to people -- when you speak to long to people —— when you speak to people _ long to people —— when you speak to people to _ long to people —— when you speak to people to realise they have experience. it bubbles to the surface, _ experience. it bubbles to the surface, and this further adds to the misery, frankly that people have been living _ the misery, frankly that people have been living through. you the misery, frankly that people have been living through.— been living through. you are talking from zaporizhzhia _ been living through. you are talking from zaporizhzhia where _ been living through. you are talking from zaporizhzhia where i _ been living through. you are talking from zaporizhzhia where i think- been living through. you are talking from zaporizhzhia where i think 25 l from zaporizhzhia where i think 25 people have been confirmed to be killed and what happened there as far as you can please events together? it's a devastation that slowly unfolds, to be honest with you. behind me is a clear convoy of vehicles. this is a holding station for people that want to head back into russian occupied territories. we are told that these people wanted to collect relatives. you arrive and you find vehicles smashed up like this. and then you find you're walking through bodies dotted around which illustrate the blast caused by this missile strike. there are

people slowly being collected throughout the day. there is an eerie quiet at the moment, we twice had to take cover after being told by the military that there was another strike, by the military that there was anotherstrike, it's by the military that there was another strike, it's known as a double tap, the russians have done it before, they strike the same place twice to inflict as much damage as possible. and then you hear the sounds of sobbing and screaming when people realise that those closest to them have been lost and while moscow gets ready for a party and when the kremlin tries to put on a big concert in a show of patriotism, this is what happens close to where the front liners. and the reasons for it are unclear, but when you look at the crater, when you look at what this area was used for, it's clear it was a targeted attack. we don't know why, but the devastation here is without question. devastation here is without question-— question. james watt as in zaporizhzhia. _ question. james watt as in zaporizhzhia. teams - question. james watt as in zaporizhzhia. teams will i question. james watt as in | zaporizhzhia. teams will be question. james watt as in - zaporizhzhia. teams will be talking to us throughout the next two hours

as well. everyone is waiting for the arrival president putin. and also the former leader is appointed by russia of the regions. members of the russian orthodox church very much behind the special military operation of the war in ukraine. it's a huge hole. everyone is there. there's going to be a concert after the speech and the signing ceremony as well. let's talk us through the figures. who is there and what do we know about these russian and appointed leaders sitting there in these regions? it’s

sitting there in these regions? it's the sitting there in these regions? it�*s the government, the heads of the region, the head of chechnya, some religious leaders. the defence minister, the government in its entirety. all the security ministers are all there as well. in the front row, the puppet leaders of these russian backed administrations, the occupied, occupying administrations in those four regions. some of them have been around a while, some of them new figures in terms of what they have now and obviously being thrust into the spotlight now as russia prepares to incorporate them into its own territory. this is a massive chunk of ukraine territory. we are talking about 50% of ukraine, only according to russia is about to become part of russia. it's a big moment. ~ . , . .,

moment. we are expecting an extensive — moment. we are expecting an extensive speech. _ moment. we are expecting an extensive speech. do - moment. we are expecting an extensive speech. do we - moment. we are expecting an extensive speech. do we have i moment. we are expecting an - extensive speech. do we have any indication or are we just outlining the historical regions for why russia considers this to be part of its territory and more of the same about ukrainian aggression rather than the other way around? first and foremost, there _ than the other way around? first and foremost, there is _ than the other way around? first and foremost, there is one _ than the other way around? first and foremost, there is one question, - foremost, there is one question, what exactly is russia an exciting? the spokesman for russia was asked that this morning in moscow and couldn't answer it. russia doesn't actually control these regions, in fact it doesn't control any one of those four regions entirely. the question is, what exactly... hold that thought- _ question is, what exactly... hold that thought. we _ question is, what exactly... hold that thought. we have _ question is, what exactly... hold that thought. we have a - question is, what exactly... hold that thought. we have a map of the regions which i want to bring up now. you can see the areas in red is what we believe. there are quite a lot of areas white as well. is that going to be part of the annexation

