Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was introducing martial law in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
"I signed a decree to introduce martial law in these four subjects of the Russian Federation," Putin said during a televised National Security Council meeting. The Kremlin then published a decree saying martial law will be implemented early Thursday.
Putin also instructed the government to set up a special coordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to work with Russia's regions to boost Moscow's efforts in Ukraine.
The president set up a medium-level response in the regions of Russia bordering Ukraine and high alert in other areas of the central and southern districts.