Donetsk, Nov 27 - DAN. The martial law imposed in Ukraine will enable Kiev to significantly reduce the opportunity to implement the Minsk Agreements, Donetsk People’s Republic envoy to the Contact Group, acting Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova told the Donetsk News Agency.

“The introduction of martial law in Ukraine will significantly reduce the opportunity for Kiev to meet its commitments under the Minsk Agreements,” Nikonorova said. The “Legal Regime of Martial Law” bans presidential and parliamentary elections or any changes to the Constitution. Thus it blocks an amendment to the Constitution with law on a special status of Donbass and implementation of all political provisions of the Package of Measures.”

If Ukraine extends the period of martial law, the elections and the Constitutional reform would be postponed indefinitely. It will also enable the Ukrainian authorities to continue to pursue the current courses towards blocking the “Minsk-2” implementation.”

Nikonorova believes that martial law will set the Ukrainian military loose and cause new escalation of the conflict.

“Due to Kiev authorities’ fault, civilian death toll and damage to infrastructure keep growing. Regrettably, we do not see denouncement of these actions by the western guarantors of the Minsk Agreements. We hope for the appropriate reaction and pressure on Kiev by the international community because it is only through diplomatic efforts that the current explosive situation can be resolved,” the DPR envoy said.

The Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council suggested that martial law be imposed because of the Kerch Strait situation. In the evening of November 26, Ukraine’s Verkhovnaya Rada (parliament) reviewed and approved this bill. Under the document, Ukraine imposes martial law in ten regions for 30 days starting 10:00 a.m. on November 28. The list comprises the regions bordering on Russia and Transniestria, the Kiev-controlled parts of the DPR and the LPR and Sea of Azov and Black Sea coast area.

Martial law is imposed across Ukraine or some of its areas in accordance with the law “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law” to provide military authorities and leadership with unlimited power.*jk