ATO is over, military takes charge

President of Ukraine, Mr. Poroshenko, signed law that officially ends anti-terrorist operation, known widely in public as ATO. The law was signed on February 20, 2018 and renames the conflict as “taking measures to ensure national security and defense, and repulsing and deterring the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.” The most important change is the fact that Armed Forces of Ukraine are now in charge of all military and law enforcement units in Donbas. The ATO was run by SBU security service.

Summary of what has changed:

• Russia is declared as an aggressor that occupies part of Ukraine
• Martial law is no longer needed to deploy Armed Forces to Donbas
• Approves checkpoints alongside contact line and allows movement of civilians and goods
• Military Joint Operative Headquarters will be setup for occupied areas

Source: KyivPost