The NSDC of Ukraine has adopted important decisions in the sphere of defense and imposed additional sanctions on Russian individuals and legal entities

On December 26, during the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine announced the cessation of martial law imposed in certain regions from 14:00, December 26, 2018.

The results of implementing measures envisaged by the legal state of martial law were analyzed, the main indicators of the State Defense Order for 2019-2021 were approved, and the issue of imposing additional sanctions against individuals and legal entities of the Russian Federation was considered at the meeting.

The NSDC of Ukraine recognized the satisfactory status of implementation by the executive authorities and other state bodies of tasks defined by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of November 26, 2018, №393/2018 "On the Imposition of Martial Law in Ukraine" and the Priority Action Plan.

According to Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, the introduction of martial law allowed to assess Ukraine's preparedness to mobilize all its resources - "military, economic, human, in order to counter full-fledged military aggression". Mr. Turchynov added that while checking the readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the entire executive vertical, - from the Cabinet of Ministers to local administrations, to work in special conditions, "a number of shortcomings were identified which, according to the NSDC decision, should be urgently removed". "In particular, this refers to eliminating the problem points and making necessary amendments to legislative and other normative acts in the field of mobilization training, civil and territorial defense, and implementation of other measures envisaged by the legal state of martial law", - he said.

The NSDC Secretary noted that the number of committed offenses and crimes (in particular, serious ones) decreased by an average of 30% in the regions where martial law had been imposed. A large number of unregistered weapons and explosive devices were removed.

"Given that the situation remains rather complicated and dangerous, the NSDC decision also provides that in the nearest future, the National Police, the National Guard, and other law enforcement agencies will continue to serve in an enhanced regime to maintain public order, protect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of Ukrainian citizens", - Mr. Turchynov said adding that it was also recommended to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine to extend the enhanced protection of the state border with the Russian Federation and to "ensure increased control of citizens crossing the border of Ukraine".

The NSDC of Ukraine approved the main indicators of the State Defense Order for 2019-2021. According to Mr. Turchynov, since 2017, a three-year system of the State Defense Order has been put into operation in Ukraine, "which allowed the state customers and contractors of the SDO to plan their work and resources more clearly".

According to him, as a result of the execution of the State Defense Order in 2018, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received over 3 thousand samples of weapons, military equipment, and special products, more than 450 thousand missiles and ammunition.

Mr. Turchynov reminded that the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2019" provides for the increase of financing defense and security tasks by 33,3 billion hryvnias in comparison with the previous year, which amounts to 212,0 billion hryvnias and 5,37% of gross domestic product.

"A range of priority projects on the development of missile and rocket weapons will be completed in 2019", - Mr. Turchynov noticed adding that this applies primarily to missiles with increased damage range, a land-based cruise missile system for the destruction of maritime targets, "which will significantly strengthen coastal defense of the Black Sea and Azov coast of Ukraine".

"The promising development and production of armaments and military equipment, heavy howitzer artillery, air defense and communication equipment, armored vehicles will be supported, and the production of ammunition and projectiles will be expanded", - the NSDC Secretary said stressing that all new weapons and military equipment should meet NATO standards.

Upon discussing the issue "On the Application of Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)" it was decided to support the imposition of sanctions, primarily against legal entities and individuals - Russian companies, businessmen, politicians and deputies, employees of security forces who actively supported or promoted aggressive actions against Ukraine.

Also, restrictive measures were taken against the organizers of the so-called "elections" in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, as well as against the military servicemen, judges and law enforcement officers involved in the illegal seizure of Ukrainian sailors during Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018 and their illegal detainment in Russian prisons.