According to Oleksi Danilov, a senior security official, the state of emergency is intended to maintain peace in the country: “Depending on the threat in certain areas, the state of emergency can be scaled up or down. Then we have areas on the border with Russia or Belarus.”
Russian diplomats leave
A general mobilization is not yet necessary, according to Ukraine, but the country has started calling up reservists between 18 and 60 years old. Ukrainian citizens are also allowed to carry weapons to defend themselves against a Russian invasion.
Ukrainians have also been urged to leave Russia and stop traveling to that country. Giving consular aid to Ukrainians will be difficult, the government says. Conversely, Russia has begun to withdraw all its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine.
Russia has an embassy in Kiev. The flag has now been lowered there, says AP news agency. There are also consulates in Kharkov, Lviv and Odessa.
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