Kyiv orders state service pullout in east

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenk issued a decree on Saturday to stop all state services in rebel-held parts in the east of the country.

The order covers institutions such as schools and hospitals, along with emergency services, according to the president's website.

It said that such institutions should end their work within a week and "evacuate workers, with their permission, [and] where possible remove property and documents."

It also ordered the withdrawal of all courts and judges and the relocation of prisoners "in the various territories where anti-terrorist operations are being conducted."

'Games have stopped'

"This is a decisive step, the games have stopped," a security official told AFP news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. "All the structures that the state finances will be withdrawn from there. Ukraine will no longer finance them. This includes schools, kindergartens and hospitals."

The ruling makes suggestions to banks to stop banking operations in Ukraine's eastern regions and asks Ukraine's parliament in Kyiv to revoke the special status of the territories.

A few weeks ago eastern separatists held their own elections. These were recognized by Moscow but not by Ukraine, nor by much of the international community.

Last week, Ukraine announced it would start conducting passport controls around the pro-Russian areas in the east and end state payments, including pensions to eastern residents.

G20 leaders slam Putin

Kyiv's announcement came as Russian President Vladimir Putin was lambasted by world leaders at their G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia over Russia's alleged role in the Ukraine conflict.

Criticism was so severe, that the Russian leader decided to cut short his visit to the summit, according to media reports.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of aiding the pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine by providing supplies and fighters.

Russia denies aiding rebels

Moscow continues to deny any involvement but Russian ties with the US and EU are at an all-time low. The conflict has prompted many to speak of a "new Cold War." Former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev delivered a similar assessment while visiting Berlin last weekend during the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Ukraine has reported a flare-up in the east of the country, with a military spokesman announcing seven soldiers had been killed in the last 24 hours in the "Donetsk People's Republic."

More than 4,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which turned into open warfare between rebels and Kyiv government forces in April.

sb/ipj (Reuters, AFP)