"Unfortunately, the deterioration of the situation in the east and in Crimea does not exclude the possibility that in the event of further escalation, we will be forced to impose martial law and declare mobilization," Poroshenko said while visiting one of the western regions.
Kiev launched a special military operation in Ukraine’s southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities, which came to power as a result of what many of them believe to have been a coup. According to the UN data, more than 9,500 people have fallen victim to the conflict.
Crimea reunified with Russia after almost 97 percent of those who voted in a local referendum on the issue in 2014 supported the move. Ukraine did not recognize the outcome of the referendum and accused Russia of annexing the peninsula.
