Putin's Russia Doesn't Fully Control Annexed Ukrainian Regions

Russia has illegitimately annexed four regions of Ukraine under Russian Federation control, a move not recognized by foreign governments including the U.S.

Citizens in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson were said to have voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining—results the U.S. State Department and democracy advocates described as a "sham."

However, following Putin's decree and signing on September 30, 2022, of annexation documents, there is still dispute over just how much of these regions Russian forces hold on to.

Multiple tweets sent ahead of Putin's decree to recognize the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia,...