Month: September 2021
Opening a Facebook office in Ukraine and launching new products
In a video call, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov discussed the cooperation with the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg and the Vice President of Facebook Nick Clegg.
The main points of negotiations are the possibility of opening a Facebook office in Ukraine and launching new products of the company for Ukrainian users. In addition, the President spoke about the key achievements in the implementation of digitalization and plans.
Digitalization is a priority of our state. It is one of the coolest reforms that is being actively implemented. We are digitizing 100% of public services. It is not only our desire to make all business and state services accessible and comfortable for people in digital format
Volodymyr Zelensky
The Ministry has been cooperating with Facebook since the very beginning of its existence. Together they have already implemented several successful projects. Recently, AMBER Alert has launched a system for notifying missing children.
The head of state also invited Facebook representatives to visit the Diia Summit in Kyiv this fall:
This would be serious support for digital in Ukraine. We are confident that we will be the first in Europe to implement all digital services. Your arrival would be an excellent signal
Volodymyr Zelensky

“We actively cooperate with global technology companies. These are Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Samsung, Lyft, and many other IT giants. Our goal is not only the regular launch of joint projects but also the emergence of an official Facebook office in Ukraine. For our part, we are ready to facilitate the company’s entry into our market. I am confident that our cooperation will be helpful in both Ukraine and Facebook, ” said Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.
Also, in cooperation with Facebook, the Ministry of Finance launched a joint educational project, “Fundamentals of using Facebook and Instagram for online business development,” and SMB Hub Ukraine for small and medium businesses. In addition, Facebook has launched the Ukrainian version of the digital education platform for parents, teachers, and adolescents Get Digital as part of the European Digital Literacy Week in Ukraine.
We want to provide the best services and support to our users in Ukraine. This can be seen in collaborative projects, including the recent launch of Facebook AMBER Alert. We hope to strengthen our cooperation in the future
Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer (COO) of Facebook and the founder of LeanIn.Org

XVI Polish Cinema Days
The Days of Polish Cinema, a project by the Polish Institute in Kyiv, will run it’s 16th festival this year. 01 – 10 October 2021
Traditionally, the programme presents the most interesting achievements of Polish cinema in recent years.
This year, due to epidemiological restrictions, the festival will be held in a hybrid format in cooperation with Takflix.com online cinema platform. The forum will feature seven Polish films of various genres that have already gained audience and film critics recognition and won awards at prestigious international festivals.
All films are shown in Polish with Ukrainian subtitles. *The number of views is limited.
Online programme October 1-10
Amateurs
DIRECTOR: Iwona Siekierzynska
GENRE: Tragicomedy

The Bureau of Personal Belongings, a theatre that has been created by actors with disability, wins a chance to participate in a theatre festival with their new production. Great joy, great chance, great expectations. Krzysiek, the head of the theatre, and the actors are working on a new Greek Zorba performance, and thought it would be great to show it to the broader audience on a real stage. However, it turns out that the director of the theatre has certain conditions for the cooperation to happen.
He received a grant to promote Shakespeare and support the work of people with disabilities, and if they want to perform in a professional theatre, they must obey. Krzysiek has some doubts but accepts the challenge. He starts rehearsals with professional actors and a “local star” Victoria. The moment she appears in the theatre, Krzysiek’s actors are delighted and mesmerized. Still, at one of the rehearsals, the director states that Krzysiek’s sister Mary will not be able to play the main role. The director is relentless: a toothless, limp Mary is a no choice for a premiere. The role should go to a younger, beautiful actress with better diction. Krzysiek decides to change the cast for the play to happen, but will he be ever satisfied with the result?
The film has received numerous individual awards at the 45th Festival of Polish Feature Films in Gdynia, as well as at the Koszalin Youth and Film Debut Film Festival.
Kill It and Leave This Town
DIRECTOR: Mariusz Wilczyński
GENRE: Psychological animation / horror

Fleeing from despair after losing those dearest to him, the hero hides in a safe land of memories, where time stands still and all those dear to him are alive.
Over the years, he builds a city in his imagination. Literary heroes and childhood cartoons idols settle there uninvited: always young and wearing short. But when our hero realizes that they are getting old as well and that eternal youth does not exist, he decides to return to real life. And the amazing characters that live in his imagination bring him back to the real world.
The film has won a number of prestigious awards, in particular, the Golden Lions at the 45th Polish Feature Films Festival in Gdynia, received the Eagle award in Poland and the Grand Prix of film festivals in Ottawa, Lima, Tarnow, Koszalin, and Liberec.
I Never Cry
DIRECTOR: Piotr Domalewski
GENRE: Tragicomedy

