REUTERS

The law on Donbas reintegration, defining Russia as an aggressor state, entered into force today, Feb 24.

The law on special aspects of state policy to ensure Ukraine's state sovereignty in temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on January 18. It was signed off by the Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, February 20.

Parts of Ukrainian territory where armed formations of the Russian Federation and the administration of the Russian occupation forces have established and exercise general effective control have been designated as temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

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Read alsoNo more ATO: What Donbas Operation format change means for troops and civiliansThe law says that activities of the armed formations of the Russian Federation and the administration of the Russian occupation forces in Donetsk and Luhansk regions are considered to be those that contradict international humanitarian law and are illegal.

The law states that Russia shall be held liable for moral, financial or physical damage inflicted on the state of Ukraine, government authorities and local self-government agencies, individuals and legal entities.

According to the law, the launch and completion of measures to ensure national security and defense, repel and deter Russia's armed aggression in Donetsk and Luhansk regions shall be enacted by separate decisions by the President of Ukraine.

Read alsoPoroshenko: "Russian world" turns everything it touches into ruin and declineNSDC Chief Oleksandr Turchynov said the law significantly strengthens Ukraine's positions in international courts and tackles attempts by the Russian Federation to disguise the war against Ukraine as a "peacekeeping operation."

The law also expands the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to repel Russia's armed aggression, he added.

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs deemed the law "preparations for a new war." Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov claims the law derails the Minsk agreements.

In turn, Poroshenko insists that the law does not contradict the Minsk agreements, and Moscow's reaction confirms that it is a right law.