We are back in state of emergency, but this time Covid has nothing to do with it, nor will the government’s decision have an impact on our lives. The Cabinet at its meeting last Friday simply unanimously adopted a series of measures related to the crisis in Ukraine, to facilitate the deployment of humanitarian and military aid in the war zone.
The so-called “Ukrainian decree” does three things above all: it authorizes the sending of soldiers and military vehicles to NATO’s eastern front; allocates funds for humanitarian aid to Ukraine; strengthens the Crisis Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the period of the conflict for the protection of Italians abroad and the Civil Protection, which will also be able to intervene in Ukraine in the event of humanitarian emergencies.
Crisis in Ukraine, all decisions taken in the cabinet
On the military front, the Ukrainian decree provides – always within NATO and never beyond the borders of the alliance – to send 250 soldiers to Latvia, 130 soldiers and 14 aircraft for air patrol in Romania and 2 ships, plus an airplane, with 235 sailors to patrol the Black Sea. In addition, the so-called “high-readiness forces” will be used: 1,350 soldiers, 77 land, 2 naval and 5 aircraft.
In total, the soldiers leaving for the Ukrainian crisis will not exceed 1,970, the decree currently provides. The government authorizes the free transfer to Ukraine of non-lethal military equipment: especially for the protection of soldiers and for demining.
“The Council of Ministers, on the proposal of the President Mario Draghi – says the press release released by the government – has approved the declaration of a state of emergency for intervention abroad as a result of the events taking place in the territory of Ukraine. The adoption of the provision is necessary in order to ensure the participation of the Italian State in the adoption of all Civil Protection initiatives also through the implementation of extraordinary and urgent interventions in support of rescue operations and assistance to the population concerned, interventions to be carried out during the state of emergency “.