Russia Illegally Annexes Four Ukrainian Oblasts

Putin signed legislation annexing Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts into Russia — the largest attempted annexation in Europe since World War II. The UN General Assembly voted 143-5 to condemn the annexation as illegal. Russia did not fully control any of the four regions at the time of annexation. NATO and G7 partners pledged never to recognize the illegal land grabs.