the impact of Russian annexations on the conflict

Dozens of cars with blown windows. A devastating strike hit a transit car park, where families of Ukrainians wishing to return to their homes in the occupied zone are waiting. These three strikes occurred a few hours before the annexation ceremonies on Friday, September 30. They left 25 dead and more than 50 injured. Russians and Ukrainians blame each other for the attack, perpetrated in the region of Zaporizhiaon the edge of the area annexed by Russia, as Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.

The annexations were carried out in the middle of the war, when the front lines were not fixed. For several months, the Kremlin has imposed its authority. The Russian flag is already flying on many official buildings. At school, we already learn the anthem of the occupier, and the school books have been modified. South of the region of Zaporizhiathe Russian authorities have been distributing their passports since the summer. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Ukrainian or Russian. We don’t know what’s gonna happen next, but we need to survive“, says a resident. To protect the four newly annexed regions, Vladimir Putin again brandished the nuclear threat. With his annexations, the leader isolates himself even more on the international scene.