You're reading: Turchynov considering martial law in Donetsk, Luhansk regions

Interim Ukrainian President and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov has instructed National Security and Defense Council Secretary Andriy Parubiy along with a number of agencies to urgently consider whether it would be appropriate to impose martial law on Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where a military operation is under way.

“Along with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, the Ukrainian Security Service, and the administration of the Ukrainian State Border Service, immediately analyze the need to impose martial law on Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where an antiterrorist operation is being conducted, to stop the further spread of and put an end to an armed conflict on Ukrainian territory, prevent mass deaths among civilians, military servicemen, and law enforcement officials, stabilize the situation, and restore normal activities in the said regions of the country,” says Turchynov’s directive titled ‘On analyzing the imposition of martial law in certain areas of Ukraine’ published on the presidential Web site on June 3 evening.

Turchynov also instructed Parubiy to make proposals regarding “the imposition of martial law in the relevant areas of Ukraine” after analyzing the matter.