Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced martial law on the territories of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Russia’s state news agency TASS reports.
“Heads” of the regions will be granted additional authority to “ensure security”. The president also stated that territorial defence headquarters must be created in the “Russian” regions.
Putin also announced that a Coordination Council would be created in the government, it will be headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
“Resettlement” of residents will be conducted in Crimea, Sevastopol, as well as the Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov regions, the freedom of movement will be restricted on these territories, as follows from the published presidential decree.
A “medium level of response” is being introduced on the territories of Crimea, Sevastopol, as well as the Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov regions.
A “high alert” state is being imposed in the regions of the Central and Southern Federal Districts of Russia, except for the abovementioned regions bordering Ukraine that also are part of these districts. In all other regions of Russia, a state of “basic readiness” is being introduced.
Governors of the regions located in the Central and Southern Federal Districts will be able to make their own decisions when it comes to certain measures of territorial and civil defence. Putin’s decree also states that transport traffic can be restricted while vehicles can be searched in these regions.
It was ordered to establish monthly payouts for mobilised citizens of at least 195,000 rubles (€3,300). The compensation should be paid out to citizens during their training, Putin emphasised.
At the same time, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that the Kremlin is not planning on closing Russian borders following the introduction of martial law.