process? going to be part of the annexation rocess? . . ~ going to be part of the annexation rocess? , . ~ ., , process? there is talk of them being annexed, luhansk _ process? there is talk of them being annexed, luhansk is _ process? there is talk of them being annexed, luhansk is almost - annexed, luhansk is almost completely controlled by russian forces. donetsk is still controlled by ukraine and ukraine has been pushing forward, making advances in donetsk. there are advances on the ground. then there is zaporizhzhia where we were talking from earlier. the big city there is controlled by ukraine. where exactly is russia annexed thing and how on earth can it make this somehow look legitimate? is always very concerned to make things look legitimate but obviously this is clearly not that. lets stay with these pictures, because we think president putin is going to come in any moment now. let's see if we can talk to our senior lecturer in conflict at ings

couege senior lecturer in conflict at ings college london. a russian military expert. just explain how territorial significant and in terms of the war effort, how important this would be f ukrainian forces were to settle russian troops there. that was where the ukrainians had the bulk of their headquarters and their armed forces which were defending her many years the donbas region. it reduces the pressure and also allows ukrainians to move further eastwards.— also allows ukrainians to move further eastwards. eventually also to challenge _

further eastwards. eventually also to challenge luhansk— further eastwards. eventually also to challenge luhansk and - further eastwards. eventually also | to challenge luhansk and donetsk. this is a really important moment and there is pressure of the russian armed forces there and elements of the army. they are also volunteers and forces. this is really quite significant if ukrainians as it seems are able to move around the place and cut up the supplies, which is actually what is happening, these forces that are now in a pocket or are able to be resupplied and also the exit lines are apparently also being bombed, so the lines that would allow them to leave and to go towards crimea are under military attack. they are in a difficult position if they don't surrender themselves.— position if they don't surrender themselves. the self appointed leader of the _ themselves. the self appointed leader of the luhansk _ themselves. the self appointed leader of the luhansk region i themselves. the self appointed i leader of the luhansk region said this was a serious move by ukraine

forces and russia would have to learn from its mistakes. strategically, has russia been outmanoeuvred here and how many russian troops are we talking about? i don't have the exact number of troops that are located there, but certainly, witnesses of the russian armed forces say they didn't have the necessary enforced presence there. it was not protected by the russian armed forces. there were some volunteers. the whole front of kharkiv has been really a big blunder from the russians. kharkiv has been really a big blunderfrom the russians. this is what prompted calls for mobilisation but as we know, there are a lot of problems with mobilisation because there isn't time for proper training and there isn't adequate equipment and there isn't adequate equipment and training infrastructure because and training infrastructure because a lot of those who could be carrying out training are actually on the

ground carrying out the fight. reinforcements are being sent to these areas and it's hoped that mobilisation many tasks can be carried out if not on the front lines within the smaller areas and then eventually better troops can be sent to the front lines but at the same time, you know, ukrainians are receiving more sophisticated equipment, there is talk that they will be receiving think second heat ammunition depots, control centres, very strategic lines of communication. the russians really are in a very precarious situation at the moment and i think that this declaration that were going to hear today on the official annexation of these areas doesn't really match developments on the ground. as was mentioned by your correspondent. it's a bit surreal and it is in very

strong contrast to what was happening several years ago as far as crimea is concerned. there hadn't been much fighting and the russians were much more effectively control and there wasn't a military challenge. here we see that the not only are advancing on the kharkiv front, they are slowly going to challenge, but they are also advancing slowly in the areas in the south. that is an area where russia also sent a significant amount of reinforcements and we know that in these areas many russian troops are stuck between these areas and a river they cannot cross effectively, and receiving reinforcements. from a military point of view the situation for the russians is not very promising. for the russians is not very promising-— for the russians is not very promising. for the russians is not very ”romisin. ., , , promising. please stay with us, let's ick promising. please stay with us, let's pick up _ promising. please stay with us, let's pick up on _ promising. please stay with us, let's pick up on some _ promising. please stay with us, let's pick up on some more - promising. please stay with us, - let's pick up on some more thoughts in the studio now. just looking at