A bittersweet coming-of-age drama that explores the perplexity of family bonds, illustrating the gloomy landscape of today’s Europe.
Olka must travel to Ireland to bring her father’s body back to Poland after he died working at a construction site. But never mind her dad, Olka wants to know if he saved money for the car he had promised. Dealing with foreign bureaucracy in her own street-smart way, Olka learns that her biggest dream wasn’t a car, but getting to know her dad.
The film has won a number of prestigious awards, including awards at the 45th Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia and film festivals in Arras, Braunschweig, Dublin, Cottbus, Moscow, Chicago, Goa, the Polish Eagles Film Prize, and others.
Discover the full online an offline programme here

About economic cooperation between United Kingdom and Ukraine
Oleksiy Lyubchenko discussed issues of economic cooperation with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Melinda Simmons.
The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Oleksiy Lyubchenko met with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Ukraine Melinda Simmons on September 28 in Kyiv. During the meeting, the parties tackled issues of deepening trade, investment cooperation and energy security.
We would like to hear about the current economic situation in Ukraine and the First Deputy Prime Minister’s vision for further points of deepening Ukraine’s economic relations with the United Kingdom
Melinda Simmons

The Ukrainian side noted that Britain occupies a significant place in terms of bilateral trade in goods between Ukraine and European countries and in terms of foreign direct investment. In particular, almost $2 billion of investments have already been attracted to Ukraine. Bilateral cooperation between the two countries is constantly growing. This was achieved primarily through the Agreement on Political Cooperation, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which was signed in October last year by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Borys Johnson.
“The economy is recovering, we can offer a number of areas for joint projects. In particular, up to 105-110 million tons of new grain and oilseeds are expected in Ukraine, so it is possible to coordinate cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, in particular in the agricultural sector, grain exports. We also completed the collection of information for the further formation of the economic and social matrix of the regions to achieve the goals set by the National Economic Strategy Ukraine-2030. This document was initiated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. One of the goals of this document is to implement investment projects, create jobs and strengthen Ukraine’s economy. I invite British businesses to join the implementation of investment projects in Ukraine,” Oleksiy Lyubchenko stressed.

In addition, the parties discussed issues of Ukraine’s energy security.
The situation with world gas prices requires intensified action and the introduction of additional measures. Currently, the Government’s efforts are aimed at stabilizing the situation on the energy market, given the beginning of the heating season in Ukraine
Oleksiy Lyubchenko
During the exchange of views, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Ukraine supported Ukraine’s desire to continue the course of corporate governance in accordance with OECD principles.
The interlocutors also touched upon the preparation for the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Glasgow, November 1-2, 2021).
Source: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
The first cruise liner since the Covid-19 lockdown moored at the Odessa sea port
The first cruise liner since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic moored at berth No. 15 of the Odessa sea port on September 28. The passenger ship Sea Dream II (flag – Bahamas) delivered to Odessa about 60 tourists, mainly citizens of the United States and Canada.
The liner makes a cruise between the ports of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, starting from Athens. The previous port of call before Odessa was Constanta (Romania). On September 29 the ship left for Varna (Bulgaria). The ship is 50% full of tourists.
On the eve of the event of the first cruise ship since the beginning of the pandemic, the administration of the Odessa port, together with the “Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health on Water Transport”, developed and implemented an operational “Plan of measures for epidemic safety in servicing cruise ships”. The document takes into account the recommendations of WHO, IMO and published European health standards introduced to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members of passenger liners from infection with the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Visits of foreign passenger ships to the port of Odessa were terminated in 2016 due to the deterioration of the situation in the Black Sea region. In five years, only two mooring operations were carried out in the port: on June 14, 2017, the Island Sky expedition liner with 104 tourists on board arrived at the port, on October 30, 2019, the Amera motor ship with 750 tourists on board moored at the Odessa sea port.
Currently, the port administration has received 31 applications for visits to Odessa by cruise ships in the 2022 season.
Wineries of Ukraine: Podillya
Today, Podillya has every chance to become one of the wine regions of the country. In 2018, the Public Organisation “Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Vinnytsia Region” was registered.
In April 2019, the NGO “Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers Podilsky Tovtry” was registered. Under the auspices of the union, introductory tastings of Podolsk wines are held, which contributes to the development of wine tourism in the region.
The winegrowers of this region specialize in the production of table wines, champagne and cognac wine materials and table grapes. The main zoned varieties: technical – Aligote, Fetyaska, Riesling; dining rooms – Pearls Saba, Chasselas.
Gigineishvili Wine House
Kordelivka village, Kalinov district, Vinnytsia region

