BREAKING: War: Vladimir Putin begins formal annexation of Ukrainian regions
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold a ceremony in an ornate hall of the Kremlin to announce Russia's rule of about 15% of Ukraine, the largest European annexation since World War II worldwide.
Putin revealed that the four Ukrainian regions will remain “Russian forever”.
The annexation comes on the heels of referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which Western countries have denounced as illegal.
However, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, denounced the decision, saying that Putin wanted war more than life.
UN chief Antonio Guterres also called it a dangerous escalation and a violation of the UN charter.
This comes as Ukrainian forces partially encircle a strategic town in eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, a Russian rocket attack left at least 25 people dead in Zaporizhzhia, while 50 others were injured.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold a ceremony in an ornate hall of the Kremlin to announce Russia's rule of about 15% of Ukraine, the largest European annexation since World War II worldwide.
Putin revealed that the four Ukrainian regions will remain “Russian forever”.
The annexation comes on the heels of referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which Western countries have denounced as illegal.
However, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, denounced the decision, saying that Putin wanted war more than life.
UN chief Antonio Guterres also called it a dangerous escalation and a violation of the UN charter.
This comes as Ukrainian forces partially encircle a strategic town in eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, a Russian rocket attack left at least 25 people dead in Zaporizhzhia, while 50 others were injured.
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