the pictures. he ping—pong with vladimir putin with being president. i want to pick up on the russian appointed leaders of these regions, because just looking at their backgrounds, all of them born in ukraine but a lot of them had spent time training and working in russia as well. take those self appointed republics after crimea for some years stop he has been around a long time. is years stop he has been around a long time. . . . years stop he has been around a long time. ,., . , years stop he has been around a long time. , ., time. is a self appointed vicar of the peeples _ time. is a self appointed vicar of the peoples republic— time. is a self appointed vicar of the peoples republic of - time. is a self appointed vicar of| the peoples republic of donetsk, time. is a self appointed vicar of - the peoples republic of donetsk, he is quite well known. the others, they are not well known in russia as prominent figures. one is a former mp, one was linked to the spu, the

security service in ukraine. they are puppets. they are placed people. they are not people who have come up from the ground. these are people in place to do the kremlin is bidding. in a sense it doesn't really matter. in a sense it doesn't really matter. i would say for the ukrainians from those four regions, they do not represent them at all and they are referred to as the occupying administration of those areas. interestingly vladimir putin is late to his own party. he likes to keep people waiting in that's a lot about what this is all about. he wants the world to look at him. he wants the world to look at him. he wants the world to look at him. he wants the world to be listening, to see what he has to say. he's trying to threaten the world and he wants all eyes to be on moscow for this moment and of course he is late. we eyes to be on moscow for this moment and of course he is late.— and of course he is late. we will talk about _ and of course he is late. we will talk about that. _ and of course he is late. we will talk about that. russia - and of course he is late. we will talk about that. russia has - talk about that. russia has escalated the security threat to the eu. russia should not be granted an

eu. russia should not be granted an eu visa. senior russian figures have already been denied that in terms of the sanctions. russians with a visa cannot stay in the eu, he says, longer than 90 days. as we wait for president putin to come to the stage, worth pointing out that barack obama was always very late as well. but maybe not for quite as long as this. let's pick to a former adviser to the russian government in the 19905. adviser to the russian government in the 1990s. ~ . . , ., ., , adviser to the russian government in the 1990s. ~ . . ., , ., the 1990s. what are your thoughts on this and the speed _ the 1990s. what are your thoughts on this and the speed of _ the 1990s. what are your thoughts on this and the speed of this _ the 1990s. what are your thoughts on this and the speed of this at - the 1990s. what are your thoughts on this and the speed of this at the - this and the speed of this at the time of mobilisation which is proving really very unpopular, certainly in certain sections of the russian federation at the moment. i russian federation at the moment. i think that what we are witnessing now can _ think that what we are witnessing now can be seen as signs of putin

showing _ now can be seen as signs of putin showing signs of weakness rather than strength. the problem is russian — than strength. the problem is russian army is failing against ukrainian _ russian army is failing against ukrainian counteroffensive is and vladimir— ukrainian counteroffensive is and vladimir putin will be lucky to change — vladimir putin will be lucky to change this militarily. he is trying to do— change this militarily. he is trying to do it _ change this militarily. he is trying to do it politically. what we are weiting — to do it politically. what we are waiting for now can be seen as the repelilion— waiting for now can be seen as the repetition of what has happened on february— repetition of what has happened on february the 22nd when in similar circumstances it was announced that the kremlin— circumstances it was announced that the kremlin recognises so—called donelsk— the kremlin recognises so—called donetsk and luhansk people's republics. history repeats itself. one is _ republics. history repeats itself. one is a — republics. history repeats itself. one is a tragedy, the second time as a forest _ one is a tragedy, the second time as a forest the — one is a tragedy, the second time as a forest. the threat putin is trying to pose _