In 2010, Vladimir Gigineishvili, the owner of the winery, took the first steps towards winemaking. The owner followed the call of the heart, given the origin, he continued the glorious Georgian traditions of winemakers in Ukraine, in particular in Podillya.
In 2013, the winery “Gigineishvili Wine House” started operating. Today, the production represents high-tech equipment, innovative technologies, in addition, there is a purchase of raw materials of only the highest quality. Winemaker technologist Zaza Iordanishvili personally accepts grapes and selects the best bunches. Not the last parameter is the amount of sugar in the grapes, acidity and the time of harvesting grapes. Moreover, it is delivered to the winery in the shortest possible time by special transport while maintaining a low temperature. Grapes are delivered from the vineyards of the Odessa region.
In 2017, the winery received a license for the production and sale of wine products.
Mohyliv-Podilskyi district on the South-Eastern slope with an area of 16 hectares was chosen for its own vineyards. To date, 2 hectares have been planted. Soils: sandstone, limestone.
The volume of production per year reaches 30 thousand liters, plans to increase the volume to 50 thousand liters per year. A barrel of French oak is used to age the wine. In 2020, a new powerful press made in Italy was purchased, and a wine cellar for storing and aging wine was expanded. Also in 2020, wines aged in oak barrels were bottled.
Family winery Father`s wine
village Husiatyn, Ternopil region

The history of the winery “Father’s Wine” began with the planting of grapes in the production of furniture for landscaping, and continues with rapid development. The owners of the Buyachok wine family founded a joint winery in 2006. At the moment, the main winemaker is Victor Kondrat. There is a license for the production of alcoholic beverages. In 2020, new powerful equipment made in Italy was purchased, and it is planned to expand production areas and build a tasting room.
Planting area of vineyards 5 hectares. Soils: chernozem, loam. Production – 12 thousand bottles per year. Stainless steel tanks are used for production. The wine is aged in oak barrels made in Ukraine by OLPOL and French oak.
White grape varieties: Johanniter, Solaris, Muscaris, Helios, Dublyansky.
Red grape varieties: Cabernet Cortis, Regent, Pinot Tin, Leon Millau, Black Pearl, PG-116 (indigenous variety), Handsome.
For the production of red wine at high rates, winemakers buy part of the red grapes in the Odessa region. In particular, Merlot, Cabernet, Odessa Black. A special pride of winemakers is the Johaniter grape variety. Wine of this variety has repeatedly received awards at regional and Ukrainian tastings. And at wine festivals in 2020, wine connoisseurs were a favorite.
Bohdan`s winery
Goraivka, Kamyanets-Podilskyi district, Khmelnytsky region

The most famous winegrower and winemaker of Western Ukraine is Bohdan Pavliy. The man who inspired many wine connoisseurs to engage in viticulture in the western part of Ukraine, in particular in the area of Podilski Tovtry.
Bohdan`s winery was founded in 2012. Already in 2014, the Johaniniter varietal white wine won first place among white wines at a tasting held by the Association of Sommeliers of Ukraine. In 2019, at the Odessa Bay competition, Barbaryska and Bakota wines received silver awards from an authoritative jury. A special pride of the winemaker is the Rkatsiteli grape variety. The winery is in the process of obtaining a license to produce alcoholic beverages.
Vineyards and production are located in the most picturesque place of Podillya, on the slopes of the legendary Bakota. The southern slope, loamy soils with a high content of limestone, the sun is reflected from the surface of the Dniester, differences in night temperatures – all these factors contribute to the work of the winemaker with white grapes.
Today the area of planting grapes reaches 1 hectare. The density of planting vines: 5600 vines per 1 hectare. 70% of planting is white grapes. The aging of red wine takes place on oak chips. It is also planned to plant 1.3 hectares of grapes.
White grape varieties: Johanicher, Traminer, Aligote, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Solaris, Muscaris, Riesling, Dublin
Red grape varieties: Danube, Zweigelt, Merlot, Nebiolo, Sengiovese, Eumolpia, Syrah, Cabernet Franc.
The winery has a tasting room for 12-14 people with a panoramic view of Bakota and vineyards, where you can taste the unique wines of the Podilski Tovtry
Family winery Zelenytsa
Goraivka, Kamyanets-Podilskyi district, Khmelnytsky region

