The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved on Monday, November 26, the decree of President Petro Poroshenko on the introduction of martial law. It will become effective on November 28 and will last 30 days. The martial law will cover all the districts near the border with Russia and Moldova and on the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. Will the current situation in Ukraine affect transport?
Martial law will cover 10 of 24 regions in the southwestern part of Ukraine: Vinnytsia, Odessa, Mikolajsk, Chersonski, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv, as well as internal waters in the Azov region and Kerch region. The Ukrainian government decided to impose martial law after Russian border forces fired on and seized three Ukrainian ships on Sunday in the Sea of Azov.
Воєнний стан запроваджується у 10 областях України pic.twitter.com/CpX9I75YYv
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) November 26, 2018
Will martial law affect transport?
President Petro Poroshenko, at yesterday’s session of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament), assured that the imposition of martial law would have no impact on civil liberties.
-Regulations concerning martial law will be applied only in the case of Russian aggression and invasion of the Russian Federation troops on the territory of Ukraine,” said the President of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Turchynov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council assured that although the decree on martial law provides for the possibility of limiting, among others, civil rights (including transport, as it is provided for in Ukrainian law), the president will not take advantage of this.
I emphasize that there may be limited rights and civil liberties temporarily, but the president does not intend to use this option. However, if aggression intensifies, this instrument should be available. It will be used only where warfare will be carried out,” said Oleksandr Turchynov.
The secretary reported that in the case of aggression of the Russian Federation in areas where military action will take place, enterprises are likely to be closed, and the movement of means of transport is limited.
It is worth noting that the current difficulties at the border with Ukraine are not related to the state of war. They are the result of protests on the Ukrainian side, related to the change in tax regulations. Today, according to the information of the Bieszczadzki Border Guard Unit, the blockades were abolished and the movement resumed.
Editor’s comment
Martial law in Ukraine, which will last 30 days from November 28, should not affect the functioning of transport companies. One should only reckon with a longer vehicle inspection at the border with Russia and Moldova, and with more transport inspections, but only in those districts where martial law will apply. There are many indications that the incident in the Azov Sea is intended to show the state of military readiness of Russia in this area. On the other hand, the introduction of martial law by the President of Ukraine, might be an attempt to increase public support before the presidential elections, which are scheduled for March 31, 2019. Regardless of the situation, transport in Ukraine should not be disrupted.
Photo: president.gov.ua