You're reading: Donetsk separatists impose martial law, night curfew

The defense minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Igor Strelkov, has imposed martial law and a curfew in Donetsk.

“Due to the urgent need that arose because of the threat to Donetsk as a city surrounded by fighting, and to avoid various incidents and save civilian lives, as a measure to strengthen law and order, the militia command hereby imposes martial law and a curfew,” according to a document posted by the DPR on Twitter on Wednesday.

“The curfew will be in place from 11 p.m. till 6 a.m.,” according to Strelkov’s order.

Ukrainian government forces are conducting an operation in east Ukraine. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said earlier that by 9 a.m. on July 16 the situation in the operation zone had remained tense. “The most complex and critical situation remains in the cities of Donetsk, Luhansk, Lysychansk, Antratsyt, Severodonetsk and Krasnodon, where militants are readying their strongholds in occupied administrative buildings,” the ministry said.