During the meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, President Vladimir Putin announced Martial law in the occupied regions of Ukraine. From today, Martial law is to be conducted in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Recently, Russia evacuated Kherson and issued a warning of a blackout in the region due to continuous strikes by the Ukrainian military.
Vladimir Saldo, the Kremlin-installed leader of the Kherson area, stated that there were preparations to transfer 50,000–60,000 people to the left bank of the Dnipro River, and 10,000 individuals would be added daily over six days. Putin also gave the go-ahead for forming a special coordination council headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, whose task will be to coordinate with the various regions of Russia to strengthen Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
The regulation outlines plans to tighten control over the civilian population in the seized territories, deport residents to Russian regions, restrict their ability to leave, illegally examine vehicles, and switch the local media to defence requirements” mode. Additionally, it is noted that a medium level of reaction is being introduced in the border regions of Russia, including Krasnodar Territory, Belgorod Region, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov Region and Crimea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared his views about the decision made by Moscow. He commented that martial law doesn’t have any significant effect in occupied territories as Ukraine itself has been in the situation since February when Putin declared an invasion of Ukraine.
In the occupied areas of the four regions of Ukraine, the Russian invaders organized fake referendums between September 23 and September 27. On September 30, President Putin announced the annexation of these states. Voters in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk chose to join Russia, while those in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia decided to split from Ukraine and join Russia. More than 90% of people 0in these areas voted yes, but no country recognized these votes and called them fake.