HOLDING THE LINE Ukrainian soldiers ride on a self-propelled howitzer near Borivske, Kharkiv region, on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 (September 30 in Manila), amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP PHOTO
MOSCOW, Russia: Russia will annex four occupied regions of Ukraine at a grand ceremony at the Kremlin on Friday, Moscow said, after President Vladimir Putin threatened he could use nuclear weapons to defend the territories.