Ukraine declares 30-day state of emergency
The state of war lasts for 30 days and applies to the Vinhitsa, Lugansk, Nikolev, Sumy, Odessa, Kharkov, Chernigov, Donetsk, Zaporozhie, Kherson provinces and the Ukrainian territorial waters in the Azov-Kerch Sea.
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| Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (center) speaks at a session of the National Assembly in Kiev on November 26, 2018. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
Accordingly, the time to start implementing the state of war is calculated from 2:00 p.m. on November 26 to 2:00 p.m. on December 26 (local time).
Thus, the state of war will last 30 days and apply in the Vinhitsa, Lugansk, Nikolev, Sumy, Odessa, Kharkov, Chernigov, Donetsk, Zaporozhie and Kherson provinces, as well as in the territorial waters of Ukraine in the Azov-Kerch Sea.
During the above period, in the applicable areas, a number of regulations and restrictions may be issued, including mobilizing people to participate in handling the consequences of the state of emergency or public service; requisitioning businesses for national defense purposes; confiscating personal or public property; declaring curfew hours; applying special entry and exit regimes, restricting the movement of people, foreigners and stateless persons; checking personal documents; and searching belongings and cars.
Faced with the risk of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the two countries to "exercise maximum restraint and avoid escalating tensions."
On November 25, Russia seized three Ukrainian naval vessels in the Kerch Strait, a narrow body of water connecting the Azov Sea with the Black Sea and used by both Russia and Ukraine.
The Ukrainian navy said a Russian coast guard vessel rammed one of its tugboats, escorted by two smaller warships, before opening fire on the vessels and seizing them.
Kiev authorities said six of the 23 soldiers were injured, two of them seriously. However, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said only three Ukrainian soldiers were lightly injured and had received medical treatment.
Russia also accused the Kiev government of deliberately provoking in the Kerch Strait./.
