Russian President Putin issued a decree on the introduction of martial law in the annexed territories of Ukraine. It became known on Wednesday, October 19, after the publication of the decree, it will come into effect at 00.00:20 on October XNUMX.
Speaking via video link at a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Putin said: "The Kyiv regime has refused negotiations, continues to shell new Russian territories, using terrorist methods... they organize attacks on authorities, send saboteurs and try to create an underground... It was the Ukrainian special services that committed the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge "... "I instruct the government to prepare a draft decree on the creation of a special coordination council to solve the tasks of the SVO. It will be headed by the head of government."
He also informed that the heads of regions will have additional powers to ensure security and, in general, several levels of response to risks arising in the field of security will be provided for.
In the border regions of the Russian Federation, an "average level of response" is being implemented. In addition to the occupied Crimea, they included Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions.
At the same time, it is noted that the borders of the Russian Federation will not be closed in connection with the martial law.
In turn, the adviser to the head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podolyak noted that the introduction of martial law in the occupied territories by the Russian Federation does not change anything for Ukraine. According to him, such a move by Putin should be considered only as a pseudo-legalization of looting and looting of Ukrainian property before the next retreat of Russian troops.
"Let's look at things objectively: we have been in a state of full-scale war with the Russian Federation for eight months. It doesn't matter to us what they call it on TV and in Russian regulations: "special military operation" or "martial law". This is important only for the Russians themselves," Podolyak emphasized.
He added that all things provided for by "martial law" will be interpreted by Ukraine and international law as criminal crimes: "Forcible mobilization, confiscation of property and other things provided for by "martial law" will be interpreted in Ukraine and international law as criminal crimes, regardless of domestic legal justification on the territory of the Russian Federation," he said.
