Ukraine closes its border to Russian men amid tensions
KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced Friday that Ukraine would bar Russian men from entering the country as part of a 30day martial law imposed this week amid escalating tensions between his government and Moscow.
Poroshenko said the ban on Russian males ages 16 to 60 would prevent the creation of “private” armies that could be coordinated by Russian armed forces inside Ukrainian territory, something Kiev accused Moscow of doing during the lead-up to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 as well as in the eastern regions of Ukraine, where an armed conflict with Moscow-backed militias has killed more than 10,300.
“We will not let the Russians carry out operations they have been planning as far back as 2014,” Poroshenko said on Twitter. Shortly after the announcement Friday, Ukrainian news reports said that nearly all Russian citizens — male and female — were being denied entry to Ukraine. The Ukrainian government also announced travel restrictions to Crimea and any territory controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
The ban offered some clarity on what has been a confusing three days since Ukraine went under martial law. The parliament approved Poroshenko’s call to impose martial law in response to Russia’s attack on three Ukrainian naval vessels near the Kerch Strait on Sunday. Russia detained 24 crew members from the ships and charged them with illegally crossing the border.
While martial law began Wednesday across 10 regions, it has so far been uncoordinated, leaving many wondering how the measure will prepare the country for a potential Russian attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the call for martial law as a “provocation” meant to boost Poroshenko’s approval ratings before the presidential election in March.
Meanwhile, Poroshenko has faced criticism at home as well, with many saying that martial law was declared as a political stunt.