Russian President Vladimir Putin Signs Martial Law Decree On Four Annexed Ukrainian Territories, What For?

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: TASS/Mikhail Claimyev)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on imposing martial law in four new regions of Russia.

"I have signed a decree on the imposition of martial law in these four constituent entities of Russia (Donetsk People's Republic, Lugansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia Region and Kherson). This will soon be sent to the Federation Council for approval. The State Duma has been notified of this decision," it said. President Putin at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday held via video link, launches TASS on 20 October.

President Putin noted that martial law was in effect in these regions before they joined Russia.

"Now we need to formalize this regime within the framework of Russian legislation," he explained.

In a televised address to members of his Security Council, President Putin increased the security powers of all Russia's regional governors and ordered the creation of a special coordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, to step up the faltering war effort.

He said "the entire system of state administration", not just the special security agencies, should be directed to support what Russia calls "special military operations," citing Reuters.

This is the latest step taken by President Putin to deal with a series of major defeats at the hands of Ukrainian forces since early September.

The Kremlin's decree ordered "economic mobilization" in eight regions bordering Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014.

This places them in a special one-step regime under martial law and allows for restrictions on the movement of people.

In addition, President Putin bestowed additional powers on the leaders of Russia's more than 80 regions to protect important facilities, maintain public order, and increase production to support the war effort.