In 2012, Zelenytsa Volodymyr and his son Anatoliy founded a winery on the basis of an agricultural firm. And in 2014 they started producing their own wine. The winery is located in the heart of Podilski Tovtry.
The production volume is 3.5 thousand liters per year. Stainless steel tanks are used for wine production, and French oak oak barrels are used for wine aging. The wine is aged in barrels for three months.
The production volume is about 5 thousand liters per year. For the production of wine they use stainless steel tanks of their own production, for aging wine – oak barrels of French and Ukrainian oak. The wine is aged in barrels for 6 months. Over the past year, the volume of production capacity has increased significantly. The process of obtaining a license at the final stage. The production has its own laboratory. Production processes have been significantly improved, which has affected the quality of wine and range.
The vineyards are located on the hills. Soils: loam, limestone. Planting area of vineyards: 1.5 hectares, about 3 thousand bushes. In addition to the use of their own grapes in the production, the family buys and delivers them from the Odessa region.
In 2020, a mini-hotel was built to receive guests and developed its own wine tourism product with its own gastronomic snacks.
Old Town Family Winery
Dovzhok, Kamyanets-Podilskyi district, Khmelnytsky region

In 2016, the winery owners started their own wine business. In 2012, the first grapes were planted. The winery has technical equipment. It has everything you need to produce good quality wine. Purchased the first oak barrels for aging. The wine is aged in barrels for three months.
Grapes grown not only by hand but also purchased in the Odessa region, in sunny Bessarabia, are used for wine production. Each bunch is inspected by winemakers and then transported as soon as possible by a special vehicle to the winery. The production volume reaches 2.5-3 thousand liters per year.
Grape planting area – 0.8 hectares. Limestone soils with high mineral content.
Alexander Onyshchuk Winery
Kulchyivtsi village, Kamyanets-Podilskyi district, Khmelnytsky region

Kraft craft winery Aleksandr Onyschuk was founded in 2016. Winemaker – a beginner who puts his soul into his wines. Winery at the stage of completion of technological equipment. The first seedlings were planted and work with grapes began.
Stainless steel tanks are used for wine production and aging. The area planted with grapes reaches 0.4 hectares. Loamy soils. Production volume is 800 liters per year.
Kalyus Winery Winery
Kalyus village, Novoushchytsya district, Khmelnytsky region

The Kalyus Winery author’s wine production project started in the summer of 2019, thanks to winemaker Yuriy Danyliuk. The idea of winemaking arose 10 years ago, at the same time the first grape seedlings were planted on their own land in the village of Kalyus, at the confluence of the Dniester and Kalyus rivers. Historical documents prove that winemaking has existed in this region since ancient times. In pre-revolutionary times, this region was famous for winemaking: it was proved that 20,000 grape bushes grew in Kalyus and a winery functioned.
In 2015, the first wine was made from our own grapes. Every year the volume of winemaking increased, production capacity expanded. Today it is 10 thousand liters. Fermentation and storage of wine in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged in barrels.
The vineyards are located in a unique natural place, each bunch is grown with care and attention. The planting area of the experimental plot is 20 ares. Also in the Kherson region 2 hectares of vineyards for 49 years are leased.
The winemaker conducts tastings on the territory of the winery, in a picturesque place on the high bank where the open terrace offers a fabulous view of the river Kalyus.
White grape varieties: Riesling, Chardonnay, Muscat, Sukholimansky.
Red grape varieties: Cabernet, Cabernet Cortis, Merlot, Saperavi.
Georgy Samsonyuk’s Winery
Vinnytsia, Vinnytsia district, Vinnytsia region

