Putin Finally Approves Annexation Of Ukrainian Territories

The ruler of the Russian Federation has signed "laws".

Today, October 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed "laws" on the so-called "annexation" of four Ukrainian regions into Russia.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Russian media.

The fact that Putin will sign the treaties on Russia's annexation of Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories today became known yesterday when Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this. At the same time, as he noted, no speech by the Russian dictator on this occasion was planned.

What Preceded It

The process of annexation of Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories began when Russia organised fake "referendums" in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, which took place there between September 23 and 27. Their timing was announced after the successful counter-offensive by Ukrainian troops predominantly in the east of our country, which began in Kharkiv Region and continued in Donetsk Region.

The Russian occupants tried to involve a large number of people in the pseudo-referendums in order to somehow legitimize their results. For example, according to the Security Service of Ukraine, the so-called "DPR" wanted to involve children aged 13 to 17 in the voting and obliged parents and guardians to accompany them to the "polling stations".

At the same time, door-to-door visits were made and, according to the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Gaidai, people were forced to vote at gunpoint and doors were broken down if civilians did not want to take part in the fake 'referendum'. POWs from the Ukrainian military and "masses" from occupied Crimea were also involved in "voting".

Then, on September 30, Putin signed treaties on the so-called "annexation" of Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories to the Russian Federation; the gauleaders of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions were also present at the ceremony.

The annexation was then supported by all proxy Russian bodies, among them: The Constitutional Court, the State Duma and the Federation Council. The laws were passed unanimously in both chambers of the aggressor country's parliament.

The Reaction of the International Community

Countries allied to Ukraine reacted sharply to Russia's attempt to annex the temporarily occupied territories and condemned the Kremlin's intention.

In particular, US President Joe Biden assured that his country would not recognise the results of the fake referendums and further annexation.

"The United States condemns Russia's fraudulent attempt to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory today. Russia is violating international law, despising the United Nations Charter and showing its disdain for peace-loving people everywhere," Biden stressed.

For her part, British Prime Minister Liz Truss said that London would not recognise the annexation. She accused Putin of "violating international law with a clear disregard for the lives of the Ukrainian people".

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General António Guterres stressed that such actions by Russia directly contradict his organisation's charter.

"Russia, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, has a special responsibility to abide by the charter. Any decision to continue the annexation of Ukrainian territory would have no legal effect and deserves to be condemned... Annexation has no place in the modern world and cannot be recognised," he stressed.

The EU, on its part, announced a new package of anti-Russian sanctions in response to Russia's escalation. The European Commission has already presented the restrictions to be included in it.