Poroshenko: We are Ready To Repel Russian Invasion

Martial law and next wave of mobilization may be announced in case of serious escalation of hostilities, President Poroshenko said on August 18 when meeting soldiers. Ukrainian troops are ready to repel possible Russian provocations, he asserted.

"Considering the escalation in Crimea, Russian invasion is not impossible. If it continues, we have nothing to do but announce martial law and mobilization," he highlighted.

"The enemy keeps trying to scupper the Minsk process and kill the Normandy format, while it also intensified shelling in Donbas. This night, our troops suffered one hundred artillery attacks. The last weeks, militants started using heavy gun-armaments and targeted our positions from 8, 12 or even 22 km from the contact line," President noted.  

According to Poroshenko, the "enemy is going to use these provocations to justify their actions to disrupt the Minsk process."

Since January, about 45,000 servicemen signed contracts with Ukrainian army, so the mobilization was not necessary. "We heard numerous discussions about the professional army, but no tangible measure was taken for many years. Now it’s different – these professional soldiers allow us to hold back from mobilization," he underlined.

Poroshenko added that Ukraine is firmly aimed at "returning the aggressor to the talks and making Russia fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements" and at reviving the Normandy format. The U.S., Germany, France, other EU countries strongly supported us, he stressed.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine are ready to rebuke Russian aggression whenever and wherever they attack. The Ukrainian people, army and the authorities demonstrate ‘family-like’ unity in jointly working for national defense," Poroshenko summarized.

Source: Olena Roshchenko, Ukrayinska Pravda