Ukraine declares state of emergency, Russian tanks enter eastern Ukraine

Ukraine declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, when Moscow said Donetsk and Luhansk, which had recently split from Kyiv, were asking for help in expelling the enemy.

Parliament has approved the declaration of a state of emergency across the country, except for two regions of eastern Ukraine which have been in place since 2014.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed imposing a national state of emergency on Wednesday morning, as the country braces for a possible large-scale military attack from Russia.

The state of emergency went into effect at midnight local time Wednesday. This will last for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days.

The declaration means that Ukraine can impose restrictions on the freedom of movement of conscripted military reserves and restrictions on the distribution of information and media, as well as introduce inspection of personal documents.

This mandate also gives authorities the right to impose curfews and prohibit mass gatherings and strikes.

Fighting has escalated in eastern Ukraine, where Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the two separatist territories as independent states and ordered the deployment of what he called peacekeepers. Moscow's actions are considered by the West as the beginning of the invasion.

A convoy of military equipment, including nine tanks, was moving towards Donetsk from the direction of the Russian border, an eye witness reported.

But there is still no clear indication of whether Putin will launch a mass offensive into Ukraine with the tens of thousands of troops he has amassed near the border.

As many as 80 percent of the assembled troops are in a combat-ready position, a senior US defense official said.

The leaders of the two breakaway regions have sent "requests to Putin for assistance to repel aggression from the Ukrainian armed forces," Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Wednesday.

Photos of separate calls from the heads of the two separatist regions were also posted by Tass.

"I ask for help to repel the military aggression of the Ukrainian regime against the people of the Donetsk People's Republic," said Denis Pushilin, who heads the Donetsk region recognized by Moscow.

Asked about the move, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, "As we have said from the start, there will be a series of false flag operations."

"This is an example. It shows that they feel under threat. By whom? Ukrainians who are threatened with attack by Russia?"

Russia has consistently denied its plans to attack its neighbors.

The United States has imposed sanctions on the company responsible for building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, targeting the company and its officials.

"These steps are another part of the early stages of our sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. As I have explained, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate," said US President Joe Biden.

Vind ik leuk

0 leden vinden dit leuk

▶ Hierop reageren

Welkom bij
Beter HBO

Aanmelden

Beter HBO

Ukraine declares state of emergency, Russian tanks enter eastern Ukraine

Berichten in deze discussie