Acting President of Ukraine, Alexander Turchynov, said that the Ukrainian armed forces were set in full combat readiness in connection with the "Russian threat."
At a meeting with the heads of regional administrations, Turchynov spoke of "the threat when the Russian Federation may unleash a continental war against Ukraine." "Our armed forces have been set in full combat readiness," he said.
The Ukrainian President urged all regions of the country to defend Ukraine. "We have issued an order to form territorial defense battalions in every region. We should be able to rapidly deploy these mobile units to support other regions in case of such danger."
Turchynov, who was appointed as Acting President by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, admitted that the authorities could not control the situation in Donetsk and on the territory of the region.
"I would honestly say that the security forces are not able to take control of the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk regions," said Turchynov at a meeting with the heads of regional administrations.
Turchynov ordered the heads of regional administrations to toughen control in the regions for the time of May holidays to prevent destabilization. According to him, attempts to destabilize the situation are being made in Kharkiv, Odessa, Kherson, Nikolaev and Zaporizhia regions.
Turchynov also demanded the Rada-appointed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov should dismiss all the heads of regional interior affairs departments in Lugansk and Donetsk regions. According to him, they are "unable to perform their professional duties."
"There is no other choice but to fully upgrade the police and security service of Ukraine in the east of the country," said Turchynov.
Noteworthy, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu assured the Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel on April 29, 2014, that Russian troops would not cross the border of Ukraine.