British intelligence: Putin may formally announce accession of occupied regions of Ukraine on September 30

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to address both houses of the Russian parliament on September 30, the British Defense Ministry said in the latest defense intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, Report informs.

"There is a realistic possibility that Putin will use his address to formally announce the accession of the occupied regions of Ukraine to the Russian Federation,” the statement says.

“Russia’s leaders almost certainly hope that any accession announcement will be seen as a vindication of the ‘special military operation’ and will consolidate patriotic support for the conflict,” the British Defense Ministry said.