Photo: Vadim Chuprina / wikimedia.org
Verkhovna Rada has introduced martial law in Zaporizhia and Donetsk, Gazeta.ru writes. Now the regime operates in the Azov-Kerch Strait and ten regions of Ukraine: Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv etc.
Note, Petro Poroshenko introduced martial law after the incident in the Azov Sea.
Martial law is introduced for a month - until December 28. Aleksandr Turchynov, the head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, claims that this step may violate the rights and freedoms of citizens.
The martial law ends two months before the expected date of presidential election scheduled on March 31, 2019.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will put the blame on Kiev if the situation in the Sea of Azov develops negatively.
The situation in the Azov Sea was also a subject of discussion during a telephone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It was initiated by Berlin.
The Russian leader voiced concern over the decision of Kiev. He denounced Ukraine. Moscow is confident that this step has been taken in view of the upcoming presidential elections.
Some Ukrainian experts agree with this. According to political scientist Ruslan Bortnik, Poroshenko begins to fight with political rivals. The existing strategy - Army, Language and Faith - does not help, the president loses his power, he says.
Bortnik notes that martial law was not imposed during the severe battles in the Donbass which carried thousands of lives. After two motor boats and a tug were captured the martial law turned out to be indispensable. Poroshenko diverses attention from tariffs, budget, corruption and oppressive sociology, the political analyst concludes.
Another Ukrainian expert Mikhail Pogrebinsky highlights that Poroshenko made a cunning move, limiting the election campaign in the areas where he does not expect to get votes. Kiev will hardly organize general mobilization and close the borders, but this step is enough to carry out the elections, Pogrebinsky says.
Russkiy Mir
