Ukrainian civilians allowed to fire on enemy fighters with new law

Ukrainian civilians allowed to fire on enemy fighters with new law.

Civilians in Ukraine are allowed to open fire on troops identifiable as hostile forces under a new law that went into effect this week, Ukrainian media reports.

According to the law, which went into effect on Monday, foreigners and the stateless living legally in the country can also obtain weapons and use them against Russian soldiers involved in the ongoing attack of Ukraine.

Issuance of weapons will be regulated by the Interior Ministry.

Any weapons and leftover ammunition issued are to be returned no later than 10 days after the end of the martial law currently in force.

Assault rifles and ammunition had already been issued indiscriminately in the first days of the war, especially in Kiev.

Gun battles broke out and were only stopped after the imposition of a strict curfew.

The Kremlin criticised the permission now granted.

“If someone with a weapon in his hand attacks a Russian soldier, then he also becomes a target,’’ it said.