Ukraine has declared martial law, after Sunday’s capture of three of its naval vessels and 23 crew members by Russia.
After heated debates, lawmakers backed President Petro Poroshenko’s request to bring in martial law that would last 30 days starting from 28 November.
The authorities can now restrict public rallies and regulate the media. Some MPs fear Mr Poroshenko could suspend a presidential poll on 31 March 2019.
US accuses Moscow of “provocation”
Earlier: The US has accused Moscow of “provocation” in response to Russia’s capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews under gunfire in a disputed region of the Black Sea, the most serious maritime incident between the warring neighbours since the 2014 invasion of Crimea.
Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, used an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Monday to blame Russia for Sunday’s incident in the Kerch Strait and said the US would continue to support Kiev’s territorial integrity.
“We strongly support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders extending to its territorial waters. We express our deep concern over the incident which represent a dangerous escalation and violation of international law,” Ms Haley said. She added that the statement was also made on behalf of the UK, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden. – FT
Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council unanimously supported invocation of martial law
Earlier : Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has “unanimously supported” a proposal from President Petro Poroshenko to invoke 60 days of martial law, following an incident between Russian and Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea on Sunday.
A statement on the NSDC website said it “considered it necessary to introduce a special legal state of martial law in Ukraine in order to create conditions for repelling armed aggression, to ensure national security, and to eliminate threats to the state independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
Martial law is typically instated during a temporary crisis, and can impose military control on state institutions and restrict civil liberties.
The proposal will now be forwarded for approval by the Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, which was due to meet Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile Ukraine’s president demanded Monday that Russia immediately release Ukrainian sailors and vessels seized in a standoff around Crimea that sharply escalated tensions between the two countries and drew international concern. – Kyiv Times
