Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Russia claims have just been annexed.
On Wednesday, Putin announced that he had signed a decree authorizing martial law which would apply to the oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson.
During a video conference on Wednesday, Putin said the decree will "immediately be sent for approval to the Federation Council, and the State Duma will be informed of the decision," state news agency Tass reported.
This was in keeping with the legal requirement that the two houses of government be informed of such a move, the agency added.
"We are working to solve very difficult large-scale tasks to ensure Russia's security and safe future, to protect our people," Putin said. "Those who are on the frontlines or undergoing training at firing ranges and training centers should feel our support and know that they have our big, great country and unified people behind their back."
Since the start of his invasion of Ukraine, Putin had so far refrained from calling for martial law across the rest of Russia which would put the country on a formal war footing.
However, last month, he did announce a partial mobilization of the population to boost his forces in Ukraine.
Max Seddon, the Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, tweeted that the move was a clear response to recent military setbacks as Ukraine's counteroffensive advances."
Putin says he's introducing martial law in the four partially occupied Ukrainian regions he annexed last month. This is portrayed as a technicality – he said it de facto already exists – but is a clear response to recent military setbacks as Ukraine's counteroffensive advances. pic.twitter.com/zTOanR1N1C
— max seddon (@maxseddon) October 19, 2022
Putin has not immediately clarified what steps would be taken under martial law in the four regions, but independent Russian news outlet Meduza said it may involve restrictions on travel and public gatherings, tighter censorship and broader authority for law enforcement agencies.
Jake Cordell, a Russia reporter for Reuters, tweeted that the decrees "go much further than Putin let on in his speech."
"They would involve sweeping new security measures, movement restrictions, vehicle checks and wholesale 'economic mobilization'" across western and southern Russia, he added.
The Kremlin's actual decrees go much further than Putin let on in his speech (as usual) on martial law, outlining sweeping new security measures, movement restrictions, vehicle checks and wholesale "economic mobilisation" across much of western & southern Russia
— Jake Cordell (@JakeCordell) October 19, 2022
Putin said that the Russian-installed leaders of the occupied regions would be given extra security powers in the decree that is expected to be rubber-stamped by the Federation Council, Russia's upper house.
The Russian president also issued a decree restricting movement in and out of eight regions adjoining Ukraine. These apply to the southern regions of Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov, as well as territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, which Russia illegally seized.
Newsweek has reached out to Ukraine's foreign ministry for comment.
Update 10/19/22, 10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. His focus is Russia and Ukraine, in particular ... Read more
