Ukraine has imposed a state of emergency as Moscow began evacuating its Kyiv embassy in the latest signs of an all-out Russian military onslaught.
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s parliament overwhelmingly approved Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decree that imposes a state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday.
The state of emergency allows authorities to impose restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations in the interests of national security and public order.
Shelling intensified on Wednesday at the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, where Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops as peacekeepers.