04:42The State Duma adopted the federal constitutional laws on the accession of four new 'subjects', or regions, to the Russian Federation on Monday; the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye.
The individual decisions were approved unanimously.
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin confirmed that Russia will now have 89 federal subjects in total, while the names of the new regions remain the same.
Earlier on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said that the DPR and LPR would maintain their 2014 administrative areas, while Moscow would 'consult' with citizens of Zaporozhye and Kherson on their respective borders.
On September 30, President Vladimir Putin agreed to sign documents allowing the accession of the DPR and LPR, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, to the Russian Federation.
According to Moscow, it followed referenda in which people living in those areas exercised their right to self-determination and requested to join Russia.
Ukraine and its international allies condemned the move, calling it an annexation of Kiev’s sovereign territory.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the LPR and DPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.
Russia: State Duma adopts federal constitutional laws on accession of four regions to Russian Federation
The State Duma adopted the federal constitutional laws on the accession of four new 'subjects', or regions, to the Russian Federation on Monday; the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye.
The individual decisions were approved unanimously.
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin confirmed that Russia will now have 89 federal subjects in total, while the names of the new regions remain the same.
Earlier on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said that the DPR and LPR would maintain their 2014 administrative areas, while Moscow would 'consult' with citizens of Zaporozhye and Kherson on their respective borders.
On September 30, President Vladimir Putin agreed to sign documents allowing the accession of the DPR and LPR, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, to the Russian Federation.
According to Moscow, it followed referenda in which people living in those areas exercised their right to self-determination and requested to join Russia.
Ukraine and its international allies condemned the move, calling it an annexation of Kiev’s sovereign territory.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the LPR and DPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.
The State Duma adopted the federal constitutional laws on the accession of four new 'subjects', or regions, to the Russian Federation on Monday; the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye.
The individual decisions were approved unanimously.
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin confirmed that Russia will now have 89 federal subjects in total, while the names of the new regions remain the same.
Earlier on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said that the DPR and LPR would maintain their 2014 administrative areas, while Moscow would 'consult' with citizens of Zaporozhye and Kherson on their respective borders.
On September 30, President Vladimir Putin agreed to sign documents allowing the accession of the DPR and LPR, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, to the Russian Federation.
According to Moscow, it followed referenda in which people living in those areas exercised their right to self-determination and requested to join Russia.
Ukraine and its international allies condemned the move, calling it an annexation of Kiev’s sovereign territory.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the LPR and DPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.