NEW REGULATIONS – Starting May 1, the government in Bucharest has renounced flexible measures on the non-commercial circulation of pets from Ukraine, the National Sanitary, Veterinary and Animal Safety Authority (ANSVSA) has announced. The measures were adopted last year to help support Ukrainian refugees who crossed the border accompanied by pets. Under the new rules, Ukrainian pet owners must now provide evidence of a rabies titre test. Also starting May 1, new regulations will apply for Ukrainian refugees seeking financial assistance in Romania. They will receive a monthly flat-rate allowance for four months to cover their daily expenses in terms of accommodation and food. The money will be disbursed by inspectorates for emergency situations. At the end of the four-month period, the financial assistance will address only accommodation expenses only, while refugees are encouraged to register with employment agencies by the end of the year in order to have access to all measures designed to support them find employment or secure unemployment benefits. The same measures apply to Romanian citizens, government spokesman Dan Cărbunaru has said.
RRI Newsflash
WAGNER – The owner of Wagner PMC, Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, has again complained that his troops, who were engaged in frontline battles for the capture of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, have run out of ammo and has warned a Ukrainian counteroffensive could spell tragedy for Russia. „We only receive 10-15% of the ammo we need”, Prigozhin argued, blaming Russian high-ranking commanders. The oligarch has locked horns with Russian army generals whom he accuses of purposefully not supplying enough ammo to Wagner troops. Prigozhin has publicly lashed out at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Kyiv officials last week said preparations for a new counteroffensive are almost complete.
