Russian-controlled regions of eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans Tuesday to start voting this week to become integral parts of Russia. The concerted and quickening Kremlin-backed efforts to swallow up four regions could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war against Ukrainian forces successfully battling to wrest back territory.
The announcements of referendums starting Friday in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia regions came after a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said votes were needed, as Moscow loses ground in the war that began nearly seven months ago.
Former President Dmitry Medvedev said folding regions into Russia itself would make redrawn frontiers "irreversible" and enable Moscow to use "any means" to defend them.
The votes, in territory Russia already controls, are expected with near-certainty to go Moscow's way but are unlikely to be recognized by Western governments backing Ukraine with military and other support.
The announcements of referendums starting Friday in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia regions came after a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said votes were needed, as Moscow loses ground in the war that began nearly seven months ago.
Former President Dmitry Medvedev said folding regions into Russia itself would make redrawn frontiers "irreversible" and enable Moscow to use "any means" to defend them.
The votes, in territory Russia already controls, are expected with near-certainty to go Moscow's way but are unlikely to be recognized by Western governments backing Ukraine with military and other support.
4 Ukrainian separatist regions plan votes to join Russia
Separatist leaders of the Russia-controlled areas of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine are planning votes for the territories to become part of Russia.
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