3 government troops killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine

Ukraine will impose martial law if the situation in eastern Ukraine deteriorates and tensions with Russian Federation over Crimea escalate, President Petro Poroshenko said during a visit to the Lviv region on August 18. Poroshenko made his comments as fresh tension with Russian Federation over Crimea reignited fears that a fragile cease-fire deal hammered out in the Belarussian capital of Minsk in February 2015 could collapse following the deadliest month of fighting in a year.

Poroshenko did not make clear what introduction of martial law might mean, and whether he was talking about martial law in the whole country or only in some parts.

According to the Ukrainian constitution the president can impose martial through a presidential decree, but this needs approval from the parliament. It could include restrictions of the moveement of people, banning political parties and certain institutions and public gatherings.

Three troops have been killed and six wounded in eastern Ukraine in the most recent day of fighting, the Ukrainian president’s office said Thursday.

Moscow and Kiev have been trading allegations against each other.

Poroshenko’s concerns are not without reason, considering the last time Russian Federation engaged in such a massive military exercise, it invaded Crimea in March, 2014.

Fighting tends to intensify in eastern Ukraine in August, with the terrain allowing for military maneuvers and Kiev has expressed concern the present time might be particularly convenient for a Russian-backed rebel assault, as the world is preoccupied with the US presidential race and the Olympic Games.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addresses servicemen of the 16th separate army aviation brigade and relatives of pilots. In addition to latest deaths, the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe cited a “high number” of truce violations this week, including artillery, gunfire and the movement of heavy weapons.

Kyiv has already ordered several waves of mobilization since the conflict started in 2014. “Almost a hundred. A significant number of shots were fired from heavy artillery systems”, Poroshenko said at a ceremony commemorating pilots killed in the ATO zone, which was held in the town of Brody in Lviv region.