Russia has 4 new regions, Putin declares annexing Ukrainian lands

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday presided over a ceremony to annex four Ukrainian regions partly occupied by his forces, escalating his seven-month war and taking it into an unpredictable

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday presided over a ceremony to annex four Ukrainian regions partly occupied by his forces, escalating his seven-month war and taking it into an unpredictable new phase. 

Addressing a speech at the St. George’s Hall of the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin said, “It is the will of millions of people.” 

The ceremony took place three days after the completion of hastily staged so-called referendums in which Moscow’s proxies in the occupied regions claimed majorities of up to 99% in favour of joining Russia.

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Meanwhile, Ukraine and Western governments said the votes, announced only 10 days ago, had been conducted at gunpoint and were bogus and illegitimate.

In a speech repeatedly interrupted by applause, Putin declared that Russia had four new regions. “People living in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson region, and Zaporizhzhia region are becoming our compatriots forever,” Putin said during his speech.

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