavyweight appointment from a strategic oil project indicates a strong commitment to the event More

Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko is in her strongest position since losing the premiership in 2005. We find out why she believes voters will back her come September 30 Subscribe

Cows engage in spoiling tactics / New helicopter twist / Billboards attack political ethics / The accidental politician? / Internet hackers enter campaign / Yushchenko’s ad campaign criticised Subscribe

Party of Regions leading light Yuriy Miroshnichenko discusses economic policy, relations with the EU and the threats posed to a fair vote on September 30 Subscribe

Last week the deal was struck for the Chornobyl Nuclear Plant to receive a new steel covering to finally seal it off from the outside world Subscribe

The election campaign of 2007, perhaps more than any other in Ukraine’s modern history, has seen voters inundated with promises and pledges. But can the rival parties meet their campaign commitments once in power? Subscribe

Pollsters are unanimous that the Party of Regions, BYUT and the Our Ukraine-Self-Defence Bloc will take the lion’s share of seats in the coming elections, but any fringe parties that manage to pass the 3% threshold could hold the keys to power in the new parliament Subscribe

Ukraine’s creative community has had a field day over the past three years with the country engulfed in populist politics, personality cults and the often infantile posturing of its fledgling party political classes Subscribe

The election campaign has yielded neither new faces nor particularly original ideas, but that is no reason to assume that the September 30 ballot will not transform the political landscape More

The Tymoshenko Bloc has gone on the offensive prior to the September 30 parliamentary vote and focused its election campaign on the core Yanukovych-supporting regions of eastern and southern Ukraine. But can this assault on the Party of Regions’ stronghold bridge the great Ukrainian divide? More

Yanukovych calls for record turnout / EU calls on election observers / Minister blasts NATO referendum plan / Accusations of supernatural tricks / Russia caves in to poison pressure Subscribe

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and election rival Yulia Tymoshenko both offered up their visions of post-election relations with the international business community last week. Both promised closer relations with foreign investors but the audience saw little evidence of hard policies in the making Subscribe

Administrative abuses, vote-rigging allegations, vandalism and even violence are all threatening to plunge the elections into disrepute. Is Ukraine’s democracy strong enough to defend itself? More

After years of election campaigns run by Russian spin doctors, Ukraine’s parliamentary candidates are now increasingly looking to American spin doctors, with all three major front runners in the current election battle employing US campaign advisers Subscribe

President Yushchenko announced last week that the country has engaged three international agencies to improve its image abroad. It could prove a Herculean task Subscribe

Viktor Yanukovych and his Party of Regions stand accused of everything from asset-grabbing, vote-rigging and media-muzzling to political poisoning, yet millions are preparing to vote for them in the forthcoming elections. Just what is underpinning the undeniable appeal of this self-styled party of power? Subscribe

A legally dubious session of the Verkhovna Rada last week raised doubts over the governing coalition’s commitment to elections and revealed signs that if results do not go its way, Ukraine could be in for more debilitating political deadlock Subscribe

Ukraine turned sixteen last month, yet the country seems perpetually trapped in an adolescent circle of argumentative historical posturing. Can Ukraine finally grow up and come to terms with its troubled past? More

A grand total of 4,755 candidates from 21 parties have now been registered for the September 30 vote Subscribe

Doubts over the government’s ability to fairly conduct privatisations resurfaced last week as critics alleged that Rinat Akhmetov bought an increased share in a state energy firm at below market price Subscribe

Viktor Prokopenko, the last surviving member of Ukrainian football’s ‘holy trinity’ of top coaches, passed away in August at the age of 62, leaving behind a thriving domestic football scene increasingly dominated by foreign managers and players Subscribe

The parliamentary election campaign was struck by more spoiling tactics last week as attempts were allegedly made to divide the Our Ukraine Bloc through the use of dubious legal loopholes Subscribe

As Ukraine’s parliamentary campaign reaches its half-way point, there are increasing concerns that some may not want a free and fair election More

