Putin claims 2 more regions of Ukraine are independent after sham referendum – they now face being swallowed by Russia

VLADIMIR Putin claimed two massive parts of Ukraine are independent last night following sham referendums.

Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are now on the verge of being swallowed up by Russia as part of Mad Vlad's invasion.

The despot signed executive orders recognising as independent states, paving the way to annex them on Friday.

The decree read: "Taking into account the will of the people of the Zaporizhzhian region at the referendum held on September 27, 2022... I am becoming to recognise the state sovereignty and independence of Zaporizhzhia region."

The document - which was issued in the dead of night - has come into immediate effect.

Putin recognised Luhansk and Donetsk as independent entities days before invading Ukraine.

It comes as the mad Russian leader claimed victory in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia following sham referendums over recent days.

A huge rally is being prepared in Moscow's Red Square as Putin prepares to declare the annexation.

Billboards have appeared in Moscow declaring: "Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!"

On Wednesday, pro-Kremlin officials said that all four regions - which represent around 15 percent of Ukraine's overall territory - had voted to join Russia.

The referendums have been declared illegal by most of the international community.

Footage emerged of voters being led to the ballot boxes at gunpoint by pro-Russian paramilitary groups, while election officials were seen appearing to count stacks of unmarked ballot papers as 'Yes' votes.

Other video shows Russian-installed thugs taking ballot boxes door-to-door surrounded by armed men.

Putin's cronies claimed 99 percent of ballots cast in Donetsk were in favour of joining Russia, 98 percent in Luhansk, 93 percent in Zaporizhzhia and 87 percent in Kherson.

The head of the upper house of the Russian parliament, the Duma, said the four occupied territories could become part of Russia as soon as October 4, three days before President Putin's 70th birthday.

"This should happen within a week," Kremlin puppet Rodion Miroshnik from the so-called Luhansk People's Republic told Russian state media.

"The main thing has already happened - the referendum has taken place. Therefore, let's say, the locomotive has already started and it's unlikely to be stopped."

"They can announce anything they want," Lyubomir Boyko, a villager in Russian-occupied Kherson said. "They went from house to house but nobody came out."

If Russia considers the territory as its own, it could justify having its nuclear arsenal moved there.

Putin has already warned he would use nuclear weapons to protect Russian territory.