Putin signs the annexation treaties of four Ukrainian regions to Russia despite not having control in any of them

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Russian President Vladimir Putin formalized the annexation of four Ukrainian regions to Russia with the signing of the treaties, in a clear defiance of international law, despite the fact that his Army no longer has full control of any of these provinces adhering to their territory illegally last week.

The documents that finalize the process of territorial absorption were published this Wednesday morning on a government website.

Putin declared the annexation on October 1 at a ceremony in Moscow.

The body of a Russian soldier lies in a dilapidated cafe in the town of Petropavlovka in Kharkiv province, one of four regions annexed to Russia by President Vladimir Putin, in this picture taken on October 4, 2022.Andrii Marienko/AP

Earlier this week, both houses of the Russian Parliament ratified treaties making the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions part of Russia, following government-organized “referendums” that Ukraine and the West have branded a farce.

On the ground, the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered a new phase, even more dangerous.

Russia is facing mounting setbacks, as Ukrainian forces are increasingly regaining ground in the east and south of the country, precisely the same provinces it annexed.

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The borders of the territories claimed by Russia remain unclear, but Moscow has vowed to defend Russian territory - including the newly absorbed regions - with any means at its disposal, including nuclear weapons.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the annexation by announcing a fast-track NATO application and formally ruling out talks with Russia.

Zelenskyy's decree, published on Tuesday, declares that negotiations with Putin are impossible after his decision to seize four regions of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy's bureau chief Andriy Yermak wrote on his Telegram messaging service channel shortly after Putin signed the annexation that "worthless decisions of the terrorist country (Russia) are not worth the paper they are signed on." ”.

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The Ukrainian army announced on Wednesday that it had reconquered more villages in the southern Kherson region as part of its major counteroffensive.

On the battlefield, multiple explosions rocked the town of Bila Tserkva, southwest of kyiv, on Wednesday, damaging the capital's infrastructure, regional leader Oleksiy Kuleba told Telegram.

Initial investigations point to the attacks being carried out by so-called "kamikazes" or suicide drones, he said.

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In recent weeks, Russia has used this type of device more and more, which has posed a new challenge for the Ukrainian defense.

Unmanned vehicles can remain airborne for long periods of time before zeroing in on their target and detonating their payload at the last moment.