Ukraine re-extends martial law, mobilization for another 90 days

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Kiev extended the period of martial law and national mobilization for another 90 days in Ukraine until February 19, 2023, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelznyak said on Wednesday.

"The Verkhovna Rada [Ukrainian parliament] has extended the period of martial law and general mobilization for 90 days until February 19, 2023," Zheleznyak said on Telegram.

Earlier in November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted bills to the Ukrainian parliament on the extension of the mobilization period and martial law, which expire on November 21.

Zelensky had previously used martial law to ban the activities of leftist parties in Ukraine.

He signed into law legislation banning parties that are "anti-Ukrainian in nature" and whose activities he claimed are intended to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The bill bans the activities of parties such as Opposition Platform - For Life, Party of Shariy, Nashi, Opposition Bloc, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, Derzhava, Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist Party of Ukraine, the Socialists, and Volodymyr Saldo Bloc. It was passed by the Ukrainian parliament on May 3. 

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) had halted the activity of a number of political parties and suspended their activities for a certain period of time, namely for the period of martial law in Ukraine, which had been put into effect after the start of the war.

What the parties in question have in common is the fact that they are predominantly leftist, and their ban could just be part of the Kiev regime's attempts at silencing the left-wing opposition under the pretext of the crisis currently ongoing in the country.

Silencing the opposition was not only an occurrence in Ukraine, as it was prominent in the West, with the latter implementing restrictive measures on Russian officials, entities, and media outlets.

Meanwhile, the mobilization was extended to the heavy losses Ukraine is facing at the hands of Russia, with reports from earlier in November showing that as many as 400 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in one day as Moscow's forces push back against Kiev's.

The losses were recorded as the Russian forces thwarted attacks towards Krasny Liman, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said, as well as similar offensives in the south of Donetsk, Nikolayev, and Kupyansk.

The Russian counteroffensive also resulted in many material losses, including armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers, pickup trucks, combat vehicles, and motor vehicles.