Putin puts 4 regions under martial law

Russia leader's move gives authorities sweeping powers to impose curfews

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Wednesday declaring martial law in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The four regions' leaders will also be granted "additional authority", Putin said.

The upper house Federation Council approved the declaration later on Wednesday, the final formality needed for it to become official. It took effect on Thursday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia will not close its borders following the martial law declaration.

Under Russian law, martial law gives authorities sweeping powers to impose curfews, travel and residence restrictions, military censorship and more.

The country's Constitution states that when martial law is in effect, "the rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens and stateless persons" may be restricted.

Putin also announced the "formation of a coordinating council "under the Russian government, which would work toward meeting all necessary objectives that arise in the course of the country's special military operation, the Kremlin said, adding that the council would be headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

During a televised meeting of Russia's Security Council, Putin accused Ukraine of using "terrorist methods". "They send sabotage groups into our territory," he said, claiming Moscow had foiled other attacks, "including at our nuclear power facilities", after the Crimea bridge was targeted.

The Russian president announced that the security powers of all Russian regional governors would be boosted, and he ordered the creation of a special coordinating council under Mishustin to step up the battle effort.

He said the "entire system of state administration", not only the specialized security agencies, must be geared to support Russia's special military operation.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin sought to quell worries that the declaration would impact residents of the Russian capital, saying in a Telegram post that the city will not impose any measures that might change "the normal rhythm of life" in the city.

Russia's Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions should increase their security and limit the movement of vehicles over their borders, according to the Kremlin's decrees.

Accusation denied

In a letter from Ukraine's United Nations Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and members of the UN Security Council, Ukraine accused Iran of violating a UN Security Council ban on the transfer of drones capable of flying 300 kilometers. Russia and Iran denied on Wednesday that the drones are Iranian.

Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told reporters after a council meeting late on Wednesday that the unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, used by the Russian army in Ukraine "are manufactured in Russia, so these are all baseless allegations".

He accused Western nations of their "usual shameful practice" of trying to pressure Iran by leveling such accusations about its violation of Resolution 2231.

Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani "categorically rejected unfounded and unsubstantiated claims" that Iran has transferred UAVs for use in the conflict.

"Moreover, Iran is of the firm belief that none of its arms exports, including UAVs, to any country" violate Resolution 2231, he said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday rejected certain "unsubstantiated claims" about Teheran's stance toward the conflict in Ukraine, saying Iran is ready to play a role in ending the crisis.

Making the remarks in a phone call with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, Raisi said Teheran is ready to use "all its capacities and potential" to help end the conflict in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, leaders of the 27 European Union countries were meeting on Thursday for the second time to try to bring down energy prices, though persistent divisions between them mean the bloc is unlikely for now to put a ceiling on what it pays for gas.

The EU countries are expected to back an alternative price benchmark for liquefied natural gas and joint gas buying, after earlier agreeing to cut consumption and introduce levies on windfall profits in the energy industry.

Agencies contributed to this story.