President Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

Russian President Putin. Photo: TASS

Accordingly, one document recognizes “state sovereignty and independence of the Zaporozhye Region”, the other has similar content for the Kherson Region. Both decrees come into force from the date of signing.

According to TASS, these decrees also show that Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision is based on the general principles and practices of international law, recognizing and confirming the principle of equality and self-determination of peoples stated in the Charter of the United Nations, and based on the will and aspirations of the people expressed in a referendum.

Referendums on becoming part of Russia were held in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republics (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republics (LPR), as well as in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions from September 23 to 27. In the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the question asked voters whether they "support the region's separation from Ukraine, the creation of an independent state, and joining the Russian Federation?" Putin had previously said that Moscow would support the decision taken through the referendums.