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Kiev to impose martial law if situation in Donbas aggravates — security official

Head of the National Security Council Oleksandr Turchynov said "a bigger mobilization of the entire potential in the country" was possible

KIEV, August 14. /TASS/. Ukraine will impose martial law if the situation in Donbas aggravates, head of the National Security Council Oleksandr Turchynov said on Friday.

"If Russia fails the Minsk agreements, no doubt, we shall respond according to the challenges the country will be facing," he told reporters during a visit to training grounds near Kiev.

"We shall have to impose the martial law and to have a bigger mobilization of the entire potential in the country," he said.

On August 11, Moscow called on Kiev to demonstrate restraint and not to violate the implementation of the Minsk agreements in the sphere of security by irresponsible actions.

"The recent days have been marked by the worsening situation along the line of contact separating the parties to conflict in south-eastern Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Reports have been made on increased shelling of populated localities, destruction, victims and peaceful civilians hurt in the Donbas conflict."

"Regrettably, Kiev’s militant rhetoric has also increased," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The Ukrainian side refused to sign the practically finished and agreed document on pulling out tanks and weapons with calibre under 100 mm and mortars under 120 mm to 15 kilometres away from the front line during the last Contact Group meeting in Minsk on August 3-4," the ministry went on to say.

The move, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, was supposed to de-escalate confrontation in the region but the Ukrainian authorities, peremptorily referring to some threats and provocations, have started saying they will return Ukraine’s heavy weapons and artillery systems withdrawn to the rear positions under the February 12 package of measures to implement the Minsk agreements (Minsk-2) to their previous combat positions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "We are calling on the Ukrainian side to demonstrate restraint and not to violate the implementation of the Minsk agreements in the sphere of security by irresponsible actions," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.