You're reading: Volunteers set up militia in Ivano-Frankivsk region

A non-governmental organization called "Volunteer Militia of Prykarpattia" has been set up in Ivano-Frankivsk region to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country and to provide public order and safety in the region.

“We have set up the non-governmental organization Volunteers Militia
of Prykarpattia. Its charter drafted in accordance with the effective
laws, gives a possibility for all citizens in the region to unite on a
voluntary basis so as to protect the territorial integrity and
sovereignty of our home country and to provide order in its territory,”
head of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional state administration Andriy
Trotsenko said at the founding conference.

The heads of all local authorities and agricultural leaders will have
until the end of April to convene general meetings of citizens to form a
militia unit in every populated area, and the people of this region
must jointly provide order and safety across the region, he said.

The volunteers’ militia will be funded by the regional target fund
set up by the regional council for mobilization needs, Trotsenko said.

Each district of the region will have a battalion, and every populated area a militia group, he said.

The militia is currently in the making and its staff structure being developed, he said.

They believe that all patriots who wish to defend their country have
already joined their ranks and fear that such a public organization
could be used for election campaign purposes of one of the presidential
candidates. They also said that “one cannot defend against invaders
without weapons.”

In response to this criticism, Trotsenko suggested to the leaders of
these organizations that they join the militia as a separate
subdivision.