Russia’s statement on annexation, Ukraine is applying to join NATO, strike on Zaporizhzhia: the highlights of the day

Russia announced the annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine

On September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed “agreements” on the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts. This was discussed in the broadcast of the ceremony of signing “agreements” in the Kremlin.

Next, the annexation process must be approved by the parliament and the constitutional court, and then finally approved by the president. However, these are only formalities: it is unlikely that MPs or judges will try to block Putin's decision.

Ukraine is applying to join NATO.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is applying for accelerated NATO accession. Kyiv does not refuse negotiations with Russia but will do so only with the new Russian president, Zelenskyy said in his video address.

Following the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, the President announced that Ukraine will continue to strengthen and work on the de-occupation of the entire territory. Zelenskyy also emphasized that Ukraine should legally formalize everything that has been achieved in fact.

According to the President, Ukraine wants to join NATO according to a procedure that “will correspond to our importance for the protection of our entire community”, that is, in an accelerated manner.

Reaction of the world to the statements of the Russian Federation about the annexation of Ukrainian territories

After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, the USA, Canada, and the UK strengthened their sanctions against oligarchs and high-ranking officials of the Russian Federation.

The Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Estonia, Georgia, Slovenia, Moldova, Israel, Japan, and other countries have already condemned Russia's attempt to annex Ukrainian territories.

Strike on the humanitarian convoy in Zaporizhzhia

Russian occupying forces launched a missile attack on a civilian humanitarian convoy on its way out of the regional center of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. As a result of the attack, 30 people were killed, and 88 were injured.

This was announced by the head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Starukh. He says that people were standing in line to leave for the temporarily occupied territory, to pick up their relatives, to take away aid.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that such attacks can only be carried out by “violent terrorists who should have no place in the civilized world”.

Shelling of Dnipro

In the city of Dnipro, a third dead person was found under rubble at a transport company that the Russians fired at on the night of September 30. This was announced by the head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Valentyn Reznichenko.

Rescuers have completed search operations at the site of the attack. In general, it is known about three dead and five wounded, Reznichenko said.