Non-participation by the disillusioned masses in the elections could mean that their views end up unrepresented and their enemies in power More

Ever since the 2004 Orange Revolution the outside world has grown accustomed to viewing Ukraine as a bi-polar country divided more or less equally into Russian and Ukrainian speaking sides. Is this simplified understanding set to become outmoded? Subscribe

International hospitality companies are slowly improving service standards in Ukraine, but let’s face it - there’s a long way to go yet More

An OECD report states that Russia’s vast natural resources have fuelled its success, but Ukraine’s more balanced economy could yet win through More

The Orange camp’s promise to end politicians’ parliamentary immunity could turn out to be one of the biggest vote-winners in the election More

Putin’s vehement opposition to US missile defence in Europe is seeing Ukraine torn between its desire to grow defence links with the West and its close ties with Russia More

As two major members of the Orange camp form an alliance for the upcoming elections, the question now is how Yulia Tymoshenko will react to a new force that is likely to be competing for the same voters Subscribe

Early statements downplaying the severity of the July 16 phosporous spill lead to criticism of the authorities’ handling of the accident as Transport Minister is called upon to resign Subscribe

A toxic cloud of deadly phosphorous spreads across the countryside near Lviv after a train derailment, causing fears of widespread contamination More

As a result of years of government cover-ups and lies under the Soviet regime, Ukrainians are still apt to disbelieve the official version of anything. Bring on the conspiracy theories and urban legends! More

Even if the September elections go off without a hitch, will rushed legislative reforms be enough to ensure another long and painful aftermath? More

The steady flow of FDI and increased investment by existing players demonstrate that business isn’t worried by the political crisis Subscribe

Russia’s recent flexing of foreign policy muscle, most notably its withdrawal from the CFE arms treaty, have many commentators talking of a new Cold War emerging - so where does this leave Ukraine? Subscribe

The capital’s prodigious growth and development presents the danger that the rest of Ukraine could be forgotten and left behind More

As unconfirmed reports resurface of terrorist training camps operating in Crimea, the need to resolve long-standing historical conflicts on the peninsula is becoming ever more apparent More

Recent success in fundraising activities by Kyiv’s international business community are a welcome indicator that Ukraine is losing its cynicism towards charitable organisations More

Simplified visa requirements for Ukrainians entering the Schengen zone are hoped to come into force by the year end Subscribe

Official surveys and government data may show that the vast majority of Ukrainians are still far below EU levels of wealth, but increasing evidence on the streets continues to suggest otherwise More

Yushchenko proposes a two-chamber parliament and shorter governmental terms More

The latest agreement to hold elections on September 30 appears to be holding, but anything could - and probably will - happen More

The spread of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine could have profound economic effects More

Ukraine’s rate of HIV infection is already the worst in Europe, yet these official statistics could only be the tip of the iceberg as cultural taboos discourage many from testing or taking basic precautions More

As the real estate boom continues unabated, Kyiv’s green surroundings are in danger of disappearing forever. Is it necessary when there are so many derelict buildings and vacant plots in built-up areas? More

Last week saw the ongoing political crisis reach a new level of drama as both sides mobilised troops and the Rada was emptied by a hoax bomb threat. A deal was struck, but how long it will hold is anybody’s guess More

After setbacks in Iraq and elsewhere the West is increasingly reluctant to engage in nation building, leaving Ukraine’s pro-democracy forces dangerously More

The crisis is over. No, it’s not over. Oh, wait, it’s over again... Expect a few more twists and turns before any elections happen More

If you ever wanted to know what ‘political technology’ means then simply watch events unfold over the coming weeks and months and witness underhand campaign tactics at their very worst More

Business Ukraine is proud to present its first special issue focusing on Ukraine's banking industry More

The EU’s lack of resolve at its summit with Russia is the worst possible message it could have sent to the Kremlin. Has it failed to learn that appeasing direct threats to democracy never works? More

