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The National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine requires the Ukrainian providers to stop broadcasting Russian TV channels Vesti, Russia 24, Channel One, RTR 'Planeta', and NTV Mir, the National Council websites reports Tuesday. As of 12.00 (15.00 MSK) March 11, some 50 % of the Ukrainian providers throughout have shut off the broadcast of the above-mentioned channels, others are prepared to follow.

The National Council justifies this change of the situation in the information field of Ukraine on the basis of the need for information security in accordance with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine from March 1, 2014 "On urgent measures to ensure national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and the NSDC's appeal to the National Council.

"The National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine requires the program service providers to stop the broadcast of the Russian TV channels Vesti, Russia 24, Channel One (worldwide transmission), RTR 'Planeta', and NTV-World in their network by 19.00 (21.00 MSK) on March 11 this year," the National Council statement says.

Moscow has repeatedly pointed out that the introduction of a ban on the broadcast of the Russian channels in Ukraine would be a serious violation of freedom of speech.