Kiev orders state of emergency in Donbass instead of martial law in Donbass

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has passed a decision to order a state of emergency in the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions and place the country on high alert, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said at a visiting meeting of the Cabinet at the State Service for Emergency Situations in Kiev on January 26.  

“In conformity with the Civil Protection Code of Ukraine, the Cabinet has adopted a decision to announce a state of emergency at the national level. Ukraine’s government ordered a state of emergency in the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions,” Yatsenyuk said.  According to him, the decision aims to coordinate all the power agencies to ensure security of the citizens and civil protection of the population.

At the same time, Yatsenyuk said the decisions do not mean that martial law is announced in the country. “I’d ask you not to confuse it with the emergency situation and martial law.  It is the parliament’s decision. Our decision aims to make everyone work 24 hours 7 days a week. All the services must report to the State Committee for Emergency Situations and relevant regional commissions.”

Yatsenyuk said one of the major tasks of the regional commissions for emergency situations is to inform the citizens – at all the organizations, schools, hospitals – about the security status and tell people what to do and where to call or leave in case of an emergency situation.