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US State Department: Martial law decree in occupied territories 'desperate' move to tighten control

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In reaction to Russia's declaration of martial law in the four illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the decree has "no legal claim whatsoever," as "there is no jurisdiction that they have over those territories."

“The truth is that Russia is not wanted in these regions," Patel said, "and the people in Ukraine are rejecting Russia’s illegal invasion and seizure by force of what is Ukrainian territory.”

Russia declared martial law in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on Oct. 19. Set to "come into force" on Oct. 20, the decree gives local proxies the power to forcibly relocate residents, control the movement of people, as well as other measures.

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The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.

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"Our country reminds the world before the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics that sport is not outside of politics. After all, the sanctioned individuals openly support aggression, war crimes, and occupation, thus destroying the principles and values ​​of the Olympic movement."

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The delegation consists of the recently appointed President’s Office head Kyrylo Budanov, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, and the parliamentary leader of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, David Arakhamia.

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