Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko says martial law will be introduced

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Kiev’s move comes after Russia seized three Ukrainian ships near Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, and injured six soldiers. President Petro Poroshenko said the decree will not restrict citizen’s rights and planned elections will go ahead as scheduled. Ukraine’s Parliament voted to introduce martial law which will come into effect on Wednesday, November 28 and has been proposed to be in place for at least 30 days. Tensions between the two countries boiled over yesterday when Russia accused the Ukrainian navy of sailing illegally in its waters in the Straits of Kerch which links the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.

The area is a strategic waterway for both countries which links the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. A Russian cargo ship blocked access to Ukrainian vessels by positioning itself beneath a bridge which Moscow has built since annexing Crimea in 2014. Russian navy ships opened fire on the Ukrainian vessels and spetsnaz special forces stormed the ships. Ukraine labelled the move an “act of aggression” and vowed to retaliate.

Lawmakers in Ukraine's parliament in Kiev vote to impose martial law

The fighting is the first direct outbreak between Moscow and Kiev in recent years but both are locked in a proxy war in Eastern Ukraine where Russian backed separatists in conflict with pro-Ukrainian government forces. Speaking in a televised address on Monday afternoon, President Poroshenko confirmed Ukraine’s parliament had passed the martial law ruling. He said: "I fulfilled my constitutional duty and a few hours ago, by my decree, I imposed martial law throughout Ukraine from 9 am on November 28.” Mr Poroshenko had initially proposed to impose martial law for two months but Ukraine’s Parliament backed an initial 30 day period.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is defying Western leaders over the conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ignored Western leaders’ calls to release the three Ukrainian ships and 24 crew members and NATO have condemned Moscow’s actions. An emergency NATO meeting was called on Monday and the organisation’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the former Norwegian Prime Minister, said the alliance gives its “full support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” The EU, including the UK, France, Germany, Denmark and Poland have all condemned what they called Russian aggression. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also demanded Moscow rethink however President Trump, who has supported Ukraine’s president previously, has not yet spoken out against Russia’s latest moves.

A Russian cargo ship is blocking Ukrainian access to the Sea of Azov near Crimea