Putin spoke of annexation of occupied territories. Bee: “Pseudo-referendums based on voices invented in the Kremlin”

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, issued decrees on Thursday declaring the occupied Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts as “sovereign and independent states.” The decision is to be approved by the Russian parliament, and then together with the alleged Donetsk People's Republic and the alleged Luhansk People's Republic will be incorporated into Russia. On Friday afternoon, the annexation was officially announced, with Vladimir Putin delivering a throwback speech.