The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided $435 million long-term debt to Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell, a recently merged Ukrainian telecom company, to improve service quality, EBRD said on Oct. 10.
This is the largest direct foreign investment in Ukrainian businesses since Russia’s full scale invasion began in 2022.
The EBRD released a statement that read: “The project will send a positive signal to investors.”
Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell, the product of a historic merger of Datagroup-Volia and Lifecell, will receive $217.5 million from each organization.
According to EBRD’s statement, after the investment, Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell will deliver improved mobile connectivity to 10 million subscribers and provide faster and more reliable fixed broadband access to around 4 million homes.
Mark Bowman, Vice President of the EBRD, said that “the telecoms sector is essential to Ukraine’s economic resilience and welfare since the beginning of war.”
“This operation will result a large, reliable, and important telecommunications provider, both domestically and internationally. We are proud to be a part of this investment.”
Initially set up to assist Central and Eastern Europe in transitioning to a free market economy at end of Cold War, EBRD provides loans to strategic sectors in countries that are suffering from war or economic hardships.
IFC, as a member of World Bank, invests in developing countries in order to meet basic humanitarian needs.
Reuters estimates that EBRD has invested a total of 4,65 billion euros ($5,16 billion) in 107 projects across Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, in February 2022. Approximately 855 million euro have been deployed this year.
Kim Yong-Hyun, South Korean Defense minister, told lawmakers earlier in October that North Korea likely planned to send troops into Ukraine to fight with Russia.
The Belarusian Hajun group reported on October 10 that a second Russian Mig-31K capable of carrying Kinzhal rockets landed at Machulishchy Airport in Belarus.
Five people were injured in a Russian attack on the village of Cherkaska Lozova, north of Kharkiv, on 10 October, according to Oleh Simiehubov.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided $435 million long-term debt for Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell, a recently merged Ukrainian telecom company, to improve telecoms service quality, the EBRD said on Oct. 10.
During the visit of U.K. Premier Keir Starmer to London, on 10 October, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented Ukraine’s Victory Plan to him.
Unilever announced on October 10 that it had sold its business and four plants in Russia and Belarus to Arnest Group. A Russian manufacturer. The amount was not disclosed.
Anduril claims that their new drones can fly for 40 minutes, covering a distance of 20 kilometers (12miles).
The military confirmed that Ukraine had successfully struck the Khanskaya airfield of Russia in the Adygea Republic.
Volunteers could only serve as privates and sergeants until now.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Crimean service, reported on October 10.
Zelensky will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during his visit. The visit is part of an broader European tour that began on October 9 with a trip to Croatia.
Local authorities in Russia’s Adygea Republic (an enclave within Krasnodar Krai) reported a drone strike “against (the capital of) Maykop by Ukrainian drones.”
According to opposition legislator Yaroslav Zelezniak the version of bill adopted in second reading saw many changes.
The agreement included cooperation between defense industry and Croatian assistance for demining as well as a condemnation of Russia’s war as “unprovoked and unjustified.”
Regional authorities reported on October 10 that Russian attacks in Ukraine have killed or injured at least eight people over the past 24 hours.
In a report seen by The Guardian, German and British think-tanks urged decision makers to create a “NATO Bank” to “Trump proof” the alliance’s spending on military equipment.
“Russia is responsible for 80% influence operations around the world.” This is four-times more than the rest the world combined,” Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky told a conference in Prague, on October 9.
This includes 1,080 casualties that Russian forces have suffered in the last day.
Karine Jean Pierre, White House Press Secretary, said: “Let’s remember, it’s concerning, especially since we know that the former president was lobbying for more aid to Ukraine — to Ukraine so they can defend themselves against Russia’s aggression.”
Drones attacked Khanskaya Military Airfield in Russia’s Republic of Adygea early on 10 October, causing an explosion at the site. Local authorities have not made any comments on the attack.
Senior U.S. officials stated that the reliable flow of supplies to the region, and Russia’s focus in eastern Ukraine, will allow Kyiv hold territory in Kursk Oblast well into the future.
Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stltenberg stated that “if we had delivered even a fraction of what we have delivered since 2022, we might have prevented the war.”
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