On Friday, 30 September, during an address to both houses of the russian parliament, russian President Vladimir Putin may announce the annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine, the "Yevropeiska Pravda" reports referring to the UK MoD intelligence review.
“There is a realistic possibility that Putin will use his address to formally announce the accession of the occupied regions of Ukraine to the russian federation,” – the British intelligence notes reminding that “the referendums” currently ongoing within these territories are scheduled to conclude on 27 September.
“Russia’s leaders almost certainly hope that any accession announcement will be seen as a vindication of the ‘special military operation’ and will consolidate patriotic support for the conflict,” – the review states.
However, the British intelligence believes that this aspiration will likely be undermined by the information of russia’s recent battlefield sets-backs and unease about the partial mobilisation announced last week.