REUTERS
Ukraine's parliament has barred authorities from imposing fines and penalties on Ukrainians for late payment of utilities.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has announced Ukrainians are allowed not to make mortgage payments for the period of quarantine introduced in the country until April 3 over the spread of the coronavirus.
"Bank customers may suspend mortgage payments for a quarantine period, while banks shall not withdraw a mortgage in such cases. Banks should also inform their clients about this," the Ukrainian news outlet Hromadske wrote on March 23, referring to the regulator's statement.
Read alsoNational Bank asks Cabinet to allow non-bank financial institutions to operate amid quarantine
Banks are also prohibited from fining their customers for late payment of consumer loans, raising interest rates on such loans, or taking other relevant measures. Banks must keep their borrowers informed about the move.
In addition, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has barred authorities from imposing fines and penalties on Ukrainians for late payment of utilities.
Now the National Bank is drawing out universal rules for banks on preferential customer services, in particular on loan servicing. The rules are expected to be agreed soon. They are related not only to citizens but also to small-, medium-, and large-scale businesses.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers on March 11 decided to introduce a nationwide quarantine from March 12 to April 3.
Quarantine provides for the closure of educational establishments, as well as the ban on mass gatherings of more than 200 people, which concerns both sports and cultural events.
In addition, the work of catering facilities (restaurants, cafes, etc.), shopping malls and entertainment centers, other entertainment venues, fitness centers, and cultural institutions was temporarily suspended from March 17. At the same time, it was allowed to provide catering services, but only in delivery mode and if staff are provided with personal protective gear.
Moreover, it is allowed to sell food, fuel, hygiene goods, medicines, and medical devices, as well as provide banking and insurance services.
On March 17, the subway in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities suspended the service. Intercity and interregional passenger transportation by rail, by air, and by bus in Ukraine stopped on March 18.
The restrictions are not applicable to private vehicles.