Amsterdam and New York (March 17, 2011) - VimpelCom Ltd. (“VimpelCom” or the “Company”) (NYSE: VIP) announced today that it has received all the necessary regulatory approvals needed to complete the combination of VimpelCom and Wind Telecom S.p.A. (“Wind Telecom”) (the “Transaction”).

Final approvals have now been received from the Italian Antitrust Authority, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, the Competition Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority.  The completion of the Transaction remains subject to certain other conditions precedent, such as receipt of funds to finance the Transaction.

Confirmation of these regulatory approvals will allow the Company to proceed without delay to finalize its combination with Wind Telecom, which is expected to occur in the first half of 2011.