Address by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal

Heroic people of Ukraine!

The 12th day of our defense operation is ongoing. In the air and on land, day and night, the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are heroically fighting to repel the Russian occupier.

Ordinary Ukrainian citizens are fighting to repel the aggressor as well. The whole world now admires the courage of our people, because each of us contributes to the victory of Ukraine.

In times of war, everyone must work in cohesion, in synergy and at full potential. This

is what the enemy fears and is trying in every effort to prevent that.

But it is not easy to intimidate us, it is not easy to distract our attention and concentration. Already 140,000 Ukrainians, mostly men, have returned back home to Ukraine. We are proud of these people. They stand ready not just to defend their homes, but also to work for the sake of victory.

Ukrainian companies are prepred and invite various specialists to work. There is job for everyone willing to help the country!

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Following the instruction of the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Government has formed a package of decisions to support Ukrainian businesses during the war.

First. We will introduce exemption of Natural Persons of the first and second groups from paying USC (Unified Social Contribution – ed.) under the martial law effect and during one year after it officially lifted.

Second, we will introduce exemption of enterprises and Natural Persons (Entrepreneurs) of the third group from paying USC for employees who were drafted into the Armed Forces and other armed formations (including territorial defense). The contribution is to be paid by the state.

Third, we introduce the delay of tax repayment for each company unable to pay.

Fourth, the introduction of PTR (Payment Transaction Recorders – ed.) for all individual entrepreneurs will be postponed.

Fifth, the Government will abolish all measures of market and consumer supervision in all matters except price regulation and control of pricing. A moratorium on inspections of all types for business has already been established.

All the aforesaid decisions and a number of other additional decisions necessary to make this support package work either have already been adopted or will be endorsed by the authorities shortly.

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Moreover, the Government and local authorities engage in vigorous activities to undertake new measures to stabilize prices for essential good.

The Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed a decision allowing regional military administrations in synergy with the National Police and the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control to monitor the prices of socially important food, medicine and fuel. Some entrepreneurs should not, however, seek to profit from warfare.

Another essential front in the work of the Government and local authorities in times of war is ensuring the proper functioning of critical infrastructure. In particular, of those infrastructure facilities supplying people with electricity, heat and water.

It was decided that 12 Ukrainian TPPs will now be able to receive gas from Naftogaz of Ukraine NJSC at a price of UAH 7 per cubic meter. This will enable the relevant companies to buy the necessary volumes of natural gas in order to continue steady operation and supply electricity to Ukrainian families, despite possible disruptions in the supply of coal products, which is just of paramount importance.

In the end I would like to thank the Ukrainian energy sector workers, who are now ensuring operation of a vital energy front for the whole country. You do wonders every day so that, where possible, Ukrainians stay with light, heat and gas. Every family is grateful to you for that!

Glory to the Ukrainian people! Glory to Ukraine!