Moscow pledges ‘protection’ to areas annexed by Russia

PBC News:  Russia has sought to defend its seven-month-old war at the United Nations, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that regions of Ukraine where widely derided referendums are being held would be under Russia’s “full protection” if annexed by Moscow, reports Reuters.

The referendums in four eastern Ukrainian regions, aimed at annexing territory Russia has taken by force since its invasion in February, entered their third day on Sunday (Sept 25, 2022) and the Russian parliament could move to formalise the annexation within days.

Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the referendums as a sham designed to justify an escalation of the war and a mobilisation drive by Moscow after recent battlefield losses.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s first military mobilisation since World War Two, a move that triggered protests across the country and sent flocks of military-age men fleeing, causing tailbacks at borders and sold-out flights from the country.

On Sunday, Russia’s two most senior politicians addressed a string of complaints about the mobilisation, ordering regional officials to get a handle on the situation and swiftly solve the “excesses” that have stoked public anger.

Addressing the UN General Assembly and the world’s media in New York, Lavrov attempted to justify Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, repeating Moscow’s claims that the elected government in Kyiv was illegitimately installed and filled with neo-Nazis.

He cast opposition to what Russia calls a “special operation” as limited to the United States and countries under its sway. Nearly three-quarters of states in the Assembly voted to reprimand Russia and demand it withdraw its troops.

In a news conference following his speech, Lavrov said the regions where votes are under way would be under Moscow’s “full protection” if they are annexed by Russia.