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Ukraine may soon face social catastrophe — former acting PM

Former interim PM Serhiy Arbuzov says the new authorities have concentrated their efforts only on attracting loans, but forgotten about social policy

KIEV, March 13. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine may soon face a social crisis, former interim prime minister Serhiy Arbuzov told reporters on Thursday.

"A critical situation may unveil in the country in the nearest future, since the new authorities have concentrated their efforts only on attracting loans, but forgotten about social policy," he noted, adding that obligations to citizens were not fulfilled, and wages and pensions were delayed in many Ukrainian regions, while some social programs were just ignored.

"If the government does not begin fulfilling its obligations to ordinary citizens in the near future, a catastrophe will occur in the country," he said.

Arbuzov urged the new government to immediately take measures to settle the problem. "Today there is time and there are possibilities for this, and only a professional approach is needed," he noted.

Over his last days in office in late February, the acting prime minister noted that despite the political crisis, the government ensured timely payment of pensions, student grants and other benefits. "The practice must continue irrespective of what executive power the state will get soon," he said.