Iran Press/ Europe: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is introducing martial law in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine that Moscow last month claimed as its territory but is struggling to defend from Ukrainian advances.
In televised remarks to members of his Security Council on Wednesday, Putin also instructed the government to set up a special co-ordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to work with Russia's frontline regions.
The published Kremlin decree ordered an "economic mobilisation" in eight regions adjoining Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014. It said movement in and out of the areas would be restricted.
Putin said he was conferring additional powers on the leaders of all of Russia's 80-plus regions to protect critical facilities, maintain public order and increase production in support of Moscow's "special military operation."
The measures came on the same day that Russian-installed officials in Kherson, one of the four occupied regions, told civilians to leave some areas as soon as possible in anticipation of an imminent Ukrainian attack.
Putin said the steps he was ordering would increase the stability of the economy and industry and boost production in support of the military effort.
"We are working on solving very complex, large-scale tasks to ensure a reliable future for Russia, the future of our people," he said.
Kherson was the first major city to fall to Moscow's troops after the February invasion, and retaking it would be a crucial prize in Ukraine's ongoing counter-offensive.
The city is located on the western bank of the Dnieper, the same side where Ukrainian troops have been moving forward in a counteroffensive that began in August.
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