The “anti-terror center” of the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, has introduced new, tighter restrictions on freedom of civilian movement and transportation in the Donetsk Oblast, the oblast’s state administration reported on June 8.
A posting on the center’s website says the new restrictions are intended to “protect Ukraine’s national security and the public’s rights and freedoms” amid the recent military escalation in the region, in particular, due to an increased risk of infiltration by Russian-backed military subversive units.
The SBU has also decided to boost security checks all over the oblast in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signing of a decree on Feb. 18 to recognize identification documents issued by the pseudo-authorities in the Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, the center’s posting reads.
Ukraine’s law enforcers now prohibit the transportation of any licensed arms within Donetsk Oblast or from outside of it, and are also enhancing patrols of public sites such as parks, stadiums, and passenger stations, “to prevent crime and the (unauthorized) presence of foreign citizens and persons without the appropriate authorization.”
Local civilians are now banned from using roads not included in the state road service register, with the exception of farm vehicles working fields.
All those out-of-doors between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. are now obliged to carry identifying documents with them, the posting reads. The presence of the public in forests, or close to rivers or lakes situated next to industrial plants, power units, dams or gas pipelines, is also forbidden, as is fishing and hiking outside of designated nature zones.
The use of radio broadcasting equipment in civilian vehicles is now also outlawed, together with “the flying of unmanned drones or light planes.”
Photographing or videoing Ukrainian servicemen, vehicles, or the locations of military units is also prohibited.
The restrictions apply to all citizens apart from military servicemen and law enforcers involved in the military operations in the region. The new rules are to be in force temporarily on the oblast’s territory until they are lifted by the SBU Anti-terror center.
Earlier on March 23, Donetsk Oblast State Administration announced a similar set of SBU restrictions in the region, although the order was removed from the SBU website on the same day, before it actually took force.
Meanwhile, all civilians living in Russian-occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are living under a curfew imposed soon after Russia’s covert invasion back in 2014. All civilian movement, including vehicle traffic, is strictly banned from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. every night, with violators arrested and detained by patrols of armed Russian-backed fighters.
