Russian President Putin has announced that martial law will apply in the recently annexed Ukrainian regions from tomorrow. This affects the occupied territories in the Donbass and the regions of Zaporizhia and Cherson. Crimea is not mentioned.

This means that the occupied territories will come under tighter Kremlin control. Martial law gives more power to the military and restricts the freedoms of civilians.

What exactly will change is not yet entirely clear. A number of ministries and government organizations have three days to submit proposals. Measures that can be taken under martial law include deportation, censorship, closing schools, checking and tapping phones, and imposing travel bans.

alarm condition

Through a video link to the Security Council, Putin explained that martial law existed in the territories before they “joined Russia.” “Now we have to formalize this under Russian law. That is why I signed a decree introducing martial law in these four regions of the Russian Federation,” Putin said. The decree has yet to be approved by the Federation Council.

There is also a “state of alert” for eight Russian regions bordering Ukraine. Entry and exit to these regions is made more difficult and there are additional police controls. These include Belgorod, Krasnodar and Kursk.