Ukraine accused Egypt of sending observers to monitor Russia-orchestrated referendums to illegally annex four Ukrainian regions amid Moscow’s invasion of its European neighbor. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry categorically denied sending any observers in an Oct. 10 statement.

Alena Ohonesian, vice president of the Ukrainian Squash Federation, said Oct. 5 that her country had withdrawn from the upcoming Women's World Team Squash Championship that Egypt will host in December in protest of Cairo’s support of Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian regions.

“Last week, the aggressor held a referendum on the annexation of our territories, and unfortunately there were representatives from Egypt at this pseudo referendum, who confirmed that (in their eyes) the referendum was fair,” Ohonesian said. “Therefore, we were forced to make the decision to cancel the trip.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin Oct. 5 signed laws to formally absorb Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions into Russia, following referendums held by Moscow that Kyiv and the West see as illegitimate.