Ukraine to Withdraw State Services from East
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko issued a decree ordering the withdrawal of all state services from rebel-held eastern regions.
The order includes schools, hospitals and emergency services, a senior security official speaking on condition of anonymity told the AFP news agency.
The presidential decree also included orders for the evacuation of state workers plus the withdrawal of all courts and judges and the relocation of prisoners.
Poroshenko's latest move in the war-torn country came after fresh clashes between government troops and rebel fighters claimed at least five civilian lives, including those of two children, despite a nominal ceasefire that has failed to end the bloodshed.
The decree comes just over a week after Kiev implemented passport controls around pro-Russian separatist areas in the east, as well as the end of state payments, including pensions, in the areas.
Poroshenko told his cabinet to take steps within a week "to terminate the activities of state enterprises, institutions and organisations in the various territories where anti-terrorist operations are being conducted," a statement on his website said.
"This is a decisive step, the games have stopped," the security official added. "All the structures that the state finances will be withdrawn from there. Ukraine will no longer finance them."
The decree also proposed that Ukraine's central bank take steps over the next month to withdraw all banking services for businesses and individuals in the regions.
