The Ukrainian authorities assured local and international business that the imposition of martial law in Ukraine from November 28 does not mean limits on economic operations all over the country, however the country's transport and energy authorities endorse special regimes of operations.

"Economic entities and citizens can carry out economic transactions as usual," the nation's Economic Development and Trade Ministry said in a statement on November 27, adding that it will quickly report on any changes in the mode of conducting economic and foreign economic operations.

On November 26, Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, greenlighted the introduction of martial law in a number of regions of Ukraine for a period of 30 days from November 28 by the nation's President Petro Poroshenko following a dramatic escalation of a Ukraine-Russia conflict in the Azov Sea.

According to Poroshenko’s media office, martial law will be introduced in the Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson regions, as well as the internal waters of the Azov-Kerch water area.

'Special regime'

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan has ordered tighter security at railroad terminals and stations, airports, seaports, and other infrastructure. He also endorsed a special regime for national railroads in order to increase their capacity and to assign sufficient rolling stock for the Ukrainian army's needs, Interfax news agency reported on November 27.

"Trains will be assigned in line with the transportation priorities of the wartime period, as requested by military commanders," Omelyan said at an expanded meeting with the executives of the nation's state-owned transport companies and seaports, according to a statement released by the Infrastructure Ministry.

The minister urged everyone "to follow the example of Switzerland" and actively engage transport employees in territorial defence. "Everyone should have an 'emergency backpack' with a three-day supply of necessities and a clear understanding of what should be done if the enemy attacks," he said.

The Infrastructure Ministry is planning field training of managers and employees of industry enterprises. Deputy Minister Yuriy Lavreniuk will be coordinating interaction between the ministry and enterprises. Lavreniuk and Omelyan wore military uniforms at the meeting.

Stepping up the security measures

Meanwhile, state-owned oil pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta is ready to maintain "the stable operation of the facilities of the oil transport system", as well as "to prevent and timely responce to emergency situations", the company said in a statement on November 27.

The company's facilities are "guided by plans for the localisation and liquidation of accidents and emergency situations". The company will step up the security measures at facilities of the oil transportation system.

Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that there are no legal restrictions to further cooperation with Ukraine over a new $3.9bn Stand By Agreement (SBA) with the IMF in October after the introduction of martial law.

"We are following recent developments, including the imposition of martial law, and hope for the prompt de-escalation of the current situation," Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman said in Kyiv on November 26. "The IMF does not have any legal restriction to the continuation of cooperation with Ukraine in this situation."

Last week, the Verkhovna Rada, adopted the national budget for 2019 with a planned deficit of 2.3% of the nation's GDP. Among other conditions for possible repackaging of undrawn funds from the existing $17.5bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed in 2015 into a $3.9bn SBA is an increase in gas price for households, as well as the implementation of anti-corruption measures. Ukraine has received $8.4bn from the IMF so far under the multinational lender's EFF.