The Ukrainian National Assembly declares a state of emergency in the country, reports the news agencies AFP and Reuters. The state of emergency takes effect at midnight and will initially last for 30 days.
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The state of emergency applies throughout Ukraine, with the exception of the two regions of Luhansk and Donetsk where it has been in place since 2014.
The two regions in eastern Ukraine were on Monday recognized as independent by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thus, the situation has escalated in recent days.
The state of emergency, which will enable the authorities to introduce a number of special measures, including a curfew, will apply to the whole country except the two Russian-backed regions in the east. Ukraine is now preparing a possible full-scale invasion from neighboring Russia.
All the country’s regions will themselves be able to choose which measures they will use depending on how necessary they will be, Security Council Secretary Oleksij Danilov said earlier on Wednesday.
Prohibition of mass gatherings
Reuters had earlier Wednesday gained access to the text of the proposal for a state of emergency in Ukraine.
The map below shows the area that is central to the conflict:
Here it is stated that the Ukrainian state wants the state of emergency to last for 30 days and that it will include a ban on mass gatherings and strikes and open to introduce a curfew if necessary.
It is also proposed that the authorities can regulate the work of civilian TV and radio channels, in addition to the introduction of rules for using communication tools and transmitting information via computer networks.
The proposal also outlines a ban on the production and distribution of information material that could destabilize the situation.
And it allows for the introduction of document checks of persons, in addition to imposing restrictions on the freedom of conscripts in the military, who are not allowed to leave the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says he will mobilize reserve forces. All former soldiers between the ages of 18 and 60 must be able to serve a maximum of one year.
Notified sanctions
The cyber attack comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday night recognizing the two breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent states and then deciding to send Russian forces to the regions.
Putin himself calls them “peacekeeping forces,” but said Tuesday night that the situation on the ground will determine what the forces will do.
A number of sanctions have been announced from, among others, the EU and the USA.
Since 2014, Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk and Ukrainian government forces have been in armed conflict. Recently, there has been an increase in clashes and violence on the border between Ukraine and Russia.
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