Russian President Vladimir Putin could announce a “change in the state of the special operation” in Ukraine, reports the independent newspaper “Readovka”, reports news.bg.
This is likely to happen in a new speech by the head of state to the nation later today.
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The move is expected after Putin today signed a law to join Russia’s four partially occupied Ukrainian regions, completing the formal process of annexation of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhia Oblast.
This step was achieved after referendums on joining Russia in the occupied territories were held at the end of September, with over 85% of residents voting “yes”. However, Ukraine and the West were adamant that they would not recognize the results because they consider referendums illegitimate.
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that due to the rising level of terrorist threats in Crimea, security gaps should be eliminated immediately.
For his part, the head of the peninsula, Sergey Aksyonov, had previously suggested that after the accession of new regions to Russia, an anti-terrorist operation would be conducted there.
Russia began military operations in Ukraine in February. While the West called the conflict a “war”, however, Moscow has stuck to the term “special operation”.
