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In
televised remarks to members of his Security Council, 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 war effort.
The package of moves, nearly eight months into the war, marked
the latest escalation by Putin to counter a series of major
defeats at the hands of Ukrainian forces since the start of
September.
By extending to regions beyond Ukraine, they ensured that more
of Russia's population, already chastened by a partial
mobilisation announced last month, would feel the consequences
of the war in their own lives.
The published Kremlin decree ordered an "economic mobilisation"
in eight regions adjoining Ukraine, including Crimea, which
Russia invaded and annexed in 2014, and said movement in and out
of the regions would be restricted.
Putin said he was conferring additional powers on the leaders of
all Russia's 80-plus regions to protect critical facilities,
maintain public order and increase production in support of
Moscow's "special military operation".
The measures came on the same day that Russian-installed
officials in Kherson, one of the four occupied regions, told
civilians to leave some areas as soon as possible in
anticipation of an imminent Ukrainian attack.
Putin said the steps he was ordering would increase the
stability of the economy and industry and boost production in
support of the military effort.
"We are working on solving very complex, large-scale tasks to
ensure a reliable future for Russia, the future of our people,"
he said.
(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan, Editing by
Kevin Liffey)
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