Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts

• 1. The Wild Fields And The Black Sea

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  Vast regions to the north of the Black Sea were once known as the Wild Fields. In the 15th century, the entire area of the northern coast came under the control of the Crimean Khanate. This state became a vassal of the Ottoman Empire during that era. The Russian Empire gradually gained control over the area in the 18th century. Peace treaties with the Cossack Hetmanate and the Ottoman Empire followed after the Russo-Turkish Wars. The name Novorossiya entered official usage in 1764. It was further expanded by annexing the Ukrainian Cossack Zaporozhian Sich in 1775. The four oblasts originated from Yekaterinoslav, Kherson, Taurida and Kharkov Governorates. They were reorganized over the years during Communist rule when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The boundaries remained static after Ukraine became independent in 1991. All four regions overwhelmingly voted in favour of Ukrainian independence during the 1991 referendum.

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• 2. Crimea And The Donbas Precedent

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  In February and March 2014, Russia occupied and subsequently annexed Crimea from Ukraine. A referendum held to justify this move was mostly internationally unrecognized. The UN General Assembly condemned the action taken against the peninsula. In April 2014, pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine proclaimed the independence of two new entities. These were the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. Unofficial support came from Moscow for these declarations. On the 21st of February 2022, Russia officially recognized both republics as sovereign states. Three days later, a full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Formal military occupations started in the first week of that month. Territory in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts fell under Russian control during this campaign. Putin announced a special military operation on the 23rd of February via televised address. He claimed that Russia had no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory at that time.

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• 3. The September Referendums And Ceremony

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  On the 20th of September, authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic announced referendums. They also included occupation regimes of Kherson Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the vote. Voting took place between 23 and the 27th of September across these regions. On the 27th of September, Russian officials claimed that the accession referendum in Zaporizhzhia Oblast passed with 93.11% approval. The day after the votes concluded, the KMCA proclaimed the independence of the Kherson region. The ZMCA did the same for Zaporizhzhia, declaring it the Zaporozhye region. On the 29th of September, Russia recognized both new regions as independent countries. Hours before annexing them officially, Moscow granted this status. Vladimir Putin signed accession treaties with four pro-Russian leaders on the 30th of September. These leaders were Leonid Pasechnik, Denis Pushilin, Yevgeny Balitsky, and Volodymyr Saldo. The signing ceremony occurred in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. It took place in the St. George Hall within the palace complex.

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• 4. Boundaries And Military Reality

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  The exact boundaries of the territories declared annexed were not legally defined at the time. Drafts of final documents referred to territories on the day of admission to the Russian Federation. This was a prospective future event rather than a fixed line. At the time of proceedings, Russia held about 60% of Donetsk Oblast. Most of Luhansk Oblast remained under their control. Almost all of Kherson Oblast was occupied by Russian forces. About 70% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast fell under military command. Ukraine recaptured several towns in Donetsk Oblast hours after the declaration. Ukrainian intelligence claimed to have obtained documents indicating that a planned referendum in Kharkiv Oblast was cancelled due to losses. On the 11th of November 2022, Ukraine recaptured the city of Kherson during its counteroffensive. The areas controlled by Russia amounted to about 15% of Ukraine's total area. This territory is roughly the size of Portugal or Hungary.

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• 5. Putin's Speech To Parliament

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  Vladimir Putin delivered a speech lasting 37 minutes to both chambers of the Russian parliament. He spoke in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace. The tone of the address was strongly anti-American and anti-Western. Observers described it as his most anti-Western speech to date. Following the results of recent referendums, he said it was the will of millions of people. They wished to become part of Russia and Russian citizens forever. He cited Article 1 of the UN charter as justification for his claims. Within the speech, Putin spoke about the colonial past of the Western world. He denounced its totalitarianism, despotism and apartheid. He accused the West of attempting to create a neo-colonial and unipolar world order. He called ruling circles of the so-called West the enemy threatening religion and morality. He even accused them of Satanism. Putin also blamed the Nord Stream gas leaks on the Anglo-Saxons. He stated that the use of nuclear weapons by the US set a precedent.

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• 6. Global Condemnation And Diplomatic Isolation

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  The annexation is unrecognized by the international community with few exceptions. Only North Korea and Baathist Syria have recognized the move. A United Nations Security Council meeting held on the 30th of September 2022 resulted in ten yes votes and four abstentions. Russia vetoed the resolution condemning their actions. On the 12th of October 2022, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution ES-11/4. It had 143 nations voting in favor and only five against. The resolution condemned the illegal so-called referendums and attempted annexation. Rosemary DiCarlo rejected the referendum stating unilateral actions cannot be regarded as legal under international law. She said such actions aimed to provide a veneer of legitimacy to acquisition by force. Brazil, China, Gabon and India abstained from the vote. A YouGov poll showed that 63% of respondents in Sweden wanted to support Ukraine until Russian troops leave all occupied territories. A Gallup poll found that 62% of respondents in the United States supported regaining territory even if it prolonged the war.

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• 7. Martial Law And Economic Costs

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  On the 19th of October, President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in the annexed areas. Legislation allowed for bans on public gatherings and other widespread restrictions on personal liberty. On the 1st of October, Russia began requiring Ukrainians wishing to cross into Ukrainian-held areas to fill out exit visas. Getting permission to leave can take up to two weeks. Clearances from various Russian security agencies are required. Newsweek reported estimates suggesting reconstruction would cost between $100 and $200 billion. A state budget published on the 29th of September revealed 3.3 billion roubles set aside to rebuild regions. In December 2022, Peskov stated peace plans could only proceed from Ukraine's recognition of annexation. In January 2023, Putin cited sovereignty over these territories as a condition for talks. Chief of the General Staff of the British Army Roland Walker said full control might take five years. He estimated more than 1.5 million casualties would be lost during such an effort.

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