Vladimir Putin called Russia’s illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions last year “a popular decision.” He was marking the one-year anniversary since Russia annexed the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree marking Sept. 30 as a "reunification day" commemorating Russia's illegal annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

Putin has claimed that residents of four Ukrainian regions, which were illegally annexed by Russia a year ago, had chosen to be with Russia and that this annexation was in accordance with international norms.