The warring parties remained locked in negotiations over the election date last week as assassination plot allegations emerged More

The popular image of Ukraine is increasingly of a country divided, but are these differences really so exceptional and isn't it time to focus on what unites the people of Europe's youngest democracy? More

The upheavals in Ukraine, Turkey and France show that democracy is no panacea to historical and ideological divisions More

Ukraine’s unparalleled sacrifices during World War Two remain largely unacknowledged in the western world More

The President and Prime Minister finally agree on new elections, but no revision of Yushchenko’s June 24 date is yet announced More

Nationalist sentiments flare in Russia as NATO and EU back Estonia’s decision to relocate controversial statue More

The financial and human costs of the world’s worst nuclear accident still remain hard to evaluate More

Who needs budget airlines when Ukraine’s internal network is right here? The prices are nice, but don’t expect to be pampered More

Yushchenko faces impeachment moves as government politicians continue to oppose new elections and street protests wear on More

The United Nations believes that economic and community revival is the only way to end the legacy of the Chornobyl disaster More

The Shelter Implementation Plan for Chornobyl will see the construction of a massive mobile shelter designed to enclose the shattered reactor for at least a century Subscribe

Following the recent appointment of Ukraine as co-host of the Euro 2012 football championships, attention is now firmly fixed on the practicalities of preparation and the benefits the event will bring Subscribe

Ukraine got its best piece of good news in a long time last week as UEFA announced the surprise decision to award it the 2012 European Football Championships along with Poland More

The political battle for power shifts focus to the Constitutional Court More

Ukraine’s success with Poland in winning the race to host the Euro 2012 tournament has given the country a great goal to work towards More

Not much has thus far been heard from Moscow on Ukraine’s latest political battle. Is this a sign of the new phase in relations the diplomats have been talking up? Subscribe

Peter takes a (very) early shot at predicting both the election date and the winner. So remember, you read it here first More

British businessman awarded for years of contribution to the plastics recycling industry in Ukraine More

The latest political war between the President and Prime Minister is being seen as nothing less than a struggle for control of Ukraine’s strategic direction More

Yushchenko stands to lose in an election with a weak party and few friends in the Rada. Yanukovych stands to lose by risking his coalition. So why the confrontation now? More

Revolution? What revolution? Most Ukrainians are too busy getting on with life and business to take the politicians too seriously any more More

Whether the deadlock is ended by elections or not, failure to respect rule of law and lack of stability remain the underlying problems that need to be solved More

We polled a few of Ukraine’s local and international business people to get their views on the ongoing political turmoil More

As the political elite jockey for position to determine who will ultimately control the new Ukraine, switching sides isn’t uncommon More

Growing government faction puts Yushchenko under unprecedented pressure to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada and go to the nation More

A privatisation deal hits trouble as allegations of corruption are levelled, Ukraine continues dual EU-Russia foreign policy More

The death of Niyazov in Turkmenistan could usher in a new era in the struggle for control of energy supplies which could benefit Ukraine More

Yanukovych brings ex-PM Anatoliy Kinakh back into the fold as Minister of Economy More

Years wasted on an unworkable voucher system and half-hearted attempts at selloffs make it ever more critical that the government gets it right this time Subscribe

A quick guide to the companies likely to go under the state hammer Subscribe

Following years of dispute over land rights and unused funding the government is finally showing commitment to transform Kyiv’s airport into a true international hub More

Cases like the Kyivstar wrangle show that while Western business practice may not be perfect, Ukraine has no reason not to improve More

Last Thursday (March 15) saw the launch of Business Ukraine, the country’s first English-language weekly magazine, at the Leonardo Business Centre in Kyiv. More

Investors, British government and Ukrainian officials all in buoyant mood at the third Ukraine Investment Summit More

The unveiling of Business Ukraine - the new weekly business magazine in English - comes at a very important stage in Ukraine's political and economic development. More

Still believe Ukraine is a problem child? Then consider the good things about the last couple of years - it could be a whole lot worse More