Ukrainian parliament passes partial mobilisation bill

Kiev, July 22 (IANS) The Ukraine parliament Tuesday approved a presidential decree to carry out the third wave of partial mobilisation of reservists to strengthen the country's defence force.

The bill, which envisages the deployment of 15 new fighting departments and 44 combat support elements within the next 45 days, was endorsed by 232 lawmakers in the 450-seat assembly, Xinhua reported.

According to the bill, Ukraine is in urgent need of strengthening its military force amid "dissemination of terrorism" on its territory, which has resulted in the deaths of civilians, military and law enforcement personnel.

Ukraine declared partial military mobilisation for the first time in mid-March, following its Black Sea Crimea peninsula's affiliation with Russia.

Kiev carried out the second wave of reservist deployment in early May, when tensions in the eastern part of the country escalated.

Ukraine plunged into chaos late February after the ouster of the previous cabinet and president Viktor Yanukovych.

Less than a month later, unrest began in eastern Ukrainian regions, where insurgents are demanding independence from Kiev.

The violent standoff between government forces and insurgents in eastern Ukraine so far has claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands of people, including civilians, injured.