New Delhi, March 5: President Vladimir Putin on Saturday denied rumours that Russia was going to declare a state of emergency or martial law due to the ongoing military operation in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Moscow.

"Martial law is declared in a country... in case of a foreign aggression, including in particular places where hostilities take place. We don't have a case like this, and I hope we won't," Putin said in a televised meeting with Russian female military service members, RT reported. Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wanted to Use Provocation at Nuclear Plant to Establish No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine, Says Former Ukraine PM Mykola Azarov.

Russian law also allows declaring various forms of special state or a state of emergency due to serious domestic threats or disasters, Putin added. That is not the case now either, he said.

"We don't plan to impose any special state on the territory of the Russian Federation," the president assured. "There is no need for it today."

A senior Ukrainian official earlier this week claimed its foreign intelligence service had learned that Putin might "preventively" declare martial law in Russia on Friday.

Presidential aide Mikhail Podolyak claimed without evidence that Russia would ban all protests, cut any contacts with other nations, and impose other restrictions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2022 09:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).