Ukraine Considering Martial Law Over Azov Crisis

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KIEV – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said early on Monday morning that he will support a proposal to introduce martial law to conduct defensive actions after Russia attacked naval vessels in the Sea of Azov.

Poroshenko met with his National Security and Defense Council at midnight to determine his government’s response after Russian ships attacked and captured Ukrainian naval vessels on Sunday, causing injury to several sailors.

Russia confirmed during the meeting that it had used force while seizing three Ukrainian boats in the Kerch strait off the coast of Moscow-controlled Crimea, a move that followed a blockade of the strategic strait to the detriment of Kiev’s naval movements.

The president has called on legislators to return to the Rada, the parliament of Ukraine, where they will vote on the adoption of martial law for 60 days at 4 p.m. Monday local time, or 9 a.m. ET, in an emergency meeting.

Ukraine has also called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath of the attack, which came after Moscow blocked the Sea of Azov with a tanker.


Video

A video purports to show a part of the incident, but Breaking911 was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the upload, however, it has been verified by major new agencies.


The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has said it will stand by Ukraine, with a statement saying they support sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including “its navigational rights in its territorial waters.”

“We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law.”

Ukrainian military units in Odessa are on “battle alert”, with the Navy and Air Force on “full alert” after the incident, according to reports citing Ukrainian agencies.

The European Union has urged both Ukraine and Russia to act with “utmost restraint” and work towards de-escalation.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and Navy websites are down.


(c)2018 Breaking911 – Eli Ridder

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