Russian President Vladimir Putin has imposed martial law in four annexed regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Russian President’s decree, signed on Wednesday, gave additional power to authorities in Russian border regions.
Putin said, “We are working on solving very complex large-scale tasks to ensure security and protect the future of Russia.”
The decree allowed greater ability to limit movement to, from and within the areas and allows for the residents of those territories to be moved to “safe zones”.
Putin also advised the government to establish a special coordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to work with the “annexed” regions to boost Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
The published Kremlin decree ordered an “economic mobilisation” in eight regions adjoining Ukraine, including occupied Crimea, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014.
A Kyiv official said the decree would change nothing.
