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Putin signs decrees paving way for annexation of two Ukraine regions
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees early Friday (Sep 30) recognizing the so-called independence of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine captured by the Russian army.
Referendums on joining Russia were held between Sept. 23-27 in the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which are under the control of pro-Russian separatists, and in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a ceremony will be held at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Sept. 30 for the incorporation of the regions into Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the ceremony on Ukraine's breakaway regions' joining Russia, the spokesman said on Thursday (Sep 29).
Speaking to reporters at a press briefing in Moscow, Dmitry Peskov said Putin will meet with the authorities of Ukraine's separatist regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, and sign the agreements on joining Russia, which will be followed by a ceremony.
The hastly arranged votes were conducted in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Russia does not fully control any of the four regions, where military hostilities are ongoing, and much of the population has fled since the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russia to annex four occupied Ukraine regions on Friday, Putin to attend ceremony
The West sees the referendums as a violation of the United Nations Charter and illegal under international law.
Russia recognized the so-called independence of the separatist governments in Donetsk and Luhansk on Feb. 21.
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