MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. The martial law, introduced by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree, enters force on Thursday in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics (DPR and LPR), as well as in the regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson.
In accordance with the document, it is to enter force at midnight on October 20. The four regions are in the same time zone as Moscow.
Within three days, the government is to prepare its proposals on measures to be taken in those territories in connection with the law. The measures are to be prepared with regard to recommendations of various governmental agencies, including the interior and defense ministries. Other measures envisaged by the related federal constitutional law can also be introduced in those areas.
Once the martial law is in place, inter-agency coordination headquarters will be created in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions to streamline territorial defense - a complex of measures to protect military, administrative and civilian facilities. Similar structures are already functioning in the DPR and LPR
Situation in Donbass
The move will have little effect on daily lives of the population in the DPR and LPR, the authorities said. According to DPR chief Denis Pushilin, the republic has de-facto been living in conditions of a martial law for eight and a half years, but now it has the opportunity for better coordination with the federal authorities.
The head of the LPR mission to Moscow, Rodion Miroshnik, said the martial law would help to speed up the process of synchronizing measures of support for mobilized citizens and their families. In his words, it was an expected and necessary move, allowing to cut red tape and increase responsibility of officials.
It is also possible that checkpoints will be built at those regions’ administrative borders to prevent smuggling of prohibited goods, LPR lawmaker Alexander Kriyerenko said.
Kherson and Zaporozhye
Acting Governor of the Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo said the power in the region will be transferred to the military while the martial law is in place. Currently, the region is evacuating civilians who live on the right bank of the Dnieper River to its left bank due to the threat of flooding, which could be triggered by a Ukrainian military strike on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. Saldo warned that Ukraine was accumulating substantial forces near Nikolayev and Krivoy Rog. According to the acting governor, the decision to relocate local residents was also due to the construction of massive defensive fortifications.
The operation of checkpoints and law enforcement will be enhanced in the Zaporozhye Region after martial law comes into force, Acting Governor of the Zaporozhye Region Yevgeny Balitsky wrote on his Telegram channel on Wednesday. Balitsky pointed out that the current security precautions will be tightened in the region and the curfew will still be in effect. In addition, entertaining and cultural events will be cancelled during martial law. The acting governor hailed the decision imposing martial law as a timely one, since "the Zaporozhye Region is prone to daily provocations and destabilization attempts from the neighboring Ukrainian territories."
Readiness levels in Russian regions
Apart from the martial law, the Russian president also signed a decree introducing various readiness levels in Russia’s administrative entities.
The four territories with martial law will have the maximum level of response. It implies that the leaders of the regions shall "exercise the powers to carry out mobilization measures in the economic sphere, in the executive authorities of these constituent entities of Russia and local governments, individual measures for territorial defense, civil defense measures, protection of the population and territories from natural and man-made emergencies." Also, regional chiefs will be able to implement measures to meet the needs of Russia’s Armed Forces and other troops and bodies.
In some other regions that border them, including Crimea, the medium level of readiness will be in place. The remaining Central and Southern regions of Russia will have the increased readiness level. In all other territories of Russia, a level of basic readiness will be in effect.
The exact list of measures that are to be taken, their timeframes, details and implementation are to be determined by regional heads in accordance with the situation and potential risks.