Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine: Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The four regions - Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk - were unilaterally claimed by Moscow last month, annexed as part of Russia’s war with Ukraine. 

In a televised speech to members of his National Security Council, Putin announced the immediate declaration of martial law in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk. “Now we need to formalise this regime within the framework of Russian legislation. Therefore, I signed a decree on the introduction of martial law in these four subjects of the Russian Federation,” he said. Martial law refers to the temporary military control over normal civil functions and civil law. Martial law is often declared by a government's highest official or leader in states of emergency.

Putin also announced the establishment of a new state coordination council, aimed at fulfilling the objectives of what he calls his special military operation. The Russian president said the measures will increase the stability of the economy, industry and production. "We are working on solving very complex, large-scale tasks to ensure a reliable future for Russia, the future of our people," Putin said.

Russian officials in Kherson have reportedly told civilians to leave. The head of the Russian occupation administration in Kherson has spoken of plans to move 60,000 people to the Dnieper’s east bank and then on to Russia at a rate of 10,000 people per day. Kherson is the second-largest population centre in Ukraine captured by Russia during the war. Russia is clinging onto the city after suffering recent losses by the Ukrainian counteroffensive. 

“The battle for Kherson will begin in the very near future,” said Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy administrator of the Kherson region. “The civilian population is advised, if possible, to leave the area of the upcoming fierce hostilities.”

Both civilians and the Russian officials in the city will be removed, prompting speculation of an oncoming Ukrainian offensive in the city. The Guardian reports that a number of residents have reported receiving mass text messages warning that the city will be shelled and informing them that buses will be leaving from the port from 7am. Russian television footage showed people gathered at the port waiting to leave. 

Russian official Vladimir Saldo said that they are not going to surrender the city. He said that the movement of civilians is tied to a decision to “build a sizeable defensive fortifications to repulse any attack” and that there is “no place for civilians where the military is operating.”

(Sources: NBC News, Reuters, The Guardian)