The Ukrainian parliament passed a law on Wednesday that allows citizens to carry firearms in public, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian citizens were not allowed to carry guns outside of their homes.
Dmytro Shulga, the European Programme Director at the International Renaissance Foundation, an NGOs in Kyiv, told Insider that the parliament wants to liberalize ownership of armaments by citizens.
The law was passed after the approval of a state of emergency in Ukraine.
On Monday, Russian President Putin ordered troops into the eastern part of the country, recognizing the eastern part of the country as an independent republic.
More than 150,000 Russian troops have been deployed along the borders of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials were told by US intelligence officials that Russia will likely begin an invasion into eastern Ukraine within the next 48 hours, prior to parliament voting in favor of the state of emergency measures on Wednesday.
According to the Guardian, gun stores in Kyiv are selling more guns than usual. 400,000 Ukrainians have combat experience, according to the report.
The Ukrainian army is better trained than it was in 2014, according to Shulga.
There is a feeling that Ukrainians will fight. I can see it. Shulga told Insider that he has been carrying on with his daily life.
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