Ukraine to introduce boundary regime for areas bordering Crimea, eastern frontline

The Ukrainian government has approved a decree, introducing a boundary regime for the areas bordering Crimea and some frontline cities in Ukraine's eastern regions, the government press service said Monday.

The decree, published on the government's website said that the boundary regime will be established in order to "enhance Ukraine's national security, security of citizens, protection of their rights, freedoms and legitimate interests."

According to the document, starting from Feb. 10, two districts in southern Kherson region bordering Crimean peninsula, as well as 23 districts in Ukraine's restive eastern regions, where government's military operation against pro-independence insurgents is underway, will be marked as "frontier zone."

Border control checkpoints will be set up in the frontier areas and people entering those areas would be obliged to show their national identity cards and their transport documentation to border guards.

The new regime would apply till the end of the government's military operation against rebels, the decree said.

The autonomous republic of Crimea became a Russian region in March 2014 following a referendum recognized by Moscow. Kiev rejected the referendum, saying it was unconstitutional.

Shortly after Crimea's affiliation with Russia, a protest began in the mostly Russian-speaking eastern part of the country, where insurgents demanded their region split from Ukraine.

In an attempt to retake control of the cities and towns seized by the armed activists, who declared independence from Kiev, the Ukrainian government started military operation against insurgents in April 2014, in which more than 5,300 people have been killed so far. Endite