In the next 15 days, approximately 10 to 15 thousand National Guard troops will be mobilized.
Arseniy Avakov, Interior Minister of Ukraine, announced the move during a special cabinet meeting.
“We announced the mobilization of twenty thousand people and submitted the relevant calculations, and have prepared suitable locations for deployment. One of the centers is in Kyiv (Nova Petrovka). About 600 have already been mobilized,” he said.
There is another center in Zolochiv, Lviv Oblast, and four additional centers will be opened.
“We anticipate that the mobilization will affect almost the entire country, and about 10 to 15 thousand people will be mobilized in the next 15 days,” said Avakov.
Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said, “So—anyone who wants to defend the country should join the National Guard.”
“There are training centers, there are lawfully issued weapons. All others who walk the streets with guns–[the MIA’s] position is clear–you are outside the law,” said Yatsenyuk, and Avakov added, “Absolutely.”
The Interior Ministry also announced the creation of a charity account to raise funds for the support of the National Guard.
“Individuals or legal entities who wish to donate by making a bank transfer to the Internal Troops Headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine can do so with the following details: Beneficiary: Military Unit 3027; account number 31251301207229 at the General Administration of the State Treasury Service of Ukraine in Kyiv Oblast, Kyiv; State Registry of Ukrainian Enterprises and Organizations code 08803649; MFO (sort code) 821018,” says the Interior Ministry.
When making a donation, you must specify “Donation for support of the National Guard of Ukraine.”
As reported earlier, on the previous day, the heads of the Security Service and the Interior Ministry appealed to Ukrainians, requiring the immediate surrender to law enforcement agencies of firearms that are not legally registered.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Service ordered that proceedings begin immediately to identify and seize illegal weapons, and ordered the absolute and thorough prosecution to the fullest extent of the law of all persons who have not surrendered their weapons, regardless of political affiliation and participation in community policing units.
Source: http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/16/7019064/
Translated by Inna Olefirenko, edited by Robin Rohrback
