In light of the escalating conflict with Russia, the Ukrainian Security Council declared a state of emergency for the entire country on Wednesday.
This will initially apply for 30 days, according to the Secretary of the Security Council.
The decision implies the possibility of a curfew. It also paves the way for increased police presence and the right to random checks on people and cars.
The decision still has to be approved by the Ukrainian parliament, but that is almost a formality.
In its first reading, parliament on Wednesday approved a bill to make it easier for Ukrainian citizens to use weapons in self-defence. A second and final second reading will follow very shortly.
Russia on Monday recognized the independence of the self-declared “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. According to the West, this is a serious violation of international law. As a result, both the United States and the European Union announced sanctions against Moscow.