Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ordered defense officials in Kiev to establish a hotline for the mothers and wives of soldiers fighting rebels in the country's restive east.
"The president recognized the need for the creation of a hotline for soldiers' mothers and wives, and said that he would give a corresponding order to the Defense Ministry," the president's press service said in comments carried by Interfax on Wednesday.
Poroshenko went on to stress the importance of the role of women, especially female politicians, in implementing a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, in official statements made Wednesday.
Ukrainian troops have been engaged in an ongoing operation to quell pro-Russian separatists in eastern cities including Luhansk, Slovyansk and Donetsk. Fighting flared up soon after Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, a move which triggered Western sanctions against Russia and led separatist leaders in the east to try to follow suit.
Each side has hurled increasingly loaded accusations against the other, with pro-Russian rebels referring to the new authorities in Kiev as fascists, and accusing the Ukrainian forces of killing civilians. Ukrainian troops have said the same about the rebels, who both Kiev and the West believe have received support from Russia during the conflict.
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