On Friday, Russia officially plans to take in Ukraine’s four regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya, which recently hosted mock trade union referendums. The Kremlin made clear in the morning what that means: Ukrainian attacks on the said areas would be treated as attacks on Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. And: With the annexation, those parts of the affected regions that are not currently controlled by the Russian armed forces would also be “de jure” included.
President Vladimir Putin had previously recognized Kherson and Zaporizhzhya as independent states. The corresponding decrees were published Friday evening. They are considered a prerequisite for the regions to be able to apply for admission to the Russian Federation.
Putin celebrates admission to Kremlin
In mock referenda, the territories had previously voted to join Russia. By February 21, Putin had already recognized the independence of Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which call themselves “People’s Republics”. All four territories are applying to join Russia, which Putin plans to formalize at a ceremony at the Kremlin on Friday afternoon.
The annexations are not internationally recognized. They are considered a violation of international law, which Ukraine does not want to accept. The UN Security Council will vote Friday on a resolution condemning the referendums. The resolution tabled by the US and Albania does not stand a chance of being adopted, as Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, can veto it. However, the text is to be submitted to the UN General Assembly at a later date.
25 killed in attack on vehicle convoy near Zaporizhzhya
According to the regional government, civilians were killed in a Russian rocket attack on a vehicle convoy near the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya. According to the Ukrainian Attorney General’s office, 25 people have been killed and about 50 injured. In the battle for the strategically important town of Lyman in the Donetsk region, Russian forces have taken several locations east of the city, according to Russian sources.
Zelenskyy: ‘Only absolute terrorists can act like this’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of shelling civilians in Zaporizhzhya and other places. “Only absolute terrorists, for whom there is no place in the civilized world, can act like this,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. Russia wants revenge for its failures and the unbroken Ukrainian resistance: “The enemy is cynically destroying peaceful Ukrainians because he has long lost everything human.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
