Only abovementioned 5 regions had referendums and therefore fall into “Russia considers part of Russia” category as they are really treated as Russian regions by Russian law. Any other regions of Ukraine are not, at least currently.
Well, if Putin says he considers Odessa part of Russia (see the tass article), we should believe him. The fact Odessa has not had a referendum and was annexed is not for lack of trying.
And the other 5 are according to Russian law, Russia. Meaning they can send conscripts there legally, as they can only be deployed within Russian borders.
5 contested regions? Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporhizhia, Kherson, Crimea, Odessa.
And no #2 Kharkiv and #3 Odessa are both on Putin’s “wishlist”.
The end goal is to link up the coast to Transnistria and make what is left of Ukraine landlocked.
Only abovementioned 5 regions had referendums and therefore fall into “Russia considers part of Russia” category as they are really treated as Russian regions by Russian law. Any other regions of Ukraine are not, at least currently.
Well, if Putin says he considers Odessa part of Russia (see the tass article), we should believe him. The fact Odessa has not had a referendum and was annexed is not for lack of trying.
And the other 5 are according to Russian law, Russia. Meaning they can send conscripts there legally, as they can only be deployed within Russian borders.