Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today that he will implement martial law in four regions of Ukraine that were annexed in September: Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk. Under the measure, which still needs to be approved by the Federation Council, a Russian body similar to the Senate, military personnel will begin to administer these territories, which were previously under the responsibility of civilians.
“I have signed a decree on the application of martial law in these four constituent entities of the Russian Federation,” Putin told a meeting of the Russian Security Council. “It will immediately be sent to the Federation Council for approval, and the decision will be reported to the State Duma.”
Martial law is usually introduced as a temporary measure when civil authorities are in crisis. Putin did not detail the scale of the move but said he would work to “protect very important facilities” in these areas.
“The constitutional laws on the acceptance of four new regions of the Russian Federation have entered into force. The Kyiv regime, as you know, refused to recognize the will and choice of the people and rejects any proposal for negotiations,” the president said. Russian. “On the contrary, the shelling continues. Civilians are dying.”
Response to the Ukrainian Counterattack
Putin’s remarks come at a crucial moment in the conflict in Ukraine. In the past two months, Ukrainian forces have made advances in the northeast and south of the country.
The attack on Russia’s Kerch Strait bridge connecting the Russian mainland with Crimea, which was annexed earlier this month, was a blow to Moscow, which has since responded with a barrage of missiles and plane strikes. drones in various Ukrainian cities.
Referring to the Crimean bridge explosion, Putin said today that Russian special services have suppressed terrorist attacks in other regions of Russia.
Yesterday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated on Telegram that 30% of the country’s energy facilities have been damaged. Power and water were cut off in the capital and other Ukrainian cities after attacks blamed on Russian drones and kamikaze missiles.
