On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law and a 30-day nationwide state of emergency in anticipation of a full-scale Russian invasion. Zelensky’s decision comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin officially recognised the statehood of Donetsk and Luhansk, two Russia-backed separatist territories in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. Putin also announced the deployment of Russian “peacekeepers” to those territories— in effect commencing Moscow’s attack.
During a meeting with the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDC), Zelensky imposed a state of emergency on the entire country except for Donetsk and Luhansk, where the emergency protocol has already been in place since 2014. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, later approved the decree, allowing the Ukrainian government to restrict freedom of movement and conduct document checks on individuals; regional authorities now have the ability to introduce measures such as curfews.
#BREAKING Ukraine leader introduces martial law - urges Ukrainians not to 'panic', vows victory pic.twitter.com/MhYBHs3ihT
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 24, 2022
NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov stressed that “these are preventive issues so that the country remains calm and the economy works,” adding that the government is ensuring that Russia’s attempts to internally destabilise Ukraine do not work. Some members of parliament had earlier called for the imposition of Martial Law instead of merely a state of emergency. Responding to these suggestions, Danilov said, “If necessary, this provision will be adopted immediately.” However, it now appears that Zelensky has acceded to these demands.
Danilov emphasised that Ukraine will focus on its border with Belarus, which is currently housing thousands of Russian troops. Ukraine’s border guards have also been ordered to implement stricter regulations on the use of radios, drones, and photography.
In recent days, Zelensky’s administration has taken several security measures in the face of Russia’s increasing military aggression. Kyiv has called upon 36,000 reservists and begun the conscription of other reservists between the ages 18 and 60, with a maximum service period of one year.
NEW: President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that military installations around Ukraine are under attack and that he's spoken to President Biden. "Stay calm, stay at home, the army is doing its work," he urged Ukrainians https://t.co/K9foUlbgfg
— Axios (@axios) February 24, 2022
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry reported the presence of 166 units of Russian military equipment in the occupied territories of the Donbas, and also noted that since Putin declared the independence Donetsk and Luhansk, Kyiv has spotted 300 units of Russian military equipment. On the same day, Ukraine also reported a total of 96 ceasefire violations on part of Russia and said that 81 of those violations were committed using weapons prohibited under the Minsk Agreements.
In fact, as per the latest reports, apart from launching a military operation in Eastern Ukraine, Russia has started attacking Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv and the Black Sea city of Odessa. Videos circulating on social media show Russian missiles exploding near several military installations in Kyiv and according to unconfirmed reports, Russian troops have landed in Odessa.
Against this backdrop, Zelensky held a meeting on Wednesday with some of the leaders of the largest Ukrainian companies and business groups, which together employ over 2 million citizens. “We protect our state, our citizens, as well as your companies,” Zelensky said, adding that his government is doing everything possible to ensure the stability of Ukraine’s economy and national currency.
Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022
During a televised address, Zelensky stated, “The Ukrainian people want peace... The government in Ukraine wants peace and is doing everything it can to build it.” He mentioned trying to get in touch with Russia but noted that his call was ignored by the Kremlin.
Russian military tanks and armoured vehicles advance in Donetsk as Putin launches ‘full-scale invasion’ in Ukraine — in pictures
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 24, 2022
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