Vladimir Putin stages 'votes' to annex occupied Ukrainian territories

Russia on Friday began staging UN-condemned “referendums” to annex the roughly one-fifth of neighboring Ukraine it occupies, marking a new escalation in the spiraling conflict between President Vladimir Putin and the US and its allies.

The votes are a “violation of the UN Charter and international law,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. 

The Kremlin ordered the ballots after its forces suffered their worst defeats to Ukraine’s military since the early weeks of the seven-month-long invasion. Putin this week also called for a “partial mobilization” to draft 300,000 reservists. 

He stepped up his threats toward Ukraine’s US and European allies, saying he’s ready