Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the annexed regions of Ukraine in a bid to tighten Kremlin control.
They are Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
The Russian President made the announcement as he addressed his National Security Council on Wednesday.
It gives additional emergency powers to the heads of all regions of Russia.
His decree gives law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals.
The regions were illegally annexed by Russia, with referendums held that were widely condemned as being illegitimate by the international community.
Putin said: “In the current situation, I consider it necessary to give additional powers to the heads of all Russian regions.”
Attacks from Russia have left more than a thousand towns and villages across Ukraine without power.
Areas of Kyiv had no power and no water following strikes on the nation’s capital city.
Dozens of kamikaze drones were launched towards targets in Ukraine by Russia on Monday, aimed at energy infrastructure.
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