Ukraine to build fortifications along contact line with rebels
Xinhua, March 18, 2015 Adjust font size:
Ukraine will soon start building fortifications in the eastern regions along the line dividing the areas respectively controlled by Kiev and pro-independence rebels, Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said Wednesday.
"The government will allocate 865 million hryvnyas (about 37 million U.S. dollars) from the Reserve Fund to urgently start the construction of the defensive line," Yatsenyuk told a cabinet meeting.
The fortifications, which would be erected in Donetsk and Lugansk regions, would tighten security in the restive territories and enable Ukraine to save the lives of its soldiers, Yatsenyuk said.
He added that Ukraine will continue strengthening its border with Russia, assembling engineering barriers along the frontier line.
In September 2014, Ukraine spent 83.5 million dollars to build a 2,000-km wall along its border with Russia.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Parliament approved a law outlining the list of areas in eastern regions which are controlled by insurgents. The areas would be granted more powers from Kiev after holding local elections under Ukrainian law. Endi