KIEV, July 21, /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko on Monday submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s unicameral parliament, his decree on partial mobilization, the presidential press service reported.
In line with the document, the mobilization has been announced in particular “in connection with the spread of terrorism manifestations on the territory of Ukraine, which lead to the death of civilians, servicemen and personnel of paramilitary formations and law enforcement agencies of the country in its eastern regions.”
The move, the decree says, is called upon “to ensure the state’s defense, on the basis of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council’s proposal.”
The drafting of people liable for military service, reservists and delivery of vehicles to provide for the troops’ demands will be carried out in volumes defined by mobilization plans with account for reservists.
The Rada is to consider the presidential decree on Tuesday. Rada Speaker Alexander Turchinov said at the conciliation board of leaders of deputy groups and factions that the parliament should approve the document within two days for it to take effect.
Troops loyal to Kiev and local militias in the southeastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Lugansk regions are involved in fierce clashes as the Ukrainian armed forces are conducting a military operation to regain control over the breakaway regions, which on May 11 proclaimed their independence at local referendums.
During the military operation, conducted since mid-April, Kiev has used armored vehicles, heavy artillery and attack aviation. According to Ukraine’s Health Ministry, 478 civilians have been killed and 1,392 wounded in it. Many buildings have been destroyed and tens of thousands of people have had to flee Ukraine’s war-torn Southeast.