January 23, 2015. ChTZ Uraltrac (a member enterprise of Uralvagonzavod Corporation) is going to ship one of its B11 swamp bulldozers to Ukraine. According to the corporation’s press service, the vehicle was bought by Assol, one of the plant’s dealers in Zaporozhye. The new bulldozer make with hydro-mechanical transmission, Yaroslavl Motor Plant-made engine, and plastic coating, will be used in the energy sector. ‘Despite the current trying circumstances, we keep on cooperating with our Ukrainian partners,’ says Director for International & CIS Sales Alexander Sergeyev. ‘We are still

January 23, 2015. Pervouralsk New Pipe Plant (a member enterprise of ChTPZ Group) upgraded its cold-roll mill (KhPTR 15-30 No. 9) meant for making longitudinal pipes up to 20.5m long, the plant’s press service reports. ‘Thanks to these improvements, the product’s performance characteristics grew much better: the geometrical accuracy is considerably higher and the idle time is down,’ ChTPZ Group says. The mill has been operating at the plant’s pipe-drawing department since 1980. The last overhaul was given to it in 2001. Due to an excessive workload, the mill has been operating non-stop since

January 23, 2015. Ural Airlines is offering the residents of the Crimea more flights to Moscow, with convenient departure times, the airline’s press service says. Starting on February 1, 2015, a new Simferopol-Moscow flight (departure time 8:00 AM) will be operated by the company. The return flight departs at 7:00 PM. ‘These additional flights will allow those living in the Crimea to go to Moscow on business without any time difference inconveniences. Tickets are already available for purchase,’ the airline says. Ural Airlines operate daily flights from Simferopol to Moscow and back on Airbus

January 23, 2015. Consumer price index rose by 0.7% in Russia within January 13-19, 2015 and by1.5% since January 1, Rosstat reports. Sugar grew 3.6% more expensive over last week, while the price of rice went up by 2.8% and that of frozen fish, sunflower seed oil, margarine, cheese, millet, vermicelli, and tea rose by 1.4% to 2.1%. The price of fruit and vegetables grew by 4.6% on average, including a 9.5% increase in the price of cabbage and 6% to 8.3% increase in the price of onions, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

January 23, 2015. The overall profits of Russian banks plummeted by 40.7% in 2014 and amounted to 589bn RUR, the Central Bank reports. The Central Bank points out that the drop in profits was mainly brought about by the need to increase the possible loss reserves: these rose by 1.203 trillion RUR, or 42.2%. The banks’ assets grew by 35.2% (if one makes adjustments for the changes in the exchange rate, the increase was 18.3%). The amount of loans issued to non-financial organizations went up by 31.3%, that of loans issued to private individuals rose by 13.8%, and the total loan book increased