Russia's Federation Council ratifies annexation

The upper house of Russia's parliament voted on Tuesday (October 4) to approve the incorporation of four Ukrainian regions into Russia, as Moscow sets about formally annexing territory it sized from Kyiv during its seven-month conflict. Russia declared the annexations after holding what it called "referendums" in occupied areas of Ukraine. Western governments and Kyiv said the votes breached international law and were coercive and non-representative.