In the decree, Pushilin said that the measures are necessary to “
strengthen the protection of public order and ensure public safety.” The five-page decree imposed numerous restrictions on residents of Donetsk. Most notable amongst the restrictions was a curfew that bars all persons from being in public spaces from 11pm – 4am, with special exceptions for military, emergency and repair personnel, and a ban on all public rallies, demonstrations, meetings and strikes without the special permission of a regional security agency.[s]Further restrictions allow the military to censor postal mail, telephone conversations and electronic communications. The military can also conduct a thorough search of an individual’s travel documents and identification. Detentions may last up to 48-hours. The increased measures were authorized by Presidential Executive Order No. 756 dated October 19, 2022. In 2022, the order signed by Putin instituted martial laws in Russian-annexed areas of Ukraine, which included Donetsk. The order stipulated a “maximum level of response” in accordance with Russian Federal Constitutional Law No.1 – FCZ. The law’s article 7 governs the implementation of martial law. The Russian government formally annexed Donetsk after a “sham vote” in 2022. Ukraine claims that the region is part of its territory.