What Happened: Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced martial law in the four newly annexed regions of Ukraine and a heightened security regime in eight regions bordering Ukraine, Reuters reported Oct. 19. The announcement came as local authorities in the Kherson region said Ukrainian forces were attempting to seize the region, prompting the general commanding Russia's invasion, Sergey Surovikin, to admit that "hard decisions must be made" regarding the region.

Why It Matters: Putin's introduction of martial law and recent statements from Russia's political and military leaders suggest that Russia is preparing the Russian public for the likely loss of Kherson and prolonged conflict in Ukraine. Russia will likely be able to stabilize the front line should it lose Kherson and could use part of its freshly mobilizing troops as occupation forces in Ukraine and the bordering regions of Russia. Moscow is increasingly preparing public opinion for Russian forces' likely retreat from the western bank of the Dnieper River, and any decision to withdraw will be framed as Surovikin's, not Putin's.

Background: On Oct. 13, the acting governor of the Russian-occupied Kherson region appealed to the federal authorities of Russia with a request to organize the departure of Kherson families to other regions of Russia "for recreation and study."