Russia similarly annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to finalize today in Moscow the annexation of four Ukrainian regions to the Russian Federation, a move condemned by Kyiv and its Western supporters. Mr. Putin and other Russian officials have testified that once these regions are annexed, the Russian armed forces will defend them, even using nuclear weapons if necessary.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, has called a meeting of his government’s national security council for today. Kyiv does not appear to have the slightest intention of giving up its weapons, instead asking its Western allies for more to continue its counterattack against Russian troops.
A request to which the US Senate responded yesterday Thursday by approving a new package of more than twelve billion dollars, including an equipment aspect of about three billion dollars, for the training, supply and payment of Ukrainian military.
For his part, US President Joe Biden pledged that the US would “never” recognize the results of the referendums “orchestrated by Russia” in Ukraine.
“I want to be very clear on this issue: the United States will never, ever, ever recognize Russia’s claims to sovereign territory in Ukraine,” the US president insisted, condemning the “absolute travesty” of what he said were the referendums.
For UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, actions of this nature have no “place in the modern world”.
The successful Ukrainian counter-offensive in early September apparently forced Moscow to hold these referendums on the annexation of the four regions (Kherson, Zaporizhia, Lugansk, Donetsk) and to order the partial conscription of hundreds of thousands of Russians, a measure that led thousands of people to flee the country.
Vladimir Putin said yesterday that the attack – the “special military operation”, as he has dubbed it – he ordered against Ukraine on February 24 was “of course” a consequence of the “collapse of the Soviet Union”, as well as other conflicts in its vast territory never before ussr.
He added that he was heading for a “fairer world order” through a “difficult process”.
A ceremony to formalize the annexation of the two southern (Kherson, Zaporizhia) and the two eastern (Danietsk, Lugansk) Ukrainian regions will be held in the Kremlin at 15:00 (Greece time). President Putin will deliver a “big speech” at the ceremony, according to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The Russian capital is preparing for the ceremony: traffic restrictions will be imposed by the traffic police and later a celebratory concert is planned in the shadow of the Kremlin walls, in which the Russian president may make an appearance.
Officials installed by Moscow who govern the four Ukrainian regions are already in the city, according to Russian media.
The Battle of Lyman
Faced with a large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russia hastily organized the annexations with referendums overseen by armed representatives of the pro-Russian authorities, which have been described as a “travesty” and a “fraud” by Kyiv and its Western backers.
Russia similarly annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
The Ukrainian government has denounced Mr Putin’s annexations and threats to use nuclear weapons as its forces continue to retake territory in the east and south of the country.
After recapturing most of the northeastern sector around Kharkiv, they appear to have set about trying to recapture Liman, in Donetsk region, a major rail hub that was seized by the Russian army in May.
“The enemy is making continuous attacks to create encirclement conditions,” Donetsk separatist official Alexei Nikanorov told Russian television.
On the ground, Russian shelling continues in Ukrainian cities, with authorities reporting that a child was killed in the early hours of yesterday morning in Dnipro. At least five civilians were killed yesterday Wednesday in the part of Donetsk region under Ukrainian control, according to the same source.
Ukrainian forces have recaptured the Kupyansk railway junction (northeast), pushing back Russian troops from the eastern sector of the city, reported AFP journalists, who spotted five bodies of men in military uniforms near vehicles with Russian insignia.
The warring sides also carried out a new exchange of prisoners, with six Ukrainians released, including civilians, in Kyiv. Moscow did not specify how many former prisoners it recovered.
“Better than going to kill people”
In Russia, the conscription of hundreds of thousands of citizens to reinforce Russian lines in Ukraine continues, as does the exodus of several tens of thousands of citizens who fear being drafted.
Ikosaris, who crossed into Mongolia via the land border, asked not to be named, but explained why he left. “It was very difficult to leave everything behind. My home, my country, my people. But it’s better than going to kill people,” he explained to AFP in Ulaanbaatar.
As discontent grows in Russia over conscription, which in several cases has been carried out in a chaotic manner, Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Thursday that “mistakes” had been made that needed to be “corrected”, adding that those who received individual invitation letters should “go home” without the proper reasons”.
On the international front, gas leaks due to mysterious explosions in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines continue to fuel Russian-Western tensions.
The two sides half-heartedly blame each other for the explosions in the undersea pipelines, extremely expensive and critical infrastructure for supplying Europe with Russian natural gas.
Mr Putin denounced this “act of international terrorism”, “unprecedented sabotage”. The UN Security Council will discuss the issue today, at Moscow’s request.
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
