Big show in Moscow: Putin celebrates annexations – while his troops suffer setbacks

Created: 09/30/2022Updated: 09/30/2022 14:06

By: Lucas Maier

After the sham referendums in several regions of Ukraine, the annexation of these is to begin in Moscow today.

Shortly before the procedure, however, the limits have not yet been determined.

Update from Friday, September 30, 1:55 p.m .:

While the “celebrations” for the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. local time in Moscow, reports are mounting that the Russian military and its allies are experiencing massive problems in at least one of the regions should have.

In Donetsk, the strategically important small town of Lyman is said to be almost completely surrounded by Ukrainian troops.

The head of the Donetsk separatists, Denis Puschilin, recently confirmed the military setback, as the

writes.

The Donetsk region affected by the annexation is only about half under Russian control.

First report from Friday, September 30th:

Moscow – It has been discussed for a long time, now the time has actually come: Vladimir Putin and annexes four regions from the national territory of Ukraine.

While everything is being prepared for a huge celebration in Moscow, sometimes the boundaries of the areas are not even clear.

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Russia intends to incorporate the Luhansk, Donetsk, Cherson and Zaporizhia oblasts into the Russian Federation in a signing process on Friday (September 30).

This was preceded by “sham referenda” in the four regions.

Ukraine war: Russia wants to start the annexation from 3 p.m

"In the Grand Kremlin Palace at 3 p.m. the ceremony of signing the treaties on the accession of the new territories to the Russian Federation will take place.

They held referendums and turned to the Russian side with the corresponding request," the

quoted Russian spokesman Peskov as saying.

However, shortly before the start of the procedure, the boundaries of the areas do not seem to have been determined.

• Annexation of territories in Ukraine

• Regions:

  Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia

• Moscow:

  "Certificate of signing the contracts" begins at 3 p.m. (local time) in the Kremlin.

  (2 p.m. after Central European Summer Time)

• Red Square:

  Then there will be a big celebration in Moscow.

• Source:

  Tagesschau

While the two regions in eastern Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, are to be annexed within their 2014 borders, the Kremlin is uncertain about the other two.

Two hours before the planned signing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said in Moscow that he could not say anything about the borders of Cherson and Zaporizhia, as the

wrote.

In contrast to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, fewer people are behind the annexation of the Ukrainian territories, according to ARD correspondent Ina Ruck from Moscow.

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Moscow: Shortly before the planned annexation, the borders have not yet been determined

While Russia still seems unsure about the exact borders, the majority of Western politicians condemn the planned annexation.

"We will not accept these supposed results, we will not accept these border shifts!" said Federal President Steinmeier on Friday (September 30) on Russia's project.

Annexation Day: Celebrations in Russia as war rages on in Ukraine.

© Alexander Zemlianichenko/dpa

Equally clear words come from the United Kingdom.

"The UK will never ignore the sovereign will of these people and will never accept the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions as anything other than Ukrainian," said British Prime Minister Liz Truss in Moscow.

A speech by Vladimir Putin is also expected during the “ceremony”, as

reported by the Moscow

It remains to be seen whether there will be far-reaching announcements about the further course of the war.

(Lucas Maier)

While there are supposed to be celebrations in Moscow, Russian recruits are sent into the Ukraine war completely unprepared.