Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as independent.

The decree stated that “in accordance with the principles and norms of international law, which affirm the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and taking into account the will of the inhabitants of the Kherson region, at a referendum held on September 27, 2022, a decision was made: recognize the sovereignty and independence of the Kherson region, ”the official Internet portal of legal information reports. A similar decree pointed to the recognition of the sovereignty and independence of the Zaporozhye region.

It comes as Putin prepares to announce the annexation of 4 regions of Ukraine to Russia on Friday after pro-Russian referendums were held in them, namely Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson, which was confirmed by the Kremlin. , he will hold a ceremony of signing agreements on the accession of new Ukrainian regions to Russia with the participation of Putin.

On the evening of September 27, referendums on the issue of joining four regions of Ukraine to Russia ended, and the vast majority of the population of these regions voted in favor of joining the Russian Federation.