Results 03.01: Scandal in Quarter 95 and EU sanctions

A migrant from Skadovsk, Kherson region makes fun of the Ukrainian language – this number was published in the program of the New Year’s Evening Quarter and provoked the real anger of Ukrainians. Kvartal 95 and 1+1 media apologized for the number and promised to remove it from YouTube. The mayor of Skadovsk, Alexander Yakovlev, condemned Kvartal 95 for inappropriate jokes and called on the creators of the show to apologize. Comedian Yuriy Veliky, who played a resident of Transcarpathia in the skit, acknowledged the inappropriate jokes, but noted that this act was not about Skadovsk, but about people who did not dare to speak Ukrainian in everyday communication.

The Council of the European Union added to the sanctions list the Russian diamond mining giant, Alrosa, which accounts for more than 90% of all Russian diamond production, and its CEO, Pavel Marinichev. The EU Council states that the company is an important part of the economic sector, which provides significant income to the Russian government. The ban on Russian diamonds is part of the G7’s efforts to develop an internationally coordinated ban on diamond imports, aimed at depriving Russia of this important source of income.

The Government of Ukraine will ensure the timely payment of pensions and benefits this year. This was announced by Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. In the structure of consolidated budget expenditures, social payments accounted for more than 12%. “This year, this will be one of our priorities. We will pay pensions and benefits on time. We have internal resources, as well as support from our partners,” assured Shmyhal.

The Polish Ministry of Agriculture said it was ready to fulfill all three demands of farmers who threatened to continue their protest at the Ukrainian border. “We are talking about maintaining the agricultural tax at the level of 2023. It will increase – it depends on the price of rye. Amendments to the law have been prepared, which should be adopted by the Seimas. Those local governments that agree to apply of tax breaks will receive state compensation,” said Kolodziejczak.

Polish farmers on Thursday, January 4, will continue blocking the Medica-Shegini border on the Ukrainian border. This is what the head of the peasant organization Deceived Village Roman Kondruv said. According to him, the farmers have not received a written guarantee that their demands will be met, and therefore the blockade of the border point will continue. We are talking about a declaration to be signed by the prime minister. The leader of the protesting farmers noted that this time the protest would be more intense. Farmers will allow one vehicle in the queue per hour. In particular, cars, buses and trucks with humanitarian aid, military equipment, dangerous goods and perishable goods will be allowed.

Ukraine should not have hope for the early delivery of long-range Taurus missiles because now the issue remains in an “uncertain” status. This is what German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said. At the same time, he strongly condemned the recent Russian attack. This massive attack on civilian infrastructure is a war crime and absolutely despicable, he stressed.