Putin declares martial law in 4 annexed Ukrainian territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday decreed martial law on four illegally-annexed Ukrainian territories. Putin has not yet specified what steps would be taken under the order, which goes into effect later this week, reports The Associated Press.
Starting at midnight on Thursday morning, the annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia will be subject to strict military controls, with Russia's military granted the power to arrest and detain as needed, The Washington Post reports. The decree also implied potential restrictions on travel and public gatherings, as well as tighter censorship.
The martial law orders were unanimously ratified by the upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, the Post continues.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Moscow announced the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions at the end of September, a move that was widely criticized. The U.N. General Assembly then rejected Russia's request for a secret ballot when voting on whether to condemn its actions, before overwhelmingly moving to do exactly that. Putin has also threatened nuclear action and empowered Russia's regional governors to step up Moscow's struggling war effort, Reuters reports.
Mykhailo Podolyak, senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, called the Wednesday declaration a "pseudo-legalization of looting of Ukrainians' property." "This does not change anything for Ukraine: We continue the liberation and deoccupation of our territories," he wrote on Twitter.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
El Palace Barcelona: old-world luxury in the heart of the city
The Week Recommends This historic hotel is set within a former Ritz outpost moments from the Passeig de Gràcia
-
The best history books to read in 2025
The Week Recommends These fascinating deep-dives are perfect for history buffs
-
July 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the danger of talking politics at a family picnic, and disappearing Medicaid entitlements
-
Ottawa Treaty: why are Russia's neighbours leaving anti-landmine agreement?
Today's Big Question Ukraine to follow Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as Nato looks to build a new ‘Iron Curtain' of millions of landmines
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare
-
How long can Nato keep Donald Trump happy?
Today's Big Question Military alliance pulls out all the stops to woo US president on his peacemaker victory lap
-
How far would Russia go for Iran?
Today's Big Question US air strikes represent an 'embarrassment, provocation and opportunity' all rolled into one for Vladimir Putin
-
Are the UK and Russia already at war?
Today's Big Question Moscow has long been on a 'menacing' war footing with London, says leading UK defence adviser
-
Is UK's new defence plan transformational or too little, too late?
Today's Big Question Labour's 10-year strategy 'an exercise in tightly bounded ambition' already 'overshadowed by a row over money'
-
How will the MoD's new cyber command unit work?
Today's Big Question Defence secretary outlines plans to combat 'intensifying' threat of cyberattacks from hostile states such as Russia
-
What are the different types of nuclear weapons?
The Explainer Speculation mounts that post-war taboo on nuclear weapons could soon be shattered by use of 'battlefield' missiles