Ukrainian President Poroshenko Introduces Martial Law Due to Russia

KYIV, (Patria) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree introducing martial law in Ukraine, which will be in effect for the next two months, it was announced on his official websites, world media report, as reported by Al Jazeera.

This is a response to Russia's action of seizing three Ukrainian warships and firing on their crews in the waters around the disputed Crimean peninsula, agencies report.

"We have activated the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of November 26, 2018, on extraordinary measures to ensure the state sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and the introduction of martial law," the document states.

The decree also needs to be confirmed by the deputies of the Ukrainian parliament.

Russian border ships seized two small Ukrainian navy vessels and a tugboat after opening fire and wounding several Ukrainian sailors, marking the most serious conflict between Moscow and Kyiv in recent years.

Moscow had previously blocked passage through the Kerch Strait near the annexed Crimea to prevent ships from the Black Sea from entering the Sea of Azov, stating that the small flotilla had ignored warnings to stop and had performed dangerous maneuvers.

"Ukrainian military personnel were brutally detained, contrary to international law," said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a meeting of the National Security Council.

"Russian authorities must immediately hand them over to the Ukrainian side along with the ships and ensure the de-escalation of the situation," the president added.

Accusations from Moscow

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blames Ukraine for the incident, claiming it was to justify new sanctions against Moscow.

"Moscow will respond sharply to any attempt to undermine its sovereignty and security," the minister's statement read.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that the seizure of the ships was in accordance with domestic and international law.

He told a press conference that the Ukrainian navy ships had illegally entered Russian territorial waters and had not responded to calls from Russian border guards.

When asked if the incident could affect the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina, Peskov replied that the meeting was still being planned.

EU Demands Russia Return Ships

The EU also believes that Russia must release the Ukrainian sailors and return the ships.

The European Commission spokesperson emphasized that the Union does not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea and that Russia must urgently unblock the Kerch Strait.

"We are taking this matter very seriously," the spokesperson said.

The actions of Moscow were also condemned by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk.

"Russian authorities must release the Ukrainian sailors, return the ships, and refrain from further provocations," Tusk said after a phone call with Poroshenko.

"Europe will remain united in its support for Ukraine," he stressed.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and subsequently built a long bridge connecting the peninsula to southern Russia, spanning the Kerch Strait – a narrow waterway leading from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, where two important Ukrainian ports are located.

A mutual agreement gives both Russia and Ukraine the right to use the Sea of Azov, which lies between them and is connected to the Black Sea via the narrow Kerch Strait.

Emergency UN Meeting

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday due to military tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which confirmed on Sunday that it had seized three Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait, AFP learned from diplomatic sources.

The meeting was requested by both Russia and Ukraine, according to the same sources. Moscow requested that the meeting be held at 11:00 AM (5:00 PM Central European Time), a diplomat told AFP.

Meanwhile, Russia has opened the Kerch Strait near Crimea for navigation.

Premeditated Plan

Kyiv called the seizure of the ships a "mad act by Russia against Ukraine," claiming the "attack" was "premeditated."

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also commented, calling via Twitter for partner countries to coordinate to take "effective measures to protect Ukraine."

"We call on the entire pro-Ukrainian coalition: we must unite," Poroshenko wrote.

Moscow confirmed the "use of weapons," claiming that the Ukrainian ships were "caught in an illegal operation in Russian territorial waters."

Wounded Russian Soldiers

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed that Russian border ships opened fire to force the Ukrainian ships to stop.

Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in the incident, Moscow reported, while the Ukrainian military reported that six were wounded.

The Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, is strategically important for both Russia and Ukraine.

A bilateral agreement grants Ukraine and Russia the right to use the Sea of Azov, which is connected to the Black Sea by a narrow sea passage, the Kerch Strait.

Tensions in the area have escalated since Russia annexed Ukrainian Crimea in 2014.

EU and NATO Call for De-escalation

The European Union and NATO have called for a de-escalation of tensions in the Sea of Azov and urged Moscow to allow freedom of passage through the Kerch Strait.

"We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage through the Kerch Strait and call on all parties to act with maximum restraint to achieve an immediate de-escalation of tensions," the EU statement read.

NATO, through its spokesperson, also called for "restraint and de-escalation."