Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Chairman and interim President Oleksandr Turchynov has signed a decree titled 'On Measures to Improve the State's Defense Capability', which stipulates, in particular, the resumption of the draft to the armed forces.

The decree was published in the Official Bulletin of the President of Ukraine on May 1 and has come into effect, the presidential press service reports.

In line with the Ukrainian law 'On Military Duty and Military Service', the decree stipulates that male Ukrainian citizens aged from 18 to 25, physically qualified for active duty in peacetime, and not entitled to draft exemption or deferment shall be drafted for active military service to the Ukrainian armed forces and other military services.

The decree also stipulates that men with a bachelor's or higher degree who have undergone the full military officer training course and who have been assigned officer ranks in reserve shall also be drafted for active duty.

The decree stipulates that the draft campaign will be conducted in May-July 2014.

The decree has been signed because of "the exacerbation of the sociopolitical situation in the east and south of Ukraine and taking into consideration facts of undisguised aggression, intensification of activities of illegally established pro-Russian armed groups, and the seizure and blockage of buildings housing government bodies, military command bodies, military garrisons, and transportation communications in Donetsk and Luhansk regions," which, as the document says, jeopardizes Ukraine's territorial integrity and constitutes interference in its internal affairs