12 March 2014, 12:58
We will protect our country, and the Maidan has proved that Ukrainians can fight for their rights. This was said by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov during an interview to Agence France-Presse.
Oleksandr Turchynov stressed that Ukraine will not yield to provocations that the Russian Federation is trying to conduct “playing out in Crimea scenarios of Abkhazia and Ossetia and provoking a direct military conflict in the course of which civilians can get hurt.”
“Ukraine will act adequately protecting its territory. We support and do not leave behind our military units and navy sailors who honorably fulfill their obligations in Crimea,” said Oleksandr Turchynov, stressing that Armed Forces of Ukraine are on full combat alert.
According to him, a preparation for partial mobilization to the ranks of the army and the National Guard, decision on forming of which should be made soon by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is conducted in the country.
Concerning the issue of moving of Ukrainian military men on the territory of Ukraine – this is closed information which is a state secret, claimed the Chairman of the Parliament.
Moreover, Oleksandr Turchynov stressed that Ukraine is an integral and indivisible state “which is clearly stated in its Constitution.”
“We will protect our country, and the Maidan has proved that Ukrainians can fight for their rights,” he said, stressing that he hopes for support of Western partners and guarantors of territorial integrity of Ukraine, according to the Budapest Memorandum of 1994.