'People Have Made Their Choice': Putin Announces Support for Recognition of 4 New Regions of Russia

Between September 23 and 27, the Donbass republics and areas of Kherson and Zaporozhye freed during the course of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine held referenda on whether to accede into Russia. Shortly after midnight on Friday, the Russian president signed a pair of decrees recognizing Kherson and Zaporozhye as sovereign and independent.