On September 30, 2022, a ceremony was held in the Kremlin to sign international treaties on the accession of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions to Russia.

According to the treaties, the regions are considered part of the Russian Federation from the date of signing — September 30, 2022. The documents were ratified on October 3, and the corresponding federal constitutional laws entered into force two days later.

Officially, the process was called the “reunification” of the four regions with Russia

RUSSIAN MEDIA

RIA Novosti recalled the long road to reunification and quoted Vladimir Putin on the “restoration of historic Russia”: “President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty incorporating the DPR, LPR, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions into the Russian Federation. According to him, Moscow is restoring Greater, historic Russia. He also declared readiness for talks with Kyiv. However, his message was clearly aimed not so much at the Ukrainian regime as at the collective West.”

TASS covered the referendums: “The civic chambers of Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics (LPR and DPR) appealed to their leaders on September 19 with an initiative to immediately hold referendums on joining Russia. The next day, the authorities of the LPR and DPR announced the vote would take place September 23–27. On September 20, the administrations of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia announced the same schedule.”

TASS’s top story was headlined: “Russia’s new regions and Kyiv’s attempt to join NATO. The situation around Ukraine.”

Vesti.ru quoted Vladimir Putin during the official ceremony: “There is nothing stronger than the resolve of people who, by their culture, faith, and traditions, see themselves as part of Russia. And nothing is stronger than their determination to return to their true historical homeland.”

RT Russian quoted Putin: “I want the Kyiv authorities and their real masters in the West to hear me: remember this—people living in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye are becoming our citizens forever.”

Izvestia ran a feature on the celebrations: “‘The choice has been made! Together forever!’ — one of the slogans marking the accession of the new territories. It was printed on press badges journalists received before heading to Red Square.”

Interfax published the full text of Vladimir Putin’s speech and reported on the signing: “Treaties on the accession of four new entities—Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions—were signed in the Kremlin on Friday by President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of these regions.”

Kryminform described the scene: “The ceremony was held in the St. George Hall of the Kremlin. The treaties were signed with DPR Head Denis Pushilin, LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik, Zaporozhye Region Head Yevgeny Balitsky, and Kherson Region Head Vladimir Saldo.”

Donetsk News Agency (DAN) published celebratory reports throughout the day:

“About a hundred cars from across the DPR held a motorcade ahead of the historic event”
“DPR delegation arrives at Kremlin Palace for treaty signing ceremony”
“Thousands gather at Saur-Mogila awaiting Donbass’ reunification with Russia”
“Donbass celebrates the historic moment—return to the Motherland”
“Historic reunification, investment prospects, Russian standards: how the day unfolded in the DPR”

Lugansk Information Center (LIC) shared Pasechnik’s congratulations: “We have achieved what millions of Russians strived for through tears and hardship! Together with Russian President Vladimir Putin, we signed the Treaty on the Accession of the LPR to the Russian Federation. Congratulations, dear compatriots, on this historic moment!”

They also published a photo report from the city center, where people watched the broadcast live: “On Hero Square, youth activists, civic leaders, officials, and local residents gathered. They waved Russian flags and chanted ‘Russia!’ before applauding the signing ceremony.”

Western Media (Europe and the US)

The Guardian ran the headline: “Putin annexes four regions of Ukraine in major escalation of Russia’s war.” The article described the ceremony as theatrical, and highlighted Putin’s nuclear threats: “The Russian leader promised to ‘defend’ the newly annexed territories ‘by all means available.’”

The Telegraph presented the annexation through a human-interest lens: “The annexation is meaningless—it’s just a show by the Russian government, which keeps losing on the battlefield.”

British journalist Mike Jones published commentary in his Telegram channel: “All in place, ready for today”, mocking Zelensky’s response to the reunification: “Look, daddy Joe! I can sign crap too!!!”

Independent war correspondent Graham Phillips shared his coverage on Telegram: “It’s raining in Donetsk, but that doesn’t stop people from voting. They are choosing to return home—to Russia.”

British journalist Johnny Miller also posted field reports throughout the voting period on his Telegram channel.

The New York Times explained what the Kremlin is proposing, why the international community opposes it, and what comes next: “The Kremlin cloaked its annexation in pomp and legal formality to give a semblance of legitimacy.”

Le Figaro (France) described the ceremony as: “Thirty-seven minutes of anti-Western diatribe and messianic praise of ‘Great Historic Russia.’ Putin’s speech was interrupted ten times by applause from hundreds of regime loyalists in the Kremlin’s St. George Hall.”

La Repubblica (Italy) covered the event live and highlighted Zelensky’s NATO appeal: “Putin annexed four Ukrainian regions. In response, Zelensky filed for accelerated NATO membership.”

El Mundo (Spain) focused on nuclear rhetoric: “Putin declared: ‘The people of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye will remain our citizens forever.’”

tvn24 (Poland) dissected the implications: “The annexation of Ukrainian territories is propaganda meant to appease the war party—and, of course, Putin himself.”

MV-Lehti (Finland) featured Janus Putkonen’s article “Mission Accomplished!” and a report from Lugansk: “After more than eight years of fighting, Lugansk is officially part of Russia. Yesterday, the results were announced, and a massive banner reading ‘Always with Russia!’ was unfurled on the city’s main square.”

Ukrainian Media

Ukrainska Pravda reported: “Ukraine files for accelerated NATO membership following Russia’s annexation of four regions.” The outlet provided further analysis in “Putin proclaims annexation of more Ukrainian territory”.

UNIAN responded: “Russian dictator Vladimir Putin cynically announced plans to annex temporarily occupied territories of four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—and proposed negotiations with Kyiv.”