News from Kiev, Ukraine

Ukrainian currency at all-time low against the dollar

dave — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:39:59 +0000

The Ukrainian currency is currently trading a historic low of 6.877 UAH to the dollar. The drop has been caused by a run on the banks with many Ukrainians, fearful of economic collapse, converting their money into dollars and other foreign currencies.

Ukraine has been hit particularly hard by the global credit crunch and a rapid fall in demand for its steel, one of its major exports. Many Ukrainians also have bitter memories of losing their savings in financial chaos of the early 1990s.

Visa-free entry to EU being discussed

dave — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:36:34 +0000

Ukraine is currently in talks with the European Union to obtain visa-free entry for its citizens to EU countries. It hopes it will secure a deal by 2012, the year it co-hosts the European football championships.

The Ukrainian dropped visa requirements for residents of the EU visiting Ukraine in 2007.

Grove Armada in concert

dave — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:17:40 +0000

British DJ duo Groove Armada will be appearing in concert at the Palace of Sport on October 8 2009. For more information and tickets call 246 7406.

Metro fares to rise

dave — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:53:36 +0000

The cost of riding the Kiev Metro will soon quadruple. Fares for a single journey will rise from 50 kopecs to 2 hyrvnia from November 1 2008.

Metro introduces swipe passes

dave — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:40:00 +0000

Contactless swipe passes have been introduced on the Kiev Metro. The new passes cost Hr 32 and allow 30 days unlimited travel from the day they are first used.

The cards can be topped up at any Metro station. Plans to introduce quarterly and annual passes are in the pipeline.

Funicular railway to close for repairs

dave — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:06:25 +0000

Kiev’s funicular railway will close next month for urgent repairs. The railway, which links Podil to the Upper Town, will shut down on September 17.

Officials expect the work to take around 1 month.

Crowne Plaza hotel to open in Kiev

dave — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:10:02 +0000

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced its first Crowne Plaza hotel in Kiev. The Crowne Plaza Kiev will be situated in Korolenkivska Street, Holosiivskyi and will feature 225 rooms and suites.

The hotel is being developed by owner ITT-Plaza, part of the ITT Investment Group, and will be managed by IHG under a 15-year management contract. Opening is scheduled for 2012, the year Ukraine hosts the UEFA European Football Championship.

The Crowne Plaza Kiev will be the third IHG hotel in Kiev. The InterContinental Kiev and the Holiday Inn Kiev are due to open at the end of 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Nelly Furtado concert

dave — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:21:42 +0000

Grammy award-winning Canadian singer and songwriter Nelly Furtado will be appearing in concert at International Expo Centre in Kiev on July 15.

The concert starts at 7 pm, with tickets priced Hr 150 to Hr 250.

Wizz Air to bring cheap flights to Ukraine

dave — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:46:55 +0000

Wizz Air has opened an office at Kiev’s Boryspil Airport and is set to bring cheap flights to the Ukraine. The Hungarian budget airline will launch its Ukrainian domestic schedule on July 11 and offer low cost flights between Kiev and Lviv, Odessa, Simferopol, Kharkov, and Zaporozhye. Flights to Simferopol from Lviv and Kharkov will also be available. One way fares will start as low as UAH 79.

On September 15 the company will launch its international flights from Kiev. The destinations initially served will be London Luton, Dortmund, and Milan Bergamo. Prices for one-way flights to Milan/Dortmund will start at UAH 199.

Paul McCartney in concert

dave — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:19:43 +0000

Former Beatles’ member Paul McCartney will perform on Independence Square on June 14. The Independence Concert will be free to attend and has been funded and organised by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

McCartney said ‘I’m very excited because on the 14th of June I’ve been invited to play a concert in Independence Square, Kiev. Me and the band are going to be there and we’re going to have to a great evening and we hope to see you there. So come along, it’s going to be great evening hopefully for the Ukraine. Pull together, groove, rock and roll – all together.’

There will also be an exhibition of 40 of McCartney’s paintings at the Pinchuk Art Centre at Arena.