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A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.
A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.

Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Final News Summary For September 1, 2017

-- EDITOR'S NOTE: We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog as of September 2, 2017. Find it here.

-- Ukraine says it will introduce new border-crossing rules from next year, affecting citizens of “countries that pose risks for Ukraine.”

-- The Association Agreement strengthening ties between Ukraine and the European Union entered into force on September 1, marking an end to four years of political drama surrounding the accord.

-- The trial of Crimean journalist Mykola Semena will resume later this month after the first hearing in weeks produced little progress toward a resolution of the politically charged case.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv (GMT +3)

19:17 10.4.2017

A report on inflation in Ukraine comparing the cost of an Easter basket full of goods this week to one in 2016:

19:16 10.4.2017

An extensive report, in Ukrainian, on the annexation of Crimea:

13:29 10.4.2017

Longer piece from our news desk on Hontareva:

KYIV -- Ukrainian central bank chief Valeria Hontareva (eds: a woman) has resigned amid political pressure.

Hontareva, a reformist who won praise from the West, told reporters Kyiv that she submitted a letter of resignation to President Petro Poroshenko on April 10.

"I think my mission is accomplished as the reforms have been implemented," Hontareva said.

She added that her successor will face the same political pressure that she faced, and that the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) should be independent from politics.

Hontareva's efforts to clean up Ukraine's financial sector irked tycoons who critics say have treated the country's banks like their private coffers.

She also came under fire from some ordinary Ukrainians who blamed her for losses they suffered after she was appointed to follow the International Monetary Fund's advice to partially abandon state support for the hryvnya currency.

The hrynvya has fallen from 12 to the dollar on the day of her appointment in June 2014 to 27 on April 10, diminishing people's savings and stoking inflation hat reached almost 50 percent in 2014.

But Hontareva's decisions helped the central bank stay afloat and helped bolster ties with the IMF and other lenders.

On April 3, The IMF approved a $1 billion tranche of its $17.5 billion bailout program, in what Proshenko said was "recognition of Ukrainian reforms."

The IMF had postponed the disbursement of the tranche after Kyiv imposed a trade embargo on eastern parts of the country that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

With reporting by UNIAN, Reuters, and AFP

11:47 10.4.2017

11:27 10.4.2017

BREAKING

10:22 10.4.2017

Latest from our news desk on the Tornado case:

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service

KYIV -- Ukrainian prosecutors and defense lawyers have both vowed to appeal the verdicts and prison sentences handed down to former members of the disbanded Tornado battalion.

On April 7, a court in Kyiv convicted 12 former battalion members guilty of committing crimes including beatings, torture, and sexual assault against residents in the eastern Luhansk region in early 2015.

Eight defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to 11 years, and four were handed suspended five-year terms.

After a trial that lasted over a year, both sides are dissatisfied with the rulings. Prosecutors say the sentences were too mild, while the defense contends they were too harsh.

The investigation was launched after the battalion was disbanded following allegations that members were illegally incarcerating and torturing residents in the Luhansk region, where government forces have been fighting Russia-backed separatists since 2014.

10:19 10.4.2017

09:14 10.4.2017

20:41 9.4.2017

This ends our live blogging for April 9. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.

15:53 9.4.2017

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