Kherson (dpa-AFX) – A deputy from the Kremlin party United Russia has voiced Moscow’s permanent claim to the occupied southern Ukrainian territory of Kherson. “Russia is here forever!” said Duma deputy Andrei Turchak on Friday during a visit to the city of Kherson. That must be made clear to the more than 200,000 residents. Turchak, as secretary of the General Council, is also one of the leaders of United Russia. The 46-year-old traveled to Cherson with the head of the Donetsk separatists, Denis Puschilin.
Around two and a half months ago, Russia launched a war of aggression against Ukraine and captured Cherson in early March. In Moscow, there are increasing calls for the Cherson region to be annexed to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. In the city on the Dnipro River, residents repeatedly protested against the Russian occupying power./ast/DP/men