Top 5 News Stories 16 June

1. As of 15 June, Ukraine currently has 31 810 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those, 656 were diagnosed in the last 24 hours. So far, 901 people have died while 14 253 have recovered. Link

2. Director of Expert Assessments Institute Viacheslav Butko predicts that the hryvnia will remain stable during the summer. This is because of financial assistance from the EU and the World Bank, as well as expected earnings from the export of agricultural products. Link

3. The Cabinet of Ministers foresees that Ukraine’s GDP will drop up to 8% in 2020 compared to 2019. The government states that, “Ukraine is traditionally more vulnerable to economic shocks, and therefore could feel a more significant impact…” Link

4. During an online briefing, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko emphasised that only summer terraces of cafes and restaurants are allowed to operate. Compliance with the quarantine regulations is overseen by law-enforcement authorities. Fines for places that don’t follow regulations can be between 34 000 and 340 000 UAH. Link

5. LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival has announced that the 2020 installment of the festival will be held online on the MEGOGO platform. The dates are 2 to 6 September. The viewers will have a chance to attend lectures and watch competition programs and thematic compilations for free. Link