Moscow, Russia- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said martial law will remain in place in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Regions.
The move by Putin comes after People in the four former Ukrainian regions voted in referendums last month to ask Moscow to accept them as part of Russia.
“In this regard, let me remind you that in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, martial law was in effect before joining Russia.
Now we need to formalize 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, so it will be immediately sent to the Federation Council,” said Putin.
In a separate decree signed on Wednesday, the Russian President ordered a State of ‘mid-level response’ in several other parts of the country bordering Ukraine. These include the Crimean Republic, the city of Sevastopol, as well as Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov Regions. This is a special regime that gives officials additional authority to ensure security and rapid reaction to any emergencies.
Earlier on Wednesday, officials in Kherson Region reported that Ukrainian troops appeared to be deploying for a large-scale offensive against the capital, Kherson.
The head of the Russian-controlled region of Kherson in southern Ukraine said pro-Kremlin administrative officials will be evacuating from the regional capital to the left bank of the Dnipro River. However, he said Moscow’s forces would keep fighting.
“The entire administration is already moving today. No one is going to hand over Kherson, but it is not ideal for residents to be in the city where hostilities will take place.
We are expecting attacks. The Ukrainians are not hiding this. We have enough strength and capability to repel these attacks. The city will be completely held, but we need to keep civilians safe,” said Vladimir Saldo, the regional head of Kherson.
Some 50 000 to 60 000 people are to be relocated from the Russian-occupied southern region of Kherson.
However, Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, described Russia’s announcements as a propaganda show citing that residents are under pressure to leave adding that a number have reported receiving mass text messages warning the city would be shelled, informing them that buses would be leaving from the port from 7am.
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