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Ukraine introduces visa regime with Russia, puts army on full combat alert

19 March 2014, 21:53 -- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has been ordered to introduce visa regulations with Russia, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Andriy Parubiy said following a council meeting. He also said that instructions had been given to Ukraine's Security Service, Interior Ministry and Armed Forces to carry out the order to put the Armed Forces of Ukraine to full combat readiness.

'The Foreign Minister has been ordered to introduce visa regulations with Russia,' Parubiy said at a briefing on Wednesday, reported Reuters and Interfax.

The Foreign Ministry should work out the procedure, according to which 'entry to Ukraine [for Russian citizens] can be allowed by international passports only,' Parubiy said.

'The order has been given to put into effect this decision by the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council as quickly as possible,' Parubiy said.

He also said that instructions had been given to Ukraine's Security Service, Interior Ministry and Armed Forces to carry out the order to put the Armed Forces of Ukraine to full combat readiness. 'Instructions were given to ensure the unconditional fulfilment of the former decisions of Ukraine's Security Service regarding the partial mobilization of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and putting them to full combat readiness.'

Besides, these instructions also said, he added, that it was necessary to 'deploy tactical groups of Ukraine's Armed Forces in its border regions, for the purpose of protecting its borders and territorial integrity.'

He added that Kiev was developing a plan for withdrawing its soldiers and their families from Crimea.

'We are developing a plan that would enable us not only to withdraw servicemen, but also members of their families in Crimea, so that they could be quickly and efficiently moved to mainland Ukraine,' Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council chief Andriy Parubiy told a televised press conference.

Voice of Russia, Interfax, Reuters, AFP

Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_19/ Ukraine-to-introduces-visa-regime-with- Russia-put-army-on-full-combat-alert-7709/