Zelenskiy vows to defend Ukrainians in occupied regions as ‘referendum’ results announced

Formal annexation could be declared by end of week while Ukrainian president condemns farce' vote on regions joining Russia

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Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukraine will defend" its citizens in Russian-occupied regions, as Moscow stands poised to formally annex them following so-called referendums that have already been denounced by the west.

This farce in the occupied territory cannot even be called an imitation of referendums," Zelenskiy said on Tuesday in a video posted on Telegram.