On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in the four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.
The decree granted authorities additional power to restrict movement to, from and within the regions, and allows for residents to be relocated to “safe zones”.
Putin also instructed the creation of a special coordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to work with the “annexed” regions to support the war effort in Ukraine.
The President also ordered the “economic mobilization” in eight neighboring regions of Ukraine, including occupied Crimea.
Ukraine and its Western allies have denounced Russia’s attempt to formally annex the regions with an illegal “referendum”.
