At least 25 civilians were killed in a Russian attack on a humanitarian vehicle in Zaporozhye.

A Russian attack In the Ukrainian city Zaporizhia Leave at least 25 people died and dozens were injuredHours before Moscow, a Ukrainian official said they planned to annex more territory Ukraine Seven months of conflict intensified.

Regional Governor ZaporizhiaOleksandr Staruk made the announcement in a statement posted online. At least he noted 50 people were injured After Russian forces attacked a humanitarian convoy en route to Russian-occupied territory.

The attack comes one at a time Moscow Preparing to merge four regions Russia After a referendum, it was criticized by the international community as part of its invasion Ukraine. These regions include adjacent areas ZaporizhiaBut not a city under Ukrainian control.

Staruch The passengers in the convoy were planning to go to the occupied territory Russia Relatives should be picked up and taken to safety. He added that rescue teams are already at the scene of the attack.

Connection, and celebratory concerts and festivals are planned Moscow and Occupied Territories occur days after the electorate is declared Referendums administered by Russia were passed and described by Ukrainian and Western authorities Illegal, forced and fraudulent.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Four regions of Ukraine told reporters: Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and ZaporizhiaThe President will join Russia during the ceremony Vladimir Putin, is expected to deliver an important speech. Peskov said the pro-Russian administrators of the regions will sign the agreements to join Russia in the Kremlin’s St. George Hall.

The obvious answer is the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky It called an emergency meeting on Friday with its National Security and Defense Council.

Zelensky also tried to exploit an anti-war movement Russia By airing a special video targeting minorities in Russia, specifically Dagestan, one of the country’s poorest regions in the North Caucasus.

“You don’t have to die in Ukraine,” he said, wearing a black sweatshirt with the words “I am Ukrainian” in English, in front of a plaque. Kiev In memory of him described as a Dagestani hero. He called on ethnic minorities to resist mobilization.

America And its allies have pledged to accept tougher sanctions than those already implemented Russia and providing millions of additional dollars in support of Ukraine The Kremlin The peninsula is doubling what it did in 2014 Crimea From Ukraine.

This Friday morning Putin Promulgated decrees recognizing the independence of the territories Gerson Y ZaporizhiaActions taken in February with Luhansk and Donetsk And previously with Crimea.

Ukraine has promised to recapture four regions Crimea. For its part, Russia It undertook to protect all its parts, including the four annexed parts, by all available means, including exploitation. Nuclear weapons.

Tensions have risen due to Russia’s partial military mobilization and allegations of sabotage of two Russian gas pipelines supplying natural gas to the Baltic Sea. Europe. For concerns that The Kremlin Added success Ukraine On Thursday, Putin acknowledged problems with mobilization and recapturing some of the territory Russia annexes.

Ukraine’s Western allies have described referendums on living under Russian rule Shameful land grab based on lies. They say some were forced to take part at gunpoint in elections held without independent observers in a territory where thousands of residents left against their will or were deported.

The Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Gutierrez In New York on Thursday, he said the Russian annexation would violate the United Nations Charter and have “no legal value”. He termed the move a “dangerous escalation” and said it “should not be accepted”.

(With information from The Associated Press)

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