a forest. the threat putin is trying to pose is— a forest. the threat putin is trying to pose is not received it seriously and dramatically as in february. help _ and dramatically as in february. help our— and dramatically as in february. help our viewers understand this. there have been changes to the russian constitution and since 2020, so after you advised the russian government, any russian leader, vladimir putin included, but also successors cannot seed any russian territory as agreed formally by the russian federation, so in your view, this means that this is now as far as russia is concerned part of the greater russian federation forever. yes, i think this is the kremlin is position— yes, i think this is the kremlin is position although we understand that nobody— position although we understand that nobody does recognise this as it was already— nobody does recognise this as it was already told by ukrainian authorities and by western governments they will not change how

they refer _ governments they will not change how they refer to those territories which — they refer to those territories which arm occupied by russia from february— which arm occupied by russia from february and now should be announced parts of _ february and now should be announced parts of russian territory. it is imporlent _ parts of russian territory. it is important i think and correct that when _ important i think and correct that when recognising these territories, the kremlin doesn't see them in the order— the kremlin doesn't see them in the order they— the kremlin doesn't see them in the order they exist now as territories occupied — order they exist now as territories occupied by the russian army, but with borders of ukrainian regions, so if the _ with borders of ukrainian regions, so if the territory of the region is controlled — so if the territory of the region is controlled by the russian army now by 79%, _ controlled by the russian army now by 79%, then the russians will say that the _ by 79%, then the russians will say that the region itself totally under ukrainian — that the region itself totally under ukrainian control is now what will be immediately after the annexation occupied _ be immediately after the annexation occupied by ukrainian armies and russian _ occupied by ukrainian armies and russian military actions will be, should — russian military actions will be,

should be — russian military actions will be, should be perceived as the direction of those _ should be perceived as the direction of those territories which are all russian — of those territories which are all russian. . . of those territories which are all russian. , , ., russian. help us out with the psychology _ russian. help us out with the psychology of _ russian. help us out with the psychology of vladimir - russian. help us out with the psychology of vladimir putin l russian. help us out with the - psychology of vladimir putin here as well by annexing these territories, well by annexing these territories, we can see them all lined up, the leaders of those waiting for vladimir putin, by doing this is us an attempt to push for a ceasefire for a position of strength, to try and get the international community to accept this and then have years and years of simmering tensions on the new border of the russian federation with ukraine, such as we saw for example after the annexation of crimea in 2014 with donetsk and luhansk? . ~ of crimea in 2014 with donetsk and luhansk? , ,, . of crimea in 2014 with donetsk and luhansk? , ~ . , luhansk? yes, i think what we see now is an attempt _ luhansk? yes, i think what we see now is an attempt by _ luhansk? yes, i think what we see now is an attempt by russian - now is an attempt by russian government to start long—term occupation. the fact that those

territories _ occupation. the fact that those territories will be annexed by... gk, territories will be annexed by... 0k. i_ territories will be annexed by... 0k. lent — territories will be annexed by... ok, i am sorry i'm going to have to cut across you because the grand old doors are opened and vladimir putin walks in. we have a translation for this. so let'sjust walks in. we have a translation for this. so let's just watch and listen. translation: the population, the deputies of the russian federation, in donetsk and luhansk, there were referendums. the

results are known and the results are well—known. people make that choice. that only choice with signing the agreement of exception to russia, donetsk, the people's republic, luhansk, the people's republic, luhansk, the people's republic, i am sure that the federal assembly will support the laws of the formation of the four new regions in russia. these new federations of russia because this is the will of the people. and this is their right. their natural right which is firmly signed

in the first paragraph of the united nations status, and this is their right based on the historical unity that the generations of our ancestors were winning, who through the centuries were building and protecting russia. the russians were fighting catherine ii was founding a new city and our grandads and great grand dads were fighting there during the second world war, during the great patriarch to quarter and we will remember those who did not agree with the neo—nazis in ukraine who died to preserve their language and the right to speak about those

warriors of donbas, the masters and victims of the inhumane acts of terrorism organised by the regime. russians, ukrainians, people of different ethnic groups, this is the true leader of donetsk. the true commanders. a brave soldier who died as brave soldiers during the special military operations, they are heroes. they are heroes of great russia. i ask you for a minute of silence.

