Moscow is poised to annex parts of Ukraine, following what Kyiv and the West have denounced as illegal, sham referendums held at gunpoint.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has now signed decrees paving the way for the occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to be formally annexed into Russia.
The decrees, made public by the Kremlin, said Mr Putin had recognised the two regions as independent territories. This is an intermediary step required ahead of the annexation.
