Russia Constitutionalizes Inclusion of Four Ukrainian Regions into the Federation

The inclusion of four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—into the Russian Federation has been constitutionalized in Russia. The country's Constitutional Court has approved the package of documents, with four rulings released today, according to the TASS news agency.

The texts of the Constitutional Court's decisions state that these agreements are effective from the moment of signing, which took place on Friday, prior to ratification by the Russian parliament.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the agreements for the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions on September 30. Before ratification by the Federal Assembly, a ruling from the Constitutional Court is required regarding the agreements' compliance with the country’s Fundamental Law.

The West has strongly criticized Putin for the annexation of Ukrainian territories.