Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in four Russian-annexed regions of Ukraine. This repeals a part of the ordinary legislation in the areas, insofar as it was still respected.
These are the regions of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhya. Authority in these situations is generally authoritarian and usually exercised by the military. Fighting is ongoing in the four regions and there is in fact already a kind of martial law by the pro-Russian authorities. Putin stressed at the beginning of a meeting of the Russian Security Council this afternoon that the state of emergency that was already in place has now been formalized under Russian law.
Draft legislation suggests that residents of the annexed areas may face travel restrictions, stricter rules on public gatherings and less freedom of expression, among other things. But the exact content of the laws of war that must apply in the regions does not seem to be in pitch yet. The responsible government bodies must propose within three days what measures they want to see implemented.
“We are working to solve difficult, large-scale challenges to ensure Russia’s security and a secure future, and to protect our people,” Putin said in an announcement at the start of a meeting of the Russian Security Council. “Those on the front lines and those undergoing military training need to feel support and know that they have a great, powerful country and a united people behind them.”
The areas in question belong to the territory of Ukraine, but have been annexed by the Russians since the Russian invasion in February. Putin, however, criticized Ukraine in his announcement for refusing to recognize the regions as Russian, and for Kiev’s rejection of any negotiations and targeting the regions.
Evacuation from Kherson
The announcement of martial law was broadcast on Russian state television. It also showed images of people fleeing the city of Kherson. The Ukrainian army is on the rise in the Kherson area. Western analysts believe it is quite possible that Ukraine will retake the strategically important city in the south this year. And they are also afraid of that in Russia. The loss of Kherson would be a serious blow to Putin.
The declared martial law could therefore be seen as an attempt by Putin to tighten his grip on the annexed Ukrainian regions.
Ukraine sees the evacuation of civilians from Kherson by pro-Russian authorities as a ‘propaganda show’. Andri Jermak, head of President Volodimir Zelensky’s office, also accuses Russia of scaring residents with fake newsletters about Ukrainian shelling of Kherson. Jermak says Ukrainian troops are not firing on their own cities.
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