Putin’s security decree ‘doubles down’
His “special military operation” has not gone as planned. Russia has been losing territory it had occupied as a result of the Ukrainian counter-offensive.
Meanwhile, Russian regions bordering Ukraine have been shelled on a regular basis.
Furthermore, the Kremlin’s announcement of “partial mobilisation” last month sparked widespread concern in Russian society.
President Putin’s reaction? “Sorry, I made a huge mistake by invading Ukraine,” it’s not. It is increased security. Not only in occupied Ukraine, but throughout Russia.
He’s going all in.
Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the four Ukrainian regions he claims to have annexed: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
It’s unclear what difference, if any, that will make: it’s unlikely to persuade Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms. Kyiv is adamant about regaining lost territory.
However, the Kremlin leader has tightened security across Russia by instituting three different security levels.
A “medium level of response” has been declared in regions close to the Ukrainian border, such as Belgorod, Bryansk, Krasnodar, and Rostov, as well as in annexed Crimea. Among the measures are increased security and public order, as well as restrictions on traffic movement and entry and exit from these areas.
The level below that is “heightened readiness.” This applies to Russia’s central and southern regions, including Moscow. “Vehicle searches and traffic restrictions,” as well as “tighter public order security,” are mentioned in the presidential decree.
