The annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya in Ukraine will take place during a ceremony in Moscow, Friday at 2 p.m. Norwegian time. The leaders of the pro-Russian occupation authorities must sign agreements that they will be incorporated into Russia. President Vladimir Putin will be present during the ceremony, according to Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Condemns Referendums The four regions have been led by Russian-backed separatists since 2014. Russia has recognized these as independent people’s republics. The rest of the world does not agree with this. The areas belong to Ukraine. Last week, so-called referendums on incorporation into Russia were held in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, and in Zaporizhzhya and Kherson in the south. The elections are not considered by international observers to have been either free or fair. Norway and a large number of Western countries have condemned the votes, and do not recognize the result, which was an overwhelming yes for incorporation. Last week, Putin announced that 300,000 reserve soldiers would be mobilized for the war against Ukraine. When the regions are now annexed by Russia, the country will be able to claim that these soldiers are fighting on Russian territory, and not in Ukraine. Thus, the Russian authorities can claim that the West is supplying Ukraine with weapons that can be used inside Russia.
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Russia incorporates occupied areas in Ukraine – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
