JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: This represents the most serious escalation since the start of the war. But Ukraine and its allies have called the vote a 'sham' and illegal. Russia's government says it held referendums or votes asking people living in the regions to say yes or no to becoming part of Russia and that in some cases more than 99 percent voted yes. Just hours before, he'd held this huge event to celebrate annexing, or claiming, those Ukrainian regions and two others as what he said would be 'Russian territory forever'.

It's a big blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian soldiers celebrated and took down Russian signs and flags, replacing them with their own. It took back towns and villages in two key regions. In fact, Ukraine just made its biggest breakthrough in the South since the war began. They've managed to take back parts of the country, cutting off supplies to Russian troops and forcing them to retreat. But Ukraine's been getting support from other big countries like the United States that have sent weapons and other equipment to help out, and over the past few months Ukrainian troops have fought back, more effectively than many expected. Russia is much bigger and more powerful than Ukraine and has a much bigger military. Then I looked after my little brother and sister. I thought something was right next to my ear. UKRANIAN KID 2: (ENGLISH TRANSLATION) I remember that when we woke up, I heard some sounds. UKRAINIAN KID 1: (ENGLISH TRANSLATION) War is very bad because people are dying. While others have stayed and lived through the destruction caused by Russian missiles. Millions of Ukrainians have left everything behind to escape the war. It's been more than 200 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.

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