The Ukrainian authorities are repelling attempts to shake up the situation in the country, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"I thought hardly anything could surprise me, but what the whole country heard yesterday shocked everyone [...] Of course. I thank the Ukrainian Security Service [SBU] and the Prosecutor General's Office for their professional work to protect national interests and statehood," Poroshenko said at Wednesday's festivities marking the Day of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Lviv region.

"The president and government respect the right of people to protest peacefully, of course. We have demonstrated that during the past few weeks. Even though the organizers of the protests were bloodthirsty and provoked law enforcement in every way. But it's very important that they [law enforcement] did not give in. And they [protesters], as it follows from intercepted conversations, even complained to Moscow about the tolerance of our law enforcement," Poroshenko said.

"What's reassuring is that the Ukrainian people got the measure of this gang financed from Moscow even before law enforcement did, and therefore ignored the camp outside the Verkhovna Rada," he said.

"Friends, the army doesn't hold the front so that the enemy can operate in the interior. We rebuff such things, and I feel public support on this matter," Poroshenko said.

He said that Ukraine cannot be beaten by force, as Russia knows. "That's why the enemy is staking more on hitting us in the back and undermining from within, on destabilizing the situation in the country. I have told you many times that Moscow spares no effort [...] And they have plenty of money and there is no need to name anyone here," Poroshenko said.

Supporters of the former governor of Odesa region and leader of the Movement of New Forces Mikheil Saakashvili are still protesting in Kyiv and demanding Poroshenko's impeachment. On Wednesday, they built barricades outside of the Verkhovna Rada and urged the city to support their protest.