Ukrainian lawmakers approve nationwide state of emergency

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine on Wednesday declared a nationwide state of emergency amid growing fears of an all-out invasion by Russia after President Vladimir Putin received authorisation to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions.

Ukrainian lawmakers approved President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decree that imposes the measure for 30 days starting Thursday.

The state of emergency allows authorities to impose curfews and restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organisations “in the interests of national security and public order.”

The action reflected the increasing concern by Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm.

The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended any Ukrainians there to leave immediately, saying Moscow's “aggression” could lead to a significant reduction in consular services.

“For a long time we refrained from declaring a state of emergency ... but today the situation has become more complicated,“ National Security and Defence Council head Oleksiy Danilov told the parliament, emphasising that Moscow's efforts to destabilise Ukraine represented the main threat.

“According to the intelligence of our partners, according to our data, according to our analysts, the capture of our country is impossible without internal destabilisation,” Danilov said.

Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly voiced concern that pro-Russian groups inside the country could try to destabilise it, including a pro-Moscow political party represented in parliament.

The introduction of the state of emergency follows Putin's move Monday to recognise the independence of rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, where a nearly eight-year conflict has killed over 14,000 people. Putin has sanctioned the deployment of Russian troops there to “maintain peace.”

Russia on Wednesday evacuated its embassy in Kyiv as hopes for a diplomatic way out of a new, potentially devastating war in Europe waned. The US and key European allies accused Moscow of crossing a red line Tuesday in rolling over Ukraine's border into separatist eastern regions known as the Donbas, with some calling it an invasion.

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