russia is taking a minute of silence, a very fast minute. if you'rejustjoining us, you are watching president putin speaking to the kremlinjust watching president putin speaking to the kremlin just before watching president putin speaking to the kremlinjust before his formal annexation of four regions of ukraine. translation: our spiritual connection has been brought through the love for russia and nobody can annihilate this feeling. that's why the older generations and young people who were born out of the tragedy of the dissolution of the soviet union voted for our unity and our common future back in 1991. without asking

the will of the citizens, the representatives of the party elite decided to dissolve the soviet union and people got trapped. this became and people got trapped. this became a national catastrophe as they were, after the russian revolution, they were creating the republics borders. that exacting what happened back in 1991 when they broke apart our great country, and they actually put the people in front of the fact, presuming that they didn't even understand what they were doing and what consequences it will lead to. but this doesn't matter. it doesn't

exist. we cannot bring the past back and russia doesn't need this today. we are not backed there is nothing stronger than the desire of millions of people as language, faith, traditions, who treat themselves as a part of russia who through the centuries were living in the same unified state and there's nothing wrong with the desire of these people to come back to their truly historic motherland for all those long, eight years, people in donbas were subject to genocide and in donbas and people were brought up hating everything and the regime was threatening schoolteachers, that those women working in the electoral

commissions and those people who decided to express their will but the unbreakable people of donbas and i won't say that word, i want everyone in kyiv and those handlers from the west to hear this, that the people from donbas have and will become citizens of russia. we call on a ceasefire started back in 2014 and coming back, we are ready for that. we were mentioning more than once, but the choice of the people in donetsk, the hands, we

will not discuss, russia will not. today kyiv authorities should take this free expression of will with great respect and no other way. this is the only way this will protect our lands with every possible means we've got to provide the safe living for our people. this is a great liberation mission of our people. we will rebuild the roots, towns and villages, theatres, hospitals and museums. we will develop factories, infrastructure, social security, health care and education. of course

we will work on the security to make sure that all the citizens in those regions will feel the support of every part of our great motherland. applause today, dear friends, today, dearfriends, iwant today, dearfriends, i want to today, dear friends, i want to say to the soldiers in donbas who after the degree of the partial mobilisation take part in the army and come to the military consensus and come to the military consensus and special commission, i want to appeal to their wives and children and mention what we are for, what enemy is against us and throwing the

world into new crisis, taking benefits out of it. our brothers and sisters in ukraine, it is a native part for unified people who see what the so—called authorities in the west are getting the whole humanity ready for. they drop their masks and show their real face after the break—up of the soviet union, the west decided that the world and all of us will be dealing with it and will be ok with that and the west expected that russia will not get back after, get back on their feet after those awful 1990 years, cold and without hope, but russia stood up and without hope, but russia stood up and became stronger and took its place in the world, whereas the west is looking for another chance to

break russia, to break off our state and basically break our people's to poverty and death. i cannot really be ok with the fact that there is a great country in the world which people will never live under someone else's command. —— mike they cannot. the west is ready to overstep anything to preserve this system which allows it to be a parasite, to use the dollar as a power tool and take toll from everything from the world and take the rentals over hegemony and this is the absolute...

this aggression to independence states to their unique cultures and if they want to take over the integration process, new currencies and centres of technological development, it's very important for them, for all the countries, to send their sovereignty into the united states. some do it voluntarily, some authorities and leaders of certain countries are happy to become like that and some do not, but we've got humanitarian catastrophe after that, millions of loss and broke in human lives. the protector, the colonies and semi—colonies, but they don't care. they want their profits. i want to

emphasise that in their desire to