President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, at which a decision was made to apply sanctions against representatives of criminal groups, the Cyber Security Development Strategy was approved and the creation of a nationwide digital multichannel television network Multiplex was agreed.
According to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, restrictive measures were applied to 557 so-called thieves in law, 542 of them are foreigners, 15 are citizens of Ukraine. Sanctions have also been imposed on 111 foreign nationals who are currently on the territory of Ukraine and are considered crime bosses.
"All of these persons are subject to: blocking of assets, ban on entry into the territory of Ukraine, refusal to grant a visa, abolition of visa, temporary or permanent residence permit, immigration permit, refusal to extend the period of stay in Ukraine, inability to acquire Ukrainian citizenship and forced expulsion. In a word: those who are not in Ukraine have nothing to come here for. Those who are in Ukraine have nothing to stay here for," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address following a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.
Sanctions, which expire in May, have also been extended for a number of Russian and Ukrainian citizens and Russian companies.
In addition, the National Security and Defense Council discussed sanctions imposed by Western partners on Ukrainian citizens. According to Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Ukraine has submitted an official request to the United States regarding every citizen of Ukraine - when and on the basis of what sanctions were imposed - in order to react correspondingly to these individuals in Ukraine.
"To date, it is known about 61 citizens of Ukraine, against whom the United States has imposed sanctions. The same inquiries regarding these people will be submitted to European partners," Oleksiy Danilov said.
In addition, according to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, an audit will be conducted of state lands and buildings in Koncha-Zaspa and Pushcha-Vodytsya, which were provided to outsiders for a symbolic fee in times of the previous government. These are 365 hectares of preserved state area and more than 100 state buildings and cottages (71 houses in Koncha-Zaspa and 32 in Pushcha-Vodytsya).
“Today I have set a task to conduct a full audit of the lands and residences of Koncha-Zaspa and Pushcha-Vodytsya to make a complete list of persons living there and find out under what conditions they obtained this right. That is, all the necessary information, after which we will begin the great migration of these people,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
In addition, in order to ensure information security, the National Security and Defense Council decided to build a nationwide digital multichannel television network Multiplex MX-7, which by the end of 2021 should cover at least 95% of Ukraine, including border regions.
MX-7 will broadcast from 10 to 12 channels. First of all, it is about state TV companies and Public broadcasting. All commercial channels will be allowed to broadcast based on the results of a competition held by the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting. The operator of the multiplex is the Broadcasting, Radiocommunications & Television Concern, which is part of the State Service for Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine.
The project will be implemented by obtaining a loan under state guarantees in the amount of UAH 490 million within the national security and defense program.
Also, the National Security and Defense Council adopted a Cyber Security Development Strategy for the next five years.
"The quality and relevance of this document were at the highest level. From the audit of the current situation, from the understanding of what we need to do to make our country a leading country in the world in the field of cyber defense, - all this is noted in the Strategy," said Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.
In addition, the Human Development Strategy was approved. The issues of priority measures to ensure biological safety, biological protection, ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being were also considered.
The National Security and Defense Council considered proposals for the budget declaration for 2022-2024 under articles related to national security and defense of Ukraine, and three representatives from the National Security and Defense Council were appointed to the commission for the election of the director of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine.