Russian State Duma ratifies annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk “people’s republics”, parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions

The Russian State Duma (lower chamber of parliament) has ratified the agreements on Russia incorporating the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” as well as parts of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

The decision was unanimous.

State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has stated that the incorporation of those territories into Russia is “the only opportunity to save millions of people’s lives from the criminal Kyiv regime. To put an end to the attacks on civilian population, seniors, women, and children. To protect the people’s right to speak their native language. To have their own culture, history, and faith.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that

which started with the return of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia in 2014.”

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Earlier today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov specified that Russia would continue to “consult the population” of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions regarding their borders within Russia. There are no referendums planned on this issue, however.