Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Russian people on the anniversary of the reunification of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions with the motherland Russia.

In a recorded message, Putin said: “My dear friends, respected Russian citizens! I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the holiday – the day of the reunification of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions with our great and united homeland.”

The Russian president added: “Three years ago, in the Donbass and Novorossiya referendums, millions of our compatriots freely decided their future themselves. The residents of these historic regions made the long-held dream a reality and made a fateful decision to be with their homeland, with Russia, and to return to the family they have always been part of.”

He continued: “The entire country is now fighting to defend this choice, the national interests, the shared memory, and the values that unite us.”

Putin concluded: “We have done what we had to do and are proud of it, as we stood by our brothers and sisters in their firm and responsible choice.”

It is worth noting that the referendums on the accession of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia to Russia were held between September 23 and 27, 2022. According to the final results, 99.23% in Donetsk voted in favor of joining, 98.42% in Lugansk, 87.05% in Kherson, and 93.11% in Zaporizhzhia.

On September 30, 2022, the Russian president gave a speech at the Kremlin following the referendum results, followed by signing agreements with the regional heads in the four regions to accept them as full federal entities within Russia with full rights and duties.