Ukraine orders cessation of state services in rebel-held east
Senior Ukraine security official says President Petro Poroshenko has ordered an end to government-funded facilities like schools, hospitals and emergency services in the east
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday issued a decree ordering the withdrawal of all state services from the rebel-held east of the country.
The order covers schools, hospitals and emergency services, a senior security official speaking on condition of anonymity told reporters.
Poroshenko ordered 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,” the decree said.
“This is a decisive step, the games have stopped,” the official added. “All the structures that the state finances will be withdrawn from there.”
“Ukraine will no longer finance them. This includes schools, kindergartens and hospitals.”