Russia Seizes Ukraine Ships, Kiev to Impose Martial Law

Kiev: Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions leading Kiev to announce early on Monday that it will impose martial law. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tweeted he will propose to the Supreme Rada (parliament) to approve the imposition of martial law following the seizure on Sunday by the Russian coastguard forces in the Black Sea, Efe news reported.

Poroshenko said that as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and in accordance with the Constitution, he has decided to support the proposal of the Military Committee of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC). The Ukranian leader said he hoped the Rada would quickly approve his proposal. However, he added the state of emergency would not necessarily include the mobilization of the Army, but added that “you have to be prepared”. He also said that martial law does not mean the introduction of restrictions on the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens. The Secretary of the NSDC, Oleksandr Turchynov, proposed that the martial law is in force for 60 days in order to create the conditions to repel a possible “military aggression” and any threat to the independence and territorial integrity. (IANS)