LAST UPDATE | 30 Jan 2023
THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT has banned senior public servants and lawmakers from travelling abroad during the war with Russia.
Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for Ukraine’s border guard service, told AFP today that the measure – adopted last week – had entered force.
“They can now only leave as part of a work mission,” he said.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on 24 February last year, Ukrainian men of fighting age were ordered to remain in the country barring a few exceptions.
Under the new measure, senior officials will only be able to travel abroad if they are visiting their children, or in the event of medical treatment or following the death of a loved one, said Demchenko.
The ban extends to women civil servants as well as local deputies.
Ukrainian lawmaker Iryna Gerashchenko denounced what she called a “populist decision”, stressing that around 15,000 local deputies were women and some worked as volunteers.
“At first, the authorities called on everyone who could to leave for the winter with their children, now they are not allowed to leave,” she said on Facebook.
“The authorities continue to take thoughtless steps that have nothing to do with the fight against abuses.”
Norway will send part of its fleet of German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine “as soon as possible”, indicating perhaps late March, its defence minister said today.
Norway was among several European countries that promised last week to deliver the tanks long sought by Ukraine in its battle against Russian forces, after Berlin gave its blessing despite fears of retaliation by Moscow.
The country has 36 Leopard 2 tanks, but has not said how many it will provide to Kyiv.
“We haven’t yet determined the number,” Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram told AFP.
“It’s important that we coordinate closely with our partners, so that this aid makes a real difference for Ukraine,” he said.
“Of course we hope this will be done as quickly as possible,” he said during a visit to a production site of the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile batteries in Kongsberg, southeast Norway.
France and Australia announced a deal to jointly produce 155 mm artillery shells for Ukraine today after a ministerial meeting in Paris that showcased efforts to relaunch ties between the Pacific allies.
The artillery deal is a small but symbolic step by the two nations after a bitter row two years ago when former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison tore up a contract to buy submarines from France.
“Several thousand 155 mm shells will be manufactured jointly,” French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said at a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles, as well as the countries’ foreign ministers.
“There are some unique capabilities that exist in Australia and some synergies that can be achieved by Australia and France working together in relation to the supply of this ammunition,” Marles said.
The deal will see both countries share the cost of the deliveries of the ammunition from French manufacturer Nexter, with Australia to provide the explosive powder, Lecornu added.
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