Georgy Samsonyuk‘s winery was founded in 2013. The first wine was produced in 2015. The first vineyards with an area of 30 ares were planted on the territory of Vinnytsia region near the parents’ house. At present, this is an experimental site for the study of grapes on this terroir. The rest of the grapes are bought in Bessarabia.
The production volume today is more than 2 thousand liters. As of 2020, the reconstruction of the winery is completed with a full production cycle. Also in the nearest future, the winemaker plans to obtain a license and the development of wine tourism for tastings at wineries, with treats to guests with local cheeses.
Grape varieties are white: Rkatsiteli, Riesling, Chardonnay, Aligote, Pinot Gris.
Red grape varieties: Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir.
New directions of navigation Bees Airline
Kyiv-Odessa is an interesting destination not only for tourists, but also for business travellers who travel between cities for work or conferences. For interational flight the company will add Odessa-Prague, Ganja, Yerevan, Tbilisi.
Odessa-Kyiv
Ukrainian Bees Airlines will open its first domestic flight! From mid-October, the carrier will start flights in the direction of Kyiv-Odessa!
Flights Kyiv – Odessa will start five times a week from October 14 – every Monday, every Tuesday, every Thursday, every Friday, and every Sunday.
Flights will be operated from Kyiv airport. Sikorsky (Zhulyany) on Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft.
Departure from Kyiv at 7:25 am and from Odessa – at 9:00 am. Flight duration – 1 hour. Tickets are already available for booking; one-way flight costs from UAH 641.

Odessa-Prague
Bees Airline will fly from Odessa to Prague. The first flight on this route is scheduled for October 21. From October 21, Bees Airline will start operating flights on the Odessa-Prague route.
The air carrier will fly in this direction twice a week (Thursday and Friday). Tickets from UAH 2281. The departure from Odessa at 9:30.

Odessa – Ganja, Tbilisi, Yerevan
From now on, residents of the Odessa region will be able to get to the Caucasus without obstacles, because today Bees Airline is introducing flights to two new destinations from Odessa International Airport to:
- Ganja, the second largest city in Azerbaijan, located at the northeastern foothills of the Lesser Caucasus and is the center of the historic region of Arran.
- Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.
The airline will also continue to operate flights on Odessa-Yerevan (Armenia) direction for the period of winter navigation 2021 | 2022.
In addition, the airline sells tickets from Kyiv to Sharjah, which is the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the administrative center of the Emirate of Sharjah. Flights are operated from Kyiv Sikorsky International Airport.

From Odessa:
- Ganja (Azerbaijan) – every Monday, from 2547 UAH.
- Tbilisi (Georgia) – every Friday, from 1724 UAH.
- Yerevan (Armenia) – every Monday and every Friday, from 1564 UAH.
Convenient morning departure.
From Kyiv:
- Sharjah (UAE) – every Wednesday and every Saturday, from 3650 UAH
Convenient morning departure.
Deutsche Bahn started the modernisation of railways in Ukraine
Specialists of the German company Deutsche Bahn have started work on a project to improve passenger rail transport in Ukraine. This was reported on the official website of Ukrzaliznytsia.
Following the results of the first week of work, specialists from Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) and Deutsche Bahn Engineering & Consulting created project groups in three areas: development of a business plan for passenger transportation; introduction of a passenger transportation financing system, and support for the purchase of passenger rolling stock.
There was also a meeting of the project coordinating committee with the Acting Chairman of the Board of Ukrzaliznytsia Oleksandr Kamyshin, representatives of the Supervisory Board of UZ, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Finance.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) received all the necessary documents and developments from UZ, which are required to implement the project. Also, the work plan of the project teams was determined, the details of the terms of reference for the consultant were clarified, and the priority work priorities were determined.
DB specialists presented the first results of the analysis of the technical requirements for electric trains that will be purchased first for the Kyiv City Express project.
They also identified the key elements of the passenger transportation business plan and announced the first developments of the passenger service delivery model. During October, they will be discussed by representatives of DB, UZ and relevant ministries.
As we wrote before, in August, Ukrzaliznytsya signed an agreement with DB Engineering & Consulting (part of Deutsche Bahn) on consulting in the field of passenger transportation.
The German company is expected to provide a draft report with recommendations for modernising passenger transportation by the end of 2021.
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