Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law on Wednesday in four regions of Ukraine.
The annexed Ukraine regions are– Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
"I signed a decree to introduce martial law in these four subjects of the Russian Federation," said Vladimir Putin during a national security council meeting.
After the council meeting, the Kremlin published a decree saying that martial law will be introduced in the regions from early Thursday.
Putin's announcement on martial law clearly means more powers to Kremlin-backed officials.
The decree will restrict movement in and out of eight regions adjoining Ukraine.
These include southern regions of Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk & Rostov and Crimea & Sevastopol.
With the announcement of martial law, Putin said that more emergency powers will be given to the heads of all regions of Russia.
“In the current situation, I consider it necessary to give additional powers to heads of all Russian regions,” said Putin.
The Russian President also ordered the establishment of a coordination committee to increase interaction between government agencies in dealing with the fighting in Ukraine.