Why Putin “doubled” by enacting martial law in occupied Ukraine | Globalism

His “special military operation” did not go according to plan: with the Ukrainian counterattack, he was Russia You lose the lands you occupied before.

Meanwhile, the Russian regions bordering Ukraine were subjected to incessant bombardment.

Moreover, the “partial mobilization” of soldiers announced by the Kremlin last month upset Russian society in all areas.

President Putin’s response? It was nothing like “I’m sorry, I made a huge mistake in invading Ukraine”. Security was tightened. Not only in occupied Ukraine, but everywhere Russia.

It doubles.

By decree, Putin imposed martial law on the four Ukrainian regions he claims to have annexed: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson.

It is unclear what difference, if any, it will make there: it certainly will not persuade Ukrainian forces to surrender their weapons. Kyiv is determined to restore the lost lands.

But the president tightened security measures throughout Russiaoffering three different security levels.

In regions close to the border with Ukraine, such as Belgorod, Bryansk, Krasnodar and Rostov, as well as annexed Crimea, a “medium level of response” has been announced: measures include strengthening security and public order, restrictions on traffic and entry and exit these areas.

Below is the “Increased Readiness” level, which applies to the central and southern regions of Russia, including Moscow. The presidential decree mentions “car magazines and traffic restrictions,” as well as “a stricter public order.”

In a message on social media, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin tried to reassure Muscovites that “there will be no measures that restrict the pace of normal life” in the city – which have yet to be verified.

The lowest level of safety applies to the rest of the country. This is it, north RussiaSiberia and the Russian Far East.

To comply with the decree of President Putin, all governors were ordered to establish an “operational headquarters”. These will include the leaders of each district and representatives of the army and police.

The governors were also instructed “to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and other forces and formations”. This appears to give the Russian military greater powers.

How will all this work in practice? It may take some time for it to become clear.

What is clear is that the security system put in place by President Putin can be used by the authorities to restrict freedoms across the country. Russia and mobilize efforts for a “special military operation”.

And if the security situation in Russia There is nothing to prevent more areas from being placed at a higher security level, including the application of martial law.

What does this tell us about the Russian president?