On 8 January 2024, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine issued the order "On Measures to Reduce Mutual Debts on the Electricity Market" (the "Order"), which sets out the methods for dealing with the situations where market participants have unpaid bills to each other. The purpose of the Order is to stabilize the operation of the electricity market and reduce debts in its specific segments.

Ukraine is actively gearing up for the imminent post-war reconstruction, a major undertaking to restore the infrastructure destroyed by hostilities. An integral aspect of the preparatory measures involves enhancing the legal framework to establish favourable conditions for attracting private investments into the extensive reconstruction.

Large energy companies are taking measures to become green in order to meet targets to reduce carbon emissions. The main stakeholders – investors, customers, rating agencies, and regulators – are pushing energy companies to set more environmental, social, and governance goals publicly. For these companies, the “E” in ESG should be the foundation of their strategy.

In 2024, certain currency control restrictions introduced on the first day of the full-scale invasion are still in force in Ukraine. The National Bank of Ukraine reviews and eases some of these restrictions, but many of the prohibitions on foreign exchange transactions remain.

Asters has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on its EUR 10 million financing for a Ukrainian manufacturer of oak lamellas.

Counsels Oksana Legka and Oleksandr Volkov have been appointed as Partners in Asters' International Arbitration and Cross-Border Litigation practice, effective January 1, 2024.

On 24 December 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted a Law of Ukraine No. 3494-IX (the ''Law''), which amends the procedure for granting vacations and their duration. The Law applies to the following:

On 27 October 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the regulation that allows non-household consumers to operate without interruption during power outages, with some exceptions. In other words, in the event of infrastructure damage this winter, imported electricity may be used to avoid supply restrictions.

On November 28, 2023, the President signed two laws that modify the procedure for opening and formalizing inheritance. These laws were developed to protect the rights of heirs in times of war or a state of emergency.

On 18 October 2023, the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Mandatory Registration and Use of Electronic Offices in the Unified Judicial Information and Telecommunication System (UJITS) or its separate subsystem (module) that provides for the exchange of documents" No. 3200-IX dated 29 June 2023 (hereinafter - the Law) was enacted. The Law amends the provisions of the procedural codes, in particular the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine (hereinafter - the CPC).

Earlier this year, the Ukrainian Tax Code underwent significant amendments with the adoption of Law N 2970-IX. This legislation integrates the Common Reporting Standard into Ukrainian domestic tax law. As part of these broader changes, the law establishes distinct provisions applicable to trustees and trust administrators.

Asters has advised Horizon Capital on the co-investment with the IFC in Miratech.

Understanding procedures, stakeholders and milestones of Ukraine’s future recovery is essential for all parties planning to be involved in that process, including on the construction side. In this effort, the key messages currently available are as follows.

On 11 August 2023, the government bill No.4482 adopted by the Ukrainian Parliament, which amends certain legislative acts of Ukraine regulating the activities of separate subdivisions of a legal entity established under the legislation of a foreign state, was sent for signing to the President of Ukraine ("Draft Law").

On 9 August 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament passed an extensive set of amendments to the competition law. These currently await signature by the President and are expected to come into force on 1 January 2024, save for certain provisions that will become effective after martial law is lifted.

In July 2023, the Ukrainian parliament adopted several laws on changes to the Labour Code of Ukraine, which relate to maternity leaves, as well as list and dates of public holidays.

Asters has advised the Agrosem Group on a EUR 9.6 million financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to develop a grain transshipment complex.

On June 27, 2023, Asters Partner Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi was voted in as Executive Director of the International Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Following the appointment, Kliuchkovskyi resigned from his partnership at Asters on July 1, 2023.