Putin declares martial law in annexed regions of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday declared martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed last month.

The regions – Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – will come under martial law Thursday, the Kremlin announced in a translated decree.

Martial law is essential defined as putting government-run operations under direct military control. 

Putin said the change will ensure safety and maintain public order, as well as ensure "anti-terrorist protection of critical facilities."

Last month, Putin declared a "partial" military mobilization and a draft for the war against Ukraine as Kyiv began retaking some land captured by Russia earlier in the war.